Health Information Management Bachelor's Degree Program Online | WGU

Health Information Management Bachelor's Degree Program Online | WGU
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Bachelor of Science
Health Information Management
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OVERVIEW
A Health Information Management Degree Preparing You to Change Lives
With a health information management (HIM) degree from WGU, you’ll be a valuable asset in the high-demand field of healthcare information technology and management. This CAHIIM-accredited health information management degree offers robust courses and a simulation experience that will give you a glimpse into the real-world health information management operations and functions. You'll learn about the business and technology side of healthcare and how health information management impacts patients, providers, and payers. This will prepare you to successfully work in the growing field of health information management, becoming a vital member of the healthcare community and improving the future of healthcare. With this health information management degree,
you'll also be eligible to apply for the RHIA® credentialing exam
—a key credential that can set you apart in the industry.
Compare this degree:
The B.S. Health Information Management program is not WGU's only undergraduate degree focused on building leadership skills in the business and administration of healthcare. You may also be interested in our B.S. Business – Healthcare Management degree program.
This article can help you compare the two programs.
61% of HIM graduates finish within
36 Months*
WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish your degree online faster.
*WGU Internal Data
Flexible Schedule
Tuition per six-month term is
$4,210
Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps you control the ultimate cost of earning your health information management degree online. Finish faster, pay less!
Cost & Time
Average salary increase
$13,473*
Graduates of this program report an average salary increase of $13,473 after completing their WGU degree.
*WGU Internal Data
Career Outlook
Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?
Next Start Date:
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COURSES
Health Information Management Courses
Program consists of 36 courses
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff. This program features scaffolded learning throughout the standard path, requiring the standard path order to be followed for optimal student success outcomes.
Program Guide
The WGU Bachelor of Science Health Information Management curriculum was designed, and is regularly updated, with input from the experts on our Health Professions Program Council, ensuring you learn best practices in health information management and keep up with the latest trends in the healthcare industry—the kind of HIM expertise you need for a successful career as a health information administrator. And after you complete this online program, you'll be qualified to sit for the AHIMA RHIA credentialing exam.
This health information management program provides a solid foundation in computer information systems and technology for healthcare organizations including healthcare regulation, project management of health systems, databases, and security. In addition to the health information management content, the degree program includes general education courses. The health information management component includes topics like healthcare data, health information technology, medical terminology, and healthcare compliance and coding.
This program consists of the following courses. Some may be waived through transfer from your previous college experience. The rest you will typically complete one at a time as you make your way through your program, working with your Program Mentor each term to build your personalized Degree Plan. You’ll work through each course as quickly as you can study and learn the material. As soon as you’re ready, you’ll pass the assessment, complete the course, and move on. This means you can finish as many courses as you're able in a term at no additional cost.
Program consists of:
36 courses
An unofficial estimated 14 courses are fulfilled by your associate degree leaving 27 courses.
I Have an Associate Degree
Estimate My Transfer Credits
Courses Fulfilled By Your Associate Degree
This is an unofficial estimate of your transfer credit. You may recieve more or less credits depending upon the specific courses taken to complete your degree and other credits you may have.
Below are the anticipated courses that will be fulfilled based on your indication that you have earned an associate degree. During the enrollment process this information will be verified.
General Education
Composition: Writing with a Strategy
Welcome to Composition: Writing with a Strategy! In this course, you will focus on three main topics: understanding purpose, context, and audience, writing strategies and techniques, and editing and revising. In addition, the first section, will offer review on core elements of the writing process, cross-cultural communication, as well as working with words and common standards and practices. Each section includes learning opportunities through readings, videos, audio, and other relevant resources. Assessment activities with feedback also provide opportunities to check your learning, practice, and show how well you understand course content. Because the course is self-paced, you may move through the material as quickly or as slowly as you need to gain proficiency in the seven competencies that will be covered in the final assessment. If you have no prior knowledge or experience, you can expect to spend 30-40 hours on the course content.
Critical Thinking: Reason and Evidence
In this course you will learn key critical thinking concepts and how to apply them in the analysis and evaluation of reasons and evidence. The course examines the basic components of an argument, the credibility of evidence sources, the impact of bias, and how to construct an argument that provides good support for a claim. The course consists of an introduction and four major sections. Each section includes learning opportunities through readings, videos, audio, and other relevant resources. Assessment activities with feedback also provide opportunities to check your learning, practice, and show how well you understand course content. Because the course is self-paced, you may move through the material as quickly or as slowly as you need to gain proficiency in the four competencies that will be covered in the final assessment. If you have no prior knowledge or experience, you can expect to spend 30-40 hours on the course content.
