Master of Science in Health Informatics

Curriculum

Designed for working professionals, the 36-credit MSHI program covers applied informatics, database management, health care operations, health informatics foundations and systems design. Students take 6–9 credits per semester, with an optional thesis track for those pursuing research.

Full-Time

Fall Start

Spring Start

Part-Time

Fall Start

Spring Start

Approved Electives

• HAP 632, Quality Management of Health Care Services, 3 credit hours
• HAP 705, Health Economics, 3 credit hours
• HAP 721, Health Care Delivery Systems, 3 credit hours
• HAP 735, Health Law & Risk Management, 3 credit hours
• HAP 737, Organization Theory, 3 credit hours
• HAP 743, Managing Across Continuum Care, 3 credit hours
• IP 717, Telehealth Teams of the Future, 3 credit hours

Clinical Education

As South Carolina’s only comprehensive academic health science center, MUSC offers a collaborative, interdisciplinary learning environment grounded in research and real-world application. The MSHI program reflects MUSC’s commitment to preparing health care professionals who can lead in a data-driven, digitally enabled future.

Research Opportunities

Every student in the MSHI program completes a culminating experience that bridges classroom learning with real-world application. You’ll choose between a capstone project, where you tackle a real health informatics challenge for a health care organization or a thesis, ideal for those pursuing in-depth research or considering doctoral study.

These experiences give you the opportunity to apply your technical, analytical and leadership skills to solve meaningful problems; whether that’s optimizing clinical workflows, improving data-driven decision-making or advancing health IT solutions. By graduation, you’ll have a portfolio-ready project or published-quality research that demonstrates your expertise, strengthens your professional profile and prepares you to make an immediate impact on the workforce.

Two recent student thesis projects include:

• Vera Luther, MD: Identifying Bias in AI Diagnostics
• Olivia Jung – MUSC employee – Transforming clinical notes? a review of Ambient AI

Application Process

The following process outlines how and when your materials will be reviewed.

1. Submit the MUSC application.
2. Submit all supplemental materials, if not included within the application.
3. Once all materials have been received and verified, your application will be reviewed.

Application Requirements

1. MUSC Application: All applicants must submit an MUSC application.
2. Supplemental Materials: Applicants will need to submit the following supplemental materials.
   1. Official transcripts from all institutions attended
   2. Letters of recommendation: If an applicant’s GPA is below 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, they may be required to provide references to provide letters of recommendation.

All information above must be received by the deadline to be considered for admission to the program. Without all materials, applications will be incomplete. It is the applicant's responsibility to review the progress of their application to ensure that all application materials have been submitted.

International Applicants

MUSC welcomes international applicants and offers tailored guidance to support you throughout the admission process. View details at International Applicants.

Cost of Attendance

Full-time

Part-time

Disclaimer: The Estimated Total listed above reflects an approximation of educational costs for planning purposes only. Actual expenses may vary based on individual circumstances, program requirements and annual changes in tuition, fees and other costs. The Medical University of South Carolina reserves the right to adjust tuition, fees and other charges at any time without prior notice.

Scholarships

MUSC offers scholarships for which you may be eligible. Some are awarded based on academic achievement; others are awarded based on community service, for example. However, the majority of scholarships awarded at MUSC are based on financial need. This means that these scholarships are only awarded to students who need some financial assistance to cover the cost of tuition and fees. If you would like to be considered for a financial need-based scholarship, you must have an up-to-date Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. Make sure you list the Medical University of South Carolina on your FAFSA form, along with MUSC's code: 003438. We encourage you to submit your FAFSA as early as possible. It is recommended to submit your FAFSA in January if you plan to enroll in the fall.

Click here to visit our scholarship application system to view a complete listing of MUSC scholarships.

Graduation Rates

The table below provides graduation rates by year for the Master of Science in Health Informatics program.

Employment Rates

The following table provides the employment rate for graduates seeking employment within six months of graduation.

Competencies

Upon completion of the MSHI program, graduates should be able to:

• Analyze and evaluate health information systems to inform improvements in clinical workflows and patient outcomes.
• Design and implement evidence‑based strategies and interventions that integrate data science principles and informatics technologies to address operational, population health or research challenges.
• Conduct and interpret rigorous research or evaluation to employ applied statistics, data mining or system evaluation methods to generate insights that influence practice, policy or scholarly discourse.
• Demonstrate ethical and regulatory acumen, applying pertinent legal, privacy and professional standards in the design, use and governance of health data and technology.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively across interprofessional teams, articulating analytic findings, system requirements or research outcomes to stakeholders with clarity and scholarly precision.
• Develop and justify data‑driven improvement initiatives, framed by critically reflective inquiry, that anticipate and respond to evolving health informatics needs at institutional or societal levels.

Vision

To achieve national distinction in education, scholarship and service.

Mission

The Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI) program strives to improve the health care delivery system by educating current and future health care leaders in an interprofessional environment, engaging in excellence in scholarly activities and providing benefits to the university, the region and the professional community. The MSHI program serves the citizens of South Carolina and beyond in meeting health care informatics needs by preparing students for careers in health care informatics positions in health services organizations.

The MSHI program develops working health care professionals by providing the needed knowledge and skills for advancement in the health care industry. Classes are offered in a format conducive for the working student, including using weekend offerings and distance education technologies.

Values

At the core of our program, we are guided by a commitment to the following values that drive our mission:

• Compassion: We act with kindness, empathy and dignity.
• Collaboration: We achieve common goals through teamwork and partnerships.
• Innovation: We drive transformation by embracing new ideas, discoveries and practices.
• Integrity: We do the right thing and commit to accountability in words, actions and use of resources.
• Respect: We value everyone and their many perspectives to build trust and a sense of belonging.

Advisory Council

The MUSC MSHI Advisory Council serves as an external board offering recommendations to the program. Members come from industry, consulting and academics and bring expertise in the area of informatics, innovation, technology, analytics, education, telemedicine and electronic health record (EHR) use. The council meets 1-2 times per year to review program practices and outcomes and makes recommendations on curriculum, growth, recruitment and development.

Council Members

• Mark Daniels, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Medical University of South Carolina
• Shari Donley, MBA, CPHIMS, AVP IT Governance and Corporate HIPAA Officer, McLeod Health
• John Glaser, Ph.D., Program Director, Global Health Care Leaders, Harvard Medical School
• Michelle Hager, Managing Partner, Blue Cirrus Consulting
• Amanda James, MSHI, RN, Telehealth Nurse Manager, Ambulatory Specialty Services, Medical University of South Carolina
• Aaron Miri, DHA, FCHIME, CHCIO, EVP and Chief Digital & Information Officer, Baptist Health
• Jihad Obeid, M.D., Endowed Chair for Biomedical Informatics Associated with Clinical Effectiveness & Patient Safety, Medical University of South Carolina
• E. Haywood Titchener, MSHI, Clinical Application Manager, Medical University of South Carolina
• Matt Turner, MHA, VP of Business Intelligence, Aledade
• Sebastian van Delden, Ph.D., Provost and VP for Academic Affairs, Winthrop University
• Robert Warren, M.D., Ph.D., MPH, Epic Emeritus CMIO, Epic and Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and Rheumatology, Medical University of South Carolina