SHASTA COLLEGE
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE
HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Item 1. Statement of Program Goals and Objectives
The proposed Associate of Science in Health Information Technology supports the mission
of Shasta College by providing the lower division course requirements needed for a student
to obtain an Associate of Science degree in Health Information Technology (HIT) and, upon
program accreditation, to become an eligible candidate for the Registered Health
Information Technician (RHIT) exam. In addition, the associate degree HIT program
provides a pathway for students to transfer to Shasta College’s Bachelor of Science in Health
Information Management (HIM) degree program or another four-year university.
Program Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the Associate of Science in Health Information Technology, the student
will be able to:
 Apply the knowledge and skills needed to perform HIM Associate Degree entry-level
competencies as defined by the American Health Information Management
Association’s (AHIMA) Council for Excellence in Education (CEE).
 Apply the knowledge and skills needed to successfully pass the national Registered
Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam.
 Compete in the job market in the field of health information technology or enroll in
an advanced degree program.
 Demonstrate the ability to work effectively as an individual and collaboratively in a
group to resolve health information challenges in a changing healthcare
environment.
Student Selection and Fees:
To begin the program, the student must:
 Complete the Admission Application for Shasta College or be an active Shasta
College student.
 Enroll in HIT courses following the recommended sequence of courses for the HIT
Program.
Fees students may incur aside from the ordinary course enrollment fees:
 Textbooks/Virtual Lab software access fee
 Transportation cost to/from professional practice site (HIT 60)
 Background check fee and required immunizations cost for student’s professional
practice experience (HIT 60)
Item 2. Catalog Description
Program Description:
The Associate of Science in Health Information Technology program prepares students for a
career working with health information in a variety of healthcare settings in diverse roles.
Health Information Technology professionals perform the essential functions of acquiring,
analyzing, maintaining and securing health information vital to providing quality patient
care. Health Information Technology graduates are employed in hospitals, clinics,
physician’s offices, ambulatory care facilities, long term care facilities, home health agencies,
consulting firms, and any organization that uses patient data or health information, such as
pharmaceutical companies, law and insurance firms, and health product vendors. Upon
program accreditation, graduates will be eligible to apply for writing the national
examination for certification as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). The
Health Information Technology program is designed to prepare students for entry into
Shasta College’s Health Information Management Baccalaureate Degree program.
Item 3. Program Requirements and Course Sequence
Requirements:
In addition to the required 37-39 unit general education pattern for CSU or IGETC, students
must complete the core courses listed below for the Associate of Science in Health
Information Technology Degree. Students must also obtain a minimum grade point average
of 2.0 with a grade of C or higher in all courses required for the major. A “P” (Pass) grade is
not an acceptable grade for courses in this major.
Program Course Sequence:
Semester One (15-19 units)*
Course Title
OAS 110 Medical Terminology
BIO 5 Introduction to Biology
HIT 10 Introduction to Health Information
HIT 11 Computer Basics for Health Information Technology
Lower Division CSU-GE Courses
Semester Units
3
3
4
1
4-8
Semester Two (15-19 units)*
Course Title
HIT 7 Introduction to Human Disease Process
HIT 15 Legal Aspects of Healthcare
HIT 20 Hospital and Health Statistics
HIT 25 Health Information in Alternative Setting
Lower Division CSU-GE Courses
Semester Units
3
3
3
2
4-8
Semester Three (15-18 units)*
Course Title
HIT 30 Basic Pharmacology
HIT 35 CPT Coding
HIT 40 ICD Coding I
Lower Division CSU-GE Courses
Semester Units
1
3
4
7-10
Semester Four (15-19 units)*
Course Title
Semester Units
HIT 45 ICD Coding II
4
HIT 50 Healthcare Reimbursement
2
HIT 55 Healthcare Quality Management
3
HIT 60 Professional Practice Experience**
2
Lower Division CSU-GE Courses
4-8
*It is recommended that students complete additional GE units prior to entering the
program if they choose not to take more than 15 units per semester.
