Break Into Health IT: 9 Master's Degree Programs
April 05, 2012 11:50 AM Having trouble landing a health IT job because you're not a clinician, or your IT experience lies outside healthcare? These master's degree and health informatics programs can help bridge the gap.
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Degree: Master of Science in Medical Informatics
Program description: RIT's Master of Science in Medical Informatics is a campus-only offering. However, the benefits of the degree from RIT are that the program is offered jointly by RIT and the University of Rochester's School of Medicine and Dentistry. Students choose to matriculate at one of the universities, where they will earn their degree and receive a diploma bearing the seals of both institutions. The degree program recognizes that medical informatics requires computing expertise; an understanding of formal medical terminology, clinical processes, and guidelines; and the application of information and communication systems that can successfully deliver patient information in a number of healthcare settings.
Location: Rochester, NY
Term: The medical informatics degree is a 14-course program comprised of nine required core courses, a three-course concentration for depth, plus a two-course capstone experience. The program is offered on a full- or part-time basis. The full-time program may be completed in approximately two years. For part-time students, completion may take three to four years.
Class size: Typically 15-25 students.
Job placement possibilities: RIT says graduates of this program could achieve positions as health information technicians, health informatics software developers, Web developers, systems analysts, clinical data analysts, and software product specialists, with potential for professional growth and advancement into future careers as content engineers, informatics consultants, RN informaticists, healthcare analysts, or chief medical information officers.
Cost: Current program requires 52 quarter credits and costs $963/credit hour.
Website: http://www.ist.rit.edu/
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