Technical Standards

The Master of Science in Health Informatics degree and Graduate Certificate in Applied Health Informatics signify that the holder is prepared for entry into the practice of applied health informatics. Therefore, it follows that graduates must have the knowledge and skills necessary to function in a broad range of situations. The following abilities and expectations must be met by all students with or without accommodations admitted to the program.

1. Observation: Students must be able to observe: lectures, demonstrations, online written and recorded audio/visual material, online meetings and research and practice situations. Observation necessitates the functional use of the senses of vision and hearing.
2. Communication: Applicants also must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in English with other students, faculty, staff and mentors/preceptors. Communication includes not only speech, but also listening, reading and writing. Effective communication includes the ability to comprehend conversation, presentations, assigned readings and the ability to present information verbally and in writing. 
3. Motor: A student must have sufficient motor function to attend classes, prepare assignments, use a computer keyboard, and make public presentations if required. Course requirements will also include field work in a variety of health organizations.
4. Intellectual, conceptual, integrative, quantitative and problem-solving abilities: An applicant must be able to understand and learn factual information from readings and didactic presentations, gather information independently, analyze and synthesize learned material and apply that information. In addition, an applicant must possess the ability to understand and work with measurements, carry out calculations and engage in reasoning, analysis and synthesis based on the calculations. An applicant must be able to draw on all these abilities to be an effective problem solver.
5. Behavioral and social attributes: Integrity, reliability, self-direction, motivation and the ability to work with diverse groups are qualities necessary for effective preparation for and practice in this field. A student must have the emotional health required for the full use of his or her intellectual ability, exercise of sound judgment, and timely completion of all responsibilities attendant to the completion of academic responsibilities.

NOTE: Reasonable accommodations will be considered and may be made to qualified students who disclose a disability, so long as such accommodation does not significantly alter the essential requirements of the curriculum and the training program, or significantly affect the safety of patient care. Students who disclose that they have a disability are considered for the program if they are otherwise qualified. Qualified students with a disability who wish to request accommodations should provide the appropriate documentation of disability and submit a request for accommodation to the University’s Office for Academic Accommodations.