The IU School of Informatics and Computing (SoIC) in Indianapolis in conjunction with the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) will be offering a new accelerated degree option beginning in the fall of 2015 which allows students to complete complementary undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a shorter amount of time, giving them a head start on their career.
The two schools are jointly offering an integrated five-year bachelor’s to master’s (BS/MS) degree consisting of a bachelor of science in health sciences and a master of science in health informatics. “The BS/MS program has several features that are attractive to students and employers, including greater breadth (BS) and depth (MS) of health sciences and informatics fundamentals and an application skill set in health informatics; better starting salary upon completion of the program; better career growth opportunities; and better preparedness to meet employment opportunities and challenges,” said Karl MacDorman, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for the School of Informatics and Computing.
Those obtaining the BS/MS degree will graduate with advanced skills preparing them for the career paths of tomorrow. According to the Economics & Statistics Administration, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs have grown three times as fast in the past 10 years than other professions, and STEM workers are less likely to experience joblessness than non-STEM counterparts. STEM occupations are projected to grow 17% by 2018 compared to 9.8% for non-STEM occupations.
“We are excited about the new dual degree program of the BS in health sciences and the MS in health informatics. It provides students the opportunity to simultaneously complete both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in as little as five years. It opens job opportunities in the field of health informatics, which is a discipline that is rapidly becoming critical to human health and disease prevention,” said Brent Arnold, Chair and Professor of the SHRS Department of Health Sciences.
Consistent with IUPUI’s vision and mission, the BS/MS degree provides students with intensive hands-on experiential and problem-solving learning. The primary benefits of this combined degree program are to broaden students’ career horizons by allowing them to receive two degrees in a shorter time frame and at lower costs than it would take to pursue the degrees separately.
Students interested in applying for the integrated degree will be able to do so in the sixth semester of their BS in health sciences program or when they have successfully completed their first five semesters (75 credit hours) with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher.
If you have questions about eligibility or the application process, contact Melinda McCormick, Academic Advisor mccormmc@iu.edu or Deanna Hart, Director of Student Enrollment Services delhart@iu.edu at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences or Elizabeth Bunge, Graduate Program Coordinator ebunge@iu.edu at the School of Informatics and Computing.
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