Health Information
Graduate Academic Certificate

Number of Courses: 4 | Number of Credit Hours: 12

100 % Online  |  hybrid

Course Requirements | Apply Today

Health information is being generated at a rapid pace due to innovations and advancements in technology. Consumers and patients are increasingly involved in their health-care decision-making, and ensuring that there is equitable access to quality health information is crucial. Healthcare providers and researchers depend upon information to improve patient care. Health information professionals and librarians need to understand how to manage health information and deliver health information services to healthcare providers, researchers, and consumers with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes.

The purpose of the Health Information Graduate Academic Certificate (GAC) is to prepare information professionals and librarians to deliver health information services in a variety of settings.

Individuals who complete the Health Information GAC will be able to:

1. Describe the importance of information in the healthcare enterprise.
2. Locate, evaluate, synthesize, and deliver authoritative health information.
3. Integrate principles of evidence-based practice in the delivery of health information services.
4. Identify the health information needs of the communities being served.
5. Design community-focused health information services and programs.

Courses for the Health Information GAC are offered both face-to-face at the Denton campus and online. Students will take three (3) required courses and one (1) elective course for a total of four (4) courses (12 credit hours).

All 12 credit hours of coursework taken for the Health Information GAC can be applied to the Master of Science in Information Science with a Concentration in Health Informatics.

Course Requirements

Required Courses - Students will complete all of the following courses:

• INFO 5365: Health Sciences Information Management
  Overview of the health care environment, background on the profession of health sciences librarianship/informatics, and management of health information resources and services.
• INFO 5631: Searching for Evidence in Health
  Learn about evidence-based practice and how you can integrate it into your work as an information professional. Strategies for finding and critically appraising research publications to use as evidence to support decision-making. Applications of evidence-based practice will be covered, such as health, business, education, and librarianship. Apply evidence-based practice principles to a real-world question.
• INFO 5636: Community-based Health Information
  Introduction to consumer and public health information services and programs and their impact on community health. Emphasis on health information literacy, searching for evidence, evaluation of health information resources for consumers, healthcare providers, and public health personnel. Trends in community health information. Intended for students working in health-related environments such as health care services, libraries, and industry.

Elective Courses - Students will take one (1) course from the following list:

• INFO 5080: Research Methods and Analysis
  Principles, techniques and areas of research. Basic research designs and measurement problems. Evaluation of representative studies. Quantitative methods and applications.
• INFO 5634: Disaster Information for Information Professionals
  Introduction to disaster planning for information agencies; meeting the disaster/emergency information needs of first responders, clinicians, victims, public health professionals, and the public; and developing outreach programs for those impacted by disasters/emergencies.

Prerequisites
Some courses listed may have prerequisites. Students should consult with the program advisors prior to enrolling in the individual courses.

Ready to Apply?

Students will be admitted to the Health Information GAC beginning spring 2023. Students are admitted following the holistic review of the application. The steps to apply for the Health Information GAC are below:

1. Apply to the University of North Texas Toulouse Graduate School via ApplyTexas. 

•   Send transcripts from previous schools attended to the UNT Toulouse Graduate School.

2. Complete the Department of Information Science GAC Application Form and attach a current resume to the application.

NOTE: Students who are awarded Academic Certificates and later apply for admission to the M.S. in Information Science with a concentration in Health Informatics program will be required to submit the additional materials needed for admission to the M.S. program.

If you are a current student in the Department of Information Science and you are applying for a GAC, please complete the Application for Concurrent Graduate Academic Certificate Programs (EUID and UNT password login required) so that your academic certificate program will show up on your transcript. If you do not complete the form before your graduating semester, the Toulouse Graduate School will not accept your request for the certificate.

Once You Are Admitted

Once admitted, you will be assigned an advisor who will assist you in getting enrolled for classes and beginning the Graduate Academic Certificate Program.

Academic Certificate Completion Form and Request to Receive Your Certificate

Once you complete your course work, please submit the Request for Graduate Academic Certificate of Completion form to receive your certificate.
 

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