Introduction to Communication: Connecting with Others
Welcome to Introduction to Communication: Connecting with Others! It may seem like common knowledge that communication skills are important, and that communicating with others is inescapable in our everyday lives. While this may appear simplistic, the study of communication is actually complex, dynamic, and multifaceted. Strong communication skills are invaluable to strengthening a multitude of aspects of life. Specifically, this course will focus on communication in the professional setting, and present material from multiple vantage points, including communicating with others in a variety of contexts, across situations, and with diverse populations. Upon completion, you will have a deeper understanding of both your own and others’ communication behaviors, and a toolbox of effective behaviors to enhance your experience in the workplace.
Introduction to Biology
This course is a foundational introduction to the biological sciences. The overarching theories of life from biological research are explored as well as the fundamental concepts and principles of the study of living organisms and their interaction with the environment. Key concepts include how living organisms use and produce energy; how life grows, develops, and reproduces; how life responds to the environment to maintain internal stability; and how life evolves and adapts to the environment.
Composition: Successful Self-Expression
Welcome to Composition: Successful Self-Expression! In this course, you will focus on four main topics: professional writing for a cross-cultural audience, narrowing research topics and questions, researching for content to support a topic, and referencing research sources. Each section includes learning opportunities through readings, videos, audio, and other relevant resources. Assessment activities with feedback also provide opportunities to check your learning, practice, and show how well you understand course content. Because the course is self-paced, you may move through the material as quickly or as slowly as you need to gain proficiency in the seven competencies that will be covered in the final assessment. If you have no prior knowledge or experience, you can expect to spend 30-40 hours on the course content. You will demonstrate competency through a performance assessment. There is no prerequisite for this course and there is no specific technical knowledge needed.
Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology
Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology provides an overview of the structures and functions of organs and systems of the human body. This course will explore how the parts of the body systems work together to produce movement, transport nutrients, eliminate wastes, protect vital tissues and organs, regulate bodily functions, and support reproduction and growth, through videos, readings, exploratory learning, and practice activities.
Introduction to Psychology
In this course, students will develop an understanding of psychology and how it helps them better understand others and themselves. Students will learn general theories about psychological development, the structure of the brain, and how psychologists study behavior. They will gain an understanding of both normal and disordered psychological behaviors, as well as general applications of the science of psychology in society (such as personality typing and counseling).
Global Arts and Humanities
This is a Global Arts and Humanities course that contains three modules with corresponding lessons. This course is an invitation to see the world through the humanities, examine the humanities during the Information Age, and explore the global origins of music—essentially questioning what makes us human, and how people are connected across culture and time. Each module includes learning opportunities through readings, videos, audio, and other relevant resources. Assessment activities with feedback also provide opportunities to practice and check learning. With no prior knowledge or experience, a learner can expect to spend 30-40 hours on the course content.
Applied Algebra
Applied Algebra is designed to help you develop competence in working with functions, the algebra of functions, and using some applied properties of functions. You will start learning about how we can apply different kinds of functions to relevant, real-life examples. From there, the algebra of several families of functions will be explored, including linear, polynomial, exponential, and logistic functions. You will also learn about relevant, applicable mathematical properties of each family of functions, including rate of change, concavity, maximizing/minimizing, and asymptotes. These properties will be used to solve problems related to your major and make sense of everyday living problems. Students should complete Applied Probability and Statistics or its equivalent prior to engaging in Applied Algebra.
American Politics and the US Constitution
American Politics and the U.S. Constitution examines the evolution of representative government in the United States and the changing interpretations of the civil rights and civil liberties protected by the Constitution. This course will give candidates an understanding of the powers of the branches of the federal government, the continual tensions inherent in a federal system, the shifting relationship between state and federal governments, and the interactions between elected officials and the ever-changing electorate. This course will focus on such topics as the role of a free press in a democracy, the impact of changing demographics on American politics, and the debates over and expansion of civil rights. Upon completion of the course, candidates should be able to explain the basic functions of the federal government, describe the forces that shape American policy and politics, and be better prepared to participate in America’s civic institutions. This course has no prerequisite.
