Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management (HIM), offered by the Department of Health Services Administration and Policy, is focused on the development, implementation, management and maintenance of patient health information systems in accordance with legal, regulatory and accrediting agencies' requirements for health care data collection and dissemination. HIM professionals have a special role in making sure that patient information remains confidential and maintained in a manner that ensures the patient's privacy and that health care information is secure. A career in HIM combines interests in medicine, management, information technology, electronic health record systems and finance. HIM professionals design and manage health information systems, with special attention to quality and privacy of health information, in a wide range of settings such as hospitals, managed and ambulatory care, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, consulting firms and public health organizations.

The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management (BSHIM) includes classes covering six main areas:

  • Core HIM: Health Record Documentation, Legal Aspects of HIM, Internships, Healthcare Delivery Systems, and Professional Development.
  • Data Analytics: HIM IT Fundamentals, Electronic Health Record Systems, Informatics, and Database Development and Design.
  • Management: Leadership and Strategy, Human Resources, Operations, and Project Management.
  • Classification and Reimbursement: ICD-10, CPT4, Intermediate Coding, and Reimbursement.
  • Clinical Medicine: Pathophysiology, Medical Terminology, Clinical Procedures, and Pharmacology.
  • Internship: Management Internship (four weeks at a facility where you will be participating in a management project at that organization). Examples of internship sites include the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, NYU Medical Center, and Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Admissions

Beginning Fall 2021, first-year students may select Health Information Management as their major on their application for admission to Temple University and may be offered direct admission to the program. Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or above in order to begin the HIM major courses.

Laptop Requirements

Laptops are integrated into the HIM curriculum and are required to complete in-class activities and projects outside of class. In order to run specialized analytical software, a laptop with the minimum hardware specifications defined at https://cphapps.temple.edu/wiki/it/student/laptop will allow a smooth experience.

Certification

Students enrolled in the HIM program and in the last term of study are eligible to apply for and sit for the examination of the American Health Information Management Association for the nationally recognized certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).

Following satisfactory completion of all course requirements, the graduate is awarded the degree of Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management.

See https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/ for information about credentialing in Health Information Management.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate program in Health Information Management at Temple University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Contact Information

Huanmei Wu, PhD, Chair
Ritter Annex, Room 525
215-204-8163
huanmei.wu@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2023-2024. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2023 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Requirements

University Requirements

All students are required to complete the university's General Education (GenEd) curriculum (Analytical Reading & Writing, Intellectual Heritage I and II, Arts, Human Behavior, Global/World Society, U.S. Society, Race & Diversity, Science & Technology, Quantitative Literacy).

All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses at Temple as part of the major. The writing-intensive courses for this major are HIM 3297 and HIM 4298.

College Requirement

All CPH students must complete the College Core Course, HRPR 1001 Public Health: The Way We Live, Work and Play.

Clearance Requirements

Please note the Health Information Management program requires students to complete internships at facilities both on and off the University campus. These placements may require criminal background checks, Act 33/34 clearances and perhaps a drug screen. Placements may also require the student to maintain personal health insurance. The results of these requirements may limit and potentially eliminate placement options which can, in turn, result in an inability to meet graduation requirements.

Program Requirements

Students in the HIM program are required to satisfy the following prerequisite courses before beginning HIM upper level courses. A grade of C or better is required for all prerequisite and professional courses (a grade of C- is not acceptable).

Health Information Management Prerequisites:

MATH 1013Elements of Statistics3
or PSY 1167
or SOC 1167 Social Statistics
or EPBI 2219 Biostatistics and Public Health
KINS 1223Human Anatomy and Physiology I 13-4
or KINS 1221 Principles of Anatomy and Physiology I
KINS 1224Human Anatomy and Physiology II 13-4
or KINS 1222 Principles of Anatomy and Physiology II
HIM 1101Medical Terminology3
HIM 1055IT Applications for Health3
HPM 2214Politics and Payments in US Healthcare System3
Total Credit Hours18-20

