BSHIM Health Information Management

Health Information Management (HIM) improves the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery through the management and application of information and technology. HIM programs prepare students to work in a digital health profession which focuses on health data, analytics, information governance, health informatics, compliance, privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the management of associated resources and technology. The HIM profession addresses the structure, application, and translation of data into usable forms of information such as the electronic health record (EHR), required by interdisciplinary healthcare teams to improve patient outcomes.

Graduates from the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management (BSHIM) program work in multiple settings throughout the healthcare industry and beyond. These settings include the continuum of care delivery organizations such as hospitals, clinics, physician practices, long-term care, mental health, and other ambulatory care facilities. The profession has recently seen significant expansion in nonpatient care settings, with careers in managed care, insurance companies, electronic health record systems vendors, cybersecurity firms, consulting services, government agencies, higher education institutions, and pharmaceutical companies. With a strong component of online information exchange, many HIM professionals can work remotely either part-time or fulltime.

BSHIM graduates are well prepared to continue their studies in graduate-level programs in HIM, health informatics, data analytics, or other related disciplines. The department offers a fully online Master of Health Information Management (MHIM) degree with a variety of options and concentrations.

The BSHIM program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Upon completion of the degree, graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

The department is also recognized by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) as an Approved Education Partner. 

The department offers a Minor in Health Information Management and a Minor in Health Informatics. The minor programs fit well with majors in Health Sciences and other disciplines in the College of Health Profession and across university. The minor programs do not establish eligibility for the RHIA credential. Students completing the BSHIM degree automatically qualify for the Minor in Health informatics which is comprised of courses built into the major.

The BSHIM degree is offered in multiple delivery format options: traditional in-person, face-to-face courses on the Round Rock Campus and fully online. All options lead to the same degree and have the same academic requirements. Fulltime students may complete the BSHIM degree in four years.

The curriculum is organized as a two-plus-two program with completion of general education core curriculum and program prerequisite coursework prior to beginning the two-year professional phase. Once qualified for the professional program, the final two years consist of the required HIM coursework reinforced with a professional practice experience assignment at an appropriate affiliated site. Students who have achieved the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential or graduated from a CAHIIM accredited HIT program may qualify to receive academic credit toward the BSHIM degree for previous coursework.  

It is a policy of the College of Health Professions that each student must provide a Health Report form completed by a physician or licensed healthcare provider, providing evidence of specific immunizations before the student can be placed in a professional practice experience assignment. Information on these requirements and forms may be obtained through the Department of Health Information Management.

As a condition for placement in professional practice experience sites, students may be required to have a background check and/or drug screening and/or meet other specific requirements as set by individual sites. Information on these requirements may be obtained through the Department of Health Information Management.