Master of Science in Healthcare Administration Online
Offered in partnership with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Medicine
Healthcare is an expanding and dynamic economic sector. Job forecasting reports consistently point to healthcare as a dominant force in the economy, in terms of both projected growth and percentage share of all jobs. With this growth comes the need for effective administrators and managers who understand the complex patchwork of the U.S. healthcare system. Healthcare administrators must manage resources and teams in a range of environments to deliver high quality patient care. Healthcare managers are an essential part of the team to help achieve positive patient outcomes.
Northwestern’s Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree prepares students for a variety of leadership roles in the healthcare industry with a focus on the business side of healthcare. Students will engage in coursework which analyzes effective healthcare models and examines how to deliver excellent, innovative, and efficient care while balancing costs. Courses cover strategic planning, leadership, financial management, and human resource responsibilities. Drawing on the strengths of partnerships with faculty and staff at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, along with other national experts in the field, the curriculum offers students the opportunity to build their knowledge in healthcare administration and apply their learning into practical experiences throughout the program. As a part-time and entirely online degree, students from around the world can access a program of this caliber while balancing their personal and professional commitments. Start your application today!
Many healthcare leaders have been exposed to clinical experiences and have gained on-the-job leadership training, but this program will connect those experiences with a formal skill set that will afford individuals the ability to stay competitive and continue to advance their careers.”
Shira Simon MD, MBA
Faculty Director, MS in Healthcare Administration program Director of Neuro-Ophthalmology in the Department of Ophthalmology, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern’s MHA program is ideal for healthcare professionals seeking new opportunities or roles with expanded responsibilities that require a master’s degree. Its format and curriculum are also for designed for clinicians who want to advance in leadership roles. Overall, the program and degree offer a core range of healthcare operational learnings that are required of all successful healthcare leaders.”
Rebecca L. Caires, MBA
Faculty Director, MS in Healthcare Administration program Vice President of Operations, Northwestern Medicine
About the Master of Science in Healthcare Administration
With successful completion of the MHA program, students should be able to:
Lead ethical, cost-effective transformations in healthcare that make a measurable impact on patient care, experience, and outcomes
Identify and evaluate the key levers of change in healthcare from a medical and administrative leadership perspective
Develop and execute strategic plans that move an organization, department, or unit toward clear, value-driven goals
Recruit and retain, manage, mobilize, and motivate effective cross-functional team members
Propose and execute service line elements within the matrixed environment of larger healthcare systems
Understand and analyze financial statements and manage budgets with a deep understanding of revenue cycles and revenue sources in the healthcare setting
Curriculum
Students are required to complete 12 courses to earn the degree, including a capstone course. The capstone project course is the culmination of the MHA program and demonstrates a student's mastery of the curriculum and a firm understanding of the fundamental principles that guide the diverse field of healthcare administration. The curriculum provides students with opportunities to apply the fundamentals of strategic planning and marketing, human resources, finance, analytics, and operations. In addition, courses will have an emphasis on relevant case studies and the application of concepts and methods critical to the healthcare industry.
Instructors in the Master's in Healthcare Administration program at Northwestern are leaders in the field. They bring practical real-world experiences to the online classroom and engage with students on an interpersonal level. Get to know the instructors on our Healthcare Administration Program Faculty page.
Admission Information
A variety of factors are considered when your application is reviewed. Background and experience vary from student to student. For a complete list of requirements, see the Admission page for SPS graduate programs.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for the Master's in Healthcare Administration program at Northwestern is comparable to similar US programs. Financial aid opportunities exist for students at Northwestern. Complete details can be found on the Healthcare Administration Tuition and Financial Aid page.
Registration Information
Already accepted into the Master's in Healthcare Administration program? Get ahead and register for your classes as soon as possible to ensure maximum efficiency in your trajectory.
Jobs relevant to healthcare administration are projected to grow regionally (Chicago in particular), in the Midwest, and nationally in the next five years. The strongest growth is expected to be within medical and health services management.
