Welcome to the exciting world of Healthcare Administration, a field of study focused on addressing the challenges related to quality and access in the healthcare system.
This Doctoral degree provides a comprehensive education in the strategies and approaches necessary to effectively manage a variety of healthcare settings.
Healthcare administrators play a pivotal role in the oversight and distribution of healthcare. You will develop an understanding of healthcare organization dynamics, legal and financial management, health policy, consumer behavior, and technology.
In addition, this degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to improve the delivery of quality care both now and in the future. Administrators in this field need a wide range of healthcare knowledge and excellent communication and management skills.
University faculty in these programs bring a wealth of experience from both professional and academic backgrounds, offering you the chance to benefit from their critical insights and expertise.
Job openings abound in the field of healthcare administration, and the pay is excellent. The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 28% increase in jobs over the next ten years, and healthcare administrators and managers earn a median annual salary of over $104,830.
Healthcare administration is a challenging and rewarding field; you can make a difference in healthcare and help to create healthier communities… A win-win for everyone!
Another valuable resource:
- The Best Online Doctoral Degrees in Public Policy/Administration
- The Best Online Doctoral Degrees in Business Administration
Methodology
This list offers information on the Best Online Doctoral Degree programs for current Healthcare Administrators (DHA).
We’ve included Doctor of Healthcare Administration, Doctor of Business Administration, and Ph.D. programs that focus on healthcare. In these programs, students will learn to be better planners, managers, and communicators in the healthcare field.
Earning a doctorate will open new career opportunities and advancement. Our choices have been listed in random order and based on the following:
- 100% Online or Hybrid availability; utilizing support through asynchronous coursework, online resources, student help centers, and close communication with professors and advisors – may require on-campus attendance, as well,
- Often awarded a Doctorate of Business Administration with a focus on Healthcare Management,
- Designed to accommodate the flexibility and convenience needed to assist students who are currently employed by healthcare facilities,
- Programs dedicated to the enhancement of prior skills and knowledge in the field of Healthcare Administration in a Leadership or Management capacity,
- Emphasizes innovative ideas pertaining to Public Healthcare notices, such as preventative care advisements and alerts issued by the Centers for Disease Control,
- Provides increased Networking and Job Opportunities,
- Challenging coursework specializing in Finance, Leadership, Accounting, and Advanced Healthcare Management,
- Doctoral Dissertation/Research Project opportunity,
- Financial Aid availability; Scholarships & Grants,
- Properly Accredited.
Would you like to know more about our ranking process? If so, please see our Methodology page.
Best Online Doctoral Degrees in Healthcare Administration
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Program Standouts: Offered through the outstanding and highly competitive Gillings School of Public Health, this doctoral program of health leadership is designed “for working healthcare professionals… with the potential and ambition to become senior leaders and are committed to improving the public’s health.”
This program is demographically diverse and admits students from a range of healthcare leadership professions.
Coursework is online, requiring a three 4-day on-campus visit in each term during the first two years of the program. In addition to 46 credit hours of coursework, comprehensive written and oral exams, as well as a dissertation, are required to complete the degree.
Campus Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Accreditation: The University of North Carolina is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Admission Requirements:
- Graduate level degree: Master’s or Doctorate
- Three professional letters of recommendation
- If the applicant does not possess a doctorate, scores on the GRE or GMAT (for international students TOEFL/IELTS) must be submitted
- Undergrad GPA of 3.2 out of 4.0
Sample Course Options:
- Health Services/Health Policy Research Methods
- Principle of Health Policy
- Advanced Methodology in Health Policy and Management
- Analysis of Categorical Data
Degree Outcomes: This degree program gives graduates many career options. Possible fields of employment graduates can seek are:
- Biostatistics,
- Environmental Sciences and Engineering,
- Epidemiology,
- Health Behavior,
- Health Policy and Management,
- Maternal and Child Health,
- Nutrition,
- Public Health Leadership,
- and Global Health.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA’S ONLINE EXECUTIVE DOCTORAL PROGRAM in HEALTH LEADERSHIP (DrPH)
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: This 60-credit online Doctor of Business Administration in Health Care takes, on average, 3.5 years to complete. This business degree specialization is based upon a sound curriculum that provides advanced training in professional management, human resource development, and quality management.
