Among the different health informatics degree programs are those offering a bachelor’s or a master’s degree that can be earned in person or online. Individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree in information technology, nursing and other related fields may also earn a health informatics certificate, a graduate degree or a post-graduate degree, which may assist in career advancement and enhance their professional knowledge within the health care industry. Many health informatics degree programs even offer programs that offer credits, but do not result in a degree. Some of these courses are designed to help students gain additional career knowledge while determining whether to make a full commitment to a more intensive degree program.
Engaging in a health informatics education typically prepares students and working professionals for public health careers. Many already working in this field seek a health informatics college degree program in an effort to stay abreast of new technologies and analyses. In order to accommodate working professionals, several health informatics degree programs offer weekend, evening and online courses that can be tailored around a person’s existing work schedule. Several major universities offer extension programs that offer applicable degrees or certificates for a health informatics career.
In addition to bachelor's degree programs in health informatics, individuals may also engage in graduate and post-graduate studies. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists often engage in this type of information technology training to better serve the public at large. Some of the courses available to such individuals are even offered through self-paced online training.
Whether courses are taken online or in an actual classroom setting, the information offered in most health informatics degree programs encompasses a wide range of subjects useful in implementing quality health care strategies in hospitals, clinics and research settings. Examples of some of the courses covered include legal and ethical issues relating to health informatics, medical terminology used in information technology careers, special communication skills and biomedical research. Courses also cover various systems and analyses used, as well as the security and risk management of those systems.
Depending on whether a student already has a degree and attends classes on a full- or part-time basis, some health informatics degree programs may take between two and four years to complete. Certificate programs tend to be considerably shorter in duration, with some being able to earn a certificate in a few months. As many health informatics degree programs offer online and self-paced study, the exact length of time needed to complete the requirements of each program often depends on a student’s time commitment to such a program.