Applied Healthcare Statistics
Applied Healthcare Probability and Statistics is designed to help develop competence in the fundamental concepts of basic mathematics, introductory algebra, and statistics and probability. These concepts include basic arithmetic with fractions and signed numbers; introductory algebra and graphing; descriptive statistics; regression and correlation; and probability. Statistical data and probability are now commonplace in the healthcare field. This course will help candidates make informed decisions about which studies and results are valid, which are not, and how those results affect your decisions. This course will give candidates background in what constitutes sound research design and how to appropriately model phenomena using statistical data. Additionally, this course guides candidates in calculating simple probabilities based on events which occur in the healthcare profession. This course will prepare candidates for studies at WGU, as well as in the healthcare profession.
Professional Practice Experience
Professional Practice Experience I: Technical
The PPE I: Technical course allows you to use EHRGo, an electronic health record (EHR), to complete 42 structured activities to experience how an HIM professional uses an EHR. The selected activities meet AHIMA's Baccalaureate level competencies and by completing them you will earn 40 PPE hours.
This course is eligible for an In Progress grade. Please see the Grading Scale Policy for more information.
Professional Practice Experience II: Management
The PPE II: Management course allows you to experience your future profession at the supervisory level. Any site where health information is used, and you can be mentored by a department or facility manager is appropriate for PPE II. This course is eligible for an In Progress grade. Please see the Grading Scale Policy for more information.
Health Sciences
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology is an overview of the pathology and treatment of diseases in the human body and its systems. This course will explain the processes in the body that result in the signs and symptoms of disease, as well as therapeutic procedures in managing or curing the disease. The content draws on a knowledge of anatomy and physiology to understand how diseases manifest themselves and how they affect the body.
Introduction to Pharmacology
Introduction to Pharmacology will introduce learners to medication and supplement regulations and safety protocols. It provides an overview of the use, benefits, effects, and contraindications of commonly used drugs to treat conditions of the cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, nervous, and renal body systems. It also explores the types of anti-infective, antineoplastic, psychotropic drugs, and dietary supplements and their effects on the body.
Health Information Technology
Foundations in Healthcare Information Management
Foundations in Healthcare Information Management applies theories from business, IT, management, medicine, and consumer-centered healthcare skills. Students will learn to evaluate and analyze health information systems for implementation in health information management. There are no prerequisites for this course.
Public Health
Foundations in Public Health
Foundations in Public Health introduces learners to the nation’s public health systems including an overview of the core functions of Public Health and the 10 essential public health services. Learners examine a variety of strategies to promote health, prevent disease, and prolong life among populations and communities, including behavioral, population, and policy change, mass media approaches, and community-based interventions. This course also provides learners with a foundational and historical orientation to the field of public health by examining the philosophy, history, purpose, organization, terminology, and function.
Healthcare Management
Medical Terminology
Medical Terminology focuses on the basic components of medical terminology and how terminology is used when discussing various body structures and systems. Proper use of medical terminology is critical for accurate and clear communication among medical staff, health professionals, and patients. In addition to the systems of the body, this course will discuss immunity, infections, mental health, and cancer.
Healthcare System Applications
Healthcare System Applications introduces students to information systems. This course includes important topics related to management of information systems (MIS), such as system development and business continuity. The course also provides an overview of management tools and issue tracking systems. This course has no prerequisites.
Introduction to Healthcare IT Systems
Introduction to Healthcare IT Systems introduces students to healthcare information technology as a discipline. Focusing on evaluating health information systems and collecting data, students will learn the various roles and functions of the health information manager in supporting the business of healthcare. This course introduces students to information technology as a discipline. This course also exposes students to the various roles and functions of the health information manager in supporting the business of healthcare. Students will learn through e-text readings, videos, case studies, several modules from LinkedIn Learning, knowledge checks, and unit quizzes. There are no prerequisites for this course.
Foundations in Healthcare Data Management
Foundations in Healthcare Data Management introduces students to the concepts and terminology used in health data and health information management. This course teaches students how to apply data management and governance principles in the healthcare environment. The student will learn about electronic health records (EHR), legal considerations, information governance, data management, health information management (HIM), and secondary data sources. In addition to the e-text and numerous additional articles and video resources, the student will engage with case studies and knowledge checks to assist with learning. There are no prerequisites for this course.