Importantly, this degree program is 100% online. This makes it very accessible to professionals who are not able to meet the minimal on-campus requirements of other online doctorates in healthcare administration. This degree requires students to complete a doctoral dissertation.
Campus Location: Lynchburg, VA
Accreditation: Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Official college transcripts showing an accredited master’s degree
- GPA of 3.0 or above
- Statement of purpose
- Proof of English proficiency
Sample Course Options:
- Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals
- Healthcare Administration
- Managing Human Capital in Healthcare
- Healthcare Informatics
Degree Outcomes: Graduates from this online doctoral program in healthcare administration will be prepared for potential careers as:
- Healthcare Administrators,
- Management Consultants,
- or Nonprofit Organization Directors.
LEARN MORE ABOUT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE DOCTORATE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH A CONCENTRATION IN HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
Program Standouts: This doctoral program of Public Health in Leadership is designed for working professionals looking to “broaden their grasp of public health leadership, management, practice, and research without interrupting their careers.
Courses are delivered in both asynchronous and synchronous formats. Once a year, students are required to participate in three-day on-campus residencies.
Unlike many other degree programs, UIC’s doctorate in healthcare administration is competency driven. There are six core areas of expertise in which every graduate is expected to achieve mastery. A dissertation is required to complete this degree program.
Campus Location: Chicago, IL
Accreditation: The University of Illinois-Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Applicants must hold a master’s degree in public health or a related field from an accredited institution
- Three or more years of full-time, paid, professional experience in a public health leadership position
- GRE scores are NOT required
- Applicants must submit a personal statement
Sample Course Options:
- Biostatistics
- Introduction to Epidemiology Principles & Methods
- Public Health Leadership Seminars
- Leadership in Public Health Policy Development
Degree Outcomes: This degree program is designed to form adaptive and personal leaders. These leaders will be able to systematically reflect as well as think in terms of existing healthcare systems. They will be strategic managers able to also contribute to current evidence-based practice.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-CHICAGO’S ONLINE DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN LEADERSHIP
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: Central Michigan University’s 63-credit hour online Doctor of Health Administration seeks to combine healthcare administration with a prudent, practical application.
Courses are delivered online. There are six 2-and-a-half-day on-campus seminars. The program is organized on a cohort model, and new cohorts begin studies in the fall of each year.
Professionals in upper leadership healthcare positions are encouraged to apply. Key to this degree program’s approach is the student’s direct work with healthcare administrator-instructors from a wide range of healthcare delivery models and practices.
Campus Location: Mount Pleasant, MI
Accreditation: Central Michigan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Applicants must hold a master’s degree or professional doctorate
- Five years of working in middle to upper-level healthcare management
- Oral and written proficiency in English
- 5-page essay
- Letters of recommendation
Sample Course Options:
- Leadership Strategies for Healthcare Policy and Organizations
- Population Health
- Research Methods and Practice for the Health Professions
- Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability for Health Entities
- Comparative Health Systems
LEARN MORE ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE DOCTOR OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (DHA) DEGREE PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM
Program Standouts: Designed for working professionals, the University of Alabama-Birmingham offers an online Doctor of Science in Administration-Health Services.
This program is geared towards the practice of professional healthcare administration rather than academic research and theory. Students in this program are prepared to meet practical challenges relating to problem-solving, investment, and leadership.
The program requires two years of coursework (24 credits per year), and in the third year, students move on to research and writing their dissertations. Although the majority of the program is delivered online, there is a stronger residency component in this program than in many others. During the two years of coursework, students must attend three eight-day on-site sessions per year.
Campus Location: Birmingham, AL
Accreditation: The University of Alabama-Birmingham is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Resume/CV
- Completed DSc Application Supplement (available on the website)
- Three letters of recommendation from professional contacts
- Preferable: possess a master’s degree in health administration, health informatics, business administration, or a related field from an accredited institution
- Minimum of 5 years experience in mid-to upper-level healthcare management
Sample Course Options:
- Quantitative Methods in Health Services Administration
- Health Policy, Process, and Issues
- Research in Organization Theory
- Macro-Environmental Analysis
- The Leadership of Health Systems
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
Degree Outcomes: Graduates from this degree program will add increased value to their organization, opening doors to advancement.
Graduates will possess advanced problem-solving skills and knowledge in healthcare leadership. This will improve networking in the field and create a highly refined organizational leadership skill set.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM’S ONLINE EXECUTIVE DOCTOR OF SCIENCE (DSc) IN HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP DEGREE PROGRAM
A.T. STILL UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: This online Doctor of Health Administration prepares current health professionals to become “innovative leaders and problem solvers within the healthcare industry.” Combining theory with practice, this program advances a vision of holistic knowledge that flows directly into careers in leadership.
This program is also designed to integrate seamlessly with advanced business education, which provides healthcare professionals with “advanced business strategies and innovative healthcare leadership insight.”
Campus Location: Jefferson, MO
Accreditation: A.T. Still University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- An accredited degree from an accredited institution
- Official transcripts
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
- Current resume/CV
- English Proficiency
Academic Focus Areas:
- Healthcare Law
- The economics of medical care
- Organizational theory and its effect on the health industry
- Health policy
- The financing of healthcare
- Effectiveness/cost-benefit analysis in the healthcare industry
- Health information systems Quantitative methods Management Science
Degree Outcomes:
Graduates are prepared to work as:
- Chief executive officer,
- Chief operation officer,
- president, chief financial officer, or vice president of a healthcare facility;
- Leadership positions in healthcare advocacy organizations;
- a chief nursing officer or assistant chief nursing officer of a healthcare facility;
- director of business development;
- director of patient safety;
- director of risk management;
- healthcare consultant, and many other areas.
LEARN MORE ABOUT A.T. STILL UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE DOCTOR OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION DEGREE
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: Arizona State’s online doctoral degree offers a concentration in the management of behavioral health care.
This degree program focuses on preparing future behavioral healthcare administrators to improve patient experience, effect better clinical outcomes and reduce over-utilization and costs in healthcare. As a management program, students are also instructed on how to recognize and meet market demands, which will help increase earning potential.
This 84-credit degree program delivers courses in a synchronous format that requires students to clear their schedules for class meeting times. This format has the advantage of fostering direct, live interaction with professors and fellow students. A doctoral capstone project is required to complete the degree program.
Campus Location: Tempe, AZ
Accreditation: Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed graduate admission application
- Official graduate transcript
- Personal statement
- One professional letter of recommendation
- Current CV or resume
- Program policy acknowledgments
- Proof of English proficiency
Sample Course Options:
- Quality and Performance Measurement, Improvement, and Incentives
- Healthcare Information Management
- Models of Integrated Primary Care
- Healthcare Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues
Degree Outcomes:
Graduates from this degree program are ready to embark upon careers as:
- healthcare administrators,
- healthcare managers,
- healthcare executives,
- healthcare consultants,
- medical and health services managers,
- and clinical & project managers.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE DOCTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT DEGREE PROGRAMS
GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: This online Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Healthcare Administration degree promises to increase awareness of the multi-faceted nature of the healthcare field and open up avenues for career advancement for healthcare administration and management professionals.
Those who study in this degree program learn to develop a framework for effective management and organizational leadership. This framework is based on evidence-based research that can translate into both successful leadership and scholarship.
Coursework is delivered online. Some minimal residencies, as well as a dissertation, are required to complete the program.
Campus Location: Phoenix, AZ
Accreditation: Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Official transcripts
- GRE scores
- Possess a doctorate from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.4 GPA minimum or a master’s degree with a 3.4 GPA minimum
Sample Course Options:
- Progressions in Leadership Thought
- Ethical Dilemmas and Stewardship
- Health Care Regulation
- Leading Across Cultures
- Sustainability of Health Care Organizations
Degree Outcomes: Modern topics in healthcare, such as the interconnections between governance structures and leadership, are key points of emphasis in this program. Graduates from this program will be well-versed in healthcare protocol and management in public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit systems.
