Saddleback College is in development of a new Public Health Informatics and Technology program to enhance the current HIT program degree and certificates. This certificate provides skills and knowledge to work in a new, multidisciplinary field. Students will be introduced to the basic concepts of public health infrastructure, data analysis and reporting, public health informatics and information systems, health services organization and delivery methods, data interchange standards, disruptive innovation, and data integrity, privacy, and security. Students can explore careers in the fields of public health, health information management, IT, and health informatics. 

The mission of the new PHIT program at Saddleback College is to provide comprehensive and high quality courses that enable students to become a proficient and innovative public health informatics professional, and to prepare students to pursue advanced learning opportunities in the public health sector and become lifelong learners.

Degrees and Certificates

View Classes in the Class Schedule

Related Programs 

HIT Program Information

Below are the HIT Program pre-admission requirements:

  • Students must have earned at least a high school diploma or a GED.
  • Students must be 18 years or older.
  • Possess a social security card to enable a background check.

Application Dates:

NOTE: Saddleback College is no longer accepting new students to the current HIT Program. Applications will only be accepted from current students as part of the program completion requirement.

We encourage all students applying for the HIT program to make an appointment with Elizabeth Weiss in the Counseling Office ahead of time to ensure eligibility and program completion by June 2024. Click here to make a counseling appointment. 

Information Sessions:

There are no information sessions offered at this time.

  1. If a student has completed coursework at another regionally accredited college/university, the student should submit official transcripts to the Admissions and Records Office at Saddleback as soon as possible. This includes any high school AP scores being used for course credit. All outside transcripts must be evaluated toward Saddleback College's requirements. International transcripts must be evaluated by an acceptable third party, at https://www.naces.org/member
    • Set up an appointment to speak with a counselor to ensure you meet the requirements to apply to the HIT program, and to discuss any additional courses you may need to take, including GE requirements. To earn the Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree in Health Information Technology, students must complete BOTH HIT department requirements and General Education requirements. A previous Associate Degree, Bachelor's Degree or higher degree does not automatically meet general education requirements. You want to verify course equivalencies for any relevant coursework taken outside of Saddleback College. You may need to fill a petition for course substitution or waiver. A counselor can help you complete and submit any necessary petitions. . Click here to make a counseling appointment or call (949) 582-4572.
  2. HIT applications are accepted year-round. Students must apply using the Submittable HIT Application link. Students must set up an account to apply. Application related communications will be sent via Submittable, so check emails regularly.
  3. Students may apply to the program at any time prior to enrolling in the HIT 116, HIT 119.
  4. For HIT 130 Directed Practice, students will be placed in a hybrid or on-site 50-hour externship at one of Saddleback College’s contracted on-site clinical facilities. To participate, students will be expected to obtain the required clearances for both Saddleback College and the training site. 

Once invited into the program, the student must accept or decline admission during the required response time as indicated in the acceptance email.

Students are expected to abide by the program requirements as stated in the HIT Student Handbook. 

Students enrolling in the HIT 130 Directed Practice are required to obtain the following clearances before participation in the Professional Practice Experience. Any findings may affect the student’s ability to progress through or complete the program. Students are advised to complete the clearance process by December 1st for Spring placement.  Students in their last semester of the program are required to obtain the following clearances before participating in HIT 130: Directed Practice. Any findings may affect the student’s ability to progress through or complete the program. Students are advised to complete the clearance process by December 1st for Spring placement. Please see the Professional Practicum Experience requirements in the HIT PPE Manual.