Health Information Law and Regulations
Health Information Law and Regulations prepares students to manage health information in compliance with legal guidelines and teaches how to respond to questions and challenges when legal issues occur. This course presents the types of situations occurring in health information management that could result in ethical dilemmas and establishes a foundation for work based on legal and ethical guidelines.
Quality and Performance Management and Methods
Quality and Performance Management and Methods examines quality initiatives within healthcare. Quality issues cover human resource management, employee performance, and patient safety. This course focuses on quality improvement initiatives and performance improvement with the health information management perspective.
Classification Systems
Classification Systems provides a comprehensive approach to learning about medical coding classification, coding audits, and quality standards. Candidates will be exposed to electronic health record systems and leadership principles as they relate to management of ICD and CPT codes. There are no prerequisites for this course.
Healthcare Compliance
Healthcare Compliance examines the role of the coding professional within healthcare information management. The course covers compliance plans, issues that arise with noncompliance, and management of internal and external audits.
Healthcare Reimbursement
Healthcare Reimbursement explores financial practices within the healthcare industry as they relate to reimbursement policies. This course identifies how reimbursement systems impact the revenue cycle and a health information manager's role. This course has no prerequisites.
Healthcare Statistics and Research
Healthcare Statistics and Research explores the use of statistical data to support process improvement through health information research. Health information management (HIM) professionals use information systems to gather, analyze, and present data in response to administrative and clinical needs. This course has no prerequisites.
Healthcare Information Systems Management
Healthcare Information Systems Management provides an overview of many facets of information systems in healthcare. This course explores how information technology (IT) is an organizational resource that must be managed so that it supports or enables healthcare organizational strategy. This course will discuss how decision support and communication are securely facilitated in the healthcare marketplace. This course also explores current and continuously evolving technologies, strategic thinking, and issues at the intersection of health information management and technology.
Healthcare Project Management
Healthcare Project Management provides students with a comprehensive foundation for project management. The course focuses on project management methodologies, process improvement analysis, business case proposals, and creating project planning documents for health information management (HIM) projects. This course will prepare students to determine project scope and timelines, complete interdepartmental stakeholder analysis, identify project resources, examine constraints and risks, and contribute to positive project communication.
Principles of Management in Health Information Management
Principles of Management in HIM provides an introductory look at the discipline of management and its context within the health information management environment. This course provides an overview of management and leadership, management functions, human resource management, and communication strategies. The course gives students an opportunity to analyze how leadership and management principles are used to achieve department goals. This course has no prerequisites.
Organizational Leadership in Healthcare
Organizational Leadership in Healthcare provides students with an overview of the principles and practices leaders need in healthcare environments. The course focuses on organizational leadership theory, behaviors, culture, and teamwork. This course prepares students to apply leadership theories, principles of organizational culture development, techniques for building and leading teams, and conflict resolution strategies to support organizational goals. This course has no prerequisites.
Health Information Management Capstone
The Health Information Management Capstone is the culmination of the student's degree program. The course allows students to do an environmental scan focusing specifically on emerging issues and trends in health information management (HIM) and to apply knowledge learned throughout the program to the problems and issues facing HIM professionals. The student will also develop a professional and educational development plan.
Healthcare Ecosystems
Healthcare Ecosystems examines how the aims and elements of the healthcare ecosystem can affect client and patient outcomes. The course explores the main aims of healthcare access, affordability, and quality and how regulators, providers, producers, and funders (such as payors or purchasers) support those aims. The course also examines insurance regulations and reimbursement procedures that affect healthcare access and affordability and decision-making processes that support affordable, quality care for clients and communities. There are no prerequisites for this course.
Foundations of Success
Learning Strategies in Higher Education
Learning Strategies in Higher Education provides students with a toolbox of skills that will support student academic growth as they advance in their academic journey. Students will be introduced to the WGU Library; how to use it and best practices for research strategies. Students will learn how to be professional in written communication and how to properly integrate and cite source materials in academic papers. In this course, students also will learn about setting goals, time-management, study strategies, making and keeping appointments, professional decorum, and test-taking skills. Learning these skills, strategies, and methods will establish an academic foundation for students to be successful in higher education. There are no prerequisites for this course.
