Online MS in Health Informatics—Health Information Management

At a Glance

Completion Time

Months

Credits Required

Tuition

$29,115–$30,895

Part-Time*

*Based on 2026–2027 Boston University tuition and fees. Merit scholarship may reduce cost.

Master the Management of Health Data

The online MS in Health Informatics (MSHI) concentration in Health Information Management at Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET) builds upon the eight-course health informatics curriculum to focus on the management of health data, information, knowledge, and projects.

Over the last decade, massive introduction of electronic health records (EHRs) has revolutionized healthcare by enabling physicians and care providers to access comprehensive patient records and treatment history. The deployment of EHRs relies upon professionals who possess interdisciplinary knowledge of healthcare and information technology—and who are capable of bringing together an understanding of business, science, and IT skills in order to effectively manage and secure patient medical information.

The health information management professional facilitates the smooth flow of digital information between patient and clinician, healthcare administrators, technologists, and others in the healthcare organization. As stewards of EHRs, health information managers are critical to the wellbeing of the patient. They must have expertise in data management systems, information security, and project management, as well as a comprehensive understanding of health informatics.

The MS in Health Informatics (MSHI) concentration in Health Information Management is also available on campus in Boston. Learn more.

Curriculum

A total of 40 units is required. Students must complete the core courses and Health Information Management concentration requirements.

Preparatory Labs

Core Courses

(Eight courses/32 units)

MET CS 570 Biomedical Sciences and Health IT

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Designed for current and aspiring IT professionals preparing for healthcare-related IT (Health Informatics) careers, this course provides a high-level introduction to basic concepts of biomedicine and familiarizes students with the structure and organization of the American healthcare system and the role played by IT. Medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology, disease processes, diagnostic modalities, and treatments associated with common disease processes are introduced. IT case studies also demonstrate the key roles of health informatics and how IT tools and resources help medical professionals integrate multiple sources of information to make diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.

Section O1, FALL 2026 Sep 1st to Oct 19th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Keskin	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CS 580 Health Informatics

4 credits. Fall and Spring

This course presents the fundamental principles, concepts, and technological elements that make up the building blocks of Health Informatics. It introduces the characteristics of data, information, and knowledge in the domain, the common algorithms for health applications, and IT components in representative clinical processes. It presents the conceptual framework for handling biomedical data collection, storage, and optimal use. It covers the concepts of population health and precision medicine and the information systems that support them. It introduces basic principles of knowledge management systems in biomedicine, various aspects of Health Information Technology standards, and IT aspects of clinical process modeling. Students design a simple Health Informatics solution as a term project.

Section O2, FALL 2026 Oct 27th to Dec 14th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Zhang	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CS 581 Health Information Systems

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Health Information Systems are comprehensive application systems that automate the activities of healthcare delivery including clinical care using electronic health records (EHRs), coordination of care across providers, telehealth, management of the business of healthcare such as revenue cycle management, and population health management. The course covers the functionality of these systems, the underlying information technology they require and their successful operations. It addresses challenges in this rapidly changing field such as complex data, security, interoperability, mobile technology and distributed users. The course emphasizes applied use of health information systems through case studies, current articles, and exercises.

Section A1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Levinger	Independent	M	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	HAR 326

Section E1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Levinger	Independent	M	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	HAR 326

MET CS 584 Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare Informatics

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Laws, regulations, and ethics guide the practice of health information management (HIM) and health informatics (HI). This course introduces students to the workings of the American legal system and concepts and theories of ethics, examines the legal, ethical, and regulatory issues that impact the protection of confidentiality and integrity of patient information, and, on the other hand, the improvement of accessibility of patient information to enable healthcare providers to make informed decision based on complete patient data. We will cover laws and regulations that are central to the HIM and HI professions, including Privacy Act of 1974, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA), the 21st Century Cures Act, and the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Regulations, and more. The goal is to enable HIM and HI practitioners to make effective and informed decisions that prompt patient safety and care quality improvement.

Section O1, FALL 2026 Sep 1st to Oct 19th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Cannella	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CS 595 Cybersecurity Fundamentals

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Prerequisite: METCS535 or METCS625 or instructor's consent. In this course, you will be introduced to fundamental concepts and principles of cybersecurity and how to apply them in developing security mechanisms and policies. Explore topics such as basic risk assessment and management, legal and ethical issues, cyber attack defense methods and tools, security principles, models, and components. You will also learn about different crypto protocols, techniques, and tools, including symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms, hashing, public key infrastructure, and how they can be used. You will learn to identify security threats and techniques to defend hardware, operating systems, networks, and applications in modern computing environments. Hands-on labs using current tools will also be completed as part of the required coursework.

