Introduction
You're a registered nurse who wants to advance your career to the next level. Or, you're interested in the healthcare field, but you don't want to work as a physician or even as a technician or an assistant. One alternative is to pursue in healthcare management. However, for the best opportunities in healthcare management, you will need to earn an advanced degree. While many people pursue advanced degrees in healthcare management on campus, it's possible to obtain a healthcare master's degree in your own home, without taking any time off from work.
Career Prospects in Healthcare Management
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities in healthcare management are expected to increase faster than the national average between 2010 and 2020. This increase corresponds with an expected increase in demand for healthcare services by aging Baby Boomers. The median salary for healthcare management administrators was more than $84,000 in 2010, with the highest paid administrators pulling down salaries in excess of $150,000.
Degree Program Prerequisites
Most master's degree programs in healthcare administration or related programs require students to have completed at least some college credit. Several programs require students to have completed bachelor's degrees. Coursework for healthcare management degrees include hospital management, accounting, human resources administration, law and ethics, health information systems and strategic planning.
Experience in areas such as physical therapy and nursing also give you an advantage. You can build upon your work experience with a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Healthcare Administration degree or a Master of Public Policy degree. Some programs include options for accelerated programs that allow you to complete a program that normally requires two years in one year or less. Several respected brick and mortar institutions offer some or all of their coursework to students through online or distance learning programs. Such programs allow online students many features of the classroom experience through multimedia presentations, webcasts and instant messaging.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor School of Public Health consistently earns high rankings for its healthcare and public healthcare policy programs, offered through the Department of Health Management and Policy. Students who are working in healthcare or policy related positions are eligible to register in the Executive Master's program. The Executive Master's Program combines on campus and distance learning courses to allow students to earn either a Master of Health Sciences Administration or Master of Public Health degree while they continue to work in their present jobs.
Drexel University
Drexel University Online offers students the opportunity to earn a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management degree. The degree combines coursework in business and the sciences to provide graduates with necessary subject matter expertise to comprehend healthcare related issues along with business savvy. The online program combines classroom and distance learning to provide students with more flexibility in completing program requirements. Students in the online program complete the same courses as students who attend classes at Drexel's campus in Philadelphia.
Saint Joseph University
Saint Joseph University is a Catholic Jesuit educational institution founded in 1851, with its home campus in Philadelphia. In addition to its on-campus offerings, Saint Joseph University offers students two concentration options for its Master of Science in Healthcare Administration degree: The Ethics concentration focuses on moral implications of health care decisions, tackling issues such as euthanasia and genetics testing. The Informatics concentration focuses on the development and maintenance of patient healthcare records, with special emphasis on advances in information technology. Saint Joseph is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, which is a unit of Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
For Further Reading
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical and Health Services Managers: bls.gov/ooh/Management/Medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-1
- Drexel University: Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management: drexel.com/online-degrees/business-degrees/pharma-mba/index.aspx
- Education Portal: Saint Joseph's University: education-portal.com/directory/school/Saint_Joseph%27s_University.html#tab2
- Guide to Online Schools: Online Healthcare Management Degrees:guidetoonlineschools.com/degrees/healthcare/healthcare-management
- Saint Joseph University Online: Online Health Administration Degrees: online.sju.edu/programs/masters-health-administration-degree.asp
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy: Master's Degree Programs -sph.umich.edu/hmp/programs/masters/
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