Online Bachelor of Health Information Management
Standing at the intersection of health care, technology, and business, Health Information Management (HIM) plays a crucial role in the management of critical health data.
What is Health Information Management (HIM)?
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) defines Health Information Management as “the practice of gathering, analyzing and securing all forms of important medical information to help provide quality patient care.”
If you want to start a new career or advance in the healthcare industry, this degree is perfect for you. UC’s online program can be completed one class at a time in just two years! Classes can be scheduled to fit your needs.
Bachelor of Health Information Management Highlights
High Quality Education
- Online BHIM program is fully accredited by CAHIIM®
- Experiential learning offers valuable real-world experience
- Curriculum prepares students for the RHIA®* exam
- Personalized feedback and low student-faculty ratios
- Exclusive access to UC’s national healthcare network
- Exclusive access to career services and industry job boards
Flexibility
- Easy credit transfer
- 100% online – no campus visits required
- Generous financial aid packages including scholarships and grants
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your partner through the application process, getting enrolled, and starting your program
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
A bachelor’s degree requires completion of at least 120 semester credit hours. If a student has already successfully obtained an associate’s degree, those credit hours can be used to build towards the bachelor’s degree.
UC’s online HIM courses are scheduled in two, seven-week sessions per semester. This allows students to focus on one class at a time, while successfully managing existing responsibilities at work and home. Our HIM program is also designed to prepare students for RHIA® certification and high-level leadership in the healthcare industry.
Program learning outcomes include:
- Fundamental abilities & competencies for a high-level career in the HIM field
- Proper management of confidential patient information, ensuring data integrity
- Management & leadership skills including effective communication & best practices
- Advanced project management skills and problem-solving abilities
Faculty Commitment
HIM faculty and staff are committed to providing students with a highly-valuable learning experience. Our professors are available (and more than happy) to offer personalized feedback and guidance to our HIM students and alumni.
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ALH1015 | Human Disease This course will provide students with an overview of current medical information on common clinical disorders encountered in health care. Topics include principles of diseases of the various organ systems. |
2 |
| BIOL1015 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology Freshmen level course, 3 undergraduate credits. This course discusses the basic anatomy and physiology of the human body, basic current medical information on common clinical disorders encountered in the health field, the nomenclature used in describing anatomy, physiology, and disease of the human body, and the etymology of key terminology. This course is designed for students enrolled in programs of Emergency Medical Professions, Health Information Technology, Medical Assisting, and Human Services and Social Work. (Not for biology majors) |
3 |
| BIOL1015L | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology Lab This laboratory course accompanies Introduction toAnatomy and Physiology (BIOL1015). Activities provide a deeper and practical understanding of the basic principles of human anatomy and physiology. Many of the activities utilize laboratory simulation software. Topics include histology, blood analysis, skeletal muscle physiology, nerve impulse physiology, respiratory mechanics, chemical and physical properties of digestion, cardiovascular dynamics and endocrine physiology. This course was designed for students enrolled in Health Information Systems, Medical Assisting, Multi-Skilled Health Technology, and Emergency Medical Technology (not for biology or nursing majors). Co-requisite: BIOL1015. |
1 |
| ENGL1001 | English Composition English Composition 1001 is a writing-centered course that emphasizes the careful reading, analytical thinking, and persuasive strategies inherent in researching and writing within an academic community. Students learn that rhetorical knowledge is the basis of composing while learning to write with purpose, audience, context, and conventions in mind. Students develop rigorous academic research practices: how to locate and evaluate primary and secondary sources relevant to their line of inquiry and position their own ideas in conversation with public writing. Students also engage in regular self-reflection: articulating what they know, what they can do, and how to apply their knowledge and skills in various contexts. |
3 |
| ENGL2089 | Intermediate Composition Intermediate Composition is a writing-centered course that builds on what students learn in first-year composition and focuses students’ attention on theoretical underpinning of how meaning is made, understood, and communicated within and across various discourse communities and genres. The course emphasizes critical reading and writing, advanced research and analysis skills, and rhetorical sensitivity to differences in academic, professional, and public composing. This course challenges students to engage in substantive projects drawing on primary research and source analysis methods and asks students to document, communicate, and reflect on their research. |
