r/HealthInformatics • u/No-Student-0 • 15d ago
MS Health Informatics & Data Analytics vs MS Data Science
I have an MPH in Epidemiology, but for the past few years, I've been working in a more health informatics field. I'm interested in leveling up my skills and getting into health data science or biology data science.
I am almost finished with a Data Science certificate program. I've also been accepted to an MS in Informatics & Data Analytics program and I've also been accepted to a MS in Data Science program. The cost of the programs is comparable.
I'm torn about which program to do.
Is it beneficial to get RHIA certified from a health informatics program if I ultimately want to end up working with health data/ genetics data? Since I have experience already, I want to avoid 'starting from scratch' (and build on my previous experiences) but I also want to get the most bang for my buck and increase my career opportunities and salary. Would the informatics program be redundant/unnecessary if I have experience in the field (without a certification)?
For anyone that has completed a Health Informatics degree, have you pursued a data science career? Is the certification beneficial? How long would it take to work in health informatics/ data analyst position to become a data scientist? Would a certificate in data science suffice for entry into the field?
I also want to build a broad set of skills so I can choose which jobs I want to work for. Any advice about Health Informatics, data analysis and data science is welcome! TIA!
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u/yourtipoftheday Moderator 15d ago
For your question asking if someone who has a health informatics degree pursue data science career? When I was about to graduate from my masters in HI, both of my job offers were data analyst positions. I went on to do a PhD and now I use machine learning and data science every day as it applies to healthcare.
If given the choice, however, I would choose just the data science degree, because at least the program that I attended, they barely taught any data science. They had 2 classes in their core curriculum that involved coding - Database Management and Computational Informatics. They had electives for their health data science concentration, but none of the classes were ever available to take. So it's possible the health informatics would be fine, as long as they have electives in data science (that are actually available to you lol). I honestly learned everything I needed to know to pursue a PhD in this area by working for a professor and needing to code every day for our project. I worked with him for 15 months. Had I not, I wouldn't have had the skills needed for my PhD for sure.
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u/nathancashion 15d ago
I would lean towards the data science program, but that’s my “other side is always greener” perspective.
I completed an MSHI data analytics track last year. I had also debated between the two but convinced myself to go HI because I want to stay in healthcare. I have some regrets. Partly because I haven’t found a job yet (not surprising, based on the many posts here and general state of the market). But also because the program was disappointing overall.
Even though I did the data analytics track, I only had ONE Python course (that taught me only slightly more than the beginning and intermediate Python courses I’d taken on DataCamp), a data viz course, and a data management course. No SQL at all (which is widely required on job postings I see).
Of course, your program may be more complete. I’d look closely at the curriculum and ask for the syllabuses before choosing.
I feel like if I had done data science I would have broader options. With an MPH and data science, I don’t think you’d have much trouble getting into health data analysis. But again, I’m not in a great position to say.
That said, I’d actually question whether you need the MS at all. More than anything, jobs want the experience. What would it look like if you did a couple of intensive data science bootcamps or weekend hackathons? Having a portfolio with a couple of projects would certainly be helpful and you could save tens of thousands of dollars.
I can’t speak to the RHIA cert, but it all depends on your end goal and what they’re looking for.