The national health care system continues to undergo extensive changes as it adapts to new technology and evolving regulations. The result is an emergent need for professionals with extensive knowledge and understanding of the complex health care infrastructure. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) anticipates 28 percent employment growth for managerial roles in this field over the next decade. While the healthcare system includes medical offices and hospitals, it also includes public health departments, community health organizations, healthcare suppliers, health insurance companies, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Military, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and regulatory agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a Specialization in Health Administration can prepare professionals to be impactful leaders within the industry and to work at the city, state, and federal levels on healthcare policy. Focusing on contemporary developments and challenges in health care, MPA curricula focuses on administrative planning, finance, and ethics, as well as building in-depth expertise on healthcare policy and health-sector management. While MPA programs are typically pursued by experienced healthcare professionals, students with public policy experience hoping to transition into health care can utilize this advanced degree to gain advanced knowledge and skills in the industry.
Curriculum Details for Online MPA Programs with a Specialization in Health Administration
MPA programs provide foundational training in public administration combined with the opportunity to specialize in a distinct area within public administration. MPA students often take a set of core courses before proceeding to specialization-specific courses and/or electives. To earn their degree, most MPA programs require students to complete a capstone project where they can demonstrate the skills and knowledge they have learned throughout the program. In addition, students who do not have work experience in public administration may be required to complete an internship as part of their degree requirements.
MPA programs combine core coursework in leadership and governance, public administration theory, research and strategy planning, communications, human resources, organizational and personnel management, law and ethics, and budgeting and finance with specialization specific courses in areas such as healthcare administration, healthcare quality management, health economics, legal and ethical issues in healthcare, the politics of healthcare, and more. Students interested in pursuing an online MPA in Healthcare Administration may want to consider the following specializations or concentrations:
- Healthcare Administration
- Health Care Management
- Health Care Policy and Administration
- Health Services Administration
- Health Systems Management
Depending on the number of credits a university allots to each course, the typical MPA program requires the completion of 36 to 48 credits to graduate. Most full-time students take two years to complete an MPA program if they enroll on a full-time basis or 24-36 months if they choose to enroll part-time instead. However, many universities also allow students to take five to seven years to complete a degree program as long as they meet enrollment requirements.
Note: On OnlineMPAPrograms.com, for a program to be categorized as offering a health administration specialization or concentration it must offer a distinct program of study in the field.
Examples of Health Administration Specific Courses in Online MPA Programs
Courses for the Health Administration MPA concentration build in-depth knowledge of health policy and health-sector management. The curriculum provides advanced education in administration and policy analysis, focuses on new developments in the field, and prepares students to deal with the complex tasks and challenges they will face working in the healthcare system. The following are examples courses a student might take as part of an online MPA program in Healthcare Administration.
- Health Administration, Organization, and Management: Examining how the healthcare workplace functions, this class prepares administrators and practitioners to manage healthcare organizations. Introducing principles and skills essential to effective healthcare administration, students will have the opportunity to analyze theoretical ideas and formulate new strategies to effectively meet present challenges within the industry.
- Health Systems and the Politics of Healthcare: Offering a comprehensive analysis of the modern US healthcare system, this course focuses on policy, programs, and politics. Students will focus on how the current healthcare system is structured and how it compares to foreign health systems, studying operating costs and delving into topics such as universal health coverage and the distribution of care.
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare: Focuses on health care delivery as a corporation, its relationship with physicians and other health providers and patients, and professional liability. Discusses legal issues, restraints and problems arising from the organization and delivery of healthcare services.
- Health Economics: Applying basic economic theory to the study of healthcare and the US healthcare system, this course explores how numerous entities contribute to the accessibility, cost, and quality of modern health care.
- Financial Aspects of Health Service Organizations: Provides a basic understanding of healthcare financial management principles and their application to the practical aspects of managerial decision-making in healthcare environments. Examines the financial workings of hospitals (including third party payor reimbursement requirements), budgeting, working capital analysis, long-term resource use, and external reporting.
- Healthcare Quality Management: Explores the essential principles and techniques of quality improvement applied to patient care and the management of services in healthcare organizations.
- Comparative Healthcare Systems: Gives a clear understanding of international healthcare systems as a fundamental step toward improving the quality of healthcare systems, both in the U.S. and abroad.
The table below is an example of a two-year course of study for a full-time student enrolled in an online MPA program with a specialization in Health Administration. Course titles, content and sequence vary by program and many institutions allow students some flexibility in terms of how they complete their course of study, unless the program has a fixed set of courses that all students take in a specific sequence.
Two-Year Sample Curriculum Plan for an Online Master of Public Administration with a Specialization in Health Administration
| Year 1 | Core Courses:
| Core Courses:
| Core Course:
|
| Year 2 | Concentration Courses:
| Concentration Courses:
| Capstone Seminar / Independent Research Project |
Instruction Methods for Online MPA Programs
Professionals who need additional flexibility while pursuing a graduate degree should consider an online MPA program because they can view course materials and complete assignments without having to commute to a college or university campus to be physically present in a classroom several times per week. Additionally, online programs may be the only option for students who do not live near a college or university that offers a concentration in Health Administration and who are unable to relocate due to personal or professional obligations.