Healthcare Data
Data Analytics and Information Governance
Data Analytics and Information Governance explores the structure, methods, and approaches for using health information in the healthcare industry. By focusing on quality data collection, analytics, and industry regulations, students will examine tools that ensure quality data collection as well as to use data to improve quality of care. This course has no prerequisites.
Healthcare Financial Resource Management
Healthcare Financial Resource Management examines financial practices within healthcare industries to promote effective management at department and organization levels. Focusing on financial processes associated with facility operations in the healthcare field, this course will analyze the impact of strategic financial planning and regulatory control processes. This course has no prerequisites.
36 Courses
Program consists of 36 courses
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.
Program Guide
Capstone Project
Special requirements for this program
At the end of your program, you will complete a
capstone project
that represents the culmination of all your hard work—a research project applicable to the field of health information management that aims to expand the body of knowledge in the profession.
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WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference
Traditional Universities
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 4 years, minimal acceleration options
As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 3 years
TRANSFER CREDITS
Few accepted, based on certain schools and specific courses
A generous transfer policy that is based on your specific situation
Apply Now
Traditional Universities
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
TUITION STRUCTURE
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
SUPPORT
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
EXAMS
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
SCHEDULE
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 4 years, minimal acceleration options
TIME TO FINISH
As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 3 years
TRANSFER CREDITS
Few accepted, based on certain schools and specific courses
TRANSFER CREDITS
A generous transfer policy that is based on your specific situation
Apply Now
Why WGU?
Affordability
WGU tuition is charged per six-month term, not per credit. That means if you want to move faster through the online health information management program, you'll pay less.
PAYING FOR SCHOOL
On Your Schedule
WGU students can continue working at their job, and keep up with their family responsibilities all while earning a degree. You don't have to take time off work or rearrange your shifts—at WGU you don't have to log in to classes at a certain time, and your assignments don't have deadlines. You can work any time, anywhere.
A FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
Accelerated
When you earn your HIM degree from WGU you can take your existing knowledge and put it to use. You can move through your courses as quickly as you show mastery in the material, helping you graduate faster.
ADMISSIONS INFO
Accredited, Respected,
Recognized™
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality is institutionally recognized.
COST & TIME
An Affordable Health Information Management Degree
By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
Apply FREE
Tuition Calculator
Pay less by completing your program faster
TOTAL COST:
YEARS
Cost Breakdown
Tuition
4,210
E-Books and Resources Fee
200
TOTAL (per 6-month term)
6-month terms
Total Cost
A College Degree Within Reach
There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:
The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.
Responsible Borrowing Initiative
Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.
Financial Aid
Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.
Scholarships
WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the Institute for College Access and Success (2022).
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
How We're Different: Programs That Put You in the Driver’s Seat
Our unique approach to education allows you to move through your courses on your schedule, as quickly as you can show mastery of the material. Improve patient outcomes and influence communities with your knowledge of evidence-based practice, patient safety, technology integration, and healthcare systems and policies. Demonstrating mastery is how you pass a course, so learning what it takes to be outstanding in your career is at the heart of WGU’s health information management curriculum.
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"WGU gives you the ability to complete your degree on your schedule and at the pace you choose. The staff are always there when needed, to provide assistance and support or to just cheer you on. It was truly a great experience!”
—Jennifer B.
B.S. Health Information Management
CAREER OUTLOOK
Health Information Management—Where the Art of Care Meets Data Innovation
Your career in health information management awaits. Improve patient care as the crucial link connecting medical providers, the information they gather, the technology and data systems they use to track critical patient info, and the patients themselves. Maintaining the quality of medical records is of utmost importance for individuals and for the healthcare system at large—and it is one of the areas of healthcare with the greatest opportunity for growth and improvement. As a health information management professional, you can maximize your potential and put your unique talents to good use.
Once you have completed WGU's online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degree program, you will have the knowledge and skills it takes to be an outstanding health information management professional. You will also be eligible to sit for the RHIA® exam and become a credentialed health information administrator.
MORE ABOUT CAREERS
Return on Your Investment
Many WGU graduates may see an increase in income post-graduation
Average income increase in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary from all degrees. Source:
2024 Harris Poll
of 1,655 WGU graduates.
Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.
