Graduate Certificate Programs in Healthcare Management Overview
Majors Overview March 6, 2016This article talks about graduate certificate programs in healthcare management and their educational requirements, coursework, job and wage outlook, and continuing education options.
Information on Graduate Certificate Programs in Healthcare Management
Individuals currently employed in the healthcare industry and who seek management roles would benefit from enrolling in a graduate certificate program in healthcare management. These brief programs feature 3-6 courses; these programs are offered entirely online by some schools.
Coursework is devised to train students in the political, legal, financial and operational aspects of managing a healthcare institution. Students can acquire skills such as budgeting, public relations, equipment purchasing, human resources management, and scheduling, along with strategic planning, fundraising and policy development skills.
Educational Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree; some schools insist on a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field, such as medical administration, nursing, or business. Incoming students with work experience in the medical industry are preferable in many schools. Admission criteria also include the submission of letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, a personal statement, and a resume.
Coursework
Program coursework is delivered through classroom training, mainly comprising of industry-specific healthcare management courses. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Legal issues in healthcare
•Information management systems
•Strategic planning and marketing
•Healthcare economics
•Human resources management
Job and Wage Outlook
Healthcare managers are expected to see a faster-than-average 17% job growth over the 2012 – 2022 decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In 2012, these professionals brought in an average annual wage of $92,810, ranging from $161,150 at the highest end to $55,890 at the lowest.
Continuing Education Options
Program graduates who seek continuing education may pursue a master’s degree in healthcare management. These degrees include the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Healthcare Management or Master of Science (M.S.) in Healthcare Management. Graduates will require these degrees to seek positions such as that of purchasing manager or chief financial officer, among other higher-paying managerial positions.