Section A1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Arena	Independent	W	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	KCB 107

Section E1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Arena	Independent	W	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	KCB 107

Section O1, FALL 2026 Sep 1st to Oct 19th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Pak	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CS 781 Advanced Health Informatics

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Prerequisites: MET CS 580 or consent of instructor. This course studies health care data and information, health care information systems (HCIS), and explores the challenges of managing information technology (IT). You will learn the architecture, design, and user requirements of information systems in health care, with a focus on IT aspects of Health Informatics, specifically the design, development, operation, and management of HCIS. The first part of the course introduces foundational concepts, including information processing needs and information management in health care environments. Next, you will engage in a detailed examination of HCIS, including hospital process modeling, architecture, quality assessment, and applicable tools. The course concludes by addressing the management of HCIS and related issues, and the extension of these topics to other healthcare organizations. Throughout the course, you will gain hands-on experience by participating in a term project focused on HCIS research and development.

Section A1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
D'Amore	Independent	W	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MCS B33

Section E1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
D'Amore	Independent	W	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MCS B33

Plus one course from the following pair:

MET CS 520 Information Structures with Java

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Prerequisite: MET LB 102 or consent of instructor. Not recommended for students without a programming background. Explore the concepts of object-oriented approach to software design and development using the Java programming language. You will engage in a detailed discussion of programming concepts starting with the fundamentals of data types, control structures methods, classes, applets, arrays and strings, and proceeding to advanced topics such as inheritance and polymorphism, interfaces, creating user interfaces, exceptions, and streams. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to apply software engineering criteria to design and implement Java applications that are secure, robust, and scalable.

Section A1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Donald	Independent	M	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	PSY B51

Section E1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Donald	Independent	M	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	PSY B51

Section O1, FALL 2026 Sep 1st to Oct 19th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Zhang	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CS 521 Information Structures with Python

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Creativity/Innovation
Critical Thinking
Quantitative Reasoning II

Prerequisite: Programming experience in any language. Or Instructor's consent. Explore the object-oriented approach to software design and development using Python. You will engage in a detailed discussion of programming concepts starting with the fundamentals of data types, control structures methods, classes, arrays and strings, and proceed to more advanced topics such as inheritance and polymorphism, creating user interfaces, exceptions and streams. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to apply software engineering principles to design and implement Python applications that can be used with analytics and big data. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Creativity/Innovation, Critical Thinking, Quantitative Reasoning 2.

Section A1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Pinsky	Independent	M	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	COM 217

Section A2, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Lu	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	SHA 206

Section O1, FALL 2026 Sep 1st to Oct 19th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Mohan	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

Section O2, FALL 2026 Oct 27th to Dec 14th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Pinsky	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

And one course from the following*:

MET CS 625 Business Data Communication and Networks

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Prerequisites: MET LB 102 or consent of instructor. - This course presents the foundations of data communications and takes a bottom-up approach to computer networks. The course concludes with an overview of basic network security and management concepts. Restrictions: This course may not be taken in conjunction with MET CS 425 (undergraduate) or MET CS 535. Only one of these courses can be counted toward degree requirements.

Section A1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Arena	Independent	T	12:30:00 PM–03:15:00 PM	MET 101

Section A2, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Arena	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	CAS 213

Section O1, FALL 2026 Sep 1st to Oct 19th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Rizinski	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

Section O2, FALL 2026 Oct 27th to Dec 14th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Rizinski	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CS 682 Information Systems Analysis and Design

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Prerequisites: Basic programming knowledge or consent of instructor. - Object-oriented methods of information systems analysis and design for organizations with data- processing needs. System feasibility; requirements analysis; database utilization; Unified Modeling Language; software system architecture, design, and implementation, management; project control; and systems-level testing.

Section A1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Guadagno	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	STH B20

Section E1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Guadagno	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	WED 205

Section O1, FALL 2026 Sep 1st to Oct 19th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Williams	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

Section O2, FALL 2026 Oct 27th to Dec 14th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Polnar	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

*MS in Health Informatics students without business data communication and networks experience are recommended to take the course MET CS 625 (the prerequisite for MET CS 695) instead of MET CS 682.

Concentration Requirements

(Two courses/8 units)

Choose one from the following:

MET AD 519 Operations and Process Analysis

4 credits.

This course will provide students with the analytical tools to analyze, manage, and improve manufacturing, service, and business processes. Coverage includes various options to lower operational costs and improve responsiveness to customers' needs, including operating system design, product & service design, capacity analysis & buffering, waiting line optimization, and process quality analysis using statistical approaches. Quantitative methods include application of stochastic simulation, analysis of random outcomes, statistical analysis routines (confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, machine learning), system reliability analysis, and statistical process control. The Deming philosophy of management, Lean operations principles, and Six Sigma process improvement methodologies form the underlying foundation of the course coverage.

Section A1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Maleyeff	Independent	M	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	SOC B63

Section A2, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Maleyeff	Independent	T	12:30:00 PM–03:15:00 PM	CGS 515

Section O1, FALL 2026 Sep 1st to Oct 19th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Gunes Corlu	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CS 782 IT Strategy and Management

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Prerequisites: MET CS 682 or instructor's consent. Restrictions: Only for MS CIS students. - Explore and analyze contemporary and emerging information technology and its management. You will learn to identify information technologies that offer strategic value to organizations and acquire skills to manage their successful implementation. The course highlights the application of IT solutions to address business needs. This advanced Master's (700) level course assumes students understand IT systems equivalent to those taught in METCS 682.

Section A1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Arakelian	Independent	R	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MCS B31

Section O2, FALL 2026 Oct 27th to Dec 14th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Williams	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

And one course from the following:

MET AD 715 Quantitative and Qualitative Decision-Making

4 credits. Fall and Spring

The purpose of this course is to help improve business problem solving and managerial decision-making through the use of quantitative and qualitative decision-making tools and techniques. This course will provide the student with an overview of how decisions are made to solve management problems in the business environment. It introduces the fundamental concepts and methodologies of the decision-making process, problem-solving, decision analysis, data collection, probability distribution, evaluation, and prediction methods. Students will learn how to apply different quantitative and qualitative analytical tools commonly used in business to provide a depth of understanding and support to various decision-making activities within each subject area of management. Through the use of case studies of decisions made by managers in various production and service industries and a business simulation package specifically prepared for this course, the scope and breadth of decision-making in business will be described.

Section A1, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Ritt	Independent	M	02:30:00 PM–05:15:00 PM	SOC B57

Section A3, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Valath Bhuan Das	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	CAS 225

Section A4, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Zlatev	Independent	W	02:30:00 PM–05:15:00 PM	COM 217

Section A5, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Dickson	Independent	R	12:30:00 PM–03:15:00 PM	STH B22

Section A6, FALL 2026 Sep 2nd to Dec 10th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Ritt	Independent	R	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MUG 205

Section O2, FALL 2026 Oct 27th to Dec 14th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Zlatev	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

MET CS 632 Information Technology Project and Product Management

4 credits. Fall and Spring

Teamwork/Collaboration

A comprehensive overview of the principles, processes, and practices of software project management, grounded in the latest standards from the Project Management Institute (PMI). Gain hands-on experience in planning, organizing, scheduling, and controlling software projects, with a strong emphasis on both predictive and adaptive methodologies. In particular, the course explores agile project management with a focus on the Scrum framework. You will develop practical competencies in business analysis, defining requirements, leading and managing distributed teams, facilitating project communications, handling change management, and assessing risk and cost estimation. A key component of the course involves the design and development of AI-powered applications, equipping students with AI literacy and demonstrating how AI can enhance software project management practices. This course qualifies you to pursue CAPM and PMP credential. Also, this course fulfills the educational requirements necessary to pursue the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® and Project Management Professional (PMP)® certifications offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Teamwork/Collaboration.

Section O1, FALL 2026 Sep 1st to Oct 19th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Kanabar	Independent	ARR	12:00:00 AM–12:00:00 AM

Dates & Deadlines

View BU MET’s academic calendar for online programs, including important dates and deadlines.

Application Requirements

Learn about application requirements for BU MET graduate degree and certificate programs.

An image of a medical professional holding a tablet with a digital rendering of a record floating above the screen

How You Benefit from a
Boston University Education

A BU credential can help lay the foundation for career advancement and personal success.

