Admissions Requirements

Graduates of the Health Information Management program earn a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Health Information Management and will be eligible to sit for the RHIA Exam.

Undergraduate students interested in pursuing master’s level professional degrees in allied health disciplines are encouraged to seek academic advisement as freshman.

Criminal background checks are mandatory at many health care organizations. The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requires these checks. East Carolina University and the Health Services and Information Management Department are not responsible for reviewing background checks, ordering them, or paying for them. A student, who cannot finish the course work of the professional curricula because of negative item or items in a criminal background check, will not graduate. Neither East Carolina University nor the Health Services and Information Management Department will be held liable for the student’s failure to graduate because of a criminal background. These background checks are required to complete the 160-hour internship experience during a student’s senior year.

Drug screening is mandatory at some organizations. East Carolina University and the Health Services and Information Management Department are not responsible for reviewing drug screens, ordering them, or paying for them. A student, who cannot finish the course work of the professional curricula because of the results of a drug screen, will not graduate. Neither East Carolina University nor the Health Services and Information Management Department will be held liable for the student’s failure to graduate or failure to meet eligibility to sit for the national registration examination because of the results of a drug screen.

Admissions Procedures

1. Successfully complete at least 33 hours of the foundations curriculum courses and prerequisite courses prior to entering the program. Majors must earn a minimum grade of C in all core, cognate and foundations curriculum courses.

A minimum grade of C is required in the following prerequisite courses:

• BIOL 2130, 2131. Survey of Human Physiology and Anatomy and Lab
• BIOS 1500. Introduction to Biostatistics
• HIMA 3000. Medical Terminology for Health Professionals
• HSMA 2000. Professional Roles and Environments in Health Care
• MATH 1065. College Algebra (beginning in 2018, this course must be completed prior to applying to the program)
• MIS 2223. Introduction to Computers

Recommended: ECON 2113. Principles of Microeconomics

For accepted majors who have not completed HIMA 3000 and HSMA 2000, these courses must be taken online in summer session I prior to entrance into the program in the fall.

2. Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5.

3. Admission to East Carolina University. (Transfer students only). Please have all official transcripts sent to ECU Admissions. Do not send transcripts to the College of Allied Health Sciences.

4. Submit the completed APPLICATION by February 1.

5. Applicants will be evaluated by grade point average earned and prerequisite course work completed. The following criteria are also considered in the evaluation:

• Overall Grade Point Average (4.0 scale) of courses earned at ECU and elsewhere, taking into account any grades earned within the last ten years – GPA multiplied by 2 points
• Grade Point Average of HIM program prerequisites, taking into account any grades earned for prerequisite courses (no year limit) – GPA multiplied by 2.5 points
• For those who have veteran status – add 0.5 point
• For those who currently hold the RHIT credential – add 0.5 points

6. The applicant will be notified of the department’s acceptance or rejection prior to pre-registration for summer school and fall semester.