Online Health Informatics Graduate Certificate

At a Glance

Completion Time

Months

Credits Required

Tuition

$10,974

Part-Time*

*Based on 2025–2026 Boston University tuition and fees.

Certificate Details

The objective of this program is to expose students to modern health IT, including health data collection, processing, and storage. This program primarily focuses on electronic medical data generated and stored in health care and public health organizations. Individuals who complete the Health Informatics certificate program will have a solid knowledge of health information technology and systems and electronic health records as well as a solid exposure to the latest medical technologies.

The Health Informatics Graduate Certificate is also available on campus in Boston. Learn more.

Curriculum

Boston University’s Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics consists of four required online courses (16 units).

Academic units earned toward the certificate may be transferred to the Master of Science degree in Computer Information Systems, concentration in Health Informatics.

Courses

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 A1, SPRG 2026 Jan 20th to Apr 30th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Keskin	Independent	T	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MUG 205

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 A1, SPRG 2026 Jan 20th to Apr 30th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Diwania	Independent	M	06:00:00 PM–08:45:00 PM	MCS B37

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 O1, SPRG 2026 Jan 13th to Mar 2nd
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
Levinger	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 O2, SPRG 2026 Mar 10th to Apr 27th
Instructor	Type	Days	Times	Location
D'Amore	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.

Image of a medical professional reviewing information on a computer screen

How You Benefit from a
Boston University Education

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

Enjoy an average 24:1 student-to-faculty ratio in courses that are 100% online, while tackling complex issues alongside peers with solid academic and practical experience.
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 andInformation 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.
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.
Study closely with highly qualified Boston University faculty and industry leaders in computer science, 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 its four decades, the department has played an important role in the emergence of IT at the University and throughout the region.

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 computer science & IT graduate certificates share curriculum with MET’s online master’s degrees in computer information technology, which are ranked #12 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Graduate with Health Informatics Expertise

Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics will be able to demonstrate:

An understanding of the American healthcare system, medical terminology, basic human anatomy and physiology, disease processes, diagnostic modalities, treatments associated with common disease processes, and the IT needs of healthcare providers as they diagnose and treat common diseases.
Advanced knowledge of the functionality, technical infrastructure, system selection, and best-practice deployment of healthcare IT, including medical algorithms, project management, electronic health records (EHR), privacy and security, regulations, and health IT standards.
Understanding of fundamental characteristics of data, information, and knowledge in the healthcare domain and proficiency in managing, processing, and analyzing healthcare data.
Competence sufficient to lead health IT initiatives, to conduct biomedical research, and to design, implement, and manage advanced solutions.

“Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 29 percent from 2023 to 2033, 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 Graduate Certificate 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 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.

Computer Science Faculty

Guanglan Zhang

Associate Professor, Computer Science

Coordinator, Health Informatics Programs

Chair, Computer Science

Shengzhi Zhang

Associate Professor

Associate Chair, Computer Science

Coordinator, Web Application Development

Lou Chitkushev

Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Associate Professor, Computer Science

Director, Health Informatics & Health Sciences

View All Faculty

Interested in Learning More?

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Online Health Informatics Graduate Certificate

At a Glance

Certificate Details