Best Doctorate in Healthcare Administration Programs

Doctoral programs in healthcare administration often have different admissions processes and requirements. However, students typically need to fill out the appropriate application and include the required materials to demonstrate their preparedness for the program. Applicants to these programs must include their official transcripts from prior education and usually need to add items such as references, a resume or CV, and a goal statement. Some students who fall below the minimum requirements for the program, but still wish to apply, may be able to submit a petition for admission in the form of a detailed personal essay. These students may be admitted conditionally. Depending on the program, students could be required to complete an interview process and some schools require newly admitted students to attend an orientation.

In addition to the supplemental materials, most doctoral programs in healthcare administration also have specific educational and professional requirements that applicants must meet. For example, most of these programs require students to hold a master's degree and some programs may require that this degree be from an appropriate area, such as health administration, public health, or clinical areas, such as nursing or social work. It is also common for these programs to require a minimum GPA, typically around a 3.0 or higher. Some programs require students to have at least a few years of professional work experience in administration and leadership. Students could be required to highlight this experience in a resume and/or include an organizational chart with the student's current position highlighted.

When selecting a program, students should always be aware of a school's and/or program's accreditation status. Regional accreditation is typically given to an entire institution for all degree levels across all subjects, while program-level accreditation is more specific to the subject area. Attending a regionally accredited school allows students to qualify for federal financial aid and also transfer credits more easily between accredited schools. Employers usually prefer graduates from accredited institutions as well.

Program-level accreditation is available for some degree programs in specific subject areas. In the case of healthcare administration, most doctoral programs do not hold program-level accreditation. However, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) accredits master's degree programs in this field. So, you might look for schools with master's programs that have achieved CAHME accreditation because the doctoral programs there may share some of the faculty and curriculum.

The time to degree completion likely depends on the type of program and various factors, such as course load, availability of transfer credit, and the time that it takes for students to finish their dissertation or final project. For example, several DHA programs are designed to be completed in 3 years. PhD programs may take a little longer due to the dissertation portion of the program. Some schools may allow students up to 8 years to finish their degree.

Doctoral programs in healthcare administration usually require between 56 and 63 credits of coursework. The didactic portion of these programs comprises most of the credits, and usually, these programs conclude with a dissertation or doctoral project. Students are commonly required to take some core courses, some specialization courses in the field of healthcare administration, and some electives. Typically, the core courses are broken up into different areas, such as foundational core courses and research core courses. These courses provide students with broad, but advanced, overviews of important areas, such as topics and issues in healthcare, qualitative and quantitative research methods, statistics, organizational theory, and leadership strategies. Major or specialization courses get into the details of healthcare administration and can cover topics such as healthcare systems, health informatics, healthcare policy, healthcare economics, population health management, and more. Programs are usually unique in how they offer their electives. Some students can choose from related subject areas, such as accounting, marketing, and education. Others must choose from health elective courses.

Preparing Your Healthcare Administration Dissertation

Students may take between 8 and 18 credits devoted to their dissertation or doctoral project. Usually, students begin taking these credits after passing their comprehensive exam. Most programs help students break up these large projects into smaller portions. Students may take some overview courses in doctoral writing or other subjects that help them understand how to conduct research and write their dissertation.

It is also common for these programs to require students to complete a dissertation proposal. This proposal allows the student's dissertation committee to provide input into the student's research, methods, and other ideas concerning his or her dissertation. Students often spend a significant amount of time after the proposal researching, collecting data, and writing their dissertation. Then, students must defend their dissertation before their committee. The bulk of the work for the dissertation and the oral defense occurs in the final year of the program after students have completed their coursework.

Healthcare administration degree programs are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels. These programs help prepare students for leadership positions and train them in a variety of administrative tasks. While programs at the undergraduate level prepare students for entry-level positions in administration, graduate-level programs help students advance their careers and take on more responsibilities. Many of these programs are available in online formats to offer flexibility for working professionals and other busy students. Explore some of the degree options available in healthcare administration at different degree levels.

Healthcare Administration Associate Degrees

Students can pursue Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in healthcare administration or closely related areas, such as health services administration. These programs can be completed on-campus or online and can help prepare students for exams that lead to professional certifications in the field, such as the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) exam. Graduates with these degrees can usually transfer their degree easily to a 4-year school or begin their careers in an entry-level position.

Healthcare Administration Bachelor's Degrees

Bachelor's degree programs in healthcare administration are most commonly offered as Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees, but some Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees are also available. These programs may be certified by the Association of University Programs of Health Administration (AUPHA) and many offer different dual-degree options for students to earn their master's degree as well. Typically, bachelor's degree programs take 4 years to complete, but those with an associate degree may finish in 2 years. Many of these programs are offered online and may offer additional concentration areas, such as patient safety or health information management.

Healthcare Administration Master's Degrees

Similar to doctoral degrees offering a PhD or DHA, master's degree programs are commonly available as Master of Science (MS) degrees or Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degrees. There are also executive master programs for students with more professional experience. Master's programs can commonly be completed in 2 years or less and some master's programs in healthcare administration can be taken online. These programs are designed to prepare students for more advanced positions of leadership in healthcare and may require a capstone course.

