A master's degree is the standard for most medical or health care managers. Master's degree programs can include studies on health services administration, health sciences, public health, public administration, business administration or long-term care administration. The best programs are those accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. Graduate programs generally last 2 years. Some colleges also allow students to get a dual degree in business administration and public health or in public health and law, for example. Graduate programs additionally might include a residency or internship, according to the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Some bachelor's degree holders also can find entry-level work in the health care management field. Bachelor's degree programs with a concentration on health services management are available at a variety of institutions both on campus and online. To get into a bachelor's program, students need their high school diploma or GED. Students should look for schools that are certified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration. Also, students who are interested in eventually obtaining their master's degree in health care management don't necessarily need a bachelor's degree in the field. A four-year degree in other fields such as liberal arts, nursing or business will suffice for graduate school enrollment.
Health care management education courses cover topics such as management principles, health care finance, basics of the health care industry, human resource management and ethical/regulatory issues in health care, according to Education-Portal.com. Other courses include topics such as international health care systems, creating strategic alliances and even managerial challenges in the pharmaceutical and biotech areas, according to the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management in Illinois.
Individuals who obtain a bachelor's degree can move into senior-level positions in smaller companies, or they can head departments and serve in middle-management roles in larger health care facilities. They also can work in health information management and marketing or even work as health education or billing supervisors. Master's degree holders can manage departments or serve as supervisors in large medical practices, mental health facilities and even nursing care corporations. Pharmaceutical companies are other options for health care managers. Employers look not only for individuals who have degrees but also those who can use their training to improve the efficiency of health care systems, particularly as these systems become more complex. Health care managers must know how to use new technologies and handle increasingly complicated laws dealing with health care.
The demand for health care managers remains high, with employment of these individuals expected to climb 16 percent between 2008 and 2018. Median annual wages of health care managers in May 2008 were $80,240, with the highest earners working for general medical and surgical hospitals. Higher health care management degrees usually translate into higher earnings in the health care administration field.