Online Health Info Technology Degree

Online Health Info Technology Degree

With a degree in Health Information Technology, you'll be up to speed on all the latest developments in IT and know how to apply that information to the particular needs of the healthcare industry.


You'll help to develop and/or maintain systems that compile, process and maintain patients' medical records for hospitals and clinics in ways that are consistent with legal and ethical regulatory requirements of the healthcare system.

If the idea of combining strong technological skills with the medical profession is exciting to you, then a degree in Health Information Technology could be just what the doctor ordered.

Degree Choices

AA, BS, MS, Doctorate. While you can certainly get an entry-level position in Health Information Technology with an Associate's degree, the more lucrative positions can be found at the Bachelor's and Master's level. Those wishing to obtain a Doctorate are more than likely pursuing leadership, research, consulting, or higher education faculty positions in the field of IT and Healthcare.

Undergraduate degrees provide the foundational knowledge of the Health Information Technology career. That is, while becoming proficient in all of the current key IT technologies of network administration, security, and database administration, the student simultaneously learns how to apply those concepts to health information. Often the knowledge obtained aids the student in gaining Microsoft certifications should they choose to become certified.

Those pursuing a Master's degree are often already professional Health Information technicians who wish to deepen their current knowledge and are looking to apply it a senior level or management Healthcare IT positions.

Health Information Technology curriculum usually consists of core science classes, statistics, computer science, and database management. Additional courses will explore healthcare and patient data, the evaluation of health information, health business management and other courses which tie IT and healthcare together.

Career and Salary Outlook

For those seeking employment with Health Information Technology degrees, the prospects are very good. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), information technician jobs in the healthcare industry are slated to grow to 18% over the next seven years.

BLS sites many reasons for the increase, but the main reason cited is that "technicians are needed to enter patient information into computer databases to comply with Federal legislation mandating the use of electronic medical records."

The wage for those holding Health Information Technology degrees averages around $45,000. For those holding a Master's or a Doctorate, the scale runs between $67,000 and $107,000. Of course many factors are involved including the facility where one works and the experience of the candidate.