If making a difference in healthcare facilities, employees, and patient outcomes lights a fire under you, then you might consider earning a PhD in Healthcare Management.
Healthcare management PhD programs prepare graduates not only for administration and leadership roles in the healthcare field but also for academic and research roles. As the healthcare field grows, managers and leaders with high-level managerial experience will be needed to effectively guide facilities and oversee systems.
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Read on to discover the various requirements, coursework, and potential career outcomes of online PhD in Healthcare Management programs.
Online PhD in Healthcare Management Programs
Online PhD programs in healthcare management help prepare you to lead teams and facilities in a fast-growing industry. Because of this, this degree path focuses on developing your business and management proficiency, medical knowledge, financial acumen, communications skills, and more.
In this online healthcare management degree program, professionals can expect to be exposed to:
- Healthcare management principles. You can build a strong foundation of advanced leadership strategies in healthcare settings and learn how to address current challenges in the field.
- Financial management principles as related to healthcare. You can learn effective strategies for funding opportunities as well as study economic and regulatory impacts on healthcare and healthcare facilities.
- Healthcare reform and policy development. This area of study assists healthcare managers and leaders with making effective financial and system structure decisions.
- Communication and organizational strategies. These skill sets enable healthcare managers to effect positive change within organizations.
- Research methods and opportunities. Students and graduates have the opportunity to make original research contributions to the field.
Many graduates who earn a doctorate in healthcare management go on to find administrative positions at hospitals, outpatient care centers, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. In addition, those who earn a PhD are prone to pursue roles in research and academia. Some may work as postsecondary teachers, while others may work in research facilities.
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Graduates can also choose to enter the public sector, helping develop and fund public healthcare programs. Overall, this doctorate degree path may offer ample opportunities in leadership positions across the healthcare sector.
Healthcare Management Careers and Salaries
In a Doctor of Healthcare Management program, graduates are often prepared to enter a variety of administrative, educational, and research-focused positions within the healthcare industry.
Many graduates choose to pursue managerial positions in healthcare facilities, such as becoming healthcare administrators in hospitals, primary care clinics, nursing homes, and more. This degree path could also offer academic opportunities. Some graduates go on to become postsecondary teachers. They can also enter the research field to contribute to advancements in healthcare management.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the median salaries for some potential positions related to healthcare management.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Chief Executives — Healthcare and Social Assistance | $154,650 |
| Financial Managers | $131,710 |
| Human Resources Managers | $126,230 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $101,340 |
| Administrative Services Managers | $100,170 |
| General and Operations Managers | $97,970 |
| Facilities Managers | $97,930 |
| Project Management Specialists | $94,500 |
| Postsecondary Teachers | $79,640 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $74,000 |
As for growth, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 28% job growth for medical and health services managers over the next ten years. This is considered much faster than average for all occupations.
There are many types of roles within the category of medical and health services management. For instance, some professionals work as health information managers, ensuring legal and ethical standards are upheld regarding patient information. Others work as clinical managers or healthcare facility administrators.
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Other administrative positions within the healthcare field could include healthcare consultants, financial managers, directors of operations, project managers, and more.
Healthcare Management PhD Curriculum & Courses
PhD programs in healthcare management include coursework that focuses on leadership and management aptitude, medical knowledge, financial aptitude, and communication. While specific courses vary, you may come across ones similar to the following:
- Legal and Ethical Healthcare: This course covers legal issues in the healthcare industry, such as federal regulations and lawsuits, as well as ethical considerations.
- Healthcare Management: This course provides foundational knowledge on healthcare management, along with its current challenges and theories.
- Finance in Healthcare: This course overviews financial processes as they relate to healthcare, including the tools needed to optimize costs and financial efficiency for healthcare facilities.
- Informatics and Data: This course prepares managers and leaders to work with healthcare data as well as discover current and future challenges in healthcare informatics.
- Research Methods: This course overviews the research tools and skills healthcare leaders will need to employ in the field.
- Population Health: This course covers current challenges facing public and population health as a whole and what this means for leaders entering the field.
- Resource Management for Administrators: This course covers strategic resource management practices.
- Marketing and Communications: This course focuses on marketing strategies and tools for healthcare management professionals, including marketing methods and communication principles.
- US Healthcare System: This course covers the history and current practices within the US healthcare system, along with hospital systems and disease management.
- Global Health: This course covers global healthcare principles and disease prevention strategies from an economic and globalization perspective.
In addition to coursework, this degree path typically requires a residency in the field and a dissertation or capstone project.
How to Choose an Online PhD in Healthcare Management Program
Choosing the right Doctor of Healthcare Management program for you depends on your goals and interests. Here are a few factors to consider:
- Location. Many online PhD programs in healthcare management include in-person requirements, such as for residencies or capstone project completion. You can check your prospective program’s in-person requirements to see if location will be a factor.
