ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Health Informatics and Information Sciences (HIIS) Graduate Certificate Program aims to expand upon the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) mission of providing high-quality education to Uniformed Service Members and civilian healthcare professionals within the Military Health System (MHS) and the Uniformed Services to support the medical readiness of America's Warfighters.

The mission of the HIIS Program is to equip MHS/Uniformed Services personnel, including Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard and Department of War (DoW) civilian professionals (contractors are excluded), with the knowledge and skills to utilize health information technology and information sciences, health information systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and data and visualization for efficient healthcare delivery within the MHS. 

The Program is under the purview of the Health Policy and Management Division of the Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics Department. The expected time for completion will range from 12 months (fast track) to up to 36 months (flexible track). The program is entirely asynchronous, allowing applicants to complete coursework at their own pace. The academic year typically begins with the Fall Term in August. It is designed to be compatible with full-time work, and applicants can manage their studies alongside their professional responsibilities. Anticipate an approximate workload of 8-14 hours per week per course.

                                                                      Required Courses (4 Required)

                                                                               Elective Courses (1 Required)

Eligibility:

• This Program is open to Active Duty Military, Reserve, National Guard and DoW Civilian applicants.  
• This program does not support contractors or non-DoW/USU affiliated applications at this time.
• Applicants should possess, at a minimum, a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited academic institution.
• We will consider the likelihood of applicants' furthering the tactical, operational, or strategic objectives of the DoW, or the broader U.S. government, with respect to health informatics and information sciences. 

Application Timelines: Apply February 1 - March 15 of each academic year

Current USU Students in Degree-seeking Programs: 

Documents Needed to Apply:

• A Dual Enrollment Form For USUHS students adding a secondary program of study. (USU email account only)
• Current students do not need to submit new transcripts.
• Statement of Purpose

  • How has your background prepared you to succeed in the Health Informatics and Health Information Sciences (HIIS) Program at USU?

  • How will you use the knowledge and skills acquired in USU’s HIIS Program to help you accomplish your career goals?

  • Please tell us anything else you would like us to know that might be pertinent to the evaluation of your application for admission to the HIIS Program.

External Applicants: 

Documents Needed to Apply:

• EMPOWER Application (USUHS Application Form) which includes:
  • Current CV/Resume.
  • Official Transcripts from all major schools attended

    • Order official transcripts form all previous academic institution to establish your student record within our system 

      a.      Transcripts must come directly from the school (or their third-party vendor).

      b.     They can be sent via email to UniversityAdmissions@usuhs.edu

      OR mailed to:

      Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
      Office of the University Registrar
      4301 Jones Bridge Rd
      Bethesda, MD 20814

• A statement of purpose answering the following prompts:

1. How has your background prepared you to succeed in the Health Informatics and Health Information Sciences (HIIS) Program at USU?

2. How will you use the knowledge and skills acquired in USU’s HIIS Program to help you accomplish your career goals?

3. Please tell us anything else you would like us to know that might be pertinent to the evaluation of your application for admission to the HIIS Program.

• Completed applications submitted to the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) will be reviewed by the HIIS Admissions Committee and applicants will be notified regarding all decisions from the Graduate Education Office (GEO). All applicants will be contacted by end of May once admissions determinations are made.
• Please see the 2026 HIIS GCP Handbook.

For further information or inquiries regarding the HIIS Distance Learning Certificate Program please contact  through email at: hiisinfo@usuhs.edu. 

Victor Lin, MD, MS, FAMIA
Captain, Medical Corps, United States Navy
Director, Health Informatics and Information Sciences Program
Email: victor.lin@usuhs.ed