LEARN MORE ABOUT GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY ONLINE DOCTOR OF EDUCATION IN ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
REGENT UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: Regent University’s online Doctor of Strategic Leadership-Healthcare Leadership offers a “terminal professional degree that will help you meet today’s organizational challenges so that you’re prepared to renew and transform systems and teams.”
Comprising 60 credit hours, this program gives advanced expertise in the healthcare industry. With only two 4-day residencies, this degree online doctoral degree in healthcare administration forms professionals skilled in “forecasting, team leadership, and self-leadership” within a broadly Christian perspective.
Campus Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Accreditation: Regent University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Applicants must hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution
- Official college/university transcripts
- Professional resume including:
- Employment history, detailing leadership positions, skill set and results
- School, church and community leadership positions
- Service activities
- Academic and non-academic honors and distinctions
- Completed admissions questionnaire
Sample Course Options:
- Leadership Theory
- Healthcare: Issues, Trends & Forecasting
- Healthcare: Self-Leading & Professionalism
- Healthcare: Team Leadership & Engagement
- Healthcare: Theory & Practice
Degree Outcomes: This degree program is designed to train healthcare administrators who can examine current issues and trends and plan and effectively forecast within their scope of work.
Graduates from this program can write and publish on healthcare leadership topics on both scholarly and popular levels. Graduates possess an understanding of existing healthcare theories and models and how to enact useful leadership structures.
LEARN MORE ABOUT REGENT UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE DOCTOR OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP – HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP DEGREE PROGRAM
WALDEN UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: The DHA degree offered by Walden University is a fully online program “designed to prepare you with the holistic knowledge and advance business strategies needed to manage the healthcare delivery demands of your organization and the communities it serves.”
Walden’s curriculum is interdisciplinary and structured to blend theory with practice to train competent and creative healthcare administrators.
Students receive communication skills and the ability to use and employ relevant data, all towards the goal of useful practice-based research and leadership. With minimal residency requirements, this degree program will set the stage for its graduates to move into executive roles in the healthcare industry.
Campus Location: Minneapolis, MN
Accreditation: Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Unofficial and official transcripts
- Resume showing work history
- Employment and education history
Sample Course Options:
- Building a Multidisciplinary Approach to Health
- Health Leadership and Systems Thinking
- Global Health Issues in Disease Prevention
- Healthcare Quality Management
Degree Outcomes: Graduates demonstrate evidence-based leadership. They can participate in scientific inquiry with an understanding of the different stakeholders in healthcare administrative strategies.
A graduate can assess risk and implement culturally responsive policies based on sound legal and ethical principles to promote positive change in healthcare delivery.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WALDEN UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE DOCTOR OF HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION
COLORADO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: This Doctor of Management-Healthcare Management and Leadership degree promises to place emphasis on three focus areas: research and writing, Leadership and Change, and specific instruction in healthcare administration.
Courses have multiple start dates throughout the year and can be completed in as few as three years, allowing working professionals to earn their doctorates without interruption of their careers.
Healthcare policy and economics, along with many related areas of inquiry, are key aspects of this degree. All this is to prepare healthcare executives to make a continual improvements to the full range of healthcare systems. This program requires a doctoral dissertation.
Campus Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Accreditation: Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Interview with an admissions advisor
- Completed application
- Official transcripts
- Proof of English proficiency
- Other degree-specific requirements
Sample Course Options:
- Health Policy and Regulations
- Economics and Financing of Healthcare Organizations
- Continuous Improvement for Systems in Healthcare
- Informatics in Healthcare
- Advanced Career Strategies for the Scholar-Practitioner
Degree Outcomes: This degree is designed to prepare its graduates to be effective healthcare administrators able to examine policy, regulations, economics, finance, and informatics to the end of effective healthcare leadership.
