2004-06 IUPUI Campus Bulletin

Admission

General Information

Students accepted into the program must complete the school’s and the following program admission requirements. Admission to the professional program is competitive; therefore, completion of the prerequisites does not guarantee admission to the program.

Criteria used for Selection of Class

Completion of prerequisite courses, grade point average, interview.

Class Size

20 students each fall semester.

Specific Requirements

In addition to the School of Informatics admission policies and procedures found at the beginning of this section of the bulletin, the following admission policies apply to the Health Information Administration Program.

Application Deadline

November 15 of the year preceding the planned date of entry.

Total Number of Prerequisite Credit Hours

74.

Distribution of Credit Hours in Specific Areas

See section on prerequisites.

Limitations of Course Work

Remedial course work will not count toward the 74 required prerequisite credit hours.

Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average

2.5 on a 4.0 scale. This requirement is applied at the time of program application and must be maintained. Grades for remedial courses are included in the cumulative grade point average.

Minimum Grade Requirement in a Stated Prerequisite Course

C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) in anatomy, physiology, computer science, analytic skills/quantitative methods, business administration, and organization/management.

Interview

All qualified applicants will be interviewed prior to admission.

Indiana Residents Preference Policy

See School of Informatics policy.

Volunteer Experience

While volunteer experience is not required, it is very helpful in making a career choice.

Curriculum

Prerequisites

Prior to entering the program, students must complete at least 68 credit hours of the following minimum prerequisites. Students should consult with their academic advisors for appropriate courses and semester sequence in order to complete prerequisites. Prerequisites may be taken at any accredited college or university.

The code “G” indicates a course that meets the school’s general-education requirements.

* indicates courses which must be completed prior to entering the Professional Program.

Oral Communications (G) * ...................... 3 cr.

Written Communications (G) * ................. 6 cr.

Human Anatomy (G) * .......................... 4-5 cr.

Human Physiology (G) * ....................... 4-5 cr.

Microbiology * ...................................... 3-4 cr.

Medical Terminology ................................ 2 cr.

Information Technology * ....................... 13 cr.

Social/Behavioral Sciences (G) * ............... 3 cr.

Business * ................................................. 6 cr.

Analytical Skills/Quantitative Methods (G) * 6 cr.

Professional Ethics * ................................. 3 cr.

Humanities (G) .......................................... 3 cr.

Accounting * ............................................. 4 cr.

Organization/Management * (3 hours must be completed) 6 cr.

Electives * (2-5 hours must be completed) 5-8 cr.

Suggested Electives

The following suggestions for electives are made to aid the student in the prerequisite courses and in the professional course work: management information systems, supervisory management, methods of employee training, computer sciences, research methods, interpersonal communications, medical terms from Greek and Latin, and foreign languages.

A Suggested Plan of Study

The following is a suggested two-year plan of prerequisites. Variations on this schedule can be made. Students should check with their advisors to make sure all requirements are met.

Freshman

Fall

Oral Communications ................................ 3 cr.

Introduction to Informatics ....................... 4 cr.

Introduction to Business Administration .. 3 cr.

Mathematics (Algebra or Finite) ............... 3 cr.

Basic Accounting Skills ............................. 1 cr.

Total 14 cr.

Spring

English Composition I ............................... 3 cr.

Anatomy ................................................ 4-5 cr.

Basic Tools of Informatics ........................ 3 cr.

Social/Behavioral Science Elective ............. 3 cr.

Humanities Elective ................................... 3 cr.

Total 16-17 cr.

Sophomore

Fall

Written Communications Elective ............. 3 cr.

Physiology ............................................. 4-5 cr.

Information Technology Elective .............. 3 cr.

Foundations of Accounting ....................... 3 cr.

Organization/Management Elective ........... 3 cr.

Total 16-17 cr.

Spring

Information Technology Elective .............. 3 cr.

Business Legal Aspects Elective ............... 3 cr.

Statistics Elective ...................................... 3 cr.

Professional Ethics Elective ...................... 3 cr.

Microbiology Elective ............................ 3-4 cr.

Total 15-16 cr.