Healthcare Administration Graduate Certificates

There are so many graduate certificate programs available in healthcare administration and related areas. For example, students can pursue broad-topic certificates, such as graduate certificates in public health or healthcare management, as well as programs in more specific areas, such as certificate programs in health information management, healthcare analytics, or healthcare project management. Typically, certificate programs are much shorter than degree programs and can be completed in 1 year or less. These programs are designed to equip students with a new set of skills and focused knowledge pertaining to the subject area to help students advance their careers. Students can commonly apply credits from these programs to an MHA or other related degree.

Career options for those with a degree in healthcare adminsitration are numerous, but typically involve some level of oversight and leadership in healthcare. For instance, many graduates become healthcare managers and oversee their office, department, or other subgroups.

Other graduates may become healthcare specialists and take their administrative skills to a specific area of healthcare. Still others may decide to pursue careers in areas such as academia, consulting, or education. Find out more about a few possible career options for those with a doctoral degree in healthcare administration below.

Become a Medical and Health Services Manager

Medical and health services managers have to have at least a bachelor's degree, usually in healthcare and other related fields. Many of these managers, though, hold advanced degrees, which may be preferred by some employers. It is also usually required for these managers to have at least some work experience in a clinical or administrative position related to healthcare. Depending on the type of management position, there is a range of professional certifications available in the field. For instance, those working in nursing homes may pursue the American College of Health Care Administrators' Certified Nursing Home Administrator or Certified Assisted Living Administrator credentials.

The job duties for medical and health services managers vary by position, employer, size of the organization, and other factors. However, these managers typically train and oversee other staff members, maintain records, ensure compliance with current laws, and set goals for improving healthcare services.

According to the BLS, medical and health services managers make a median salary of $104,280 per year.

Become a Top Executive

Top executive is a term that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses to describe a range of top management positions, such as presidents, executive directors, chief financial officers (CFOs), operations managers, and more. Although it varies by position and organization, most of these executives have to have at least a bachelor's degree, but advanced degrees are common. Top executives also need to have extensive work experience, usually in their given area of oversight. Depending on the position, they may also need to hold professional certification or licensure that pertains to their particular area.

Top executives are the big picture managers who help set goals, strategies, and policies to enable their organization to become more efficient and effective. They could be responsible for managing budgets, hiring other managers, finding ways to cut costs and more.

The BLS reports that top executives bring home a median annual salary of $107,680.

Become a Postsecondary Teacher

Those who wish to teach others about healthcare administration and/or conduct research may decide to pursue careers as postsecondary teachers. Typically, larger colleges and universities require these teachers to have a doctoral degree in their field, but some smaller institutions, such as community colleges, might only require these educators to have a master's degree. It is also important for postsecondary teachers to have some work experience in their field, as well as any required or common licenses and certifications pertaining to the field.

While specific job duties vary by institution, postsecondary teachers are often required to participate in research and teach courses in their given field of expertise. They could also be responsible for advising students, assisting students in their classes who need extra help, and developing curriculum.

According to 2020 BLS data, postsecondary teachers make a median salary of $80,790 per year.

There are many professional organizations available to those working in the field of healthcare administration. These organizations typically support professionals by providing networking opportunities, professional certifications, and access to research and news in the field. Some of these organizations are available in specific areas of healthcare administration, while others are more general in nature. Usually, these groups offer membership and may have additional benefits for those who become members. A couple of examples of healthcare administration groups include:

• American College of Healthcare Executives- The ACHE works to improve the health of patients and communities by providing leaders in the field with professional development opportunities, webinars, and other events. The group's website also provides a career resource center and a learning center where professionals can explore various jobs and topics in the field.
• Health Care Administrators Association- The HCAA works to help administrators across the country connect and improve the quality of healthcare. The organization has annual events, job postings, webinars, and more. Students can also explore job postings and participate in the Emerging Leader Program.

The cost of earning a doctorate in healthcare administration varies by school but usually consists of tuition, fees, books and materials, and living expenses. Tuition rates may be set for an entire program or per credit hour and sometimes this rate differs by factors such as residency. However, some doctoral programs may charge the same tuition rates whether students are in-state or out-of-state residents. Some programs charge as little as $400 per credit and others charge over $800 per credit hour for these programs. Fees are often added on top of tuition for various reasons, such as technology or program fees. Students should also consider the cost of books and materials for their courses, as well as the cost of housing, food, transportation, and more.

As we discussed, figuring out how to fund one's education can be an important step for determining which doctoral programs students can afford. Most students need to start the financial aid process by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and accepting federal or state grants and scholarships they may qualify for. Then, students can begin to check for any available tuition discounts or other forms of financial aid, such as assistantships or scholarships, that their school(s) of choice may offer.

Scholarships are also commonly available from different outside organizations for a wide range of reasons. Some awards may focus on academic merit, while others focus on financial need or underrepresentation in a given field.

For healthcare administration, there are many different organizations that offer scholarships, including the ACHE. For instance, the ACHE provides the Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship that awards up to 15 different $5,000 scholarships to graduate students in their final year of study of MHA and other healthcare administration-related degree programs.

The ACHE also has the Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship that is designed for racially/ethnically diverse graduate students in the field.