Masters in Healthcare Administration

What Could You Learn in a Masters in Healthcare Administration?

Earning a Master in Healthcare Administration may allow those working in the healthcare industry or those who wish to do so to gain access to skills and insights into the modern healthcare industry. This type of program, also called MHA, is often pursued after earning a bachelor’s degree in some area of health care. In some situations, students may transition from working in nursing or another field into an administration role because they want to do more of the management and oversight type of work so necessary in medical centers, hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other areas.

Earning a master’s in Healthcare Administration typically takes 35 to 50 or so credits. Often, this includes a mixture of courses. For example, it may include foundation courses to teach administrative skills and methods. Healthcare administration may allow students to take electives in areas that they enjoy or have an interest in. There may be some variation in opportunities here, allowing students to choose what is interesting to them. This may differ from one school to the next, though.

Those pursuing a master’s degree in healthcare administration may be looking to enhance their careers as leaders in the healthcare sector. This type of course work aims to prepare them to take on some of the challenges within these sectors and, in some cases, take steps to change the industry around them. Many of these courses may have a strong emphasis on deep instructional knowledge. Others may work closely with students to prepare them with modern and innovative skills.

25 Schools Graduating Students with a Masters in Healthcare Administration

These are 25 schools graduating students with a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration based on the number of students in the graduating class for 2019 to 2020 according to NCES:

Healthcare Administration Courses May Include

Courses differ significantly from one school to the next. However, many master’s degrees in healthcare may focus on healthcare delivery administration, population health management, finance, business literacy, and problem solving to help students to develop professionally and as leaders in the field. Take a look at some of the common courses in this field of study:

Introduction to Health Administration

This is often an introductory course in the history and opportunities in healthcare administration. Topics covered may include delivery of healthcare, emerging public health, and healthcare partnerships. Course may also cover the use of analytics in big health data.

Introduction to Health Informatics

This course aims to introduce students to the use of informatics in health care. It may introduce the tools used to gather the data as well as how to interpret and use the data. Topics covered may include cybersecurity, health data privacy, and technology platforms.

Project Management

The purpose of this course is typically to introduce techniques in project implementation a lot of the time. It typically encompasses the use of healthcare technology and an understanding of the concepts and skills necessary to integrate and implement a project. Project management as a whole and not just in the healthcare industry may also be covered.

Healthcare Law and Ethics

This course typically introduces the legal and ethical issues one may face as an administrator. Looking at the legal aspects of healthcare from all perspectives to gain insight and a better understanding of what may happen may also be included. Students usually learn the core concepts of healthcare law and ethics.

Leadership and Strategic Management in Health Settings

This course usually uses case studies to provide a background and teach various leadership and strategic management techniques. These are specific to the field of healthcare. The use of data, informatics, and insights help to create the base for this course many times.

Healthcare Finance and Revenue Cycle Strategy

This course typically covers the financial systems of the healthcare industry. A look at the economics and how they work in a cycle are covered may be covered. Understanding payor systems and providing and analyzing revenue are often a part of it as well.

Find Funding for a Masters in Healthcare Administration & Management

Securing funding to pay for a master’s degree may be necessary for some students. NCES found that the average tuition for students completing a master’s degree in the 2018 to 2019 school year was $19,314. For those that may not want to pay that out of pocket, there are several options available that may help students to pay for their education. Here are some examples of these potential opportunities. Financial aid may be available to those that qualify.

Scholarships

One option for some students is a scholarship. Scholarships may offer some key benefits including often not requiring students to repay those funds the future. It may be more difficult to obtain them since many require students to find them, apply for them, and then win the scholarship against other students who are also applying. However, many find it worthwhile to seek out this opportunity for the benefits it offers. It may be possible to find scholarships for a master’s degree in healthcare administration available.

Federal Loans

Another one of the ways to potentially pay for a master’s degree is to use federal student loans. These are loans often provided to an individual to cover the cost of tuition, fees, and books, among other things. Federal student loans are typically backed by the U.S. government. While there are several options, there are some features that are consistent across many of them. At the master’s degree level, there may be fewer options to choose from than for an undergraduate degree. Still, there may be options available to help reduce costs for some students. Some of those include:

• Direct Unsubsidized Loans: These are typically available to graduate schools and professional students. Unlike direct subsidized loans, which are made available to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need, direct unsubsidized loans usually do not have a need based requirement. More students may be eligible for them.

• Direct PLUS Loans: These are loans typically made available to professional or graduate level students. They are designed to pay for educational expenses that are typically not paid for through other loans. Eligibility for these loans is not based on financial need, though. However, some require a credit check to be performed, and borrowers may not qualify without meeting other requirements in some cases.

• Direct Consolidation Loans: These loans may enable a student to combine all of their undergraduate and graduate level federal debt into one new loan. This consolidation loan is typically provided after a student completes their education.

Students may wish to compare all options to determine which is a great option for their specific needs.

Private Student Loans

Private student loans may provide another avenue for funding master’s degree education in a healthcare administration program. These loans are a bit different because they may lack government rules (in some capacities) and may have different terms and conditions for borrowers. That is why it is often beneficial for students to gather as much information on these programs as possible if they plan to use them. Some of the key components to compare and learn about include:

• Interest rates – they may be variable or fixed
• Credit score requirements – often requiring students to have a credit score or income history is necessary
• Borrowing amounts – some of these private student loans have a maximum that students may borrow per year or per lifetime
• Refinancing and forbearance – these rules are different from federal loans in many cases
• Loan terms –  when payments need to be made is also important.

Is chief executive a great career?

Those who work as a chief executive may take on numerous responsibilities in their job and role. These individuals typically determine and formulate policies within their organization and may work in private or public sectors. They may also coordinate and plan operational activities with other high levels of management. Their work often includes directing financial or budget activities to improve investments and increase efficiency. Often, they work to analyze operations to determine performance and then make changes as necessary to achieve underlying goals.

The day to day work activities typically include directing financial operations, organizational operations, projects, and services, analyzing data to assess the effectiveness of those programs, and developing policies.

• Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

To do this type of work, individuals may need to have great oral communication and expression, written comprehension, and deductive reasoning skills. They may also need some technology skills.

Those working in in this area typically need to have a master’s degree, though some employers may require a PhD of executive directors. They may need to come into the job with those skills as little on the job training is provided many times. They may need 5 to 7 years of experience.

2023 Median Annual Salary for Chief Executives

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those working as a chief executive in 2023 earned the following. These are median salaries for based on their state:

Is health services manager a great career?

Those with a master’s degree in healthcare administration may wish to work as a health services manager. This individual may work in clinics, managed care organizations, hospitals, public health agencies, or other organizations in this area. They typically plan, direct, or coordinate the health and medical services provided by those organizations. They may maintain computerized record management systems to store data while also directing and supervising the work of the medical, nursing, service, clerical, maintenance, and other personnel within the organization.

Their work may also include directing recruitment, hiring, and training of new employees. They may develop organizational procedures and policies and conduct fiscal operations. The day to day work they do may include developing information and computer systems, supervise employees, maintain operational records, evaluation employee performance, and conduct training programs.

To do this type of work, many may need to have great speaking, critical thinking, and active listening skills. They may need to have great oral expression and comprehension skills, problem sensitivity skills, and great judgement skills.

To do this type of work, individuals may need to have a master’s degree, with some organizations hiring those with a PhD. They may need to have 5 to 7 years of experience in a related field because little on the job training is provided.

• Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

2023 Median Annual Salary for Health Services Manager

In 2023, those working as a health service manager earned the following as a median salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics: