What To Expect From a Healthcare Masters Program
| 3 Min Read
A master’s in healthcare administration prepares individuals to work in a range of leadership roles and various types of organizations. In addition, earning a master’s degree in health administration can be accomplished simultaneously while working and caring for a family, regardless of whether an individual has a background in healthcare. This article will help prepare individuals interested in earning a health administration degree by outlining what to expect in the degree program.
Careers in Healthcare Administration
Individuals who possess a degree in healthcare administration have many choices regarding the role they want to play in an organization and the type of work they want to pursue. As part of their coursework for their degree, individuals with a master’s in healthcare will learn about human resources, finance, marketing, customer interface, and general organization management. As a result, when they graduate, they are qualified to perform roles that require a broad knowledge base, such as a health clinic administrator or a regional manager of sales for a medical device company.
In school, an individual may specialize in a particular aspect of the MBA degree. Some of the areas people commonly specialize in include operations, accounting, finance, marketing, and other business functions. These individuals will be qualified to perform roles that leverage their specialty; however, they are also eligible to perform roles that call for a broader knowledge base.
Individuals specializing in their MBA in healthcare administration also have various options when deciding what kind of organization they want to work in. In addition to the traditional health service organizations such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, nursing homes, and private practices, health administrators can pursue career paths in healthcare consulting or lobbying firms, medical device or pharmaceutical companies, or health insurance companies.
While healthcare administration can be an excellent fit for individuals outside of the traditional healthcare field, it can also be a perfect field for individuals with clinical experiences, such as nurses, to transition into if they are interested in pursuing non-clinical leadership opportunities.
What to Expect in a Masters Program
Individuals who are pursuing a health administration degree should plan on the degree taking approximately two years to complete. However, some individuals may be able to transfer credits and reduce the overall time spent in the program.
Online courses in a master’s program connect individuals to standard core practices and the latest trends in leadership, healthcare, healthcare policy, and medical advances. For example, it is an exciting time of transition for many healthcare organizations as they adjust to recent changes in healthcare regulation and law.
When it comes to the classmates and faculty of a healthcare master’s program, students can expect to connect with individuals with diverse experiences, ages, cultural backgrounds, and geographic locations. One of the most exciting facets of an online master’s program is that classes can be made up of people who live right next to each other or are scattered thousands of miles around the globe.
The University of Scranton is primed to help students take the crucial next steps to advance their careers in healthcare management. Our online MBA specializing in Healthcare Management offers the tools to excel in this rapidly-changing industry. In addition, the University of Scranton is an accredited leadership-oriented school that prepares students for a healthcare career.