By getting a master of health administration (MHA), you’ll be more qualified for higher-paying jobs with higher levels of responsibility. Getting your education at a quality school is important, as the more demanding the program, the better prepared you’ll be for your career. With an MHA, you’ll be under a lot of pressure, with highly intense day-to-day tasks, so it’s in your best interest to be as prepared for your career as possible.

So how can you tell whether or not a program will prepare you for your career in health management? Here are some of the top characteristics the top-ranked programs have:

Hands-On Learning

You might think of administration work as a lot of paperwork, and while that’s true, you also need to be able to foster really good relationships with other employees, as well as patients. Hands-on learning is important, because you need to learn skills such as conflict resolution and leadership, which can’t necessarily be learned just through reading a book on the topic. Role-playing is important, and many MHA programs have a practitioner-teacher learning model, which means that you’ll apply theory to real-world challenges at a working health care facility.

Financial Courses

Finance is an important part of administration, so all MHA programs include courses on this topic, but the best programs will cover this topic increasingly thoroughly. Although many health care organizations have a CFO (chief financial officer), treasurer, or other finance-related administrative position, every administrator is responsible for finances, especially if you advance to be a CEO. Today, money is more important than ever, and if you don’t know how to effectively manage money from all angles, you could find yourself quickly out of a job.

Professors with Experience

In many schools, the MHA program is new, and the professors that teach the courses are pulled from other programs. While an accounting professor certainly can teach a financial course and a business professor certainly can teach a human resources management course, professors that have experience in health care are going to know the specific challenges you’ll face working at a hospital or other medical-related organization. The top-ranked MHA programs have professors who have been health administrators in the past.

Job Hunting Help

Your degree doesn’t mean much if you’re jobless in the years after graduation. While it might seem easy to find a job in the health care field, the truth is that administrative positions are highly competitive. The best programs will have student services that help with job placement and resume preparation, as well as great networking opportunities with local businesspeople and alumni and other ways to boost your job-hunting skills.

MHA programs are still relatively new for most colleges, so make sure that your program of choice is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), which is the only accrediting organization for these programs that is recognized by the United States Department of Education. Make sure that accreditation is for the MHA program, not just for the entire school. Accreditation will ensure that the program you choose is not only top-ranked, but also effective for preparing you for a career in the fast-paced world of health management and administration.

Master of Health Admin MHA - Gerontology MHA - Health Education MHA - Health Informatics	University of Phoenix - Obtain your associate, bachelor's or master's degree in Health Administration and management from this online university. Students learn to critically examine and evaluate issues and trends and incorporate the latest theories and contemporary practice applications through their studies. Phoenix also offers MHA specializations in gerontology, health education, and health informatics.
Master of Health Admin Master of Public Health MPA in Health Policy	Walden University - Walden's Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree program is a graduate-level online track that emphasizes cutting edge technology and techniques. Numerous health careers should be available to graduates of this program, including jobs available in healthcare supplies, health insurance, health policy, and much more. Walden also offers two other similar degrees: the Master of Public Health (MPH) and the Master of Public Administration (MPA) in health policy.
Master of Health Admin	Ohio University - Ohio University's online Master of Health Administration degree program can prepare you for leadership positions in health care organizations and systems within the U.S. Course highlights include issues of leadership, finance, health system structures and managed care, ethics and law, maximizing human resources, information and systems use, health policy, and strategic planning and marketing.
MS - Health Admin Master of Public Health MPH - Health Mgmt MS in Gerontology	Capella University - The MS in Health Care Administration degree program offered by Capella is taught entirely online, making it possible for students of the program to continue their work in the healthcare field as they earn credits toward their master's degrees. Topics covered by this program include healthcare policy, finance, law, quality improvement, and more. Capella also offers a Master of Public Health degree, with an option to specialize in health management, as well as an MS in gerontology.
MBA - Healthcare Mgmt	Northeastern University - Northeastern University is a world leader in practice-based education, so their online MBA program in Healthcare Management may be the resource you need to begin a career in health administration. With this program, you can gain a solid foundation in all areas of business enterprise and deepen your knowledge within the healthcare specialization.
MS in Healthcare Mgmt MBA - Healthcare Mgmt MPH - Development MPH - Health Education	Kaplan University - Kaplan graduates who specialize in a master's degree in Health Care Management can pursue positions in doctors' offices, medical and surgical hospitals, home health care, and outpatient centers. You will receive rigorous online training, including assignments, reports, presentations, and group projects all designed to help you develop the savvy and proficiencies you need to find solutions in real-life business situations. Kaplan also offers an MBA in healthcare management as well as Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees in public health program development and health education.
MBA in Healthcare	George Washington University - The George Washington University MBA in Healthcare program is based on the concepts of ethics, global business, and leadership. Within two years, the core program can provide you with the fundamentals of business and management while the electives provide flexibility to craft a program that fits your personal and professional goals and objectives.
MS in Health Admin MS in Health Ethics MS in Health Informatics	Saint Joseph's University - Saint Joseph's University offers master's degrees in healthcare administration, health administration ethics, and health administration informatics. These three programs are specifically tailored to prepare individuals for careers in the management and administrative aspects of healthcare.
MS in Health Admin MSM in Health Admin MS in Health Informatics	University of Maryland University College - The University of Maryland University College offers three master's-level degrees that specialize in healthcare administration: the MS in healthcare administration, the MS in Management (MSM) with a healthcare administration specialization, and the MS in healthcare administration informatics. Each of the three programs is accredited by the MSACS and prepares students for careers in hospital management and healthcare administration.
MS in Health Communication	Boston University - Boston University's MS in health communications degree program is a graduate-level online track that emphasizes communication and marketing within the healthcare field. Students of this program will learn the skills necessary to perform all public relations, marketing, and other communications-related duties as they pertain to a healthcare organization.
MBA - Healthcare Mgmt	American InterContinental University - The MBA in healthcare management degree program offered by American InterContinental University is geared toward preparing students for upper managerial positions in hospitals, health insurance providers, consulting firms, care facilities, and more. With AIU's flexible scheduling, students are able to earn this degree in a little as 12 months.
MA in Health Admin	Bellevue University - The MA in Healthcare Administration degree program at Bellevue University features a curriculum that prepare students to seek a career in the management of health care systems. Coursework in healthcare delivery, finance, ethical and legal issues in healthcare administration, and management makes Bellevue a top choice for students in the field.
MS in Health Admin	New England College - New England College offers an MS in Healthcare Administration that can be completed within two years by taking one course per seven weeks. The program is designed to prepare the next generation of healthcare industry leaders and administrators. This degree program is ideal for any individual who is looking to advance his/her medical career and undertake a more managerial role.
MBA in Health Admin Accelerated MBA	Benedictine University - The MBA in Health Administration at Benedictine University prepares students to excel in the business management of the healthcare field. Successful applicants are required to apply and be accepted into both the MPH and MBA programs. The 96 unit credits includes courses in Health Behavior, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health. The program also has an accelerated option.
MBA in Health Mgmt	Colorado Technical University - The Master of Business Administration degree in healthcare management from Colorado Technical University helps students develop the skills required to work within the constraints of ethical, legal, and regulatory guidelines as a health care manager.
MBA Health Mgmt BBA/MBA Health Mgmt	Jones International University - Jones International University offers an MBA in healthcare management (also available as a BBA/MBA dual degree) that helps prepare students for a dynamic leadership role within the healthcare industry. Graduates of this program will be skilled in the areas of strategic management, telemedicine, medical ethics, and more.
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