Healthcare and technology are two of the swiftest growing areas of major industries today, so seeking health informatics degrees in Georgia is the first step to a profitable future. The nation is moving toward an incredibly digital and technology-oriented method of providing healthcare where records and systems are housed in computers and hard copies are often abandoned in favor of electronic records. Therefore, individuals who have a degree in clinical health informatics and similar disciplines will find their talents in high demand in Georgia and around the country. Students who seek these degrees may work in a variety of environments from business or clinical intelligence to health information management.
Emory University
Rollins School of Public Health
A private university located in Atlanta, Emory University was founded in 1836 by a group of Methodists. Named after a Methodist bishop, the school was originally named Emory College. After a donation from the president of Coca-Cola in 1915, the school moved from a rural section of DeKalb County to Atlanta. Today, there are around 3,000 faculty who offer classes to about 15,000 students. The university has garnered a variety of awards, and “U.S. News & World Report” gave it a rank of 20th in a national list of universities. Faculty at the university have earned Nobel Prizes, the Pulitzer, and National Humanities Medals.
MSPH in Public Health Information
Students who have an interest in biomedical sciences and health and who are also likely to exhibit strong quantitative skills will flourish in Emory’s Public Health Information program. Students need to have high scores on the mathematical and analytical portions of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) when applying to the program. The school also recommends that students have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale when applying. The program takes four semesters and will require completion of 44 semester hours, as well as four credit hours devoted to a thesis project. Some of the courses students will take include Principles of Public Health Informatics, Geographic Information Systems, and Introduction to PH Surveillance. The school recommends that students also take electives in a single area to enhance the knowledge gained in a particular focus. Some of the specializations available to students include Health Policy and Management or classes in biostatistics or epidemiology.
Contact
Rollins School of Public Health
Grace Crum Rollins Building
1518 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30322
Phone: 404.727.3956
sphadmissions@emory.edu
Website
Georgia Regents University
College of Allied Health Sciences
Located in Augusta, Georgia Regents University was established in 1828 as the Medical Academy of Georgia. Today, GRU is one of four public research universities that are part of the state’s university system. The college today is the result of a merger between Georgia Health Sciences University and Augusta State University. Historically, the medically-themed school had presidents who held medical degrees and when the university was combined with Augusta State University, deciding upon the new name was a long process that involved voting and public commentary. The university offers a variety of master’s degree programs in the medical field, as well as classes in traditional areas like art, English and foreign languages.
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Administration
According to the university, health information is a field that requires a deep understanding of today’s technology and how it impacts patients in healthcare. In addition, the field entails research and development of technology used in medical areas. The degree at Georgia Regents University offers graduates the opportunity to enter the workforce as knowledgeable employees. Upon graduation, students will be knowledgeable on subjects like electronic information systems, reimbursement, industry improvements, and legal issues or inquiries. Some of the careers students may consider with a degree include health information administrators who may find work in a variety of venues like law firms, insurance companies, health data organizations, and long-term care facilities. The university also suggests that individuals working as health information administrators may enjoy a healthy salary of more than $57,000 a year which may rise above $75,000 in certain areas of the country. Jobs as consultants may earn graduates more than $100,000 a year.
Master of Public Health Program
Students who study in the graduate level public health program at GRU study about how knowledge and skills helps to improve healthcare. For example, students learn how technology can improve the patient experience, reduce the spread of disease, and improve the overall health of the population. Students in the program may specialize in a variety of areas like Health Informatics, Health Management, and Environmental Health. When specializing in Health Information, students learn the skills needed to enhance and improve information systems in health care. Those improvements improve delivery of healthcare to patients. When specializing in Health Management, students obtain knowledge required to work in management and as leaders in the healthcare sector. The Environmental Health specialization is handled through the Department of Clinical and Environmental Health Sciences. The MPH program at Georgia Regents is accredited by the Council for Education in Public Health and offers a significant portion of classroom study through online.
Contact
Office of Academic Admissions
170 Kelly Building – Administration
Georgia Regents University
Augusta, GA 30912
Phone: 706.721.2725
admissions@gru.edu
Website
Georgia State University
J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Established in 1913, Georgia State University is a large school with over 32,000 students attending classes. There are over 250 degree programs offered at the school under eight different colleges within the university. The majority of students who attend GSU do so while living off-campus or at home. Recent statistics suggest over 60% of the student population lives off-campus. The university is classified as a school with high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Since the school was established, nearly 200,000 degrees have been awarded. The university has a significant and positive impact on the Georgia economy with about $1.5 billion fed into the local economy each year.
Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems with a concentration in Health Informatics
The purpose of this degree is to teach students how to use technology to help patients in the world of healthcare. Students will learn three important facets of the industry including the ability to identify needs within an organization, how to develop systems that solve problems, and how those systems will be implemented once designed. The role of someone in information systems is to ensure that the technology used is secure and that it improves the experience of patients seeking healthcare. Students who graduate from the program are prepared to enter a career in business and will become adept at achieving objectives within a formal environment. The program recently made it into the top fifty list of schools ranked by U.S. News & World Report for undergraduate programs in the United States. GSU’s program came in at a rank of #8. The university suggests that students who study information systems will be entering a very healthy and growing industry.
Master of Science in Information Systems (I.S.) with a concentration in Health Informatics
This master’s degree program is designed to help students form a solid background in information systems while also learning about how to apply technology to information systems in business. The university suggests that the business world today is very competitive and operates on a global stage. Therefore, students who wish to work in health information systems must know how to effectively deploy technology for use in the industry. Because there is currently a shortage of specialists in this area, the university suggests that people who learn about health information systems will be able to enter a growing industry where jobs are plentiful. Students who successfully complete the degree program will be primed to enter the industry with significant knowledge of business. These skills will help a graduate’s employer become a competitive entity within the global marketplace. Some of the classes students take include Pervasive Healthcare Technologies, The Healthcare System, and Health Information Systems.
Master of Science in Health Administration
The Master of Science in Health Administration is designed to take students four semester to complete. Classes are scheduled on two days of the week from 5:30 to 9:45 PM on Mondays and Wednesdays. The university suggests that admission to the program is very competitive and will only admit students who have a proven track record of dedication to academic achievement. Students take a variety of classes like Introduction to the Health Care System, Health Policy and Ethics, and Executive Leadership in Health Care. In total, students must complete 36 semester hours which may include a variety of prerequisites like classes in statistics and financial courses. The university suggests that students will benefit from a program that combines existing information technology and new technology that will help healthcare facilities remain competitive in a global environment. Students benefit from a curriculum that combines advanced technology and the world of medical services and healthcare administration.
Master of Health Administration (MBA/MHA)
An MBA is an exceptionally valuable degree, particularly when combined with health administration. Students may choose to work in the program in a full-time or part-time format with varying workloads. Depending on how many classes a student takes each year, the program may take anywhere from 1.5 to 3 years to complete. Some classes are offered in the evening, and others are offered in a block-style format, one after the other. Students must complete at least 57 hours of coursework and benefit from a curriculum that’s approved by the CAHME. Some of the classes students take include Health Care Systems, Health Policy and Ethics, and Health Economics and Finance. The prevailing theme of each of these classes is that they all combine business, technology, and healthcare. To obtain entry into the program, students must apply after having maintained a 3.1 grade point average for previous or undergraduate work. Accepted students usually have a GRE score of at least 1200.
Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Information Systems
Students who enroll in the doctoral program in Computer Information Systems are exposed to a curriculum that combines theoretical study, as well as methodological competencies on many topics. With a faculty who is very prolific in research and publishing, students benefit from instructors who remain up-to-date on many vital topics impacting today’s workers in information systems. The objective of the program is to produce graduates who are able to conduct serious research and publish their own research once graduated from the program. Students are expected to seek publication in top tier academic journals, as well as investigate getting on the tenure track at a research university. Students are admitted to the program each year for the fall semester. Students usually need to have a strong academic background in a direct or related field. Students may also come to the program with real-world or professional experience. Students who have prior experience in a graduate program are also preferred.
Contact
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3965
Atlanta, GA 30302
Phone: 404.413.2500
admissions@gsu.edu
Website
Students who have an interest in technology and health care could find no more suitable avenue than a degree in health informatics. Whether a student is just starting college and will be enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program or whether a student has been in the work force before, there are several programs within Georgia that will provide a suitable avenue toward work in health informatics. Students who would like to work on the business side of the healthcare industry would find health informatics degrees in Georgia a valuable endeavor.
For more information on earning your Health Informatics degree, please see 20 Most Affordable Master’s in Health Informatics Degree Programs.
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