Santa Barbara City College's (SBCC) proposed Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management has been granted provisional approval by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.
"This marks a pivotal step in offering an innovative, industry-driven baccalaureate program that prepares students for leadership roles in healthcare," SBCC said.
The Health Information Management (HIM) program will equip students with expertise in managing patient data, ensuring information security, and supporting operational functions within hospitals, clinics, government agencies and health technology companies.
The curriculum combines health sciences, information technology (IT), data management and legal regulations. With the development of this baccalaureate program the offering will provide an in-depth understanding of both digital and traditional health information systems.
"This is an exciting moment for Santa Barbara City College and our Health Information Technology department," said Alan Price, SBCC dean of Health and Human Services.
"We are proud to develop a program that not only meets industry demand, but also supports our students' growth, leadership and a stronger workforce pipeline in the healthcare sector," Price said.
Full approval for the HIM degree is contingent upon further review by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), as well as intersegmental partners and the Board of Governors.
Once accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), graduates will be eligible to take the national exam to become Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIA), opening doors to careers in e growing field.
"We are committed to ensuring this program meets the highest standards of quality and excellence," said Maria Villagomez, SBCC assistant superintendent/vice president, Academic Affairs.
"This degree will be instrumental in addressing workforce needs and supporting the healthcare industry in our community and beyond," she said.