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Introduction to a Master’s in Informatics

Why Pursue a Career in Informatics?

Informatics is essentially the act of storing and retrieving information, as well as the communication of specific data or information to the right people at the right time for the benefit of the company or organization. There are numerous areas and sectors in which informatics is a growing field with the two most significant being that of healthcare and business. The main skill set required for a job in this area is Information and Communication Technology, although naturally for a role within a corporation, extensive experience and knowledge of fundamental business principles is crucial. A career in informatics is likely to be prosperous as it is an expanding area, in which there is a great demand for skilled individuals who are able to make use of the increasing amount of data that is available.

What is a Master’s in Informatics like?

For a master of informatics degree program expressly you are most likely to find what you are looking for from a European institute of higher education. For those relating specifically to business rather than other disciplines such as health care, there are likely to have more luck in the US searching for a program under the name of Master of Science in Business Informatics. Like most graduate courses, both part time and full time courses are available, which can be completed over one or two years.

Most business informatics programs are geared towards the working professional who already has a number of years experience under his or her belt and whom is looking to progress into a managerial or executive position. The master of science in informatics program, as offered by the Northern Kentucky University offers evening classes and is accredited by the AACSB.

What is the Typical Curriculum of a Master’s in Informatics?

In order to tailor your program to your specific needs in your area of work and expertise, many informatics masters provide several elective classes. The typical curriculum that you can expect to find will include choices such as information security and controls, global information technology and systems, health informatics and data warehousing and management.

What Pre-requisites Do I Need to Attend a Master’s in Informatics?

As is typical for most master’s degree the minimum admission requirement for the informatics masters is a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. It is also common practice to be expected to show proof of potential for success at graduate level by submitting your GMAT or GRE scores or to have a prior graduate degree from an accredited university.

Who Should Consider a Master’s in Informatics?

Most of the people considering an informatics masters will already be working in their chosen profession and will have a few years of experience clocked away. Developing skills in informatics is an excellent way of moving up the career ladder, as today most organization are suffering from a severe lack of data and information specialists. This program will provide the tools to ensure that information and communication technologies are being applied to the business in the most effective and successful ways.

What Are The Career Opportunities in Informatics?

There is no doubt for those already in a corporate environment, a masters in informatics could successfully provide you with the edge required to make it into a managerial or executive position. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2012 the median salary for an informatics manager was $120,950 per year and the majority of the people in this position held a graduates degree.