Mandatory Health Assessment Requirements

Tuition, Fees, and Program Costs
Tuition/Fees HIT AS Degree (79.5 units)
Tuition at $46 per unit (CA resident) $2,760
Application Fee (non-refundable) $54
Books (Average $100 per course) $3,000
Health Fee ($22 per semester x 4) $88
AHIMA Virtual Lab Fee ($195 a year x 2) $390
AHIMA Membership ($49 per year x 2)
*highly recommended but not required		 $98
Professional Practice Experience (PPE) Expenses  
Medical Clearance and Immunizations $155
Student Medical Liability Insurance $22
Background Investigation Fee $50
CPR (BLS)  $50
Total $6,569
Roadmap for the Health Information Technology AS Degree. Effective Fall 2021
Course Title Units
  Semester 1 - Fall  
HSC 104 Medical Terminology 3
ENG 1A or 1AH Principles of Composition I or Honors Principles of Composition I (Fulfills GE Area lA) 4
AS Degree GE Requirement Area 5: Select from Lifelong Understanding and Self Development  3
AS Degree GE Requirement Area 3: Select from Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
  Semester 2 - Spring  
HSC 107 or BIO 113 Human Body Fundamentals or Human Anatomy and Physiology 3 or 4
MATH 10* or PSYC 44* Introduction to Statistics or Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Fulfills GE Area IC) 3
CIM 1 or CIM 10 Computer Information Systems or Introduction to Information Systems 3 or 4
AS Degree Requirement Area 18: Select from Communication and Analytical Thinking  
  Semester 3 - Summer  
  Area 6: Select from Culture in the United States Requirement  
  Semester 4 - Fall (Start of HIT Program)  
HIT 100* Health Information Science 2
HSC 106* Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information 3
HIT 101* Alternative Healthcare Delivery Systems 2
CIMW 105 Web Development and DB Intro SQL and MYSQL 3
AS Degree GE Requirement Area 2: Select from Natural Sciences (only needed if BIO 113 is not taken) 3
  Semester 5 - Spring  
HIT 111* Health Information Technologies (HCIT) 3
HSC 108* Disease Processes for the Health Sciences 3
HIT 109* ICD Diagnostic Coding 3
HIT 110* ICD Procedure Coding 2
AS Degree GE Requirement Area 4: Select from Arts and Humanities 3, 4, or 5
  Semester 6 - Fall   
CIMA 288 Database Reporting 3.5
HIT 119* Management of Resources in Healthcare 3
HIT 116* Performance of Resources in Healthcare 3
HIT 115* CPT and Ambulatory Care Coding 3
  Semester 7 - Spring  
HIT 122* Reimbursement Methodologies 3
HIT 130* Directed Practice
(Requires completion of HIT 101, HIT 109, HIT 110, HIT 11, HIT 115, HIT 116, HIT 119, CIMW 105, CIMA 288, HSC 106, HSC 108, CIM 1 or CIM 10)		 4

Major units 52.5 - 54.5
Total Degree Units including GE: 79.5 - 93.5

Meet with a counselor to review and incorporate GE courses that best meets your goals. The Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree in Health Information Technology requires students to complete both HIT department and GE requirements. A previous Associate Degree, Bachelor's Degree or higher degree does not automatically meet GE requirements. All outside transcripts must be evaluated toward Saddleback College's requirements. Students have 3 options for completing GE requirements: Saddleback College GE, CSU GE or IGETC.

2023-2024 Estimated Cost of Attendance

The estimated cost of attendance at Saddleback College includes an estimate for tuition and fees, books
and supplies as well as basic living expenses like food and housing, and personal and miscellaneous
expenses. Your actual expenses may be higher or lower than the amounts listed below.

Expenses Living With Parents (2 Semesters) Living Away from Parents (2 semesters)
Tuition & Fees $1,426 $1,426
Books & Supplies $938 $938
Living Expenses: Food & Housing $12,656 $22,670
Personal & Misc. $3,608 $4,428
Transportation $1,612 $1,764
Total Resident $20,240 $31,226
Total Non-Resident $32,540 $43,526
Expenses Living with Parents Living Away from Parents
Tuition & Fees $709 $709
Books & Supplies $312 $312
Living Expenses: Food & Housing $4,218 $7,557
Personal & Misc. $1,203 $1,476
Transportation $537 $588
Total Resident $6,979 $10,642
Total Non-Resident $13,129 $16,792
Expenses Living With Parents Living Away from Parents
  Summer Fall & Spring Summer Fall & Spring
Tuition & Fees $1,426 $709 $1,426 $709
Books & Supplies $938 $312 $938 $312
Transportation $1,612 $537 $1,764 $588
Total Resident $3,976 $1,558 $4,128 $1,609
Total Non-Resident $16,275 $7,708 $16,428 $7,759
  • Enrollment Fee: $46 per unit
    • Based on 15-units for Fall, Spring and Summer
  • Health Fee $26 for Fall and Spring, $22 for Summer
  • Non-Resident Tuition (in addition to the $46 per unit enrollment fee): $410 per unit ($365 non-resident tuition fee + $45 capital outlay fee)
  • Estimated cost of attendance may be adjusted for documented circumstances such as dependent care expenses, purchase of a computer, and other special circumstances (except for students enrolled less than half-time)

Optional fees

  • ASG Sticker - $10
  • Student Representation Fee - $2.00 (per semester)
  • Parking Permit Fee
  • Instructional Material Fees - as listed in the Schedule of Classes

Accreditation and Certification (Effective August 1, 2022)

NOTE: Saddleback College is no longer accepting new students to the current HIT Program.

Saddleback College is withdrawing the HIT program from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) accreditation. The college will continue to offer accredited HIT classes until the end of the Spring 2024 semester. Beginning Fall 2024 all HIT classes at Saddleback College will no longer be accredited. Student may choose to transfer to a CAHIIM accredited college to complete their degree.


If you are a brand-new student or entering the HIT program under the 2022-2023 catalog i.e. Fall 22 or Spring 23, you must finish the program at Saddleback College by the end of Spring 2024 to be eligible for the RHIT exam.


**It is strongly advised that all current and future HIT students meet Elizabeth Weiss in the Counseling Office to discuss educational goals and options.**
 

Contact the Health Information Technology Department