collageLet’s start by defining health care administration. What is health care administration, and why should people pursue a career in this field? Health care administration is all about making sure people receive the best possible care. What is health care administration, you ask? There are so many career possibilites for graduates in public and private sectors, including hospitals, schools, retirement facilities, nursing homes, and more.
Are you wondering whether pursuing an MBA vs. MHA would advance your career more in the healthcare field? There are many factors to consider when determining which degree program to apply to – MHA vs. MBA. At its most basic level, an MBA is a more general degree program whereas MHA is more specialized to the healthcare field. MBA is a Master’s in Business Administration and naturally applies to a range of different fields, whereas an MHA degree is a Master’s in Healthcare Administration. Is MHA degree worth it? Is a masters in healthcare administration worth it? These are natural questions to ask. Ask around to healthcare professionals and often, the answer will be a resounding “yes.”
Those who have asked, is MHA degree worth it, researched trusted answers, and ultimately accomplished this degree will be qualified for a wide range of positions in the healthcare field. Is a masters in healthcare administration worth it? Of course – as long as you’d like to maximize your career possibilities and earning potential. How about salary considerations? What can graduates expect for MHA vs. MBA salary parameters? The multitudinous career possibilities make comparing salaries too cumbersome. It depends on what jobs graduates end up taking, in what industry, and where. For those evaluating MHA vs. MBA salary and trying to pick one just in light of finances, the decision is too nuanced to declare a definitive winner.
Some people want to give their resumes a real edge by pursuing an MBA MHA dual degree program. There are plenty of online and in-person programs to choose from. Both programs are excellent choices that offer students a wealth of well-rounded information in areas such as healthcare policy and ethics, marketing, and legal considerations. An MBA/MHA dual degree is a wise investment.
Accreditation for MHA Programs
There are plenty of CAHME accredited online MHA programs prospective students can choose from, but before you start picking a few to apply to, you need to find out, is CAHME accreditation important? In a word, YES! CAHME is an accreditation agency that sets very high educational standards for healthcare administration degree programs. While CAHME doesn’t accredit any strictly-online programs, it does extend accreditation to select schools that have both in-person and online options. CAHME accreditation requirements include very high professional standards for curriculum, consistent striving for excellence in health care administration education, and supporting hands-on, practical educational methods. CAHME accreditation requirements differ from regional accreditation for health care administration programs. But is CAHME accreditation important? Both accreditations are important in order for graduates to have excellent careers in the health care industry in the US or in another country. A helpful list of CAHME accredited online MHA programs, organized by state, can be found here.
Health management or administration MBA programs may be accredited by the AACSB rather than the CAHME, but they are considered of equal value.
Types of Health Administration Master’s Degrees
Thinking about getting a masters of health administration degree? There are so many masters of health administration programs to choose from according to your interests. There are plenty of on-line and in-person masters in healthcare administration programs to choose from. Top schools for masters in healthcare administration programs include those from the following schools: University of Southern California, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, George Washington University, University of Cincinnati, George Mason University, American University, Ohio University, University of Mississippi, and Drexel University. This is just a small selection of the wide range of MHA degree programs available to prospective students.
Getting a master’s in healthcare management requires a tremendous amount of work, but many graduates find that it is worth the time and financial investment. For prospective students, it can be rather daunting to try to wade through all the options for masters in healthcare administration programs. It’s really important to make sure any health administration masters programs students seriously consider applying to are accredited to make ensure high education standards will be followed.
Why online MHA programs are a great choice
Many people who have already attained a bachelor’s degree in health administration seek to enhance their resumes and job prospects by applying to MHA degree programs. Executive MHA programs enable graduates to reach leadership positions in their organizations. Online healthcare masters degrees enable students to achieve this next milestone in their professional lives without leaving their current 9-5 jobs or family responsibilities behind. Online healthcare master’s degrees are often a smart choice for healthcare administration workers.
What if I’m on a budget?