- Program format. Some programs allow asynchronous learning, which involves no scheduled times for courses. Synchronous learning courses, on the other hand, involve scheduled class times and interactions with professors and other students.
- Support. You might consider whether your school offers support services, such as internships, mentorships, counseling, and networking opportunities.
- Accreditation. Attending a school with regional accreditation can be important for receiving financial aid and qualifying for future employment opportunities. You can also consider whether your program has programmatic accreditation in the healthcare management field, which could be a highlight on your resume.
Finding the program that is best for you involves both personal preference and professional considerations.
Admissions Requirements
While admissions requirements can differ depending on your school, here are some typical criteria:
- Official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate education
- Statement of intent describing your aspirations
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume or CV that shows work experience
- Program application and application fee
Also, while some schools still require them, a growing number of institutions no longer request GRE or GMAT scores for graduate admissions. You can contact your potential school to see their specific admission requirements for your program.
Doctorate Programs in Healthcare Management Accreditation
Determining whether your potential university is accredited is an essential step to take before applying. In essence, accreditation is quality assurance that your university meets certain professional and educational standards.
Regional accreditation is considered the most prestigious and widely-recognized accreditation. This accreditation status is important since it can affect not only your employability in the future but also your ability to receive financial aid for your studies.
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Only select organizations can provide regional accreditation to schools. To find a list of credible accreditors and a database of regionally accredited schools, you can visit the website of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Many students require financial assistance to complete a PhD in Healthcare Management. Luckily, there are many types of aid available to qualifying students, including federal aid, state aid, scholarships, grants, and more.
An abundance of scholarships and grants exist that are based on need, academic merit, area of study, and more. You can often find these opportunities through your school or through local or national organizations. Schools may also have special financial aid opportunities for doctoral students. If you do need the help of student loans, they may be available through both federal and state governments.
To apply and determine your eligibility for federal aid, you can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some employers also offer financial aid opportunities to help their workers further their education.
Healthcare Management Professional Organizations
Becoming a member of a professional organization for healthcare leaders may offer a number of benefits and opportunities, especially if you’re earring your degree online. Professional organizations could provide you with the opportunity to connect with other healthcare managements professionals and experts.
Here are some common healthcare management organizations:
- American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM)
- Association for Healthcare Administrative Professionals (AHCAP)
- Health Care Administrators Association (HCAA)
Some professional organizations also provide members with exclusive career resources and members-only services.
What Can You Do with a Doctorate in Healthcare Management?
Earning a doctorate degree in healthcare management can help you develop high-level research and management skills that are applicable to administrative and management roles in healthcare.
Many graduates pursue healthcare administration roles in various types of facilities, such as hospitals or clinics. Some go on to become college or university professors, healthcare consultants, medical or health services managers, or even project managers. Others pursue positions related to research or public policy.
Because of the diverse skills accumulated in this degree path, graduates may also have leadership opportunities in other sectors of healthcare, including pharmaceutical operations and long-term care clinics.
How Long Does It Take to Get a PhD in Health Care Management Online?
Completing a doctoral degree in healthcare management generally takes between 3 to 5 years to complete with full-time study, depending on the number of credit hours required.
If a doctorate program does not include a dissertation component, you may be able to complete it closer to 3 years with full-time enrollment. Most PhD programs do require a dissertation, which could extend your time to completion. Other factors, such as enrolling part-time, can also impact how long the program takes to complete.
Is a PhD in Healthcare Management Degree Worth It?
Yes, a PhD in Healthcare Management degree is worth it for many professionals. This degree path can be rewarding to many, helping professionals grow their leadership skills and help improve patient care, employee care, and health outcomes.
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A PhD can also help you qualify for positions in research and academia. Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 28% over the next ten years (Bureau of Labor Statistics). This is considered much faster than average for all occupations. As the healthcare field continues to grow, so will the need for effective managers and administrators.
Universities Offering Online Doctorate in Healthcare Management Degree Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
A.T. Still University offers a Doctor of Health Administration. The program is offered entirely online. Courses are taken in blocks, two during the fall and two during the spring. To graduate, students must complete 62 credit hours, 42 hours in the core curriculum and 20 hours devoted to their dissertations. Dissertations may be theoretical or applied.
A.T. Still University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Arizona State University offers a Doctoral of Behavioral Health Management. Courses for the degree are offered online, but a 240 hour internship is required. To graduate, students must complete 84 credit hours, including a capstone project. Each course is 7.5 weeks long and has synchronous and asynchronous components. The curriculum consists of courses such as Behavioral Health Entrepreneurship.
Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Central Michigan University offers a Doctor of Health Administration. Accepted students must select either a 3 or 5 year program and will move through it with a cohort. To graduate, students must complete 63 credit hours. The program is mostly online, but six intensives that are each 2.5 days long are required.
CMU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Colorado Technical University offers a Doctorate in Management with a concentration in Healthcare Management and Leadership. Courses are offered online, but students are required to attend residential symposiums. There are several state dates offered throughout the year, and the program can potentially be completed in just 3 years. To graduate, students must complete 100 credits, including a thesis.
Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Drexel University offers a Doctor of Health Science program that is designed for students looking to advance in their healthcare careers. Most of the program is available online, but there are some on-campus components. Courses are organized into 10 week quarters with two quarters offered in the fall and spring semesters. The curriculum consists of courses such as Population Health: An Interprofessional Approach.
Drexel University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Franklin University offers a Doctor of Healthcare Administration program that can be completed entirely online. To graduate, students must complete 58 credit hours, including a thesis. Students can potentially earn their degrees in just 3 years. The program allows students to choose electives in focus areas such as accounting, education, and human resources.
Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Georgia Southern University offers a Doctor of Public Health that can be earned entirely online. Students may attend the program part-time or full-time. The program can potentially be finished in 3 to 4 years. Students may choose from concentrations like Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Public Health Management.
Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Indiana Wesleyan University offers a Doctor of Business Administration with a Healthcare Administration specialization. The program is online except for a yearly weekend residency. There are multiple start dates offered throughout the year. Students must complete 18 credit hours but aren’t required to complete a dissertation. The program can potentially be finished in just 3 years.
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Kent State University offers a PhD in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Management. The program is offered fully online. To graduate, students must complete 91 credit hours, including 36 hours in their concentration and a dissertation.
Kent State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
College Choice ranked Liberty University among the best schools for online doctorate programs in business administration. The school offers a Doctorate in Business Administration with a Healthcare Administration concentration that can be completed entirely online. To graduate, students must complete 60 credit hours, which can potentially be done in just 3 years. Each course in the program is 8 weeks long.
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers a Doctor of Health Sciences with a specialization in Health Systems Administration that can be earned entirely online. Students can take classes part-time and potentially finish in just 9 semesters. Start dates are offered in the fall, spring, and summer.
MCPHS is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
Nova Southeastern University offers a Doctor of Health Science. Students can choose from three concentrations: Education in Health Care, Global Health, or Telehealth. The program is mostly online, but students must attend two, weeklong summer seminars. There are start dates offered in January, April, July, and September. Students must complete 55 credit hours to graduate.
Nova Southeastern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Pacific University Oregon offers a Doctor of Healthcare Science. The program is offered completely online. Most courses are asynchronous, but there are a few synchronous components. Students must complete 36 credit hours and a doctoral research project to graduate. They typically complete 9 credits each semester over 4 semesters.
Pacific University Oregon is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Samford University offers a Doctor of Public Health. Students can choose between two concentrations: Health Management and Policy or Population Health Analytics and Decision Making. The program is offered entirely online. Students can attend part-time or full-time and must complete 45 to 46 credit hours to graduate. Classes begin in the fall, spring, and summer.
Samford University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Texas Woman’s University offers a PhD in Health Studies. Students must complete 96 credit hours to graduate, and up to 39 of those hours may be transferred from a qualifying master’s program. Students may attend part-time or full-time. Courses are offered in online and hybrid formats. Students are required to attend 2 to 4 intensives throughout the program as well.
Texas Woman’s University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Trident University International offers a PhD in Health Sciences with a concentration in Health Policy and Administration. Students may choose from 3, 4, or 5 year plans. The program is entirely online. Students must complete 56 credit hours and a dissertation to graduate. Dedicated staff members are available to help students through the dissertation process.
Trident University International is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Alabama—Birmingham offers an Executive Doctor of Science in Healthcare Leadership. Most of the courses are online, but students are required to attend three intensives on campus each year. Students can potentially complete the program in just 3 years. To graduate, students must complete a dissertation.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill offers a PhD in Health Policy and Management. Coursework is completed online, but students are required to complete a 5 day residency in the fall, spring, and summer semesters of the first 2 years. Students must enter the program in the fall. To graduate, they must complete 45 to 51 credit hours.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Walden University offers a PhD in Health Education and Promotion with a concentration in Management and Leadership. The program is offered mostly online, but candidates are required to attend four residencies that are each 4 days long. Depending on the master’s degree they have, students in the program may follow one of three tracks.
Walden is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
William Carey University offers a PhD in Health Administration and Education. The program is mostly online, but students are required to attend weekend residencies four times per year. Students may take classes part-time or full-time and can potentially finish in 2 to 3 years.
William Carey University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Getting Your PhD in Healthcare Management Online
Earning a PhD in Healthcare Management online is a strategic way for working professionals to have more flexibility while completing their coursework. The online degree path is just as rigorous and comprehensive as on-campus programs, and it can also provide the same caliber of opportunities for graduates.
If you’re wanting to advance your career in healthcare, a doctoral degree in healthcare management could help you grow your skills and professional qualifications in this growing field. Plus, a PhD in Healthcare Management can also help graduates qualify for positions in research and academia.
You could start exploring accredited schools today to find the healthcare management doctoral program that best aligns with your personal interests and professional goals.
