PROGRAM OVERVIEW
User experience design is the process of creating products that provide meaningful and relevant user experiences. The Usability and User Experience in Health Care Certificate (UUEH) program aims to cross-train students with health care knowledge and experience in user experience design methods. All required courses are offered online.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
3.0 GPA or higher
A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for the last degree earned.
Applicants must meet one requirement
- Eligible for admission to the Graduate School at Ohio State University as evidenced by:
- A baccalaureate or professional degree (or equivalent foreign credential) from an accredited higher education institution earned by the expected entry date into the certificate program.
- Submission of TOEFL or IELTS scores for international applicants and those who have held the status of U.S. permanent resident for less than one year from the first day of the first term of enrollment and are not currently an Ohio State graduate student.
- Currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student in a graduate program at The Ohio State University.
Online Application
Applicants currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student in a graduate program at The Ohio State University must complete a Graduate Intra-University Transfer application. All other applicants must complete a graduate application. Applicants are required to submit all required supplemental documents. Application instructions can be found here.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Applications are accepted for the autumn semester each year. The application deadline for Autumn 2025 is May 1, 2025, for domestic students and April 1, 2025, for international students. The program will begin August 26, 2025.
THE GRADUATE UUEH PROGRAM BEST SUITS:
- Those currently employed conducting usability studies for medical devices for FDA approval or seeking to do so.
- Those currently employed in hospital information technology or quality departments or seeking those positions.
- Those currently employed at electronic health record development or training companies or seeking those positions.
- Graduate health and rehabilitation sciences, engineering, business, or nursing students.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
- Usability specialist
- User experience designer
- Human factors engineer
- Job promotion/transition opportunities
CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
To obtain the certificate, a student must successfully complete four required courses (12 credit hours) with a minimum C- grade required for each course. Students must also maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in the graduate certificate program. Due to the nature of the program, transfer or EM credit cannot meet any certificate course requirements. Additionally, fifty percent of the certificate coursework must be distinct from current graduate degree coursework. Undergraduate sections of the required coursework cannot be applied to the graduate certificate.
Before enrolling in the last required course, an Application for Certificate Completion must be submitted via GradForms to formally receive the certificate at the end of the semester of course completion. Students who complete the graduate certificate program are not eligible to participate in graduation ceremonies, except if they also graduate from a degree-seeking program the same semester. All certificate students will e mailed a completion document in the form of a certificate after the semester of completion.
CERTIFICATE COURSEWORK
Current course offerings are listed below. Coursework can be taken in any order for HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT & SYSTEMS (HIMS) 5635, 5650, and 5500, but HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT & SYSTEMS (HIMS) 5700 can only be taken after completing all other courses. Course offerings are subject to change.
HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT & SYSTEMS (HIMS) 5635 Quality Management and Performance Improvement in Healthcare (3 credits)
Continuous quality management measures and tools, including patient safety and satisfaction, regulatory requirements, benchmarking, causal analysis, outcomes, clinical guidelines and pathways, risk management, and utilization review.
Offered: Autumn
HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT & SYSTEMS (HIMS) 5650 Information Technology (3 credits)
In-depth analysis of patient, administrative, and financial information systems and management practices to support systems. Emphasis on government involvement in health information technology and information exchanges.
Offered: Spring
HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT & SYSTEMS (HIMS) 5550 Human Factors in Healthcare (3 credits)
Students learn human factors theories and concepts that are used in developing interventions to improve patient safety. Emphasis on formative evaluation methodologies and implementation of science theory.
Offered: Spring
HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT & SYSTEMS (HIMS) 5700 Health Information Management and Systems Project (3 credits)
Students apply theoretical knowledge acquired from the certificate program to a project that closely resembles what would be done in a realistic work environment. During the project, students apply critical thinking skills to solve a real-world problem, from assessing the problem to applying suitable and appropriate methods to generate one or more solutions to the problem.
Offered: Summer
The graduate program curriculum provides a foundation of user experience and human factors, principles, and methods that will translate into reduced patient harm and economic risks following unfortunate patient outcomes, particularly in hospital settings. This program can be completed within three semesters with continuous enrollment or longer at a desired pace.
International applicants should be aware that countries may or may not regulate distance education provided to students in their jurisdiction or require foreign higher education institutions to comply with distance education regulations. At this time, The Ohio State University cannot guarantee that an academic program meets curriculum requirements in your country.
Ohio State academic programs are designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure and certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure and certification and state licensing board contact for online programs and for on-campus programs.
Questions?
Contact the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at 614-292-1706 or HRSGraduateStudentServices@osumc.edu
Degree requirements and course offerings are subject to changes.
Last updated on: July 1, 2024