Master's in Healthcare Management Online: Program Breakdown

Comparing Online Healthcare Management Master’s Programs

Master’s degrees in healthcare management programs prepare practitioners with advanced management skills to lead in a complex healthcare environment. They involve education in strategic planning, financial management, healthcare policy, and organizational leadership beyond what you learn from a bachelor’s degree.

Online study usually includes blended asynchronous coursework, such as pre-recorded lectures and forum discussions, with synchronous sessions, such as live web-based classes and virtual meetings. Though most are entirely online, a few may require in-person activities, such as residencies or practicums.

Online healthcare management programs serve working professionals pursuing career development, frequently providing part-time andaccelerated healthcare management degrees. When selecting a program, consider accreditation status and what curriculum, career support, and online platforms are offered. You may also want to consider whether the program offers financial aid for your master’s in healthcare management. As you weigh specialization options, such as health informatics or public health administration, try finding ones that match your career goals.

Answering Online Master’s Degrees in Healthcare Management Program FAQs

What do you learn in an online master’s program in healthcare management?

What you learn may depend on the courses offered in your program and any concentration you select. For example, the healthcare financial management class discusses budgeting, cost accounting, and financial statement analysis from a healthcare perspective. Healthcare informatics and technology addresses data analytics, the use of social media, and electronic records. Healthcare law and ethics covers healthcare’s legal and ethical mandates, impacting all stakeholders and encouraging ethical business practices.

Whatever program you select, you will likely receive a broad range of training and study across the major factors impacting today’s healthcare systems.

What concentrations are available in an online master’s program in healthcare management?

Master’s students in healthcare management usually select a concentration that reflects their field of interest. One popular option is gerontology, which deals with caring for aging populations in nursing homes and other facilities, their physical, emotional, and social care, and policy development in this respect.

The health policy concentration focuses on how healthcare policies affect facilities and patients, including policy history, legislator communication, and emerging issues.

Lastly, healthcare informatics deals with the technological aspect of healthcare delivery, covering tools and topics such as programming, biostatistics, data mining, and database applications.

How long does it take to earn a master’s degree in healthcare management online?

As seen in the survey of online master’s programs in healthcare management, this usually depends on the program. Students can generally complete an online master’s degree in healthcare management within one to three years. If studying part-time, students can complete their degree in about four years. The time it takes to graduate may be influenced by the program’s requirements, such as whether or not students need to complete a capstone project, thesis, or internship in addition to their classwork.

Are there any licenses or certifications I need to get as a master’s student in healthcare management?

In addition to completing a state-approved degree program, licensing requirements may include passing an examination and having a certain amount of work experience. Those who want to work administratively at a nursing home or assisted living facility may be required to earn a state license. Other healthcare management graduates may not be required to earn a license.

Some graduates may acquire a voluntary certification to demonstrate their knowledge and dedication to the profession. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM), and the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) are among the industry organizations that provide these credentials.

What can I do with a master’s in healthcare management?

There are several avenues that people can take in their careers after they’ve completed their master’s in healthcare management degrees. Whether they want to work in a hospital, nursing home, doctor’s office, or outpatient care center, graduates can leverage their education to pursue high-growth management and executive careers in healthcare. In addition to these career opportunities, graduates may choose to use their master’s degree as a stepping stone to continue their education to become healthcare researchers or college professors.

Career Profile: What Can You Do with a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Management?

Obtaining a master’s degree in healthcare management qualifies a person for many leadership roles in healthcare. Graduates are qualified to be hospital administrators, clinic managers, health consultants, or health policy analysts. They may find work within multiple industries across the healthcare sector, such as with pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, or public health organizations. The roles that graduates of master’s in healthcare management programs take often involve such tasks as overseeing the operations of a healthcare system, managing budgets, developing policies, and ensuring quality patient care.

Hospital Administrators

Hospital administrators oversee day-to-day activities of a hospital or healthcare system, including managing staff, budgets, and patient care. Responsibilities include strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement. Benefits include high earning potential and the ability to make an impact on the health of many individuals. This career path can be challenging and can involve long hours and stressful situations.

Clinic Managers

Clinic managers coordinate the daily activities of medical clinics or doctors’ offices. Duties can involve staff supervision, budgeting, patient scheduling, and maintaining an efficient workflow across departments. The benefits include getting to be directly involved in patient interactions and keeping consistent work hours, which can help for establishing a good work-life balance in healthcare. However, clinics, doctors’ offices, and outpatient facilities may be high-volume and demand superb organizational expertise.

Health Consultants

Healthcare consultants offer organizations strategies on various issues, including strategic planning, financial management, and operational efficiency. Tasks for this job involve analysis, problem-solving, and developing recommendations. This can be a good option for those who like working on a variety of topics with high intellectual stimulation. Some of the demands of the job can include the need for frequent travel and addressing demanding clients.

Health Policy Analysts

Health policy analysts delve into healthcare policies for governmental agencies, research institutions, or advocacy organizations. They research data, examine policies, and prepare reports. For the positives of this field, you get to perform work that genuinely impacts and enhances healthcare. It should be noted that this work may require higher degrees. Health policy analysts primarily work in governmental offices, think tanks, or non-profit institutions.

Pharmaceutical Project Manager

Pharmaceutical project managers manage drug development, testing, and marketing projects. Their tasks involve timelines, budgets, and managing cross-functional teams. The advantages of this career path include quality healthcare options and a high salary. However, pharmaceutical project managers often work in high-pressure environments under stringent regulatory demands. Their employers can include pharmaceutical firms, research institutions, and contract research organizations.

Top-Rated Online Master’s in Healthcare Management Programs

Picking an online master’s in healthcare management program can be daunting. Our rankings are designed to make this process easier by identifying the best programs based on academic reputation, faculty credentials, student activity, affordability, and career support. We take into account data from both trustworthy sources and our independent research. These rankings are a jumping-off point for your search, enabling you to weigh programs and select one that fits your needs. For our complete explanation of ranking methodology, including individual metrics, visit our methodology pop-up below.