A Look Into The Masters In Healthcare Administration Program
If you have an interest in medicine, a masters in healthcare administration provides career advancement may be the perfect path to take.
With a healthcare administration degree, you are qualified to work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and group medical practices.
You are able to work with patients, families, and medical professionals. In the simplest terms, if medicine is the headliner, healthcare administration is the backstage pass.
What is a Master’s in Healthcare Administration?
Most of us—for one reason or another—have been in a hospital. We’ve probably talked with registers, met with nurses, and been examined by doctors.
But, amid the poking and prodding, not many of us stop and wonder who makes the hospital function: the answer is probably somebody with a master’s in healthcare administration.
A master’s in healthcare administration involves learning about the management of hospitals, health service organizations, and public health infrastructures.
The classes required to earn this master’s typically include population health; health policy; management of healthcare organizations; healthcare economics; human resource management; organizational behavior; operations assessment; financial management and analysis; statistics; and strategy formulation.
What are the Advantages of a Master’s in Healthcare Administration?
There are many advantages to this type of degree. Perhaps most importantly, a master’s in healthcare administration provides career advancement. In fact, the classes students must take while obtaining this degree are classes that groom them for senior management roles.
With this career advancement, ultimately comes more pay. According to Forbes, healthcare administration was number 8 on their list of best master’s degrees for landing jobs. One reason for this is the pay: the mid-career median pay was $87,800 in 2014-15.
Another reason lies in the projected increase of job opportunities: per the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, this industry is expected to grow by 22 percent by 2020. This is faster than the average rate of growth for all occupations.
The reason for this growth is simple: as baby boomers grow older, and people live longer, more medical facilities will be needed to provide care. These facilities will need healthcare administrators to manage them.
What are the Requirements for the Master’s in Healthcare Administration Degree Program?
The requirements of this degree program can vary by school. However, per Brandman University, requirements include four options:
Option One: You must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the most recent 30 graded semester credits completed either while obtaining your bachelor’s degree or obtaining a graduate degree.
Option Two: You must have a GPA between 2.5 and 2.99 for the most recent 30 graded semester credits completed either while obtaining your bachelor’s degree or obtaining a graduate degree.
Additionally, you must have an acceptable score on a graduate admission exam (GRE, GMAT, CSET, or MAT).
Option Three: You must have earned a master’s degree or higher from an accredited university or college.
Option Four: You must submit a portfolio that shows you have adequately prepared for graduate studies.
This portfolio should contain writing samples demonstrating analytical skills; a detailed resume demonstrating development in the professional realm; a list of awards and professional recognition; letters of reference; and a letter explaining why you think you are a good fit for graduate studies in the area desired.
Healthcare administration is a promising career. It’s lucrative, rewarding, and projected to grow. Yet, it’s a career that is best fitted for those with a master’s degree. The degree is your first step in the right direction.
