Do you seek to jump start your career with a Master’s in Health Administration (MHA)? If so, then you probably plan to work as a hospital administrator, as the hospital setting provides more opportunities for health care administrators than any other health care setting. With that said, location, size of a medical institution and the health care field specialization you may choose can shape your career options and your salary.The MHA degree is an advanced option acquired after a minimum number of academic units have been completed. Usually, the MHA program requires a thesis or an extensive internship and a bachelor’s degree. Coursework includes classes in population health, economics and health care marketing. These courses are designed to prepare the graduate with the knowledge to manage a hospital, clinic or health system.

If you choose this route for your career, your responsibility may lie in directing an entire facility or a specific branch within a hospital or research facility. Graduates may discover that an entry-level position as a health care administrator may include records management and financial and business decisions for an organization and overseeing quality and safety controls for personnel and patients as well as marketing to maintain income for that institution.

Hospitals are not the only places where health administrators work, however. If you seek employment in a more intimate setting, you might find employment with physicians’ groups, nursing homes, mental health care facilities or organizations and in outpatient centers. Health-care related businesses and nonprofit organizations also seek qualified administrators, and a background in health care management is ideal for these situations.

Other businesses that might seek your skills include insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and groups that shape health care policies. With possible changes in health care plans nationwide, you might be able to expand your service offerings to various government entities as well. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides more information about the settings that may offer jobs upon your graduation.

Many students who seek a master’s degree in health administration usually have an educational and occupational background in a health-related field. Your experiences also can define your future career, as a former nurse in health administration may have different skills than a former medical assistant who seeks the same advanced degree and career.

A master’s degree in one of a number of fields is the standard credential for most generalist positions as a medical or health care administrator. A bachelor’s degree is sometimes adequate for entry-level positions in smaller facilities and departments. In physicians’ offices and some other facilities, on-the-job experience may substitute for formal education, but advancement to a higher-paying career in administration may be limited by a lack of formal education and experience in larger institutions.

No matter where you plan to work in health administration, you might try to seek a job that accentuates the skills you’ve acquired in the past. The more education and skills you obtain through work or internships, the better your understanding of the health administrator’s job and the happier you might be in that position. Additionally, furthering your training and skills can provide you with a much larger salary.

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.
See more schools offering MHA degrees...