16%
The number of positions for health information technologists and medical registrars is expected to
grow 16% through 2033
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
WGU's Health Information Management Grads are Working in Diverse, Fulfilling Roles
Our 500-plus Bachelor of Science Health Information Management alumni have great jobs and satisfying careers:
Job Titles
Director of Informatics
Information Systems Auditor
HIMS Chief
Health Records Manager
Diverse Industries
Hospitals
Doctor’s Offices and Clinics
Laboratories
Colleges and Universities
Health Systems
Major Employers
Primary Children’s Hospital
PeaceHealth
ARUP Laboratories
Langley Air Force Base
Veterans Health Administration
WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers
Hospitals and clinics around the country know the benefit of a degree from WGU, so your healthcare degree is valuable.
More About Career Growth
ADMISSIONS
WGU Admission Requirements
What We Look for in Applicants
WGU considers a range of factors that reflect academic readiness, alignment with our mission, and potential for success in the program when reviewing applications. While no single element guarantees admission, strong applications to undergraduate programs possess one or more of the following:
Successfully complete college coursework
Possess an approved industry certification
Earned an associate’s degree in a related field
Applicants must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent AND demonstrate program readiness through one of the following:
Option 1
: Submit transcripts documenting completion of college-level coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Option 2
: Possess a bachelors or associates degree from an accredited post-secondary institution.
Option 3
: Submit high school transcripts for review with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Previous misdemeanor or felony convictions may affect eligibility for healthcare employment.
GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Get Your Enrollment Checklist
Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.
VIEW CHECKLIST
Get Your Questions Answered
Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.
CONTACT AN ENROLLMENT COUNSELOR
Transfer Credits
TRANSFER INFORMATION
More About the Health Information Management Program at WGU
RHIA Certification
General Program Questions
Satisfaction Rate
Mission
CAHIIM
Program Completion
Employment Rate
Credentialed by AHIMA, Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIA) are the data-and-knowledge link between care providers and patients. Earning an RHIA credential and becoming a health information administrator is the next step for professionals with Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT®) and other allied health professionals—and often comes with significant salary bump.
And because WGU’s highly respected HIM bachelor’s degree is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), it satisfies the eligibility requirement for aspiring RHIA applicants.
Additionally, if you already hold credentials from organizations such as AHIMA, HIMSS, and other HIM and IT certification programs, they may transfer to your WGU B.S. Health Information Management program—possibly allowing you to graduate faster and lowering your overall tuition costs.
Learn more about the RHIA exam
Our HIM program prepares you to take the Registered Health Information Administration (RHIA) exam.
Yes. A degree in health information management can prepare you for fulfilling career opportunities with high impact and competitive salaries. Those who choose a career in health information management find a rewarding career where they improve patient care and outcomes.
Yes! There are online degree programs, like the one offered at WGU, that allow you to take health information management coursework completely online. You may be able to complete an online program more quickly than a traditional HIM program, which is an added bonus.
With a HIM degree, you may be able to work in hospitals, health systems, laboratories, doctor’s offices, and even universities. You may be qualified for the following jobs within those industries:
Director of informatics
Information systems auditor
HIMS chief
Health records manager
It will likely take four years to complete a degree in health information management at a traditional university. However, if you earn a degree from an online university like WGU, you may be able to accelerate your courses and finish much faster.
Overall, 87% of BSHIM students surveyed in a recent poll said they were satisfied with the Health Information Management program. *
* From August 1
st
, 2023, through July 31st 2024, 841 BSHIM students responded.
94.3% of BSHIM graduates responding to the graduate survey said they were satisfied with the Health Information Management program. **
**From August 1, 2023 to July 31st, 2024, 55 BSHIM graduates responded.
The mission of the BSHIM program is to provide a pathway of opportunity for all learners interested in the Health Information Management profession.  We strive to provide quality education at a reduced cost, ensuring access for every learner, and empowering learners through personalized learning strategies in a competency-based curriculum.
The BSHIM program goals are to provide:
A competency-based degree program that allows students to demonstrate their professional knowledge and skills.
Broad access to education where students live and work.
Professional preparation for new health information management practice roles
Preparation for the Registered Health Information Administration (RHIA) examination.
The Health Information Management accreditor of Western Governors University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for the baccalaureate degree in health information management has been reaffirmed through 2032-2033. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM; 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100; Chicago, IL 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at
info@cahiim.org
100% - The percentage of BSHIM graduates who graduated before or on the expected graduation date for the year 2024.
99% of BSHIM graduates responding to the graduate survey were employed full-time within one year of graduation*
*From August 1, 2023 to July 31st, 2024.
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