ABOUT THE PROGRAM

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

The mission of the HIIS Program is to equip MHS/Department of Defense (DoD) personnel, including Active Duty Military, Reserve, National Guard and DoD Civilian professionals (contractors are excluded), with the knowledge and skills to utilize health information technology, health information sciences, health information systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and data and visualization for efficient healthcare delivery in 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 a rough workload of 8-14 hours per week per course.

                                                                      Required Courses (4 Required)

                                                                               Selective Courses (1 Required)

Eligibility:

• This Program is open to Active Duty Military, Reserve, National Guard and DoD Civilian applicants.  
• This program does not support contractors and/or non-DoD/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 DoD, or the broader U.S. government, with respect to health informatics and information sciences. 

Application Timelines: Apply January 15-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).

  Please see the 2025 HIIS GCP Handbook. Thanks!

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

If you would like to be considered for our informational contact/update, please fill out this google form.