Timelines & Requirements (MSHIIM)

Admission requirements

Requirements to apply

• A bachelor’s degree in information systems, health information management, statistics (or closely related field) from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree
• A minimum GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
• Knowledge in the following areas, evidenced in academic transcripts or prior experience:
  • Information systems (IS):
    • Related undergraduate degree in MIS
    • Undergraduate or graduate coursework that covers knowledge of IS
    • Appropriate, verifiable IS or IT experience
  • Health care:
    • Related undergraduate degree in Health Information Management (HIM) or another health care field
    • Undergraduate or graduate coursework that covers knowledge of health care
    • Appropriate, verifiable health care experience
  •  Statistics:
    • Related undergraduate degree in statistics or related field
    • Undergraduate or graduate coursework that covers knowledge of statistics
    • Appropriate, verifiable experience working with statistics

• If you do not have the appropriate coursework or experience to demonstrate competency in the knowledge areas, you can still be accepted, however you might be required to take foundational courses as part of your formal Plan of Study.

Application deadlines

Please submit your application by:

• August 15 for admission for the following Fall semester
• November 15 for admission for the following Spring semester
• April 15 for admission for the following Summer semester 
  
  

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Application materials checklist

• Completed online application
• 3 letters of recommendation
  The person writing the recommendation must complete the survey letter for you to upload directly to the application portal (instructions and template included in application portal). 
• Official transcripts 
  Official transcripts should show a conferred bachelor's degree. Transcripts with graduate credit can be submitted for credit-transfer consideration. 
  
  All official trancripts can be submitted to DSU-GraduateAdmissions@dsu.edu.
• Goal statement/purpose of study 
  • There is no required formatting for your goal statement/purpose of study in the application process, but be as straightforward about your goals and aspirations as possible. Try to organize your thoughts in an essay/narrative format. Our Admissions Committee wants to know:
    • Why this degree?
    • Why now?
    • What do you wish to do with the degree upon completion?
    • What skills do you possess that will help you succeed?

FAQS 

How much does the program cost? 
DSU bills tuition per credit hour and the cost is billed at the online coursework rate. You can review the breakdown of costs per credit here under the Off-campus tuition by credit hour: DSU Tuition Costs 

Does this program require the GRE to apply?  
No, DSU does not require a GRE score for graduate program applications.

The GRE is only required if you are applying for a graduate assistantship (outside of athletics). Preferred GRE scores should be around 320 or higher to be considered for an Assistantship. Online Students are not eligible for Assistantship Awards. 

Does DSU require English proficiency scores for international applicants? 
Yes, please visit International Admissions Requirements for more information on English Proficiency requirements and additional application materials required for International Applicants.

How long does the program usually take to complete? 
For part-time students, the program can take 2-3 years to complete (1 class at a time). For full-time students, the program can take 1-1.5 years to complete (2-3 classes at a time).

Can the application fee be waived? 
The $35 application fee is required for all programs and cannot be waived by University Policy.

Have a question not answered here?
Contact GradOffice@dsu.edu for additional support.

Graduation requirements

Our MSHIIM program requires a total of 33 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate. This includes:

• Successful completion of all courses listed on your MSHIIM Plan of Study within the 5-year time limit.
• Achievement of a GPA of at least 3.0 (a "B" average), with no more than 6 credit hours of a "C" grade and no grade below a "C" in the courses on your Plan of Study
• Core courses (30 credits): These courses build background and skills that should be common to all masters-level health informatics professionals.
• Master's research problem/project (three credits): This capstone course provides an opportunity to apply new knowledge and skills.
• A comprehensive exam

Program completion

You can choose to earn your MSHIIM as a full-time or part-time student. Full-time students can usually complete the program in under two years or five semesters. For part-time students, the completion time depends on the number of credit hours taken per semester.

Please note that you are required to complete the program within five years of the semester of your first course.

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