Break Into Health IT: 9 Master's Degree Programs

3Comments | Marianne Kolbasuk McGee and Lisa Henderson | 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.

Break Into Health IT: 9 Master's Degree Programs

Informationweek Discussions

To upload an avatar photo, first complete your Disqus profile. | View the list of supported HTML tags you can use to style comments. | Please read our commenting policy.

Previous Slide Next Slide 5 of 11

Northwestern University

Degree: Master of Science in Medical Informatics

Program description: The online Master of Science in Medical Informatics program at Northwestern University is comprised of a 13-unit course structure and is designed for clinical health professionals as well as IT professionals in the healthcare field. The program is jointly taught by Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies and the Feinberg School of Medicine. MMI students follow one of two tracks, depending on whether their background is in health care or in computing and information technology. The program helps students leverage their background to understand both sides.

Location: Northwestern University is located in Chicago, but courses are offered online.

Term: A minimum of 11 units of credit are required for the MMI degree, with each course counting as one unit of credit. The curriculum applies to the MMI online and MD/MMI degrees. Students may be required to complete up to 13 courses in order to gain the necessary background in the field. While the MMI program is designed to be completed in two to three years of uninterrupted part-time study, students have up to five years to complete the program.

Job placement possibilities: The university says graduates of its MMI program will possess the technical skills and leadership experience to work as consultants for independent practices and large medical facilities that are implementing and maintaining EMRs, and to hold positions in healthcare administration and management, clinical IT leadership, research, and education and academia.

Cost: Tuition for the 2011-12 academic year is $3,435 per course, plus a technology fee of $110 per course.

Website: www.medinformatics.northwestern.edu

RECOMMENDED READING:

The Workforce Challenge

Health IT Leaders Launch eNurse Mentoring Program

Nursing Information Officers: Newest Health IT Leaders

Healthcare CIOs Should Become 'Servant Leaders'

Does Your Health IT Career Require Another Diploma?

llinois Schools Develop Future Health IT Stars

Health IT Priorities: Time To Deliver

11 Telemedicine Tools Transforming Healthcare

9 Tech Innovations For Your Health