Online courses typically use one of two formats for online instruction: lectures that are conducted synchronously (i.e., a live instructor using video conferencing software that requires students to attend in real-time) or asynchronously (i.e., instruction that does not have a real-time component, but instead allows students to access recorded lectures and other course materials when it works for them). Not all online MPA programs use synchronous instruction, but all online programs have some type of asynchronous component. Programs that use synchronous instruction are best for students who prefer live online lectures with an instructor. (Note: most programs schedule live courses in the evening or early morning so students from different time zones can all attend together.) Individuals who need as much flexibility as possible should pursue programs that mostly use asynchronous instruction.
Even though students are not physically present in the classroom with online learning, they can still participate in lively class discussions through online discussion boards, live office hours, or through a program’s learning management system where they can interact with classmate and instructors. Programs also provide opportunities for networking with classmates, faculty, and others in health administration whether through group projects, virtual meetups, or live and/or recorded webinars. Online MPA programs can be just as or even more challenging than campus-based programs. Online instruction requires students to be even more self-motivated, self-disciplined, and accountable in their studies.
Admissions Requirements for Online MPA Programs with a Specialization in Health Administration
Gaining admission to an online MPA program is a competitive process as most universities have selective admissions policies and try to keep their cohorts small in order to ensure all online students have access to program resources, faculty and instructors. Therefore, it’s important to recognize that an applicant may not be accepted into their chosen MPA program even if their application meets the minimum admission requirements.
To be considered for acceptance into the majority of MPA programs, prospective students must provide undergraduate transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and universities they attended or internationally equivalent bachelor’s program for students who did not earn their undergraduate degree in the United States. Applicants should also submit transcripts for any completed graduate-level coursework. (Note: most, but not all graduate programs accept transfer credits; therefore, students who would like to transfer credits towards an MPA program should check with a program administrator before applying.) Many online MPA programs expect applicants to have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher during their undergraduate studies or in the last 60 credits of their undergraduate degree; however, there are programs that have minimum GPA requirements of 2.5 or 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
Some programs require applicants to submit standardized test scores from the last five years for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the preferred entrance exam for graduate programs. Programs that require standardized test scores may accept the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Law School Admission Test (LSAT) in lieu of the GRE, and may offer a waiver for well qualified applicants who have a high undergraduate GPA, those who have already completed a graduate degree, or those with significant work experience. However, many online graduate programs no longer require the GRE for admission or make the submission of test scores optional for applicants who believe their scores will help their application.
Final requirements may include letters of recommendation, a resume or Curriculum Vitae, and a personal statement. Work experience can enhance an MPA application, but many programs do not require previous work experience for admission. (Note: Some programs do require work experience or give preference to applicants with a background in public administration or healthcare.) Please note that each university has different application requirements for its master’s programs and students should contact a program director or admissions advisor for the most up-to-date information before applying to a program.
Accreditation for Online MPA Programs
Schools listed on OnlineMPAPrograms.com are accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants are encouraged to research programs and confirm that a college or university is accredited at the institutional level before applying. Prospective students should only enroll in schools with regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by CHEA (or the Department of Education), which currently identifies six regional accrediting bodies for schools that offer graduate degree programs. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) also accredits institutions that mainly offer online programs.
Some colleges or universities also pursue programmatic accreditation from outside agencies that maintain standards for education in specific fields. For MPA programs, this accreditation is assigned by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). NASPAA accreditation requires institutions to adhere to their mission and academic standards, along with other conditions of faculty performance and student services. This safeguard means that a third-party organization has reviewed and approved an institution’s MPA program(s). However, NASPAA accreditation is optional, and some programs choose to align their curricula with NASPAA standards, but do not seek formal accreditation for various reasons. Therefore, formal NASPAA accreditation is an additional thing to consider when researching and choosing an online MPA program.
Health Administration Networking Organizations
There are several organizations specific to the field of Health Administration. Prospective MPA students who plan to specialize in health administration may want to consider researching these organizations in order to identify networking opportunities and provide insight into careers and continuing education options in the field. Some of these organizations also publish journals that professionals can review to stay abreast of current research and industry best practices.
Medical Group Management Association (MGMA): MGMA delivers insights, solutions, and advocacy to achieve medical practice excellence. MGMA has exceptional peer-to-peer and mentor-to-peer support systems that lead to healthcare advancement while providing members and the community consistent expert resources and solutions.
American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM): Focusing on professional development, AAHAM offers healthcare administrators opportunities for increasing skills and knowledge with publications, conferences and seminars, benchmarking, professional certification, and networking. Open to professionals in managerial roles across the industry, including those working in the areas of reimbursement, patient admitting and registration, data management and medical records, as well as patient relations.
Health Care Administrators Association (HCAA): Functioning as a nonprofit trade association providing educational resources as well as networking opportunities for benefit administrators and the self-funded healthcare industry, the HCAA is an extensive network of professionals that includes third-party administrators (TPAs), insurance carriers, underwriters, benefit managers, audit firms, brokers and agents, healthcare consultants, and more. HCAA hosts annual conferences focused on leadership, operations, sales, and marketing.
American Hospital Association (AHA): Offering continuing education for healthcare administrators, the AHA serves as an authoritative resource for hospitals and health care networks nationwide as well as an advocacy group working toward the development of national health policy. Serving all types of communities, this national organization is a reputable source of information on trends and issues in healthcare.