Program Pathways

The Department of Health Information Administration offers the following pathways:

Bachelor of Science Degree

The baccalaureate degree curriculum is divided into the pre-professional phase of the program (freshman and sophomore years) and the professional phase (junior and senior years). A total of 121 credits is required for the Bachelor of Science degree.

The pre-professional curriculum includes completion of the University’s general education requirements, the basic science courses and prerequisites for professional course work. This course of study provides students with the broad-based knowledge needed for the two-year professional curriculum.

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is in the process of being reevaluated and redesigned.  Please, visit our site again in a few months. Candidates with baccalaureate degrees are still encouraged to apply and their transfer credit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis until the Post-Baccalaureate certificate is reactivated.

The Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) to RHIA Progression.

The department offers a flexible curriculum for registered health information technicians (RHITs) who desire to become registered health information administrators (RHIA). Additionally, these students have the opportunity to provide evidence of competencies or take competency examinations to meet requirements of some courses in the first year of the professional phase.

Laboratory Components

The professional curriculum encompasses medical science, technology and management. Many of the professional courses have a laboratory component that allows students to practice technical activities using current medical and general office software in a dedicated, up-to-date computer laboratory.

Professional Practice Experience (PPE)

Students complete two professional practice experiences (PPE) of 120 hours each.  The total hours include simulated laboratory activities, community based professional organization meetings and 40 hours of externally supervised Professional Practice Experience. 

Junior students may elect to complete their PPE as a directed practice one day a week during spring semester, or as a one-month block during the summer following the junior year. The senior PPE is scheduled during the spring semester of the senior year. Students, which are not covered by program fees, are responsible for expenses connected to the PPE such as transportation and meals. Students who work will need to arrange for vacation or personal leave time from their employers while completing the externally supervised portion of the PPE.

Comprehensive Examinations Required

Students are required to score at least 75% on each of two comprehensive examinations in order to graduate. The junior year comprehensive examination consists of 100 questions and is given at the end of the school year. Students are allowed to take a second examination if they scored less than 75%. The senior year comprehensive examination consists of 160 questions and is given at the end of the last required course. Students that fail to score at least 75% are allowed to take an additional examination.