B.S. in HIM/MHSA Bridge Program
Gain a competitive advantage with KU's innovative bridge program and earn a bachelor’s degree in health information management with a master's degree in health services administration.
About the Program
The bridge program is a partnership between the departments of Population Health and Health Information Management at KU. The selective admission opportunity is open only to those who are already admitted into KU’s on-campus bachelor’s degree program in health information management.
Within the bridge program, you’ll learn how to address current and future challenges in the fields of health information management and health services administration. Offering expertise in both specialties, the program is an excellent educational path for those looking to assume management and executive positions in health care.
The combination of health information management and health services administration is particularly attractive to health care employers who seek to elevate the organization, management and control of information within the sector. As a graduate of this program, you'll possess the in-demand skills to manage information resources and make health care safer and more affordable for consumers.
Requirements and Eligibility
To apply to the HIM/MHSA bridge program, you must be a junior-year student already admitted into the bachelor’s degree program in health information management at the University of Kansas Medical Center. As an applicant, you need to undergo academic advising and receive approval from the health information management department chair by Feb. 1 of your junior year in college.
Submission steps for application:
- Official score on the GRE revised General Test.
- Completed application to the MHSA department by March 1.
- Official transcripts reflecting minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Resume and personal statement.
- Three letters of recommendation (one must be written by health information management department chair).
Curriculum and Degree Requirements
If you’re accepted into the bridge program, you’ll need to complete 120 credit hours to graduate with an bachelor’s degree in health information management from KU. An advisor must evaluate your transcripts prior to applying to the bridge program for health services administration. You may need additional undergraduate credit hours, as determined by an advisor, to meet graduation requirements.
Course of Study
As a participant in this program, you will complete a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in KU’s full-time program over the span of five years. All courses are on campus and require attendance at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
Junior Year, Fall Term
HEIM 401 Introduction to Health Information Management (3)
HEIM 415 Healthcare Delivery Systems (3)
HEIM 425 Pharmacology Concepts for Health Information Management (2)
HEIM 435 Clinical Concepts for Health Information Management (3)
HEIM 501 Information Resources and Professional Development (2)
HEIM 570 Introduction to Healthcare Management (3)
TOTAL: 16 undergraduate credit hours
Junior Year, Spring Term
HEIM 420 Legal Aspects of Healthcare (3)
HEIM 450 Introduction to Professional Practice Experience (1)
HEIM 525 Healthcare Database and Architecture (3)
HEIM 540 Health Information Systems (3)
HEIM 565 Clinical Terminologies & Classification Systems I (4)
TOTAL: 14 undergraduate credit hours
Senior Year, Fall Term
HEIM 485 Independent Study – Health Statistics (1)
HEIM 510 Professional Practice Experience/Lab I (1)
HEIM 571 Human Resource Management in Healthcare (3)
HEIM 585 Healthcare Reimbursement and Financing (3)
HEIM 635 Clinical Terminologies & Classification Systems II (3)
HP&M 819 Research for Healthcare Leaders (3)
HP&M 858 Health and Social Behavior (3)
HP&M 859 Professional Development (2)
TOTAL: 11 undergraduate credit hours, 8 graduate credit hours
Senior Year, Spring Term
HEIM 665 Topics in Health Information Management (2)
HEIM 676 Healthcare Analytics (3)
HEIM 679 Information Governance in Healthcare (3)
HEIM 680 Management Internship (3)
HP&M 850 Introduction to Operations (3)
TOTAL: 11 undergraduate credit hours, 3 graduate credit hours
** Student graduates with bachelor's degree in May.
Summer Term following completion of undergraduate course work
HP&M 852 Strategic Marketing (2)
HP&M 860 Graduate Internship in Health Services Administration (1)
TOTAL: 3 graduate credit hours
Graduate School, Fall Term
HP&M 825 Financial Concepts in Healthcare Management (3)
HP&M 830 Health Care Management (3)
HP&M 837 Health Policy (3)
TOTAL: 9 graduate credit hours
Graduate School, Spring Term
HP&M 827 Financial Applications in Healthcare Management (3)
HP&M 861 Capstone Seminar (2)
HP&M 848 Designing Healthcare Organizations (2)
HP&M 853 Strategic Mangement (2)
HP&M 833 Ethics (2)
HP&M 822 Healthcare Economics (3)
TOTAL: 14 graduate credit hours
** Student graduates with master's degree.
Total undergraduate credit hours in health information management:
52
Total graduate credit hours in health services administration:
37
Course listings are provided here for reference only. For complete, current information about courses and requirements, please visit the KU Academic Catalog and explore the courses from the departments of Health Information Management and Public Health.
Program Costs
You'll find that the cost of an education at the University of Kansas is competitive with other top health information management programs in the U.S.
You pay tuition and fees at the beginning of each semester. Visit the Registrar's Comprehensive Fee Schedule for complete, current tuition information. The tuition and fees calculator may help you plan for costs related to tuition, fees and books. The Kansas Board of Regents establishes tuition and fees, and they may change at any time without notice.
Students in this program are required to have a computer that meets the minimum software and hardware requirements.
Financial Aid
We encourage students to complete the FAFSA in order to be considered for federal aid. To complete the FAFSA, please visit FAFSA application site and provide the school code for the University of Kansas: 001948.
Federal assistance includes the following:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
- Federal Work Study
- Federal Direct Loans (subsidized, unsubsidized, Parent PLUS)
Don't wait to be accepted into the program before beginning the financial aid process. Even if the application deadline for the intended program is later in the year, students are strongly encouraged to complete the FAFSA.
The priority deadline is March 1. After the priority deadline, any remaining financial aid will be awarded as available. Some grants and low-interest loans have limited funding. The total financial aid award package, including scholarships, loans or need-based aid cannot be finalized until the student's application materials and fee have been received and admission to KU is completed.
Learn more about scholarship opportunities from the KU School of Health Professions.