For many students, cost is an important factor, and it’s really not necessary to spend an arm and a leg on a master’s healthcare management degree. Sought-after, highly affordable online MHA programs can be found at Colorado State University – Global Campus, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, California State University – East Bay, Louisiana State University – Shreveport, University of Maryland – Global Campus, and others. Many students have found that these affordable online MHA programs give excellent bang for the buck without sacrificing any budgetary constraints. These days, whether top schools for masters healthcare management online or in-person (or both) doesn’t really matter. There are so many popular health administration masters programs for people to choose from to enhance their careers in this ever-growing, in-demand field in the US and many other countries abroad. Executive MHA programs give students the career boosts they’re looking for and provide valuable, real-world skills students will utilize to improve healthcare outcomes in the private and public sectors.
What are admission requirements?
A natural question everyone asks before applying to a masters in healthcare administration online or in-person program is, what are the masters in healthcare administration requirements needed for admission? Each program has its own specific rules, but in general, masters in healthcare administration requirements include having a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0, a resume and cover letter, a personal statement or letter of application, official transcripts, and 2-3 letters of recommendations. Many executive master of health administration programs require GRE test scores or another kind of test score. Previous work experience is often required, but not always, for entrance into a masters of healthcare administration online program.
These requirements may seem rather dauting, but they’re designed that way. Top healthcare administration graduate programs only want serious students to apply to their schools. Attending and finishing an executive master of health administration degree program will require lots of work and dedication, so the faint of heart need not apply. But achieving a degree from a top healthcare administration graduate will make graduates’ careers shoot up to new heights. Healthcare administration masters programs enable graduates to take on more leadership responsibilities in the health care field, such as in hospitals or government agencies, and really make a lasting impact. Masters of science in healthcare administration is a popular choice for those who enjoy working with and analyzing numbers in order to improve healthcare outcomes. Healthcare administration masters programs require plenty of drive to achieve, but having a masters of science in healthcare administration diploma hanging on the wall of your office will make it all worth it. Start researching and applying to top schools today.
Certifications/Licenses in Health Administration and Management
Getting credentials in health care administration doesn’t have to be complicated or involve a tremendous financial investment. Instead, get an online healthcare administration certification at a reputable program. For instance, HFMA offers 6 specialty certifications in healthcare administration for those looking to enhance their skill sets and career potentials. Six options for certification for healthcare administration from HFMA include certified healthcare financial professional, certified revenue cycle professional, certified specialist accounting and finance, and certified specialist business intelligence. There’s something for everyone! There are so many good things about healthcare administration certifications.
When students get their healthcare administration certifications online, they don’t have to interrupt their professional lives or family responsibilities. Getting a healthcare administration certification in a specialty area can make your resume really shine at your next job interview. Certifications in healthcare administration can easily take your resume from “okay” to “wow!” and give you the confidence boost you need to put your best foot forward in this competitive job market. Hospital administration jobs are expected to increase in the next 5-10 years as healthcare systems gain complexity, so investing in certifications in healthcare administration is a smart career move now and for ensuring future success.
Careers in Health Administration
Are you wondering what you can do with a master’s in healthcare administration? There are plenty of health administration careers, including entry-level jobs in healthcare administration, that graduates qualify upon graduation from an accredited program. Starting a career in healthcare administration isn’t very difficult – in fact, it’s an in-demand field that requires complex thinkers and strategists to ensure the best possible healthcare outcomes. There are so many healthcare administration career paths available according to people’s individual interests and skill sets.
Master of Health Administration Degrees at Texas A&M University
The Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree at Texas A&M University is a professional degree program designed for students who wish to pursue administrative practice in health service-related settings. U.S. News & World Report ranks the program as one of the best graduate healthcare management programs in the country, and it was one of 10 demonstration sites for the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL). The NCHL helped developed the program’s competency model for graduate health administration education.
The MHA degree is offered by the Department of Health Policy and Management in the School of Public Health and consists of two separate tracks: the resident track for students just beginning their health administration careers and the executive track for those who are currently employed as healthcare professionals.
