San Diego Mesa College is now accepting applications for its first upper-division cohort in the Health Information Management (HIM) Bachelor Degree program. This cohort will enter the HIM program as juniors in fall 2016, and be a part of Mesa College’s first bachelor’s degree graduating class in May 2018. Applicants have until May 6th to apply.
Mesa College is the first in the state of California to offer upper division classes that leads to a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification.
In January 2015, Mesa College was one of 15 California community colleges selected to offer a bachelor’s degree as part of the state’s Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program. It enrolled its first freshman cohort in fall 2015.
“It’s an exciting time on the Mesa,” noted Dr. Pamela T. Luster, president. “This is a historic first opportunity for interested students to receive a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management at a public educational institution in the state of California.”
The four-year Health Information Management degree builds on Mesa’s current two-year degree in Health Information Technology, which has been offered since 1963. Classes will be held at the college’s Allied Health Education and Training Facility on the college’s Kearny Mesa campus.
The college will accept 32 students as juniors in fall 2016. After completion of 54 units (17 classes total), students will graduate with a four year Bachelor of Science degree in Health Information Management.
“The rigorous academic hybrid format of our classes – some online, most face-to-face – will prepare our students to fill the growing need for health information managers in San Diego and beyond,” said Connie Renda, Program Director/Assistant Professor of Health Information Technology and Health Information Management.
“But what I’m most proud of is the support services Mesa College has set into place to help this group of students succeed,” Renda added. She specifically pointed out the college’s writing center, counseling and career services, and an extensive on-line library resources for the program.
The HIM degree will enable those currently working in the field to advance into management positions. Graduates obtaining their RHIA certification are qualified to be a Health Information Department Manager or Director, a Coding Manager, a Healthcare Systems Manager, a Data Analyst, a Quality or Compliance Coordinator, or a College/University Professor of Health Information Technology or Health Information Management.
To be considered for admission, applicants must already have received a Registered Health Information Technician RHIT certification and must complete an application packet available at http://bit.ly/mesa_bach. Applications must be received by4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2016.
