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As one of the fastest growing fields, the healthcare industry demands highly innovative and compassionate health services managers who can oversee the smooth operation of the sectors. As a healthcare manager, one will be tasked to ensure that the functions of a healthcare organization are being fulfilled.
Their primary responsibilities may include strategic management and planning, budgeting, coordination of services, policymaking and agenda-setting, and administrative personnel training.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that occupations of medical and health services managers are expected to grow by 28% between 2022 to 2032, making its growth much faster than average. Their role is often influential as they are integral in shaping the health services organizations’ culture. They can set policies that will change the landscape of healthcare delivery systems, which can greatly benefit stakeholders across various health sectors.
Additional Resources:
- Healthcare Career Guide: Salary & Degree Info
- The Best Online Doctor of Healthcare Administration Degree Programs
- The Most Affordable Online Master’s in Healthcare Grad School Programs
Quick audio summary:
Overview
While a bachelor’s degree is enough to give one an opportunity to enter the field, many healthcare managers have obtained a master’s degree to give them an edge when it comes to key healthcare leadership roles. This advanced degree can help healthcare professionals gain leadership skills and a wide range of knowledge that will allow them to navigate the complex healthcare industry.
Methodology
Take your healthcare management expertise up a notch with our recommended online Master of Healthcare Management degrees offered by the country’s leading schools! The online programs each have these academic features:
- Delivered in a web-based or blended format, such that Master of Healthcare Management students enjoy the flexibility of classes, enabling them to pursue the degree while keeping their careers and meeting other personal obligations,
- Features a rigorous Healthcare Management master’s program coursework in their chosen concentration, through which students gain insights into the latest in the industry and learn the skills for leadership in the field,
- Utilizes a robust Learning Management System that allows for easy access to the program coursework and serves as the platform for attending classes and maintaining close communication and coordination with mentors and fellow graduate students,
- Faculty members consist of seasoned healthcare managers and other experts in the industry who have contributed to its advancement,
- Properly accredited, guaranteeing compliance with today’s academic standards,
- Affiliated with healthcare management groups and relevant associations,
- Earns positive feedback from online and on-campus students.
Learn the processes involved in our ranking. Visit our Methodology page.
Top 15 Online Master of Healthcare Management Degrees
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Master of Science in Healthcare Management
The University of Arizona offers the Master of Science in Healthcare Management. This degree program is designed for those who want to make a transition into leadership roles within the healthcare industry. They can learn from an expert faculty who spearheads a diverse healthcare curriculum along with core business classes. They are also given an opportunity to gain hands-on healthcare consulting experience.
Students must complete a total of 30 credits to earn this program, including seven core courses in health care management and nine electives. They will need to choose among three concentrations: Healthcare Leadership, Healthcare Innovation, and Healthcare Informatics.
The program culminates into a capstone project where students get to demonstrate and apply their learning. This project will allow them to scope, research, plan, and execute a relevant project with the aim of delivering real value for a healthcare organization.
Some of the courses covered in this degree program include Introduction to Financial Accounting, Economics for Managers, Healthcare Economics, Survey of Finance, Healthcare Organizations and Management, Healthcare Information Systems, and more. This program is available online, making it an ideal choice for working professionals.
The University of Rhode Island
South Kingstown, Rhode Island
Master of Science in Healthcare Management
Aspiring healthcare professionals who want to advance their careers may want to consider earning a Master of Science degree from the University of Rhode Island. This program will provide them with the necessary business foundation for success in healthcare leadership across various healthcare sectors.
Designed to allow flexibility to reach one’s goals, this program is available online under the College of Business. It focuses on equipping students with skills integral to healthcare management positions, such as process improvement, analytics, data visualization, financial management, human resources management, and so much more.
The courses included in the curriculum are Healthcare Quality Science, Healthcare in America, Strategic Marketing for Healthcare Management, and Data Analytics for Healthcare Management, among others.
To get admitted into the program, prospective students must have a GPA of 3.0 (minimum), a statement of purpose, and five or more years of full-time relevant work.
Stevenson University
Pikesville, Maryland
Master’s in Healthcare Management
Another higher learning institution that offers a Master’s in Healthcare Management is Stevenson University. The fully accredited university has specialized accreditation for this program from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education.
An online learning method is a flexible option for working adults, allowing them to complete their coursework at their own convenience. They are expected to receive personalized attention and guidance from experienced faculty. There are two program concentrations on offer: Quality Management and Patient Safety and Project Management in Healthcare.
Courses included in the program curriculum are Healthcare Management and Administration, Organizational Behavior in Healthcare, Teamwork in Healthcare Settings, and Internship in Healthcare, among others.
