Mar 29, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

Health Informatics [Undergraduate Certificate]


This certificate introduces the student to information systems terminology, structures, applications, and their relationship to management functions in health services organizations. Health providers and enterprise-wide health systems are continuing to make multimillion-dollar investments in information systems in order to meet new market and regulatory requirements. Health services managers are required to play a critical role in the analysis, design, acquisition, installation, operation and ultimate success of information systems necessary to meet organizational goals and objectives in such environments. This course exposes students to the fundamental IS/IT applications used to support health care management functions. In addition, applications and management issues unique to industry segments (e.g., long-term care, home care, hospital administration, physician practice management) will also be explored. The certificate is designed to ensure that students are schooled in the terminology, conceptual models, applications, opportunities, and limitations of core technologies and their relation to information systems used in health services, to the point where they can ask appropriate questions, recognize and state significant issues, and participate in the discussion and analysis of information systems development and application. Ultimately, it seeks to provide students with an understanding of the basic structures of information systems in health administration; the relationship of these systems to managerial functions such as communications, coordination, control, strategic and process planning and decision-making; and the important policy and ethical issues associated with privacy, confidentiality, and security in information systems. A key component of the certificate will be a commitment to provide continuous updates to course materials, as U.S. healthcare technology and policy evolve. Also, since the certificate represents the integration and application of a prerequisite CIS or Computer Science sequence, students will be grounded in fundamental technologies commonly used in health care in addition to gaining an understanding of major information management issues specific to healthcare systems.

School Information


Health Sciences | Colleen Croxall, Ph.D., Director | 313 Marshall, 734.487.4096, ccroxall@emich.edu

Advisor Information


Rodney K McCurdy, Ph.D., MHA, 206A Marshall, 734.487.6630, rmccurd3@emich.edu

Critical Information


Students pursuing an undergraduate certificate in conjunction with a baccalaureate degree must declare this using the major/minor declaration form. Students not pursuing an undergraduate certificate in conjunction with a baccalaureate degree are required to apply to the certificate program through the Office of Admissions.

The following are the minimum requirements for an Undergraduate Certificate:

  • An undergraduate certificate may only be offered in conjunction with or subsequent to a baccalaureate degree. They cannot be ‘stand-alone’ certificates, offered to students who are not pursuing or do not have a previously earned bachelor’s degree. For students pursuing an undergraduate certificate concurrent with a bachelor’s degree, the certificate will be awarded upon graduation.
  • An undergraduate certificate will consist of a minimum of six credits at the 300-level or above, all of which must be taken at EMU. Prerequisite or lower-level coursework may be transferred from another university or community college.
  • Credits used to satisfy certificate course requirements cannot also be used to satisfy major, minor, or general education requirements.

An undergraduate certificate must require a minimum of 15 credit hours.

Certificate Requirements: 18 hours