Overview

The healthcare industry is responsible for nearly 20 percent of the entire economy of the United States. What is true today may not hold tomorrow. From the cost of an individual insurance policy to a new technology that impacts patient confidentiality, you’ll be responsible for all of it.

As a healthcare administrator, your voice will be critical in deciding what happens with health care within the foreseeable future. You have to worry about affording your health care; be able to assess its quality; hope that federal dollars allocated for healthcare will be sufficient, and; ensuring that every resident in your community has access to your healthcare facility.

As you are considering your eventual choice of university and healthcare administration program, don’t forget to think about accredited versus unaccredited educational programs. An accredited program offers so many advantages that offer benefits to you while you’re in school; you’ll also continue benefitting once you graduate.

What is a Master’s in Healthcare Administration?

This is a professional degree aimed at students who are working toward their healthcare administration degree. Once you receive your degree, you’ll be able to begin applying for positions in health service settings. The degree program you select should be challenging and rigorous, with classes and material that you’ll be able to use in your job.

Look for programs that provide administration in public health programs—this emphasis is becoming ever more important every year. The philosophy in this environment is that managers and leaders are expected to establish the direction in how particular healthcare facilities meet the needs of their populations.

You should also look specifically for leadership programs and courses, as you will be using this skill daily. Leadership is such a vital quality of the healthcare administrator that it is taught in several master’s programs.

Another big concern is a strong business focus in the courses you’ll be taking. Even if your degree will be named “Master of Health Administration,” you will be using business practices and precepts. Once you graduate, you’ll be able to find a position in a home health care agency, hospital or other health system. You may choose to work in a medical group practice; outpatient care center or clinic; skilled care nursing facility; insurance company; consulting firm or even a federal regulatory or public health agency.

You also want to look for a program that has a strong interdisciplinary focus. That is, you’ll learn about business practices, such as leadership, accounting, economics or ethics at the same time that you are focusing on learning about healthcare environments.

Some schools have separate MHA tracks, such as the traditional or executive programs. These are designed for traditional students and for those who work during the day, making classes in the evenings a necessity.

Career and Salary Outlook

The webpage for the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the typical entry-level education of a healthcare administrator as a bachelor’s degree—but, more and more, employers are looking for candidates who have already completed their master’s degrees.

Between 2016 and 2026, the number of open positions for healthcare administrators will increase by 72,100, from 352,200 to 424,300, an increase of 20 percent. This is much faster than normally happens, which underscores the importance of healthcare to today’s population.

Hourly median pay, as of 2017, was $47.29; annually, median pay was $98,350. Again, this serves to underscore the importance of these jobs to the current (and aging) U.S. population. When you consider that the difference in annual wage for a healthcare administrator with a bachelor’s degree was $70,000 in 2013, as compared to a median annual wage of $90,000 for a healthcare administrator holding their master’s degree, the difference is clear.

MHA Curriculum

School curriculum from university to university will vary. But the overarching goal is to equip graduate students in the healthcare administration major to be the most effective administrators possible.

As you begin your program, plan on beginning with ethics and courses intended for entering masters students.

Your first year covers public health, microeconomics, statistics, budgeting, legal and ethical issues, and budgeting.

You’ll also begin your leadership classes, financial accounting, strategic planning and financial management. Look forward to human resources courses and marketing. You’ll also take quality courses. Some master’s programs also begin exposing their students to the real world through practicums.

As you enter your second year (and prepare to graduate), you’ll work in your field placement and work on health policy. Finally, you’ll end with your capstone presentation.

Some school work on the cohort model. That is, you’ll go through your master’s program with the same students through to graduation.

Your classes will focus on health policy, leadership and management, and public health and health systems. You’ll also take traditional business management courses that focus on healthcare environments. Your assignments will expose you to scenarios that you’ll use to practice your newly gained knowledge. As you are going through your courses, you’ll be developing your collaborative and analytical thinking skills. You’ll practice your business skills, expanding your management ability.

Other programs focus on helping you develop the various competencies you need before graduating. This means you’ll complete each competency rather than completing traditional courses. The competencies you’ll be working on include knowledge and skills you need in a healthcare administrator’s position.

Choosing the Right School and Program

When you begin to deliberate between the different healthcare administration masters’ programs, begin with the quality of the program. One must-do: get in touch with graduates from each school you’re considering. They should explain to you how they and their employers have managed to deal with adversity in healthcare and how they adjust to each new trend. Finally, ask them how they recognize opportunities and capitalize on them.

If you’ve already decided what healthcare administration area best fits your interests, remember to narrow these down even further, looking for those that have the best future prospects, such as nursing homes. Consider health informatics or IT, as well.

Examine each program and eliminate any with weak records of success in helping graduates find employment. Don’t forget to check out their accreditation status.

Look for programs that stress leadership development. A generalist approach is better than a program that focuses only one or two industry areas. You want to be adaptable, in case you need to seek new employment in a different healthcare sector.

Change in the healthcare field is rampant. Therefore, a program that specializes on teaching you how to lead through disruptive events gives you the richest experience.

How to Choose a Good Master’s Degree Program in Healthcare Administration

Choosing a good Master’s degree program in healthcare administration can help you advance in your career. Before you start looking for a program, you should have a certain idea of the types of jobs that will be available in your field. Once you know what type of career you want, you can better decide on the exact type of program that is right for you.

A good program will give you the skills and knowledge that will help you excel in your chosen field. You can find programs online or at colleges. If you want to work in government or a nonprofit, this type of education will be the best way to go. If you want to go into private practice, then going into medical billing is an option. There are also programs that teach you everything you need to know about marketing, insurance, and business.

It is important to remember that most of these degrees offer you a solid foundation in terms of knowing the basics of a field. A degree in healthcare administration will not prepare you for every job you will encounter in your life. It is important to choose a program that will give you the skills and knowledge you need. A good program will also help you with job-hunting. Since you will already have the training and knowledge necessary, you will likely be able to find better jobs and companies that pay better.

Another great way to determine which program is right for you is to look at which employers are hiring. This will help you to compare programs and the types of jobs that you can get with each one. If there are some jobs that you are interested in, you may find it easier to choose a program that specializes in the particular field you are interested in.

You will find many great jobs once you graduate from a Master’s program. There are many rewarding careers that will require you to understand and communicate a certain type of medical knowledge. If you choose a Master’s degree in healthcare administration, you will find a number of wonderful opportunities.

Online programs are a great option for those who don't have the time to attend classes full time. Because there are so many online courses available, you will likely be able to find a program that is perfect for you. Many of the programs will let you take the classes you need when you need them.

Finding a good program in healthcare administration can be difficult. However, if you plan properly and apply yourself, you will find a program that will fit your needs. By taking the time to explore your options, you will be able to find the program that will be perfect for you.

Executive Master of Healthcare Administration

If you are looking for an executive Master of Healthcare Administration, you’ll be put through a more rigorous admissions process. Once you are admitted to the program, your classes focus more on management, leadership and strategy development.

If your focus is more on preventative healthcare, then a Master of Public Health meets your educational and career goals. Here, you’ll focus on regional and global healthcare trends, health policy impacts and population health.