The University of San Diego offers a flexible master’s degree that connects healthcare, information systems, analytics, and responsible use of artificial intelligence. Students can earn the degree fully online or through evening classes in San Diego and choose a broad informatics track or a more technical analytics and AI track.
Quick Facts
| School | University of San Diego |
| Location | San Diego, California |
| Degree | Master of Science in Health Care Informatics |
| Credits | 30 units; 36-unit dual-track option |
| Format | 100% online or evening classes on campus |
| Typical Length | 20 months; 24 months for the dual track |
| Online Tuition | $29,850 for the 30-unit program |
| Specializations | Health Care Informatics or Healthcare Data Analytics & AI |
Program Overview
The University of San Diego Master of Science in Health Care Informatics is offered through the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science. The program combines healthcare knowledge with database management, electronic health records, analytics, governance, ethics, and leadership.
Students complete eight shared core courses and select either the Health Care Informatics specialization or the Healthcare Data Analytics & AI specialization. A 36-unit dual-track option includes the courses from both specializations. The dual track is available online and on campus and is required for international students who need a visa for campus study.
USD identifies the degree as a STEM-designated program and a HIMSS-approved program. Students do not need prior education in healthcare or computer science, which makes the program accessible to clinicians, technical professionals, administrators, and career changers.
Curriculum and Specializations
The 30-unit curriculum includes eight 3-unit core courses:
- Introduction to Health Information, Healthcare Delivery, and Artificial Intelligence
- Database Design and Knowledge Management
- Clinical Documentation, Decision Support, and Electronic Health Records
- Healthcare Ethics, AI Governance, and the Law
- Population Health Analytics
- Healthcare Data Modeling and Visualization
- Research Fundamentals and Biostatistics
- Health Care Informatics Capstone
The Health Care Informatics specialization adds Systems Analysis and Design for Health Care Informatics and Health Care Leadership, Values, and Social Justice. This option gives students broad preparation for informatics leadership, systems projects, workflow improvement, and organizational change.
The Healthcare Data Analytics & AI specialization adds AI-Assisted Automation and Scripting in Healthcare and Machine Learning Applications for Health Care. Students receive an introduction to Python, automated data workflows, classification, clustering, regression, and responsible AI use in clinical settings.
The capstone requires students to integrate informatics knowledge through an independent project and reflective ePortfolio. On-campus students may also pursue an optional practicum that does not count toward the standard degree requirements.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must submit an application, official transcripts showing a completed bachelor’s degree, letters of recommendation, and a resume or CV. USD does not require the GRE or GMAT. Applicants may hold a bachelor’s degree in any field, and prior healthcare experience is not required. Students without healthcare experience must complete an online medical terminology course outside the degree curriculum.
The university reviews applicants with GPAs below its stated minimum in context and may consider work experience, an admission essay, or graduate coursework as evidence of readiness. International applicants have added English-language proficiency and transcript evaluation requirements. Students should review the official admissions page for current materials, deadlines, and international requirements.
The online program admits new students for spring, summer, and fall terms. The campus program starts new students in the fall.
Tuition and Financial Aid
USD lists online tuition at $995 per unit. The estimated tuition is $29,850 for the 30-unit single-specialization program and $35,820 for the 36-unit dual-track option. The listed rates cover course tuition and do not include books or added fees.
Campus tuition is higher. USD lists $1,820 per unit and an estimated $54,600 for the 30-unit part-time campus program. Because rates and program plans can change, students should verify costs on the official tuition page before enrolling. Eligible students may use federal financial aid, employer support, military education benefits, or other funding sources.
Online and Campus Formats
Online students complete two courses during each 14-week term, taking one asynchronous 7-week course at a time. Courses run during spring, summer, and fall. A single specialization usually takes five terms, or about 20 months. The dual-track plan takes six terms, or about 24 months.
Campus students attend evening classes during fall and spring and may take summer courses. A typical campus schedule includes three 14-week courses per semester. USD states that both formats can accommodate students who work full time, although the expected weekly commitment for each 3-unit course is about 16 to 20 hours.
All students must have a Windows-based computer before starting the program. Online students also complete a required self-paced orientation before their first term.
Career Preparation
The curriculum supports work with electronic health records, health databases, clinical decision support, data governance, workflow design, population health analysis, project management, and healthcare AI. Potential roles include clinical analyst, health informatics specialist, healthcare IT project manager, clinical informatics coordinator, health data analyst, and informatics director.
The best career match depends on each student’s earlier education and work experience. Clinicians may use the degree to move into informatics or technology leadership, while IT and data professionals may use it to gain healthcare-specific knowledge. The degree does not guarantee a job title, promotion, certification, or salary.
Who Is This Program For?
USD may fit working professionals who want a focused health informatics master’s with online and campus options. The one-course-at-a-time online schedule may appeal to students who want to maintain full-time employment. The two specialization choices also allow students to favor systems and leadership or add more programming, analytics, and machine learning.
Students who want the lowest possible tuition should compare the online rate with public universities. Those who want a required internship or extensive advanced computer science coursework may prefer another program. USD may offer stronger value to students who prioritize a HIMSS-approved curriculum, a 20-month schedule, and a choice between informatics and analytics-focused study.
Related Health Informatics Programs
- National University - San Diego
- San José State University - San José
- University of California, Davis - Davis
- University of California, Los Angeles - Los Angeles
- University of San Francisco - San Francisco