Benefit from an average 24:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
BU’s master’s degree in Health Informatics is the first such program in New England to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
Completion of the CAHIIM-accredited master’s program entitles you to sit for professional certification exams offered through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), such as the Certified Professional in Health Informatics (CPHI™) and the Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA®) exams. Along with demonstrating a high standard of proficiency and professionalism sought by employers, AHIMA certification ensures access to valuable networking resources, opens the door to higher earning potential, and paves the way for long term leadership opportunities in the field.
Courses introduce case studies and real-world projects that ensure you gain in-depth, practical experience with the latest technologies—and you have access to BU MET’s Health Informatics Research Lab (HILab), which focuses on collaborative research and development in health informatics, bioinformatics, and clinical research.
Work closely with highly qualified Boston University faculty and industry leaders in computer science, data analytics, medicine, and biomedical engineering.
BU MET’s Department of Computer Science was established in 1979 and is the longest-running computer science department at BU. Over the course of its existence, the department has played an important role in the emergence of IT at the University and throughout the region

All graduate students are automatically considered for merit scholarships during the application process and nominated based on eligibility. Learn more.

Rankings & Accreditations

U.S. News & World Report - Best Online Programs - Grad Information Technology - 2026

#12, Best Online Master’s in Computer Information Technology Programs

MET’s online master’s degrees in computer information technology are ranked #12 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

CAHIIM Accredited

BU MET’s MS in Health Informatics and MS in Computer Information Systems concentration in Health Informatics are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Graduate with Health Information Management Expertise

In addition to the learning outcomes derived from Metropolitan College’s Health Informatics master’s degree program, students who complete the concentration in Health Information Management will be able to demonstrate:

Knowledge and skills to perform analysis and provide documentation of requirements for architecture, design, and implementation of computer applications systems in healthcare.
Proficiency in software and computing skills as they pertain to the design and healthcare implementation of database systems, data communications, systems analysis, and design.
Ability to identify current and emerging information technologies that may have strategic value for healthcare; assess where those technologies have value; and manage the implementation of those technologies in the healthcare institutions.

Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 23% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

“BU MET has prepared me well for my next career phase. It facilitated a seamless transition from biology to health informatics and data analytics. I gained not only exposure to the healthcare industry, but also delved into other realms. This gave me a diverse skill set and a broader understanding of various domains. It also gave me the necessary tools to think strategically, logically, and efficiently—skills applicable across different fields.” Read more.

Christel El Hayeck (MET ’23)
Lead Associate, Strategy&
MS, Health Informatics; Concentration, Applied Data Analytics

Advance Your Career

BU MET’s Master of Science in Health Informatics prepares you for a wealth of different roles, such as chief medical information officer, clinical application developer, clinical data analyst, EHR application specialist, EHR system integration specialist, health informatics specialist, health informatics data manager, health information manager/director, health information technician, quality officer, safety/privacy officer, among others.

Recent graduates have found job opportunities and career paths at companies such as:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston Children’s Hospital
Colorado Access
Grand Circle Corporation
HealthEdge
Hyperion Software Corporation
John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County
Jordan Marsh Company
Lifespan
Manhattan Vision Associates
Mantis Robotics
May Institute

Merck KGa/ EMD Group
Millipore Corporation
Modus Media International
Strategy&
Stryker
Suffolk University Sawyer School of Business
TASC
The Faxon Company, Inc
The Guidance Center
Truth Initiative
UMass Emergency Medical Services
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center

Take Advantage of Career Resources at BU MET

You will find the support you need in reaching your career goals through MET’s Career Development office, which offers a variety of job-hunting resources, including one-on-one career counseling by appointment for online students. You can also take advantage of tools and resources available online through BU’s Center for Career Development.

Health Informatics Faculty

Lou Chitkushev

Professor, Computer Science

Senior Associate Dean, Academic Affairs

Director, Health Informatics & Health Sciences

Head, Digital Forensics Research Laboratory

Guanglan Zhang

Associate Professor, Computer Science

Coordinator, Health Informatics Programs

Chair, Computer Science

Vijay Kanabar

Associate Professor, Computer Science and Administrative Sciences

Director, Project Management Programs

Interested in Learning More?

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Online Master of Science in Health Informatics, Health Information Management Concentration

At a Glance

Master the Management of Health Data