What Do You Learn In A Healthcare Administration Degree?

By Author: William Hauselberg
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Master’s level degree programs in health administration prepare students to manage the business affairs and management of health-care organizations. Health administration graduate degrees can teach members of healthcare professions about business and management, or help professionals outside of healthcare transition into a new career. Healthcare management is a rapidly changing field. It requires specialized knowledge that differs from the skills taught in a traditional MBA or MPH program. Most health administration graduate programs will teach a combination of traditional management skills and specialized topics related to the healthcare industry. The basic programs will vary from school to school. While some programs may have a dedicated health administration faculty, others may include courses from the schools of business and public health.

What will I learn in health administration graduate programs?

A healthcare administration master’s degree program will include both core curriculum and electives. Core classes will include instruction in essential management areas including:

- Leadership

- ...
... Finance/Accounting

- Quantitative Analysis

- Human Resources

- Marketing

These courses will all be taught with an emphasis on the healthcare industry and focus on business dynamics within major health systems. In addition, health administration graduate programs will offer courses to familiarize students with topics specifically related to healthcare. These courses may include:

- Medical Terminology

- Coding

- Healthcare Law and Policy

- Public health/epidemiology

- Anatomy and Physiology

- Medical Ethics

Electives are designed to give students a chance to choose courses related to their particular interests. Electives will often involve more in-depth or specialized studies of subjects already taken. Sometimes, schools allow students to choose electives from other programs such as business, law, or biology. Some examples of course electives are:

- Hospital Operations

- Grant Writing

- Comparative Health Systems

- Negotiation

- Adolescent/Pediatric Practice Management

Additionally, students are usually required to complete a master’s thesis or substantial fieldwork before receiving their degree.

What types of programs are available?

Healthcare Administration master’s programs are available at traditional brick-and-mortar schools as well as online. Since many students pursuing a healthcare administration master’s degree are working full-time, programs are available on both a full and part-time basis. Full-time programs can usually be completed within 2 years. Part-time programs can take 4-7 years to complete. Students should keep in mind that healthcare administration is a relatively new field, and programs may vary widely from school to school.

What is the application process like?

To be admitted to a health administration graduate program, applicants must first complete a bachelor’s degree. Different programs cater to different students. While some programs seek students who are currently working in the healthcare field, others admit students from all backgrounds. Applicants should expect to take an entrance exam. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) are typically used to assess an applicant’s qualifications. Additionally, applicants will need to submit their undergraduate transcripts to the program.

Students interested in pursuing a master’s degree in healthcare administration will find that there are many options. Careful research will help students determine the best program for their needs.

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