Graduates of the University of Pittsburgh’s new online Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics will have a leg up on the growing industry and artificial intelligence, especially as the technology continues to advance, Pitt officials say.

In 2026, Pitt will launch the fully online undergraduate program that emphasizes health data science, informatics and AI, said Anthony Delitto, associate provost for digital education.

The new program will be offered in addition to an online and on-campus graduate degree in health informatics, and Pitt’s on-campus Bachelor of Science in health informatics.

“In the undergraduate residential program, we’ve targeted the potential student who is your traditional undergraduate,” Delitto said. “In the other space, it’s the student who can’t come here for whatever reason, they need something more flexible and more accessible.

“We really like to target the adult learner. We hope the adult learner sees Pitt as an option in advanced training.”

In the program, students will learn how to manage, analyze and visualize large health data sets like patient records, technology and financials, Delitto said. Information scientists consolidate that information, and provide it to front-line practitioners, Delitto said.

“Data scientists and health information people put the information together and give it to the decision makers in an adjustable format,” he said.

Even with AI advancing rapidly, the knowledge learned from the program is as vital as ever. Students who have a knowledge base of AI have a leg up on their peers that don’t, he said.

“AI is revolutionizing health care, and our program stands at the forefront,” said Bambang Parmanto, chair of Pitt’s Department of Health Information Management. “Our revised (Bachelor’s of Science) in HI curriculum will integrate AI at its core. The accrediting body also specifically recommended that our department establish a concentration in AI, citing both the strong market need and our faculty’s unique expertise, which is not found in comparable programs at other institutions.”

And the jobs are in demand: a market analysis report from Hanover Research found that the number of job listings in the health informatics field noting AI increased by 83% from February 2024 to February 2025.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an average 20% increase across health informatics-related jobs by 2033.

“It’s one of the most sought out programs out there in the health system,” Delitto said.

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