**May be taken in semester three.
Required Program Courses
Required Completion of CSU-GE Pattern
Double counting of GE’s (BIO 5)
TOTAL
41 units
37-39 units
3 units
75 units
Rationale for additional unit requirements:
The additional 15 GE units needed to graduate with an A.S. Degree in HIT is justified in
order to meet the requirement that baccalaureate degrees granted by California Community
Colleges must follow the CSU GE pattern.
Proposed Sequence:
Year 1, Summer = 15 units (15 GE units)
Year 1, Fall = 15 units (11 Program units + 4 GE units)
Year 1, Spring = 15 units (11 Program units + 4 GE units)
Year 2, Fall= 15 units (8 Program units + 7 GE units)
Year 2, Spring = 15 units (11 Program units + 4 GE units)
TOTAL UNITS: 75 units
Item 4. Master Planning
History of program proposal origins:
As a result of Senate Bill 850, Shasta College submitted a proposal to establish a
baccalaureate-level program in Health Information Management and was selected as one of
the first California community colleges to grant a four-year degree as part of the state’s
historic Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program. In order to be admitted into the HIM
Baccalaureate Degree program, students will need to have graduated from a HIT Associate
Degree program.
Program purpose/relevancy for the region:
The Health Information Technology program addresses the growing workforce demand for
health information professionals. Since the federally mandated adoption of electronic
health records, the needs in the Health Information Management field have dramatically
changed. There are approximately 12,000 to 50,000 new jobs anticipated by 2017, and the
Bureau of Labor Statistics cites Health Information Technicians as one of the 20 fastest
growing occupations in the US.
A degree in HIT will prepare individuals with the knowledge, skills, and abilities for a career
working as a health information professional. Some career options may include Health Data
Analyst, Release of Information Specialist, Document Imaging Specialist, ICD/CPT Coder,
Data Quality/Integrity Associate, Clinical Documentation Specialist, Health Information
Supervisor, or Consultant.
Graduates of the program who wish to further their education may enroll in Shasta’s HIM
program, allowing them to pursue a more affordable bachelor’s degree in a field/major not
offered at any public 4-year institution in California. All courses will be offered online
making them accessible to working students and those that do not live within a reasonable
commute to/from Shasta College.
Item 5. Enrollment and Completer Projections
The proposed start date for the HIT program is spring 2016. Only ‘Semester One” courses
will be offered. “Semester Two” courses will be added in addition to “Semester One”
courses in fall 2016. “Semester Three” and “Semester Four” courses will be added as the
program progresses, until all HIT program courses are offered every semester. Students
may enter the program either in the fall or in the spring semester. It is projected that
initially 20-30 students will enroll in and complete the HIT program. It is predicted that
some of the students who enter the HIT program will have transferred from Shasta College’s
existing OAS-HIM program. Many of the HIT program graduates are expected to continue
their education and pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in HIM at Shasta College.
Item 6. Place of Program in Curriculum/Similar Programs
The college currently does not have a Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics
and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) accredited HIM Associate Degree
program in place. The Office Administration (OAS) Health Information Management
Associate Degree program will need to change its name since that program does not offer all
the courses required for a HIM Associate Degree.
Item 7. Similar Programs at Other Colleges in Service Area
There are no colleges in the region that offer an Associate of Science Degree in Health
Information Technology. Other community colleges in California that offer a 2-year degree
program are:
City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, CA
Cypress College, Cypress, CA
East Los Angeles College, Monterey Park, CA
Fresno City College, Fresno, CA
San Diego Mesa College, San Diego, CA
Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA
Other institutions in California that offer a degree in HIT are:
American Career College, Anaheim, CA
DeVry University, Pomona, CA
ITT Technical Institute, Orange, San Bernardino, and Sylmar, CA locations
Kaplan College, San Diego, CA