Western Governors University
Millcreek, Utah
Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management
Designed for healthcare professionals preparing for healthcare executive leadership roles, the Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management can be completed faster than usual as students have the freedom to set their own schedules. It is even possible for them to finish their MBA program in just one year.
Students will work with a program mentor every term to build their personalized degree plan. They are expected to work their way through each course as quickly as they can. Upon completing the MBA, they must be able to complete a capstone project. This is meant to demonstrate what they learned by working through a simulated business problem.
The program is available 100% online, letting working adults work through their courses anytime and anywhere. Plus, students have several options to help fund their advanced education through various financial aid benefits.
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
Master of Science in Healthcare Management
The Master of Science in Healthcare Management offered by Michigan State University helps healthcare professionals gain vital leadership skills integral to their key role in a complex and dynamic healthcare landscape. They are expected to master collaborative leadership, evidence-based decision-making, and strategic thinking with the goal of advancing the healthcare organization.
This online degree program is offered in 5-week modules. Students can access the courses 24/7 in an interactive learning environment. They are not required to visit the campus throughout the duration of the program. Most students can finish the program in 28 months upon the completion of 42 credits.
In this program, students will learn the application and research of healthcare management with a solid business framework. The curriculum touches on healthcare-specific disciplines, encompassing health law, economics, information systems, healthcare marketing, supply chain management, and more.
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
Master of Science in Healthcare Management
Indiana University helps potential students prepare for leadership positions across the healthcare sectors through its Master of Science in Healthcare Management.
Students are taught to make data-driven decisions in healthcare, including health policy and project management. They are expected to develop competencies to help them succeed in the field, including problem-solving skills, healthcare literacy, core business skills, and emotional intelligence.
To earn the degree, students must complete a total of 36 credit hours. Part of this is courses offered under the Kelly School of Business and the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. For program admission, they will need to have a bachelor’s degree and submit important requirements such as official transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statements, resumes, and GRE scores.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Master of Science in Healthcare Management
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth offers a Master of Science in Healthcare Management degree program that is delivered either fully online or on-campus, with both formats taught by the same faculty, who have years of experience as seasoned practitioners.
The program is designed for those working in the healthcare industry and aims to provide them with the crucial knowledge and tools to become effective healthcare managers. The program has a minimum of 30 credit hours. It includes course content on improving the quality of care, optimizing organizational processes, reducing implementation errors, and strategies for saving time and money.
Students not holding a business-related bachelor’s degree may be required to take up to 6 additional credits that cover prerequisite courses in accounting and/or statistics.
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is AACSB-Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-accredited and recognized as a Military-Friendly School.
Colorado Technical University
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Master of Science in Healthcare Management
Colorado Technical University’s MS in Healthcare Management is designed to prepare students to effectively take up future roles as healthcare leaders and managers. The degree is offered online.
Aside from developing students’ leadership skills, the program provides students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the ruling political, legal, and regulatory factors that influence the US healthcare industry, as well as various ethical and moral issues in healthcare.
Students choose between the General track or a concentration area on Informatics. The program contains nine start dates every year and consists of a total of 48 credit hours, 28 of these being for core courses and 20 for electives/concentration area courses.
Students can be eligible for grants & scholarships, including discounts for active duty military, and they can transfer credits upon enrollment. The program is also an affiliate of the AUPHA Association of University Programs in Health Administration.
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Master of Science in Healthcare Management
The Southeast Missouri State University offers a Master of Science in Healthcare Management degree program, which is a good opportunity for students to not only maximize their career development but also enhance and improve their company’s processes and policies, and work environment, and have a positive impact on patient outcomes. The degree is offered fully online.
The program consists of 30 credit hours and covers various topics on business and management that are relevant to the healthcare industry. Aside from the General track, students can also choose between the Administration and Informatics emphasis areas and choose between an Applied Research Project or an Internship.
Aside from being an AACSB-accredited program, Southeast Missouri State University is also accredited by the Network of International Business Schools (NIBS), signifying the program’s high level of internationalization, meaning students can confidently enter the field of international business once they earn their degree.
Athens State University
Athens, Alabama
Master of Science (MS) in Strategic Healthcare Management & Administration
The Athens State University’s Master of Science in Strategic Healthcare Management & Administration degree program is aimed at preparing healthcare professionals to better serve their communities and effectively tackle the various challenges that currently face the US healthcare infrastructure.
The degree program is offered online and in flexible schedules, letting students better balance their careers and coursework.
The program emphasizes a holistic perspective on the healthcare business. Hence, the coursework covers a wide variety of topics that include finance, organizational management, human capital management, health policy, informatics, and cultural competence.
Aside from maintaining small class sizes, Athens State University offers highly affordable tuition rates for their degrees, especially for the Alabama and Tennessee areas. Students typically recover their education costs within six years of graduating. Athens State University also offers flexible tuition payment plans, which cater to students’ varied budgets.