LEARN MORE ABOUT COLORADO TECH UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE DOCTOR OF MANAGEMENT – HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEGREE
CAPELLA UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: This online doctorate in Health Administration is a competency-based program that is designed to meet “rigorous professional standards.” Students are guided through this program by excellent faculty and “Share courses with other… public health practitioners to learn about, from, and with others in the industry.”
With oversight and direction from an expert advisory board, the curriculum and capstone project of this degree program will help professional healthcare administrators reach their highest goals and help “ensure [graduates] have what it takes for roles in teaching, leadership, research, or consulting.”
Campus Location: Minneapolis, MN
Accreditation: Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Transcripts from all past universities
- It is possible that a resume and letters of recommendation will be required as well as other materials
Degree Concentration Options:
- General Health Administration
- Health Care Leadership
- Health Care Quality and Analytics
- Health Policy and Advocacy
Degree Outcomes: This degree program is designed to prepare healthcare administrators for effective leadership in the growing and changing field of healthcare. Its four concentrations provide excellent and diverse opportunities for specialization that better-fit students’ interests, skills, and career goals.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CAPELLA UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE DOCTOR OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
TRIDENT UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: As a Ph.D. program, Trident’s online doctoral degree is a research-based degree program. This doctorate is designed to provide advanced preparation for working professionals in understanding healthcare principles and dynamics.
The program’s specialization in health policy and administration opens up opportunities for advancement in administrative positions in the health and health science fields.
Courses open in October of the academic year to train leaders to improve society and be at the “forefront of [this] dynamic field by learning, developing, and applying innovative research methods in our challenging and highly rewarding doctoral program.”
Campus Location: Cypress, CA
Accreditation: Trident University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a related field
- Minimum of 3.0 GPA
- Proof of English proficiency
- Official transcripts
- CV
- Scholarly writing sample
- Cover letter
- Two letters of reference
Sample Course Options:
- Current Issues in Health Administration Research
- Health Care Law, Regulation, and Ethics
- Seminar in Strategic Planning for Health Sciences
Degree Outcomes: This degree is designed to develop expertise and skills in research, education, and management careers. Graduates can practice and apply new research methods in the growing and changing fields of healthcare.
This degree situates graduates to respond to legal and ethical issues in the health field, from policy to administration.
LEARN MORE ABOUT TRIDENT UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE PH.D. IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES DEGREE PROGRAM
CALIFORNIA INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: This two-year online Doctorate of Business Administration in Healthcare Management and Leadership “is designed to help students perform applied research and transform mature learners into leaders.”
This degree focuses on advanced decision-making skills and techniques, along with research and writing skills needed for healthcare administrative positions in both academic and business environments.
This holistic approach helps students improve their analytical ability, strategic thinking, and policy implementation both within and beyond business settings. This degree requires a dissertation.
Campus Location: Irvine, CA
Accreditation: California Intercontinental University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Official transcripts
- CV or professional resume
- Two or more years of full-time professional experience
- Minimum of 3.0 GPA
Sample Course Options:
- Managing Risk in Healthcare: Perspective for Healthcare Leaders
- Healthcare Marketing: Tools and Techniques
- Quality Management in Healthcare: A Systems Approach
- Global Business Finance
Degree Outcomes:
Graduates of this doctoral program are prepared for careers in:
- managed care supervision,
- patient care management,
- health service management,
- regulatory analysis,
- and resource specialist.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CALIFORNIA INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE DBA IN HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEGREE PROGRAM
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: This degree program is designed with the recognition that the healthcare industry is rapidly changing and expanding.
These factors make career opportunities abound. However, healthcare administrators need both advanced training in theory and practice and the ability to adapt to new situations, systems, and challenges.
This Ph.D. in Business Administration with a specialization in Health Care Administration provides online courses as well as one-to-one mentoring that will form healthcare leaders with adaptive knowledge ready to identify, resolve, intervene and lead in health management and delivery.
