Applicants will be accepted, on a space available basis, according to the date when all required forms and transcripts have been completed, application fee has been paid, the required informational meeting has been attended, and the formal appointment with an HCI advisor to develop a curriculum plan has been completed.  Early applications are encouraged to reserve a place.  Applicants will be accepted only with the understanding that prerequisite courses will be completed.  Students entering fall quarter on a full time basis will normally be able to complete their programs according to the time frame outlined in the curriculum section of this site.  Health Information Technology (HIT) and Medical Coding and Reimbursement Specialist (MCRS) students entering winter quarter who have have completed all prerequisites, as well as medical terminology and anatomy/physiology prior to entrance should be able to complete their program within the suggested curriculum time frame.   All other students entering winter or later who have not met these requirements may take some classes, but will not formally begin the program until Fall Quarter the next year. 

Pre-requisite Classes/Skills for Entrance into HCI Programs

The following classes/skills must be met prior to entrance into the HIT and MCR programs.  If a person applies to either of these  programs, he or she will not be considered formally accepted unless or until these are met.  If a person receives a notice of formal acceptance contingent to completing these courses/tests at an acceptable level, and does not do so, his formal acceptance status is removed.  There are no exceptions.

English:  Students must have completed ENGL 100 or ESL 100 with a grade of 2.0 or higher (not just a "P" or Pass grade), or have placement results on an Asset test indicating readiness for ENGL& 101.  ESL students with limited English proficiency will be required to complete all levels of the ESL curriculum prior to entry into any HCI program.  ESL students not completing all levels of the ESL curriculum must be assessed by the ESL program advisors to determine their readiness for engl& 101.

Mathematics:  Students must have completed Math 080 Elementary Algebra or higher level math with a grade of 2.0 or higher (not just a "P" or Pass grade), or have placement results on Asset or Compass tests showing readiness for Math 099 Intermediate Algebra or higher.  

Computer Applications:  Students must be computer literate, at least at the basic level.  They must have keyboarding skills at a minimum of 30 words per minute.  Students must have completed CIS 105 with a grade of 2.0 or higher (not just a "P" or Pass grade), or, as an alternate, they must provide evidence of their ability to work in a PC Windows environment, do word processing with MS Word, send and receive e-mails with attachments, and have basic internet skills.  

* Basic computer literacy is defined as having Basic MS Word skills, basic skills in using the internet,   
  including sending and receiving emails with attachments.

Application Process for Entry into all HCI Programs

Notification of Acceptance or Non-Acceptance Into the HCI Program

All persons submitting applications will receive, in writing, a notice advising them whether they have been admitted into one of the HCI programs no later than the last day of the month following their application.  Those admitted must confirm their acceptance into the program by letter to the HCI Program Director as soon as possible.  Some students may receive an acceptance notice with the understanding that the English, Math, or computer prerequisites must be completed by a specified time.  If the prerequisites are not met by that date, these students will lose their formal acceptance into the program.

Appointment After Selection

Students are required to have a meeting with an HCI faculty advisor to prepare a curriculum plan prior to or shortly after entry into the program. Individual appointments will be made only after attendance at the HCI Informational Session.

Application Process For Entry Into the Second Year of the Health Information Technology Program

The second year of the Health Information Technology (HIT) program can only accommodate 20 students.  If more than 20 HIT students complete their first year and plan to continue into the second year, the second-year HIT selective admission process outlined in other written program policies will be used.   Please be aware that grades, class attendance, dependability, and appropriate social interaction with faculty and fellow students are important considerations in that process.

Switching to a Different HCI Major

Students may switch to a different HCI major, but only on a program available basis and only with permission of the HCI Program Director.

HCI Informational Sessions

Once a month an HCI Informational Session will be provided on campus.  During this 1 ½ hour session conducted by one of the HCI faculty members, the three programs are discussed including descriptions of the careers, employment opportunities, salaries, curriculum, process to obtain course equivalency approvals, and admission process.  The scheduled times for these sessions can be obtained by calling the Health Occupations office at 206-546-4743 or by clicking on the appropriate link in the HCI Programs web site.

CLASSES AVAILABLE WITHOUT NEED FOR FORMAL HCI ACCEPTANCE

Students wishing to enter any of the HCI programs may take the following classes in the curricula without the need for formal acceptance into the program and without formal HCI faculty approval:

There are four other HCI classes that students may take on a space available basis prior to formal approval, with permission of the HCI Program Advisor.  However, completion of English and other pre-requisites will be required.  

HCI 170                 Legal Aspects of Health Care
HCI 225                 Computers in Health Care
HCI 174                Pharmacology
HCI 175                 Human Diseases

Please note:  taking these classes does not suggest that a student has been approved for entrance into the HCI program nor will taking these classes provide students a better opportunity for selection into the program, (e.g., no extra "points" will be given for students who have taken the above classes ahead of time).  However, it will make your load lighter by not having to take so many courses each quarter in the future.  Please contact either of the two HCI program advisors for information on priority policies that will be followed for selection of students for individual classes. 

All full-time HIT and MCRS students should be aware that BIOL& 170 Human Biology and HCI 134 Medical Terminology need to be completed prior to Winter Quarter of the first year of the program.  Therefore, it is recommended that those two courses be taken as soon as possible.

The HCI Programs may modify this information from time to time.  It is important to check the announcements page periodically to determine if changes are made that would apply to the student.

ADMISSION TO SECOND YEAR OF THE
HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

Health Information Technology students, if accepted into the first year of the program, are not automatically accepted into the second year of the program.  A formal application and selective admission process will be used.   Please be aware that grades, class attendance, dependability, and appropriate social interaction with faculty and fellow students are important considerations in that process.  A formal interview may be required.

Application for admission to the second year of the Health Information Technology program is made during the Spring Quarter of the first year. The Program Director will announce a meeting of all candidates and forms and instructions will be provided at that time.

Basic requirements include completion of all first year courses by the end of summer quarter and meeting at least a minimum of 2.0 or higher in all courses required in the HIT curriculum. No "P" or "Pass" Grades will be accepted except for challenge examinations approved by the HCI Program Director.  Students must obtain a numerical decimal or letter grade.