Fairmont State University
Fairmont, West Virginia
Master of Science in Healthcare Management
Fairmont State University’s Master of Science in Healthcare Management degree program is offered 100% online. It is designed to prepare working professionals with crucial skills and experience required to effectively take up leadership positions in the healthcare industry.
The degree is also designed to prepare graduates for pursuing key C-suite/executive positions that provide the overall direction of private & public sector healthcare organizations and formulate and determine health policy. The healthcare management curriculum is also designed in a way that all learned material is directly applicable to students’ day-to-day leadership decision-making.
The program contains 36 credit hours and can be completed in 5 semesters. Additionally, students also have the option to earn the Certificate in Healthcare Management (worth 15 credit hours) upon completion of 5 management core courses.
Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Master of Science in Healthcare Management
Loyola University New Orleans offers an online Master of Science in Healthcare Management, which prepares students for leadership roles in the healthcare industry. The AACSB-accredited degree is suited for a variety of learners, whether they are just starting out in their careers or are already seeking advancement.
The degree program contains a total of 30 credit hours and can be completed in just one year. There are three concentration areas available, namely Marketing & Communication, Financial Management & Data Analysis, and Project Management & Operations. The degree program is cross-disciplinary in terms of its content, bridging healthcare, business, and law in its coverage of topics.
Loyola University also prides itself on its Jesuit traditions. As such, its curriculum places emphasis on ethics within the healthcare industry in the interest of keeping the patient at the front and center.
Bay Path University
Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Master of Science in Healthcare Management
Bay Path University’s Master of Science in Healthcare Management is offered 100% online and is designed for students of varying backgrounds, i.e., those who have a bachelor’s degree in any major.
This program is designed to prepare students to effectively assume future leadership roles in both traditional and non-traditional settings and industries, have a grasp of trends and issues that impact the industry, be effective in managing human resources and systems at their disposal within healthcare organizations, and be adept at using data-driven approaches to improving quality and efficiency.
The program contains concentration areas in Organizational Excellence, Health Informatics, Public Health, and Business. Additionally, the degree program is a participant of the ACHE-American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the HEN-Higher Education Network.
Cambridge College
Atlanta, Georgia
Master’s in Healthcare Management
The Master’s Degree in Healthcare Management offered by Cambridge College is offered online, containing a minimum of 30 credit hours. Students can earn their degree in as little as 14 months, with admissions following a rolling acceptance basis, with eight start dates throughout the year.
The program is ideal for individuals who may or may not already be in the healthcare profession but are otherwise thinking of advancing to healthcare management positions, particularly in critical business-related roles.
The curriculum contains in-depth courses on business that are designed to provide students with the crucial knowledge and skills needed to evaluate the relationship between policy on an organization’s structure, marketing, strategy, and finance.
The program also prepares graduates of the program to be able to address challenges to the healthcare industry with regard to health policy, health operations management, risk, and regulatory compliance, and others.
University of Michigan – Flint
Flint, Michigan
Master of Science in Health Care Management
The University of Michigan in Flint offers the Master of Science in Health Care Management that is 100% available online. This degree prepares students for executive leadership roles in the field. It is offered through the collaboration of the Department of Public Health & Health Sciences and the School of Management.
This means the program has a good balance of healthcare administration knowledge and business management skills. The interdisciplinary curriculum focuses on providing students with a comprehensive understanding of policy changes and technological innovations relevant to the healthcare delivery system, along with skills needed for advanced leadership roles.
Students are required to complete 30 credit hours to earn the degree. Some of the courses covered in the curriculum include Accounting for Management, Business Economics, Healthcare Marketing Strategies, Legal Issues in Healthcare, Applications of Financial Management in Health Care, and more.
Skills Required of Healthcare Management Professionals
To be great at their job, healthcare managers and other related health professionals must employ essential skills to help them lead a healthcare organization to success. Here are some of them:
Communication Skills
Most healthcare professionals, especially at the management level, must be good at communicating. Communication, after all, is widely used in their daily duties and responsibilities. At the very least, healthcare managers must demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills. Sometimes, they might be required to present their findings and strategies, so these skills are very useful.
On top of this, they must also be able to listen to, understand, and analyze information to help them become strong and effective leaders.
Leadership Skills
As healthcare managers, they must also know how to lead. A good leader shouldn’t only be good at overseeing health care administration operations but also have to be attuned to the needs of their teams.
This way, they will be able to offer support and ensure that the organization is steered in the right direction. They must be able to engage their staff to collaborate and work together towards a common goal.
Business Management Skills
As a healthcare manager, one is also expected to be business savvy. This means graduates must be updated and knowledgeable about the latest business trends in healthcare, allowing them to respond and adapt quickly and stay on top of their game.
