Graduate Certificate in Health Information Technology

The healthcare industry is ever evolving. With the adoption of electronic medical records, telemedicine, and the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Edition (ICD-10) migration, there is demand for those with skills in both information technology and the healthcare field. The certificate in Health Information Technology aims to provide competence in patient informatics and the use of evidence based medicine, electronic prescribing, and telemedicine as tools to improve patient health and medical systems operation through grounding in health record organization from the multiple perspectives of patients, technicians, nurses, hospital administration, and insurance companies. Students will understand the use of business intelligence and analytics in data rich organizations  and obtain the ability to develop and apply business intelligence and analytics solutions to various types of decision problems.

Target Audience:

The target audience is professionals in organizations or fields that would use healthcare data and would pursue the certification for job knowledge and career enhancement. Those students will be admitted as non-degree seeking, MIT-Commonwealth students.

We also expect graduate students, full- or part-time and currently enrolled in a VT graduate degree program related to use of healthcare data, to be interested in adding this certification as a supplement to their degree.

How To Apply:

External applications should complete the VT-MIT online application as a certificate-seeking student at https://vtmit.vt.edu/admissions/apply-now.html

MIT Graduate Certificates

Admissions Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Health Information Technology

Virginia Tech requires admission to the Graduate School and completion of a Graduate Certificate Application for both degree- and non-degree seeking certificate applicants. 

Degree-seeking applicants: The Graduate School requires completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or greater for admission to Certificate Status. MIT applicants with an undergraduate GPA less than 3.0 may qualify for Commonwealth Campus admission and will need to comply with MIT requirements of Commonwealth Campus status prior to admission to Certificate Status. Students pursuing a degree and a certificate simultaneously are classified within their degree program.

For students interested in pursuing both the MIT degree and the certificate(s), no more than fifty percent of certificate courses will be included toward completion of the MIT degree. 

Non-degree seeking applicants: Applicants that wish to obtain a graduate certificate only, without being enrolled in a VT degree program, may apply by completing an abbreviated application to MIT's Certificate program. The Graduate Certificate Application Form is required after admission.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Earn a GPA of 3.0 or greater or credits earned during the last half of their undergraduate degree.

• Submit official transcripts.

• Meet the academic background requirements of the admitting academic unit.

• International Applicants must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). 

• Earn a minimum TOEFL score of 577 paper-based (PBT) or 90 internet-based test (iBT). For the iBT, earn a minimum of 20 on each subject test (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing).

• Earn a minimum IELTS score of 6.5.

• Some departments have higher TOEFL or IELTS score requirements than those set by the Graduate School.

Course Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Health Information Technology

Number of Credit Hours: 

A total of nine credit hours are required. Transfer credits are not permitted. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the designated courses.

Required Courses: 

ACIS 5504 – Information Systems Design & Database Concepts: This course is an introduction to design methodologies in information systems. Structured systems analysis and design methodologies are discussed. An introduction to database design methodologies is also included. Topics related to different database models and their implementation is discussed. Students are also required to design and implement information systems using appropriate computer software.

BIT 5564 – Healthcare Information Technology: Use of information technology in the healthcare industry. Topics address electronic health records, patient informatics, evidence based medicine, electronic prescribing and telemedicine. The use of these technologies to improve patient health and medical systems operations.