Campus Location: San Diego, CA
Accreditation: National University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Applicants must hold a master’s degree
- Official transcripts
- Current resume/CV (may be required)
Sample Course Options:
- Healthcare Industry and Financial Management
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare Research Management
- Advanced Concepts and Applications in Health Policy and Management
- Healthcare Strategic Management
Degree Outcomes: This degree prepares healthcare leaders with business knowledge based on a synthesis of current theory. Graduates can communicate with diverse audiences. They are able to evaluate business practices and implement policies with a positive impact on society.
Graduates can come up with solutions to difficulties in current research and relate global concerns and local contexts.
LEARN MORE ABOUT NATIONAL UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE PH.D. IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION with a SPECIALIZATION IN HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION DEGREE PROGRAMS
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Program Standouts: This doctoral program in health administration readies students for the challenges facing “cost-effective, quality delivery systems responsive to policy initiatives.” These challenges require new knowledge and leadership skills to respond to changing contexts.
This program seeks to integrate new knowledge into traditional healthcare administration topics to shape healthcare leaders that can respond to new questions and implement successful reforms to existing systems.
The program includes two years of coursework and a third year of directed dissertation research and writing.
Campus Location: Charleston, SC
Accreditation: The Medical University of South Carolina is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Post-bachelor’s degree in a management or policy position in the healthcare field
- Five years of experience in a management position in the healthcare field
- Three professional references
- 1,000-word career goal statement
- Current resume
- Official transcripts of all college and graduate work
- Copies of licensure or credentials
- Current position information and description
Sample Concentration Clusters:
- Leadership
- Applied Research
- Health Policy
- Strategic Management
Degree Outcomes: This degree program provides excellent, advanced instruction that prepares health care professionals for careers such as:
- Health System President,
- Hospital Vice President,
- Chief Financial Officer,
- Chief Nursing Officer,
- Chief Operating Officer,
- Consultant,
- University President,
- College Professor,
- Associate Dean for Students.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA’S ONLINE DHA EXECUTIVE PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE
Program Standouts: This doctoral degree in health sciences is designed for professional healthcare practitioners and educators looking to expand and develop their professional experience and skills in the areas of academics and administration. The program requires 60 credit hours and culminates in a dissertation.
Courses are delivered online; two on-site residencies are necessary during the program. “If you would like to pursue a career in higher education or enrich the one you have, our online Doctor of Education (EdD) program can help you achieve your goals and prepare you for success in this dynamic field.”
Campus Location: San Marcos, CA
Accreditation: The University of St. Augustine is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Official transcripts from all previous institutions of higher learning
- Two recommendations from professional colleagues
- Writing assessment
- Current resume/CV
- Copy of professional license (if applicable)
Program Options:
- Introduction to Interprofessional Scholarly Studies
- Current Issues in Health Sciences Education
- Information Literacy for Evidence-Based Practice
- Foundations of Healthcare Administration
Degree Outcomes: This degree prepares graduates “for academic, administrative, or leadership positions in a variety of healthcare education and professional training and development settings.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE’S ONLINE DOCTOR OF EDUCATION (ED.D) DEGREE PROGRAM
ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts: Antioch University’s four-year Ph.D. in Leadership and Change is designed for curious professionals with a strong motivation to lead healthcare toward positive change. This program will allow current mid-and upper-level practitioners to expand and deepen their existing knowledge and skills.
Courses are delivered online with three residencies per year throughout the program. Capping the learning experience, students write an original dissertation that demonstrates the fruits of their studies in a manner that can be applied to their own interests and professions.
Campus Location: Yellow Springs, OH
Accreditation: Antioch University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed online application
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution
- Admissions essay
- Three recommendations
- Transcripts
- Resume
- Research-oriented writing sample
Sample Course Options:
- Ethical Issues in Management
- Leadership and Change
- Community Collaborations and Partnerships
- Personal and Professional Accountability
Degree Outcomes: Graduates from this degree program will be prepared to contribute as healthcare leaders in research and practice of “leading positive change in workplaces, schools, organizations, and communities.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE PH.D. IN LEADERSHIP AND CHANGE
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Program Standouts: The online Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) offered by the University of South Florida is shaped by an emphasis on advanced public health education and training designed to prepare healthcare professionals to take on leadership roles in the practice of healthcare administration.
