Dakota State University students walking around campus

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That's the DSU equation. We're a four-year university with nationally recognized programs, cutting-edge facilities, and the brightest thinkers. But we're also a tight-knit, inclusive community. Small class sizes mean hands-on training and individualized attention. All this with an affordable, public school price that's among the best values in the region.

Majors & Degrees

National Health IT Week is October 2-6

October 2, 2017

October 2-6 is National Health IT Week, a time set aside to focus on the benefits health information technology can bring to U.S. healthcare. Combining health records information with technology provides for healthcare that is safe, accurate and accessible. Quality health IT improves the well-being of our communities by supporting healthcare transformation and expanding access to high quality care. It also helps increase economic opportunity.

Workers in the health IT field are in high demand in today’s fast-paced healthcare industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 15 percent growth in health information management by 2024, resulting in the creation of 29,000 new jobs.

For over 40 years, Dakota State University has been helping to meet these needs by offering strong health information management (HIM) education programs with distinct features.

DSU’s four levels of degree programs are designed to build on one another, a format that is unique for programs offering health information management degrees. A student may begin with our certificate program, move on to an associate degree, progress to a bachelor’s degree, and finally earn their master’s degree.

In addition, DSU’s HIM faculty bring a rare combination of experience and ability to the classes, which are available on-campus or online. Our professors and instructors have hands-on work experience with electronic health record applications, and have earned respected credentials including Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), and Certified Professional in Health Informatics (CPHI). 

DSU’s programs are well-regarded in the industry. The undergraduate degrees are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). DSU is also a Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) academic organizational affiliate for the undergraduate degrees and a HIMSS approved education partner for the master’s degree.

DSU’s programs are also well-recognized by ranking organizations. In 2017 alone, HIM programs of study have received several high rankings. Non-Profit Colleges Online ranked the undergraduate degree as the nation’s 4th Best Online Bachelor's in Healthcare Administration and the master’s degree as the top in the nation. OnlineU.org ranked DSU’s programs twice this fall, #8 in the 2018 Top Online Colleges Offering Healthcare Administration degrees, and tied for 12th in the 2018 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Healthcare Administration Degrees. HealthcareSystemCareersEDU.org named DSU one of the Top 45 Medical Billing and Coding Programs Online.

With this unique combination of quality faculty, strong curricula, progressive degree design, online convenience and affordability, Dakota State faculty and staff, students and alumni are making a positive impact on patient healthcare in the country. For more information about National Health IT week, go to http://www.healthitweek.org/; to learn more about DSU’s health IT programs, our website is dsu.edu.

Renae Spohn, MBA, RHIA, CPHI, CPHQ, FAHIMA, FNAHQ

Director of Health Information Management Programs

Dakota State University

Madison, S.D.