Information Technology (Health Informatics)

From core-programming and networking courses to advanced training in high-demand IT specializations, Walden’s M.S. in Information Technology (M.S.I.T.) program is designed to help you enter and advance in the fast-growing IT field. A leader in online education, Walden offers aspiring and experienced IT professionals the opportunity to learn in a state-of-the-art virtual environment featuring virtual labs and Walden’s exclusive MobileLearn® technology.

This program’s career-building format enables you to earn your Graduate Certificate in Information Systems after completing the first four courses and then pursue advanced study in one of these in-demand specializations:

• Health Informatics
• Information Assurance and Cyber Security
• Information Systems
• Software Engineering

Why choose the Health Informatics specialization?

The fast-growing field of health informatics focuses on applying IT-based innovations to reduce medical costs and improve the delivery of patient care. The Health Informatics specialization helps prepare you to take an active role in designing, building, and supporting the complex information systems required in today’s healthcare organizations.

Statistics

Rapid advancements in technologies, new business opportunities for leveraging technology applications, and the anticipated retirement of many senior-level information technology professionals are contributing to the growing demand for technology talent. Employment of computer and system administrators, computer system analysts, and computer information systems managers is expected to grow by 25% from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Highlights

Earn your M.S. in Information Technology with a program that:

• Provides the opportunity to create computer systems that make meaningful contributions to your organization.
• Enables you to evaluate alternative information technology approaches that can give your organization a competitive advantage.
• Takes advantage of the online environment and virtual laboratories to give you practical skills working with geographically dispersed, multidisciplinary teams.
• Responds to the needs of employers in the information technology field.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

Apply core information-technology principles and practices.

Develop and maintain stable, secure, scalable, and maintainable software.

Work online to produce effective solutions to complex problems.

Recommend appropriate solutions based on organizational needs.

Identify and discuss professional, individual, organizational, societal, and regulatory implications of information systems and technology.

Select technologies, policies, and procedures to assure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and IT systems.

Career

The M.S. in Information Technology can help you prepare for senior-level or leadership positions in engineering, programming, security, and systems architecture, including positions in:

• Computer software engineer
• Database designer/architect
• Information-technology security analyst
• Network security analyst
• Technology risk manager
• Computer programmer
• Application programmer
• Systems programmer

The fast-growing field of health informatics focuses on applying IT-based innovations to reduce medical costs and improve the delivery of patient care. The Health Informatics specialization helps prepare you to take an active role in designing, building, and supporting the complex information systems required in today’s healthcare organizations.

Completion Requirements

• 30 total semester credits
  • Core courses (12 sem. cr.)
  • Specialization courses (18 sem. cr.)

Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred.

Core Courses

• Information Technology in the Organization
• Computer Networking and Operating Systems
• Data Modeling and Database Design
• Principles of Programming

Specialization Courses

• Business Architecture and Process
• Organizational and Social Dimensions of Information Systems
• Business Strategy for Competitive Advantage
• Foundations of Health Informatics
• Information Systems Management
• Representation of Health Information

Admission requirements for Walden’s programs vary but generally include the following:Official transcript(s)A bachelor degree or higherApplicable test scoresCompleted online applicationEmployment historyList of transfer creditsApplicants must have successfully completed a higher education/ university-level degree or a comparable university degree in Psychology. Additional academic qualifications may also be considered.Applicants who do not have graduated yet at the time of the application deadline, but who expect to graduate before the beginning of the program, can also apply for admission subject to timely graduation. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test: 79 Technological Requirements Access to a computer and the Internet.

As a Walden student, you’ll find a number of resources available to you to help fund your education. Our enrollment advisers, along with our knowledgeable financial aid advisors, are committed to helping you identify your options and answer any questions you may have about the financial aid process.

Two-thirds of Walden students currently receive some form of financial aid. Many defray up to 100% of their tuition and fees through Federal Direct Loans.

Walden University is committed to providing broad access to higher education. Our scholarships are an investment in the future of our students and the future of the communities they serve as advocates for positive social change. Walden offers merit-based scholarships for academic and professional accomplishments. Certain scholarships may be available to international students.

Types of Financial Aid

• Federal Financial Aid
• State Grants
• Private Loans
• Scholarships
• Fellowships
• Other Funding Options

If you have questions about financial aid and you haven’t yet applied to Walden, please contact an enrollment adviser.

Accreditation

At Walden, our goal is to help you reach yours. From your first inquiry about your online program, through every step in your studies, you can benefit from our wide range of student support services designed to help you succeed in attaining your degree online.

Founded in 1970, Walden University is a global leader in student-centred online education. A regionally accredited institution in the United States, Walden University attracts a community of extraordinary students and faculty from around the world.

Our quality online programs feature nationally recognized experts, accomplished faculty, and visionary leaders—all professionals who are dedicated to upholding the university’s high academic standards.

Mission

Walden University’s mission is to provide a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change. Three values—quality, integrity, and student-centred approach—are at the core of the university. A commitment to these values demands high standards of excellence, uncompromising openness and honesty, and primary attention to the progress of our students.

Credentials

Accreditation is an important hallmark of quality. When evaluating credentials, employers and universities often look for applicants who earned their degrees from accredited universities.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. The North Central Association is one of the six regional accrediting associations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The North Central Association is a U.S. membership organization for educational institutions that was created to develop and maintain high standards of academic excellence.