Additional required prerequisite courses, including organization/management, medical terminology and general electives, may be taken during summer sessions or (to a limited extent) concurrent with the professional program courses in the junior year.

Professional Program

Courses in the professional program are sequential and, therefore, must be taken in the order specified by the program faculty. A minimum grade of C (2.0) is required in each professional course.

Junior

Fall

Quantitative Methods and Research ......... 2 cr.

Hospital Organization/Management ......... 3 cr.

Health Care Information Requirements/
Standards ................................................... 3 cr.

Medical Science I ....................................... 3 cr.

Organization/Management Elective

......................... (choose from prerequisite list) 3 cr.

Total 14 cr.

Spring

ICD-9-CM Coding .................................... 3 cr.

Health Information Storage and Retrieval . 2 cr.

Medicine and the Law ............................... 2 cr.

Medical Science II ..................................... 3 cr.

Directed Study .......................................... 1 cr.

Total 11 cr.

Senior

Fall

Seminar in Health Information Administration 1 cr.

Health Planning/Information Systems ....... 3 cr.

CPT Coding ............................................... 3 cr.

Long-Term Care ........................................ 1 cr.

Release of Information .............................. 1 cr.

Health Care Quality Improvement ............ 1 cr.

Professional Practice Experience I ............. 6 cr.

Total 16 cr.

Spring

Seminar in Health Information Administration 1 cr.

Reimbursement Systems ........................... 3 cr.

Directed Study .......................................... 1 cr.

Capstone Experience ................................. 3 cr.

Professional Practice Experience II ........... 6 cr.

Total 14 cr.

Summer Session I

Clinical in Medical Record Administration 4 cr.

Scholarships

Two Van Ausdall and Farrar Scholarships are awarded to full-time senior students in the Health Information Administration Program. Awards are predicated on demonstrated financial need and ability to successfully complete the program. Preference is given to students who plan employment in Indiana.

Two Gertrude L. Gunn Memorial Fund Scholarships, established in memory of the founder of the program, are awarded to senior health information administration students. They are based on scholarship and demonstrated financial need.

The Mary L. McKenzie Scholarship is awarded to a senior health information administration student. It is based on scholarship and demonstrated financial need.

The Elton T. Ridley Minority Scholarship is awarded to senior health information administration students. The scholarship is awarded to a student who is a member of a class of individuals who are traditionally underrepresented in the program.

The Foundation on Education and Research (FORE) Scholarship is available through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). This scholarship is awarded through application directly to AHIMA. Information will be provided to students after acceptance to the Professional Program.

Other scholarships may be available.

Awards

Based on superior performance and in accordance with Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis policies, the program faculty will recommend that qualified students be awarded degrees with distinction.

Graduation Requirements

Satisfactory completion of 130 credit hours, including 74 credit hours of prerequisite and general-education courses and 56 credit hours of professional courses. All course work must be completed in compliance with the program’s and school’s academic and professional policies.

Graduate Program

The Master of Science Degrees

Given the rapid and apparently unlimited growth of this new field at all levels of competence, each of the master’s degree programs serves students who need education in the use of information technologies to enhance their job performance or employment prospects.

• The School of Informatics offers five master’s degrees:
• Master of Science in Bioinformatics
• Master of Science in Chemical Informatics
• Master of Science in Health Informatics
• Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction
• Master of Science in Media Arts and Science (see the “Media Arts and Science” section in this bulletin for policies, regulations, and requirements)

Bioinformatics, Chemical Informatics, Health Informatics, and Human-Computer Interaction require 36 credits, including the completion of two common graduate core courses. Media Arts and Science requires 30 credits, including the completion of 18 credit hours of core courses.

Application Procedures

Students holding a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year collegiate institution are eligible to apply for admission. Admission is selective. The admission committee evaluates applicants’ abilities to succeed academically and their potential to contribute to the program.

The master’s degree is designed for students who seek additional professional education in informatics to complement knowledge in such diverse disciplines as computer science and technology, graphics, visualization, electronic networking and media communication, library and information science, telecommunications, psychology, cognitive science, journalism, medicine, health and nursing, biology, and chemistry. Most graduates of the School of Informatics will emerge as highly sought-after employees in a burgeoning information industry.

