Pre-Professional Program, Health Information

Pre-Professional Program

UWA has a linkage program in cooperation with Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama, in various fields of allied health. Students complete academic course work at UWA, then apply to transfer to the professional phase of the program at Wallace State Community College. Students completing the program will be awarded the associate degree from Wallace State. Acceptance into the clinical phase is on a competitive basis as students throughout the state compete for available positions. Students should see UWA Health Linkage Coordinator for additional information.

All associate degree programs at Wallace State require completion of the following courses at UWA with a grade of “C” or higher in each course counted toward the degree:

• BY 101 . Principles of Biology (4) (4)
• BY 231 . Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4) (4)
• BY 232 . Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4) (4)
• EH 101 . Written English I (3) (3)
• EH 102 . Written English II (3) (3)
• MH 113 . Precalculus Algebra (3) (3)
• PY 100 . General Psychology (3) (3)
• SH 100 . Principles of Public Speaking (3) (3)
• UWA 101 . Freshman Seminar (2) (2)
• Humanities/Fine Arts Elective (3)

Health Information

Graduates of the program are prepared for employment in a variety of health care administrative areas, including hospital business offices, finance departments, human resources departments, management information systems/data processing departments, or in non-acute care organizations, including insurance companies or ambulatory care centers.

The health information specialist is responsible for organizing, analyzing, and managing information bases and systems in administrative departments of health care organizations other than medical record departments. The health information specialist is typically employed in a technical level position in administrative departments of health organizations. Experienced health information specialists have opportunities to advance to management and consulting positions within the health care industry, especially if they obtain a baccalaureate degree.