Students may complete the 55-credit-hour resident track in 21 months if they pursue the program full-time or in 33 months if they take part-time classes. The timely, comprehensive curriculum includes a mandatory 10-week summer practicum that allows students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to a variety of health services organizations. Graduates of the resident track have gone on to hold successful positions as leaders and managers in the field of healthcare in facilities and organizations such as trade associations, consulting firms, health insurance, nursing homes, clinics, physicians’ offices, and hospitals.
The resident track covers topics such as health economics healthcare financial management, health systems management, and managerial statistics. Other areas of study include health policy and politics, health law and ethics, operations management, human resources, and insurance. Students will also complete a health systems leadership capstone course during the spring semester of their second year.
Students are admitted into the executive track every August and may complete the 48-credit-hour curriculum in two years. This track is designed for mid-career, working healthcare professionals who have at least five years of experience and responsibilities within health services or related industries. Courses are taught one weekend per month in Houston, Texas at the Texas Medical Center.
Students will take 12 courses in health systems leadership, health policy and politics, strategic planning and marketing, health law and ethics, management of human resources, and operations management. Other areas of study include quality and process improvement, healthcare financial management, health economics and insurance, managing healthcare data and information, and population and public health for health professionals. Beginning with the incoming 2018 cohort, the required two-day orientation will be held in College Station, Texas at the A&M main campus.
Regardless of which track a student pursues, the Master of Health Administration program provides a comprehensive, rigorous educational experience, including the core disciplines of public health that are imperative in the field of health administration. Texas A&M has a wide network of professional relationships with healthcare associations and providers within the state and across the country. The MHA program benefits from the school’s successful, engaged alumni and one of the strongest alumni networks in the U.S. — The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University.
About Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a public research institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has been a member of the Texas A&M University System, one of the 10 largest system endowments in the country, since 1948. A&M’s student population is the largest in both the state and the U.S., and the university is the only one in Texas to be designated as a space-, sea-, and land-grant institution. The 5,200-acre main campus is also one of the largest in the country and is home to the George Bush Presidential Library. Texas A&M offers degrees in more than 150 courses of study through 10 colleges and operates 18 separate research institutes. The graduate degree in health administration is consistently ranked as one of the best of its kind by U.S. News & World Report.
Texas A&M University Accreditation Details
Texas A&M University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS COC) to award degrees at the professional, doctoral, master’s, and baccalaureate levels. In addition, the Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree offered by the Texas A&M School of Public Health is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). Students considering a degree program should ensure that the curriculum is accredited by the field’s accrediting body and that the college is regionally or nationally accredited as well. Accreditation allows universities to apply for federal funding and accept the transfer of credits among institutions. Further, accreditation indicates that the programs have met the accrediting organization’s standards for high-quality academics and learning outcomes.
Texas A&M University Application Requirements
Students pursuing a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree from Texas A&M must hold a bachelor’s degree before beginning the program and must have earned a grade of B or better in statistics, economics, and finance or managerial accounting. Students must complete an application and pay the required application fees, submit three letters of recommendation, and write a statement of purpose that outlines the applicant’s interest in health administration, Texas A&M University, and the programs well as his or her career goals and any skills, characteristics, or personal qualities he or she feels will be useful in the field of public health. Other required documents include a current resume or curriculum vitae, official transcripts from all universities or colleges attended, and official test scores for the GMAT or GRE. In addition, an interview is also required prior to admission into the program.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree costs $1,243, including all fees, for every three credits. Students taking 12 credit hours will pay $3,906, while those taking 15 credits will pay $4,793. These figures include fees for the health center, computer use, academic technology, student services, academic support, and more. Graduate students may be entitled to one or more forms of financial aid to help offset the cost of tuition, including loans, grants, scholarships, and a work-study program, which consists of part-time employment either off- or on-campus with an employer who participates in the program. In addition, Texas A&M University offers several educational benefits such as reduced tuition for veterans, active-duty servicemembers, their spouses, and dependents.
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