The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine will offer a new degree program in informatics this September.

The one-year Master's degree program is designed to prepare graduates for informatics leadership positions in clinical, public health and scientific settings.

The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) approved the new program in June.

According to program literature, graduates "should be capable of developing or leading innovative applications of information technology and information systems that address biological, clinical or public health priorities, studying how information is organized and used and evaluating this work to contribute to the scientific field." Program requirements include core, selective and elective coursework, grand rounds and a capstone project.

The program is a significant extension of the education programs the division already has in place, such as the NLM Informatics Research Training Program and the research-based Master's degree.

"The Applied MS is the first in a new range of programs the division is developing," said Harold Lehmann, MD, training program director for the Division of Health Sciences Informatics. "In addition to training career informaticians, we will be offering informatics training for clinicians and public health professionals."

Officials say the program is needed. "With the advent of healthcare reform, the demand for professionals with this type of training will only increase," said Nancy Roderer, director of the Division of Health Sciences Informatics. "Health Sciences Informatics is a key component to the success of this initiative."

Admission to the program is based on a candidate's undergraduate and/or graduate academic record, statement of purpose, professional experience, letters of recommendation, results of Graduate Record Examinations (where required) and overall motivation to pursue graduate studies.