Health Informatics and Data Analytics (Graduate Certificate)
Program Summary
100% Online
Duration: 1 year
Credits: 18 total
Cost Per Credit: $800
Degree: Graduate Certificate
Accreditation: SACSCOC
College/School: College of Public Health
Next Start Date: 12/1/2026
Find Your Calling
Program Description
In just 12 months, the online graduate certificate in Health Informatics and Data Analytics prepares clinicians, health care managers, and IT professionals to apply advanced data science methods with a focus on the patient outcomes and quality of care.
As electronic health records, administrative data, consumer generated data and related data repositories experience exponential growth, you’ll be prepared to extract meaning from sensitive data with confidence. Explore artificial intelligence, machine learning, data mining, and other advanced analytic techniques that demonstrate how to handle complex problems found in observational data.
The Virginia Department of Health Professions recommends healthcare professionals who work with children to complete continuing education on communicating with those with autism spectrum disorder. Individual licensing boards may include specific continuing education programs. Learn more by visiting the Virginia Law website.
Application Details
Health Informatics and Data Analytics Graduate Certificate
- Just 18 credit hours
- No prior degree or experience required
- No GRE required
- Technology and presentation skills are addressed
Who Should Apply?
Current clinicians, health care managers, and IT professionals are the top applicants to this program. The program is typically taken by students with prior advanced degrees, but one can apply with an undergraduate degree. However, a prior health care degree or experience in health care or IT is not necessary to join. If you have a desire to work with data science and health care technology to improve patient outcomes, this program is for you. See admissions requirements for specific details.
Application Deadline
The online Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics and Data Analytics program accepts applications on a rolling basis. Applicants should apply here.
What are the requirements for admission?
You must hold a BA or BS degree or equivalent from an accredited university or college with a 3.25 grade point average. There is no testing required for admission, nor is there a requirement to have related career or degree experience. You should have taken basic-level computer science/technology, mathematics, and statistics and be familiar with the fields or you may be required to take additional prerequisite courses. Please write a statement identifying and briefly describing any previous coursework or experience you have with math and IT. If you have taken a previous course in these areas, please identify the institution, course number, course name and what you covered. If you have work experiences with these areas, please identify the employer, dates, and describe what activities or tasks you have completed.
How do I apply?
All admission applications for the Health Informatics and Data Analytics Graduate Certificate program are submitted electronically online. If you have more questions, please see FAQs below.
Download the full application checklist for this program.
Career Opportunities
Health informatics is one of the fastest-growing, in-demand health care careers. Graduates of Mason’s program are ready to work as:
- Managers
- Systems designers
- Product developers
- Implementation and security specialists
- Health IT systems analysts
- Researchers
And as the skills learned in the program surpass industry boundaries, they’re ready to work in any sector, including:
- Private- and public-sector government jobs
- Hospitals, clinics, or health care practices
- Consulting or software firms
- Research institutions
- Insurance companies
- And more!
Courses
Choose six out of the seven courses offered below to complete your certificate. Program requirements are subject to change; please refer to the University Catalog for the most up-to-date requirements.
- HI 618 – Computational Tools in Health Informatics
- HI 671 – Health Care Databases
- HI 719 – Advanced Statistics in Health Services Research 1
- HI 720 – Health Data Integration
- HI 725 – Statistical Process Control in Healthcare
- HI 777 – Health Data Visualization
- HI 780 – Data Mining in Health Care (requires HAP 709)
- HI 797 – Radiology Informatics
- HI 823 – Causal Analysis Comparative Effectiveness
- HI 880 – Advanced Health Data Mining
All credits can be applied to the MS in Health Informatics degree.
New to online learning? Visit our Online Learning Tips and Strategies page to learn more about what to expect and how to succeed in an online course at George Mason.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and Fees (2025–2026)
Tuition is $800 per credit hour. An additional charge of $35 per credit hour applies for a Distance Learning fee.
Financial Aid:
For information on loans, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Study at the First and Only College of Public Health in Virginia
The College of Public Health at George Mason University is the first and only College of Public Health in Virginia and a national leader in inclusive, interprofessional, public health research, education, and practice. The College's transdisciplinary research seeks to understand the many factors that influence the public's health and well-being throughout the lifespan.
With more than 500 partners, the College serves the community through research, practice, and clinical care with a focus on the social determinants of health and health equity. Our graduates are uniquely prepared to thrive in an increasingly multi-cultural multidisciplinary, community-focused public health landscape.
- Mason’s online certificate program is part time, and can accommodate busy professional and family schedules while providing an immersive, high-quality student experience.
- Coursework is hands-on and builds direct experience.
- An experienced faculty of distinguished scholar-practitioners delivers an education informed by extensive academic and professional experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the certificate cost, and is financial aid available?
Tuition is $800 per credit hour across 18 total credits, plus a $35-per-credit distance learning fee. For loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Who should apply for this certificate?
Current clinicians, health care managers, and IT professionals are the most common applicants. The program is typically taken by students with an existing advanced degree, though you can apply with just an undergraduate degree if you’re motivated to work at the intersection of data science and patient care.
Does this certificate apply toward the MS in Health Informatics?
Yes. All 18 certificate credits apply directly to the MS in Health Informatics, so if you decide to continue after the certificate, you won’t repeat coursework or lose time.
What are the admission requirements?
You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and a minimum GPA of 3.25 is preferred. No standardized test is required, and no prior health care or IT experience is necessary, though basic-level coursework in computer science, math, and statistics is helpful. You’ll submit a statement describing any relevant coursework or work experience you have in technology and health informatics.
How long does it take to complete the certificate?
The 18-credit certificate can typically be completed in as soon as one year, studying in a fully asynchronous online format.
When are classes offered?
The certificate is offered in both on campus/hybrid and fully online formats.
Which courses will I take?
You’ll choose 6 of the available courses to reach the 18-credit requirement, covering topics like computational tools in health informatics, health care databases, statistics, and data mining in health care.
What career paths does this certificate lead to?
Graduates commonly move into roles like systems designer, product developer, implementation and security specialist, or health IT systems analyst. Skills learned in the program surpass industry boundaries and prepare students to work in a variety of sectors such as across hospitals and clinics, government agencies, consulting firms, research institutions, and insurance companies.
Virtual Open House
The George Mason University faculty dedicates time throughout the year to hold interactive sessions online for those who would like to learn more about the programs we offer. If you would like to find out more about what you can expect from an online Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics and Data Analytics, visit our pre-recorded Virtual Open House and watch at your convenience. For information on upcoming sessions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Learn More
Accreditation
George Mason University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Contact
If you are unable to find the answers to your questions, submit a Request for Information form or contact our admissions representative via the contact information below.
Phone: 844-851-0923
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