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.
63% 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 faster.
Tuition per six-month term is
$3,998
Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps HIM students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. Finish faster, pay less!
On average, students transfer
33 credits
Your associate’s degree or previous college may waive some courses through transfer. We review your transcripts for transfer credits.
COURSES & COMPETENCIES
Health Information Management Courses
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.
The first course you take in this program will be unlike any other you complete at WGU. Professional Leadership & Communication in Healthcare requires participation in online group meetings with faculty and fellow students. Multiple group options are available, so you will work with your enrollment counselor or mentor to determine the group whose schedule works best for you.
36 Courses
Program consists of 36 courses
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to ensure your degree is proof you really know your stuff.
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.
“Great experience for a full time working mother of four. If I can do it, anyone can!“
—Kacie
B.S. Health Information Management
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.
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, any where.
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.
Accredited, Respected,
Recognized
Healthcare and nursing employers want employees with the credentials that prove they can help improve patient care while streamlining facilities and strengthening their reputations. An important measure of a health degree’s value is whether it comes from an accredited university with programs recognized for excellence by leading healthcare organizations. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been 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.
A Health Information Management Bachelor's Degree Is Within Reach
There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:
The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2021 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.
Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.
Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
How We're Different: Competency-Based 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.
"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.
Return on Your Investment
8%
The number of positions for medical records and health information technicians is expected to grow 8% from 2019 to 2029.
—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 bachelor's degree from WGU, so your nursing degree is valuable.
ADMISSIONS
Admissions Requirements Unique to This Health Information Management Degree
To be considered for enrollment into the Bachelor of Science Health Information Management program, you must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent AND demonstrate program readiness through one of the following:
- Option 1: Submit high school transcripts for review with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Option 2: Possess a bachelors or associates degree from an accredited post-secondary institution.
- Option 3: Submit transcripts documenting completion of college-level coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
As a condition for placement in most professional practice sites, students are required to have a background check and/or drug screening to meet requirements set by individual sites as well as by WGU. Previous misdemeanor or felony convictions may affect eligibility for placement during Professional Practice Experience.
Students must submit to a criminal background check before engaging in Professional Placement Experiences.
Safety Notice: WGU and the Leavitt School of Health are committed to the health, safety, and well-being of all patients, community members, and key stakeholders that interact with WGU students at various clinical/host sites. Interactions might include direct patient interaction, observation experiences, laboratory experiences, project development, or conducting research. Standard compliance verification for students in applicable LSH programs is required to protect the public, meet LSH program expectations, reasonably assure compliance with state regulatory board requirements, meet WGU’s contractual and legal obligations with clinical partners, and support WGU’s mission to prepare students who will be qualified to enter their desired field. Compliance items may include, but are not limited to, background checks, immunizations, and drug screens as needed.
Get Your Enrollment Checklist
Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.
Get Your Questions Answered
Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.
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.
Overall, 91% of BSHIM students surveyed in a recent poll said they were satisfied with the Health Information Management program.*
*From July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, 298 BSHIM students 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 2023. 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 2021.
Health Information Management – B.S.
WGU’s accredited online health information management bachelor’s degree is a flexible, reputable, and affordable program for healthcare professionals. WGU can help you earn a degree at home.
100% of BSHIM graduates responding to the graduate survey were employed full-time within one year of graduation*
**From July 1,2021 to June 30, 2022, 298 BSHIM students responded.
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