In an evolving field, today’s health care leaders must show an aptitude for quick, strategic decision-making, effective communication and a comprehensive understanding of business intelligence within contemporary health systems. The Master of Business Administration with a Healthcare Administration Concentration online program from Eastern Washington University (EWU) could arm you with those tools and more.
Fully online and accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, EWU’s MBA program provides health professionals the opportunity to build on their skills and transition into a range of leadership roles without taking time away from personal or professional obligations. The program empowers them to take control of their careers and connect with peers and expert faculty to:
- Understand health services administration models and delivery standards
- Explore health law, regulatory and HR issues affecting operations and compliance in healthcare systems
- Examine financial operations, revenue cycle management and governance foundational to healthcare management careers
- Use business intelligence to support strategic decision-making
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and submit an official transcript from the institution where the degree was earned, along with a current professional resume. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is typically required, either overall or in the final 90 quarter or 60 semester credits of undergraduate coursework.
Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 are still encouraged to apply. Those with relevant professional experience or a qualifying admissions index score may be considered on a case-by-case basis as part of EWU’s holistic admissions review.
Coursework
The curriculum for EWU’s online MBA program with a Healthcare Administration Concentration is made up of 44 credit hours, including 28 hours of core courses and 12 hours of concentration courses, tailored to set professionals on a path to success in their respective careers. Applicants with a non-business bachelor’s degree from an accredited university will benefit from 12 hours of accelerated foundational courses in business. Students with a bachelor’s degree in business from an accredited college or university can bypass the business foundation coursework.
The following core courses in EWU’s MBA program curriculum account for 28 credit hours:
- Essentials of Operations Management: This course provides foundational knowledge of the various quantitative tools applicable to specific business problems.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making:The ability to properly organize and use data to make efficient, intelligent decisions is critical for leaders. This course provides a solid understanding of data analysis tools and how they can be used and misused.
- Corporate Finance:This course examines the contemporary issues facing financial managers and analyzes the relationship between risk, capital structure, cost of capital and dividend policy.
- Marketing Management:Proper marketing can have a major impact on business. Improper marketing can, as well. This course covers both the theoretical and applied aspects of the marketing process.
- Leadership and Ethics:Students explore the concept and principles of leadership through the lenses of personal character, accountability and ethical action — all of which reflect and emphasize the core aspects of a leader’s responsibilities.
- Advanced Accounting for Managers:This course focuses on incorporating accounting information and accounting information systems into the business decision-making process.
- MBA Capstone:Students apply the knowledge gained from previous coursework to solve organizational problems in case studies, simulations or project formats, further emphasizing the value of strategic thinking for business leaders.
Students will gain industry-specific knowledge in the following 12 hours of Healthcare Administration Concentration courses:
- S. Health Systems:This course introduces students to health delivery systems, including the various models and standards that impact population health.
- Health Law and Human Resources: Students explore the connection between the legal system, legal issues within the operation and the regulation of health care institutions.
- Health Systems Finance and Governance:This course takes a practical approach to understanding the financial operations and governance that lead to the success of organizations.
- Business Intelligence in Health Systems:Students review current health systems implementation and explore how to utilize information as a resource in supporting a health system’s overall strategic operation.
Healthcare Leadership Roles and Career Paths
The healthcare sector presents a broad range of leadership roles that MBA graduates can successfully transition into, including lucrative careers in providing medical services, supplying equipment or pharmaceuticals, administering healthcare facilities or even blazing trails in medical entrepreneurship. Potential jobs include Hospital Administrator (average annual salary of $97,958 in a hospital setting), Health Informatics Manager ($93,422), Pharmaceutical Project Manager ($106,588) and Health Services Manager ($82,299).
With the demand for medical and health services managers on the rise, professionals with advanced business and leadership training are well positioned to pursue long-term growth opportunities in the health care sector. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that this field is expected to grow by 23% through 2034, which faster than the average growth rate. An online MBA in Healthcare Administration can equip professionals with the knowledge and versatility to successfully lead in this evolving, essential industry.
Learn more about EWU’s online MBA With a Healthcare Administration Concentration program.
