Frequently Asked Questions

Please refer to the main FAQ page for additional questions related to admission. If you cannot find the answers to your questions on this web site, please contact the MMI Enrollment Advisor at (877) 664-3347.

What is medical informatics. How does it differ from other informatics disciplines?
Medical informatics (sometimes referred to as clinical informatics) is the effective organization, analysis, management, and use of information and communication in health care, with an emphasis on improving patient outcomes. It integrates state-of-the art knowledge about information technologies and its applications to health care.

Nursing informatics focuses on information management applications in the delivery, documentation, administration, and evaluation of patient care and prevention of diseases. Public health informatics is defined as the systematic application of information and computer science and technology to public health practice, research, and learning.

Bioinformatics and chemical informatics use mathematical and statistical techniques to solve research problems in biology, especially as they relate to genome and gene sequencing.

What is the intended audience of the MMI program?
The program is designed for individuals currently in the health care and IT fields who wish to remain current in their knowledge and skills in the application of IT to health care. The program also benefits career changers and those who need a formal credential to advance to management positions in health care industry. Physicians, nurses, and other clinical practitioners who wish to leverage their clinical knowledge and potentially move into a new career would also benefit. Medical students and residents who want to be prepared for future applications of technology also gain much from the joint MD / MMI program.

The MMI program has two tracks: one for clinicians and one for IT professionals. Each track has two required preparatory courses. Students who need preparation in both areas take all four preparatory courses.

What is the impact of outsourcing in this field?
Outsourcing will probably not disappear in the near future. Programming, technical and low-skill jobs will continue to be outsourced. This situation, however, creates new job opportunities. Outsourced projects in information technology typically go to a second party abroad, but they must be managed domestically. Also considering the complexity of the relationships between doctors, patients, health care providers, insurance companies, and government agencies within the American health care system, medical informatics professionals must handle a wide range of new organizational challenges.

Is the program heavily quantitative or technical?
Courses that require technical knowledge provide the basic foundational knowledge early in the course and build from there. In those areas where the curriculum focuses on technical material, the emphasis is on practical applications. For example, statistics is addressed in the context of its application to data mining and decision support systems in health care.

What are the advantages of the MMI program as opposed to seeking professional training?
A master's degree from Northwestern is a significant credential for advancing in the profession. The MMI program is valuable for the depth of its curriculum as well as the opportunity it provides for students to investigate team-projects with other working professionals in the field.

Who teaches the courses?
MMI courses are taught by faculty from Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine as well as informatics practitioners. Industry leaders from professional organizations, medical technology companies, and health care information management companies also guest speak and lecture, providing students with additional expertise and networking opportunities.

What is the major pedagogical approach used by the course instructors?
The School of Continuing Studies emphasizes interactive learning, balancing theory with applications. You can expect to spend roughly a third of your class time devoted to foundational concepts, a third to studying cases, and a third to working on exercises and projects (though naturally this varies depending on the class and instructor).

What careers are available to graduates?
Although the field of medical informatics is in its infancy and the MMI program is new, we fully anticipate that our students will be hired by hospitals, medical supply companies, public health agencies, and research labs in roles such as database and data warehouse administrators, project managers, and researchers. Two growing areas of employment include intelligent applications of medical data and quality assurance and compliance.

How many credits required to complete the program? Is a final project required?
The program requires successful completion of a 11-13 course curriculum. A capstone project counts as the final course. Students may pursue their final project either independently or in a team-based class environment.

Will my degree be conferred through the School of Continuing Studies? What will my diploma read?
The MMI degree is conferred by the School of Continuing Studies, and your diploma will state this fact. The program has been created in partnership with the Feinberg School of Medicine, and a program advisory board that includes Feinberg and other Northwestern faculty oversee the curriculum.

I just want to take some graduate-level classes, but I am not sure if I want to pursue the entire degree. Can I do this?
Yes. You would apply as a nondegree special student. These applicants must meet the same admission requirements and standards that apply to degree-seeking applicants. Up to three classes completed as a nondegree special student may later be applied toward the MMI degree.

How many classes can I take per quarter?
Part-time enrollment is one to two classes per quarter (check with the financial aid office to see how many classes you need for guaranteed loan status). MMI students pay per course regardless of how many classes they are completing each quarter. Full-time enrollment is three to four classes per quarter. A full-time schedule cannot be guaranteed in every quarter.

Can I complete this degree while working full-time?
Due to the rigorous nature of Northwestern study, students who work full-time are strongly encouraged to pursue the MMI degree part-time.

How long does it take to complete the MMI program?
The School of Continuing Studies allows students a maximum of five years to complete a program, although master's degree students generally complete degree requirements in two to three years.

Where and when do classes meet?
MMI classes are primarily held on the Chicago Lakefront campus. Occasionally, classes may be offered on the Loop or Evanston campuses. Each class meets once a week for 10 weeks on a week night, (Monday-Thursday) or Saturdays during the day. Parking is available, and all locations are easily accessible by public transportation. There is a free inter-campus shuttle between Evanston and Chicago for all Northwestern students.

Can I transfer credits from another graduate program?
No course work may be transferred from outside Northwestern University to fulfill MMI program requirements.

Does the School of Continuing Studies offer career placement assistance for graduates?
All graduate students are encouraged to take advantage of Northwestern University's Career Placement Office and its services. Additionally, the School of Continuing Studies provides its own career workshops for SCS students throughout the year. These workshops offer students practical information and advice regarding their future career intentions.