Health Information Management, B.S.

The B.S. in Health Information Management provides students with the knowledge, values, and skills for successful careers as health information managers, those members of health care teams who are responsible for management of health information systems consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, and legal requirements. Career opportunities in health information now extend well beyond the health information department and the acute care facility. Professionals with technical expertise, problem solving skills, knowledge of clinical medicine and superior communication skills are needed to ensure quality health care documentation, protect patient confidentiality, and develop and maintain the electronic health record. The need for accurate and up-to-date health records is not confined to health care facilities. These professionals are employed by managed care organizations, insurance companies, law firms, physician offices, consulting firms, software companies and the pharmaceutical industry. For those interested in the more traditional role, health information professionals continue to be employed as department managers in hospital centers. In this position, the major areas of responsibility include: determining health information policies, planning, budgeting, acting as a liaison with other departments, evaluating employee performance, educating staff and ancillary departments to assure quality information, and serving on important committees.

This is a joint-degree program with Rutgers University. Upon successful completion of the coursework at Georgian Court University and Rutgers University, the student is awarded the B.S. in Health Information Management degree jointly. Rutgers University’s Health Information Management program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education Programs (CAHIM). Upon completion of course requirements, the graduate is eligible to apply to the national registry exam. A passing grade on the examination establishes the graduate as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).

To earn this degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including General Education requirements and the major requirements below.

Major Sequence

During the first two years, the student completes the GCU General Education requirements and prerequisite courses for Rutgers University. GCU courses required as prerequisites for the Rutgers University portion of the program include:

Students must  have an overall GPA of at least 2.75 to be eligible for admission to Rutgers University (requirements subject to change). At the beginning of the student's last semester at Georgian Court University, the student applies to the Rutgers University’s School of Health Professions B.S. in Health Information Management program. Students should apply at the beginning of the spring semester since admission is competitive and is not guaranteed. All Georgian Court General Education requirements and the prerequisite courses for the Rutgers University program must be completed prior to enrolling at Rutgers University, except for Georgian Court University’s second experiential learning requirement, which can be fulfilled by professional practice experiences that are part of the Rutgers University phase of the program. Students admitted to Rutgers University spend the fall and spring semesters of the junior and senior year taking 61 credits of Rutgers University health information management courses, comprised of 55 credits of required courses and 6 credits of electives.  Of these 61 credits, 58 are online and the other 3 credits are a Professional Practice course that is onsite at a health care facility (curriculum subject to change; consult the Rutgers University website at https://shp.rutgers.edu/health-informatics/bachelor-of-science-health-information-management/ for current curriculum) at Rutgers University’s School of Health Professions campus in Newark. Students pay GCU tuition and fees while enrolled at GCU, and Rutgers University tuition and fees while enrolled at Rutgers University.

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General Education

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Major

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EC181 Principles of Macroeconomics recommended