Coursework is taken online with three on-campus visits. The program format is structured to allow working professionals to maintain their employment while pursuing a doctorate. Completion of this degree program requires, in addition to coursework, a doctoral project showing literary and investigative skills.
Campus Location: Tampa, FL
Accreditation: The University of South Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Applicants must possess an MPH, MHA, MSPH, or equivalent degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0
- Submit all transcripts
- GRE (or GMAT, MCAT, DAT, or PCAT, but not LSAT) within the last five years
- Resume or CV
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Minimum of 2 years of advanced work in public health
Degree Concentration Options:
- Advanced Practice Leadership in Public Health
- Public Health and Clinical Laboratory Science and Practice
Degree Outcomes: Graduates from this doctoral program will have connected with other professionals and broadened their grasp of public health management, practice, and research.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA’S ONLINE DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE PROGRAMS
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between a Ph.D. in Health Administration and a Doctor of Healthcare Administration Program (DHA)?
The Ph.D. in Health Administration track is a professional degree wherein students generate original research on the areas of health care service provision, operations, and delivery systems. Meanwhile, a Doctor of Health Administration program is a research application-focused program.
This means that DHA students are taught the principles, rules, strategies, and systems that capacitate future professionals to monitor and manage healthcare facilities. As doctorate holders, they are qualified to take on executive roles and make critical decisions.
What will make me a great Healthcare Administrator?
Besides quality education, consider these qualities to succeed as a Healthcare Administrator:
- Excellent communication and organizational skills: Having the ability to effectively and efficiently communicate with staff, patients, and other community members is essential. You must be organized and able to juggle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
- Leadership ability: As a healthcare administrator, you must be able to lead and motivate your team to create a successful and efficient healthcare system.
- Knowledge of healthcare regulations and resources: You must be up-to-date on all relevant laws, regulations, and resources to provide top-quality care to patients.
- Passion for helping others: Healthcare administrators must have a strong desire to improve the lives of those in their community and be willing to go the extra mile in order to do so.
- Analytical and problem-solving skills: Being able to understand complex data and identify areas for improvement is critical. You must be able to analyze information and develop effective solutions.
Administration degree?
An online doctorate in Healthcare Administration graduate becomes qualified for top-level careers in academe, the government, and hospitals or healthcare facilities. The job primarily involves leading a health professional team and steering the entire operations toward an outstanding provision of health care service.
The American Bureau of Labor Statistics sees an upsurge of 28% in the demand for healthcare administrators and managers within the years 2022 and 2032.
What are the career paths for holders of a Doctorate in Healthcare?
Hospital CEO or CFO
In a hospital or healthcare facility, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer is in charge of developing strategies to ensure the high-quality, overall performance of the facility and its workforce.
As a financial management head, the CFO takes charge of all financial matters and ensures the financial health of the healthcare organization. Both the CEO and the CFO work closely together. A DHA degree holder is highly qualified for these positions.
Nursing Home, Hospital, or Government Health Care Facility Administrator
With extensive knowledge and training, a DHA graduate is fit for head administration work in a hospital, nursing home, or government-run healthcare institution. They manage the facility as an organization and oversee staff operations in adherence to government rules and guidelines in delivering health care services.
Professor
The teaching profession is a common career track for DHA graduates. They are sought-after in trade schools, colleges, and universities that deliver Health Administration programs at the undergraduate or graduate levels. Also, their services are often sought for consultant work in hospitals and similar facilities. Post-secondary health specialty instructors in the United States earn a mean annual wage of $127,640.
The Bottom Line
Healthcare administration programs are perfect for those who enjoy healthcare but aren’t into the hands-on approach. Through an administrative role, you can help others as you take care of their needs.
Healthcare administration professionals are prepared to work in human resources, educational leadership, pharmacy, and health sciences, as health service managers, in quantitative and qualitative data, health systems administration, data analysis, and much more.
Check this out: The Best Doctor of Health Administration (D.H.A.): Salary and Information
