Overview of Master’s Degree Programs in Hospital Management
Majors Overview June 13, 2017This article talks about master’s degree programs in hospital management and their education requirements, coursework, career options, job and wage outlook, and continuing education options.
Master’s Programs in Hospital Management
There is an increasing trend to link master’s degree programs in hospital management, which many commonly refer to as health services administration, with Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) or Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) programs.
The focus of hospital management master’s degree program is usually in organizing, financing, and managing healthcare facilities or organizations. A business administration curriculum model is usually in the design of core program coursework. Program graduates can expect to gain resourceful leadership techniques and a comprehensive grasp of healthcare services and the skills required for the effective application of this knowledge. They can seek careers in clinics, hospitals, and emergency services among other healthcare settings.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school. Applicants to some graduate schools are required to complete prerequisite courses in microeconomics, basic statistics, behavioral science, and accounting.
Coursework
Enrollees in the majority of master’s degree programs with a hospital management specialization are required to fulfill about 40 core course credits, along with 10 or more elective course credits. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Health care marketing
•Strategic management of health services
•Public health care legal issues
•Health policy management
•Applied public health policies
Career Options
Hospital managers and administrators can typically expect positions that require them to be in charge of a specific department, such as nursing, medical records, or surgery, in a healthcare environment. Health information managers and nursing home administrators are among career options in the field of medical and health services management (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Job and Wage Outlook
Over the 2014 – 2024 decade, health services managers are expected to see a faster-than-average job growth at 17%. In May 2014, health services managers brought in an average annual wage of $96,540 (BLS).
Continuing Education Options
Doctoral programs in the same areas are also available through many schools with master’s degree programs in healthcare administration or hospital management. These terminal degrees can lead to careers in teaching, research, and policy analysis.