3 |
| HIST1100 | Democracy and the American Tradition This course delves into the democratic traditions present in United States history by closely examining and analyzing primary sources. Essential founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, and the United States Constitution will be scrutinized. Students will be encouraged to think critically about the influence of democratic rhetoric and practice in shaping a new national identity. The study will extend to other documents including Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and writings by Martin Luther King, Jr., providing insights into the evolving concepts of democracy and its pivotal role in American political movements. The course aims to provide a contextual understanding of the key documents, enabling students to analyze the interplay between philosophy and practice during critical junctures in United States History. By the end of the course, students will have gained a deeper comprehension of American civic and cultural traditions, ethical and economic frameworks, and their impact on decision-making in the political realm. |
3 |
| STAT1031 | Introduction to Statistics A one-semester comprehensive introduction to statistics suitable for students in biology, nursing, allied health, and applied science. Discussion of data, frequency distributions, graphical and numerical summaries, design of statistical studies, and probability as a basis for statistical inference and prediction. The concepts and practice of statistical inference including confidence intervals, one and two sample t-tests, chi-square tests, regression and analysis of variance, with attention to selecting the procedure(s) appropriate for the question and data structure, and interpreting and using the result. Prerequisite: at least 30 on the ALEKS Math test or 420 on the Math Placement Test (MPT) is recommended. |
3 |
| GE Codes: AH | Arts and Humanities (AH) Elective The student will select an Arts and Humanities (AH) elective. The course may not be from the History discipline. |
3 |
| GE Codes: SBS | Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Electives The student will select two 3-credit-hour SBS electives from different disciplines. |
6 |
| GE Codes: AH,CD,ENC,MSL,NSC,OC,SBS | General Education Elective The student will select 7 hours of General Education coursework. HPE 1004 Introduction to Epidemiology and COMM 1071 - Introduction to Effective Speaking are recommended as options. |
9 |
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| HIM 3004 | Issues in Legal Aspects and Healthcare Delivery This course will explore national trends in healthcare delivery and focus on legal and ethical issues. Case studies will highlight practical applications in the management of health information. |
4 |
| HIM 3006 | Health Data Management I This course is designed to be an advanced study of methods and techniques to manage health care data with primary focus on electronic records. Topics include healthcare databases, documentation guidelines and evaluation of compliance with regulations and standards. |
5 |
| HIM 3007 | Health Data Management II This course will build on the concepts covered in Health Data Management I. Students will perform advanced data analytics utilizing open-source software. Students will demonstrate the impact that data can have on outcomes and performance improvement within healthcare organizations. |
4 |
| HIM 3012 | Health Information Systems In this course, students will study the framework and architecture that defines the electronic health record and the key role it plays in the quality of health care delivery. Students will compare and contrast the methods of communication, technology and data security measures in health care organizations.
|
5 |
| HIM 3014 | Health Information Technology Practicum This course will focus on problem-based learning and projects associated with computer applicationsin healthcare. Students will engage in practice issues and tasks applied to workflow analysis. |
4 |
| HIM 3021 | Revenue Cycle Management This course provides HIM students with the opportunity to evaluate reimbursement methodologies within healthcare and delineates health information management’s role in revenue cycle management. |
5 |
| HIM 4004C | Healthcare Statistics and Research Methods This course is designed to provide an introductionto research methods as well as analysis and presentation of data. |
4 |
| HIM 4008 | Organizational Management and Leadership in Healthcare This course focuses on the application of principles of human resource departments and managing health information management departments in healthcare facilities. |
5 |
| HIM 4016 | Financial Management in Healthcare This course is designed to examine the financial aspects of healthcare and accounting principles. |
5 |
| HIM 4018 | Project Management This course will focus on developing strategic and operational plans in health care. Students apply principles for the project management of health information services. This course provides a study of change, team building and leadership development related to the practice of health care. Students explore strategies for problem-solving and decision-making.