They can also draw on their strategic planning skills to navigate healthcare organizations during challenging situations. Often, they will be tasked to oversee other health administrators and staff who fulfill their duties.
Critical Thinking Skills
Healthcare leaders must be able to employ their critical thinking skills during difficult situations to determine the best course of action. They can do this by being able to examine the data at their disposal and how it correlates with organizational goals.
This means they must have a thorough understanding of the health policies, rules, and regulations that affect many healthcare organizations. Critical thinking skills will be able to make their jobs easier.
Technical Skills
It is important for healthcare management professionals to be knowledgeable about the technical aspects of running a healthcare organization. This includes the often complicated processes of budgeting and billing.
They must be able to maintain adequate resources to make sure the organization will run smoothly. This also involves maintaining quality assurance and control over the clinical facilities they manage. Their technical skills must encompass the regular review of processes, safety measures, and timely and accurate lab results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common courses in Healthcare Management Master’s Degrees?
Being a business-related master’s degree, typical curriculum designs for these degree programs contain courses on management skills that train students on crucial leadership skills and strategic thinking, especially skillsets that impact how businesses and organizations are able to keep up with industry-wide changes.
Courses in this regard revolve around the themes of Human Resource Management, Organizational Leadership, Organizational Behavior, and Change Management.
Other management-related courses that relate to organizational operations include those that are based on the themes of Healthcare Administration, Strategic Cost Management, Accounting, Informatics, Project Management, and Quality Improvement.
Crucially, these programs also include courses on Healthcare Law as well as Ethics, in keeping with healthcare professionals sticking not only to best practices but also to right practices.
Will my degree diploma in Master of Healthcare Management say “online?”
Most universities, particularly those that offer their degree programs in both online and on-campus formats, tend not to discriminate/distinguish between their modes of delivery. Regardless of format, all these are held to the same academic standards, are based on the same learning outcomes that determine the overall curriculum design, and are also taught by the same set of faculty.
It follows, therefore, that diplomas tend not to indicate if a degree was earned online unless it was awarded by a college, university, or institution that is known to exclusively offer online degrees.
How can I lessen my overall online graduate costs?
Getting a graduate degree, especially a high-quality one offered by a reputable college/university, almost always involves a significant investment on the part of students, not only in terms of time but also in terms of money.
This is just as true for online degrees. However, by virtue of them being online, students already make significant savings by doing away with the cost of regularly having to travel to campus for classes. Especially in the case of desirable/crucial degrees offered only by a few universities, this can involve having to move to a new city entirely.
This could mean major disruptions for students, especially if they have existing careers and professional commitments. Online degrees are designed with flexibility in mind, letting students maintain their career pursuits with minimal disruption.
Additionally, most universities will have a set of means to offset costs on top of federal financial aid and any loans. Students tend to have access to scholarships and grants, and some special sectors (often members of the armed forces and even their families) can be eligible for additional discounts.
Lastly, many universities are also able to offer tailored payment plans for students that accommodate any particularities to their budgets.
What’s the typical timeline for completing an online Master of Healthcare Management program?
Some online graduate programs in healthcare management can be completed within a year, but they can stretch for up to four years, depending on the course load that students will take. There are options for accelerated learning, too, which allows them to fast-track their graduate degree by completing fewer credits at a faster pace.
Online courses are designed for working professionals, so they can often arrange their schedules at school at the most convenient time. This means they can complete their coursework at their own pace. Full-time students can finish the program faster, often within two years or less.
What are the common admission requirements for a Master’s in Healthcare Management program?
The requirements for admission into the master’s in healthcare management degree program often vary between schools. There are, however, common requirements shared by many universities and colleges. This includes the following:
- Official transcripts
- GRE
- Updated resume
- Letters of recommendation
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field
How much can one make as a Health Services Manager?
The average salary of healthcare managers is $104,830 per year. However, this can largely depend on one’s education, level of experience, and the position that they have at work.
Those with a master’s degree can expect a higher compensation than those with only an undergraduate degree. They can boost their salary further by taking professional certifications, including Certified in Healthcare Compliance, Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management, and Certified Professional in Healthcare Information Management Systems, among others.
Key Takeaways
Healthcare Management online master’s degrees are primarily business-related degree programs and, as such, contain courses on management and policy, as well as tools and skillsets related to effective operations of all aspects of the healthcare industry.
Graduates of Healthcare Management degree programs commonly go on to assume a variety of leadership roles in the healthcare industry, including those for both public and private sector organizations.
Online Healthcare Management Master’s Degrees are designed with flexibility in mind, letting students maintain any prior career and professional commitments they may already have while pursuing coursework. Online degrees also let students get significant savings.