Health Information Management Professional Courses:2

HIM 2215Health Information Management IT Fundamentals3
HIM 3101Health Record Documentation3
HIM 3106Pathophysiology3
HIM 3107Healthcare Leadership and Strategic Management3
HIM 3111Statistics and Research in Health Care3
HIM 3113Healthcare Database Design and Development3
HIM 3203Electronic Health Record Systems3
HIM 3208International Classification of Diseases3
HIM 3216Clinical Procedures and Pharmacology3
HIM 3271Professional Development1
HIM 3297Health Information Management Human Resource Management (WI)3
HIM 4101Health Informatics: Infrastructure and Standards3
HIM 4102Legal Aspects of Health Information Management3
HIM 4207Healthcare Quality Improvement3
HIM 4105Current Procedural Terminology Coding3
HIM 4113Healthcare Reimbursement Systems3
HIM 4121Healthcare Data Analytics3
HIM 4202Health Information Management Project Management3
HIM 4206Intermediate Coding3
HIM 4104Health Information Management Operations Management3
HIM 4286Management Internship4
HIM 4298Health Information Management Senior Seminar (WI)3
Total Credit Hours65
1

You should consult with your advisor for information on the distinctions between Anatomy and Physiology selection sequence and its implication for your degree and career goals. Satisfactory completion of the KINS 1221 and KINS 1222 sequence or the KINS 1223 and KINS 1224 sequence will meet the two-course GenEd Science and Technology requirement. These courses are similar but not interchangeable and must be taken in the correct sequence. Students choosing the KINS 1221 and KINS 1222 sequence may need to take an additional 2-credit elective to meet credit hours degree graduation requirement. Please see a departmental academic advisor for clarification.

2

The professional courses follow a strict semester-by-semester sequence that requires careful attention to registration dates. See a departmental academic advisor for help planning your professional course registration.

Electives

6 credits. Strongly recommended electives include business writing electives. 

Suggested Academic Plan 

Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2023-2024 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL
or Honors Writing About Literature
4
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ 1 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
HRPR 1001 Public Health: The Way We Live, Work and Play 3
 Credit Hours14
Spring
KINS 1223
Human Anatomy and Physiology I (GS) 2
or Principles of Anatomy and Physiology I
3-4
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life
3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Year 2
Fall
GenEd Breadth Course 3
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good
3
KINS 1224
Human Anatomy and Physiology II (GS) 2
or Principles of Anatomy and Physiology II
3-4
Select one of the following: 3
Elements of Statistics
PSY 1167
Social Statistics
Biostatistics and Public Health
 Credit Hours13
Spring
HIM 1055 IT Applications for Health 3
HIM 1101 Medical Terminology 3
HPM 2214 Politics and Payments in US Healthcare System 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year 3
Fall
HIM 2215 Health Information Management IT Fundamentals 3
HIM 3101 Health Record Documentation 3
HIM 3106 Pathophysiology 3
HIM 3107 Healthcare Leadership and Strategic Management 3
HIM 3111 Statistics and Research in Health Care 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
HIM 3113 Healthcare Database Design and Development 3
HIM 3203 Electronic Health Record Systems 3
HIM 3208 International Classification of Diseases 3
HIM 3216 Clinical Procedures and Pharmacology 3
HIM 3271 Professional Development 1
HIM 3297 Health Information Management Human Resource Management 3
 Credit Hours16
Year 4
Fall
HIM 4101 Health Informatics: Infrastructure and Standards 3
HIM 4102 Legal Aspects of Health Information Management 3
HIM 4105 Current Procedural Terminology Coding 3
HIM 4113 Healthcare Reimbursement Systems 3
HIM 4121 Healthcare Data Analytics 3
HIM 4207 Healthcare Quality Improvement 3
 Credit Hours18
Spring
HIM 4202 Health Information Management Project Management 3
HIM 4104 Health Information Management Operations Management 3
HIM 4206 Intermediate Coding 3
HIM 4286 Management Internship 4
HIM 4298 Health Information Management Senior Seminar 3 3
 Credit Hours16
 Total Credit Hours123

A grade of C or better is required to satisfy ALL prerequisite and professional course requirements. Grades below a C will not be accepted.

Note: All professional courses are offered only once a year.

1

MATH 0823 or MATH 0824 is strongly recommended.

2

You should consult your advisor for information on the distinctions between the anatomy and physiology selection sequence and its implication for your degree and career goals. Satisfactory completion of the KINS 1221 and KINS 1222 sequence or the KINS 1223 and KINS 1224 sequence will meet the two-course GenEd Science & Technology requirement. These courses are similar but not interchangeable. Courses must be taken in the correct sequence. Students choosing KINS 1221 and KINS 1222 may need to take an additional 2-credit elective to meet credit hour degree requirements as well as annual progress requirements. Please see your advisor for clarification.

3

Indicates writing capstone for major.