The master’s degrees are focused on developing specialized skills and knowledge in information and information technology, with particular application to a specific field of study or practice. Each degree is an interdisciplinary endeavor that combines course work and field experiences from a traditional subject area or discipline with intensive study of information and technology. Because these specialized skills are developed and applied differently in these different fields, specific requirements are established for each degree, and have a content-specific rationale.

Application Procedures for U.S. Citizens

Requests for domestic applications should be directed to the School of Informatics.

Completed applications should be sent to:

Graduate Admissions Committee
School of Informatics
IUPUI
719 Indiana Avenue Suite 316
Indianapolis, IN 46202

E-mail: info@informatics.iupui.edu
Web: www.informatics.iupui.edu

Application Procedures for International Students

Requests for international applications should be directed to:

Office of International Affairs
IUPUI
620 N. Union Drive, 207
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5167

Phone: (317) 274-7294
E-mail: oia@iupui.edu
Web: www.iupui.edu/~oia/admissions

Application Deadlines

Applications will not be acted upon until all required documents have been received (including transcripts, letters of recommendation, application fee, GRE scores, and TOEFL scores for all nonnative English speakers). In order to allow time for processing and making financial aid decisions, applicants must meet the following deadlines:

Fall Spring

Admission March 15 November 15

Admission to the Master’s Programs

Successful applicants for admission to the master’s programs must demonstrate skills and knowledge in an academic field relevant to the particular master’s program (e.g., biology for bioinformatics). Promising applicants who have deficiencies may, with faculty help, select courses that will provide instruction to overcome deficiencies and meet admissions requirements. However, the courses will not count toward the total number of credits required for the advanced degree.

• Degree requirement: bachelor’s degree with demonstrated technical skills from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale.
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals in positions to evaluate the applicant’s professional promise. Indiana University reserves the right to validate the source of the letters received.
• Scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE), taken within the last five years. Subject tests are recommended if appropriate to the degree.
• Personal statement or sample of creative work.

Each application for admission is carefully evaluated by the admissions committee for the appropriate degree. Applicants to all degree programs must do the following:

1. Submit an application to the School of Informatics, or, if necessary, to the Office of International Affairs.
2. Pay a nonrefundable graduate application fee to Indiana University.
3. Submit three Application Reference Forms completed by individuals familiar with the applicant’s activities and potential to succeed in graduate work. These forms are included in the application packet.
4. Arrange for official transcripts to be sent from all colleges and universities attended by the applicant. Transcripts indicating “issued to student” are not considered official. An official transcript bears the original signature of the registrar and/or original seal of the issuing institution. Transcripts should be mailed directly by a registrar, or given to the applicant by the registrar in a sealed and signed envelope. International applicants should refer to the guidelines outlined in the International Graduate Application for Admission form. If the student has not completed all undergraduate course work at the time of application, the admission decision will be based on information available at the time of application. However, a final transcript showing graduation must be submitted before enrollment. Students who have taken course work on any Indiana University campus do not need to submit an Indiana University transcript.
5. Submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Only the General Exam is required; however, an appropriate subject exam (e.g., chemistry for chemical informatics) may be helpful in determining the applicant’s potential.
6. The school does not specify minimum scores, preferring instead to use the full information available in the applicant’s dossier. The Media Arts and Science program does not require GRE scores. Information concerning these examinations may be obtained from Graduate Record Examinations, Educational Testing Service, CN 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000 (www.gre.org).
7. Students whose native language is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL is required of all nonnative English speakers. The TOEFL may be waived if a B.S. or M.S. degree has been earned in the United States. A minimum TOEFL score of 600 is required. Registration information can be requested from TOEFL/TSE Publications, P.O. Box 6154, Princeton, NJ 08541-6154 (www.toefl.org).
8. Submit a personal statement (300-500 words) describing educational background and reasons for pursuing graduate study. In addition, some programs may require a sample of creative work or professional accomplishment, which may include written work, a computer program, multimedia presentation, portfolio, etc. Submitted materials should support the applicant’s career intentions and plans. Contact the Office of Student Services for further information.