|
4 |
| HIM 5005 | Capstone and Practicum Environmental scan of emerging issues and trends in the health information management (HIM) field. Develop an educational plan for individual presentations and senior PowerPoint presentation. Integrate studies and apply knowledge to problems and issues facing the HIM profession and apply knowledge to case studies. |
7-10 |
- An Associate degree from any CAHIIM accredited program, or
- Any regionally or nationally accredited Associate degree (prerequisites required)
Prerequisites
If the degree is from a non-CAHIIM accredited program, students must take the following (required) Body of Knowledge courses:
- ALH1015C Human Disease
- HCMT2000 Foundations of Pharmacology
- BIOL1015 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology
- HCMT2015 Healthcare Applications
- STAT1031 Introduction to Statistics
- HCMT1001 Medical Terminology for the Health Professions
- HCMT1003C Introduction to Medical Coding
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $50.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $100.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- Application fees for UC Online programs are waived through Summer 2026 for all applicants
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who:
- are currently serving in the US armed forces
- are veterans of the US armed forces
Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year. Our staff will review your application based on the following:
After submitting your application form, all applicants are required to have official transcripts sent directly to University of Cincinnati in order to be eligible for admissions review.
- First-Year and Transfer Applicants with Fewer Than 24 Completed Semester Hours at a Prior College:
- Order official transcripts from your high school and all prior colleges (if applicable) for delivery directly to University of Cincinnati.
- Transfer Applicants with 24+ Completed Semester Hours at a Prior College:
- Order official transcripts from all prior colleges for delivery directly to University of Cincinnati.
- You are exempt from the High School transcript requirement, this item will be removed from your application checklist once your college documents are received.
Please review the section below for guidance on how to submit your transcripts.
Online transcript request systems are the preferred method to deliver official transcripts electronically. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly to determine their ordering process.
If a physical copy must be sent, DO NOT request it be delivered to you. It must be sent directly from your prior school to the following address:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Summer 2026 Fall 2026 Spring 2027 |
March 15, 2026 July 15, 2026 November 15, 2026 |
May 11, 2026 August 24, 2026 January 11, 2027 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
CAHIIM® Accreditation
The health information management accreditor of the University of Cincinnati is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM®). The College’s accreditation for its Baccalaureate degree in health information management has been reaffirmed through 2031-2032. 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.
The mission of the University of Cincinnati’s online Health Information Management program is to improve healthcare and resource management by educating students on the financial, administrative, and clinical data/information required to manage, plan, analyze, deliver, and evaluate health information systems. Health Information Management students will be immersed in innovative and engaging learning experiences that will prepare them for entry-level management roles within the healthcare industry.
The goal of the University of Cincinnati’s online Health Information Management program is to graduate competent, knowledgeable administrators in health information management. To achieve these goals, standards and competencies have been identified in key areas where outcomes can be measured through appropriate evaluation methods. The information provided below illustrates the process used at the University of Cincinnati:
- Fulfill the missions of the University of Cincinnati (UC) and UC Clermont.
- Prepare students with the educational base and skills required to meet HIM career competencies.
- Offer a high-quality, comprehensive curriculum based on continuous assessment and quality improvement.
- Offer opportunities for students to complete requirements through innovative, distance-learning methods.
- Provide a program that is student-centered including valuable faculty-student interaction and mentorship.
- Serve the state and local healthcare community by planning and delivering HIM education programs.
- 80% RHIA Exam pass rate*
- 88% Student Retention Rate: 88% of admitted students persist.**
- 5% of eligible students are admitted into the MHA/MHI accelerated pathway.
*As of 2/21/2026
**2023-24 Academic Year
Federal regulations require the University of Cincinnati to publicly disclose whether completion of certain programs that lead or may lead to professional licensure or certification would meet a given state’s educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation (regardless of whether the program is on-ground, online, or hybrid). To learn whether a University program meets a given state’s educational requirements, please visit the University of Cincinnati State Authorization webpage.
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