How to Become a Healthcare Manager in Massachusetts

Online Associates (AS)

Associate degrees in healthcare administration generally consist of 60 credit hours of coursework that take full-time students approximately two years to complete. Undergraduate programs like these are typically comprised of both general liberal arts and major-specific classes. This means that, in addition to communication, mathematics, and science subjects, students can usually expect to receive instruction in healthcare technology, medical terminology, marketing, and medical office administration. Those enrolled also often develop various fundamental skills necessary to work in medical offices including the utilization of popular technologies, data systems, and medical coding methods.

This type of degree can help prepare individuals for employment as medical secretaries, medical assistants, and medical records technicians. They can also lead to other entry-level administrative jobs in healthcare. Another benefit of earning associate degrees is that they generally cost less than traditional four-year programs. Not only do students pay lower tuition and fees, but they are also likely to enter the workforce sooner. These are great advantages, but prospective students should realize employment opportunities may be limited after graduation. As a result, many graduates choose to continue their education by enrolling in bachelor’s degree programs.

Notably, those who possess associate degrees typically only require two years of additional classes before achieving more advanced academic standing. It may be possible to transfer the 60 credit hours earned previously to other institutions. This is often the difference between entering as a freshman or a junior.

Online Bachelors (BS)

Bachelor’s degrees in healthcare management generally consist of 120 credit hours of coursework that take full-time students approximately four years to complete. Undergraduate programs like these are typically comprised of both general liberal arts and major-specific classes. This means that, in addition to communication, mathematics, and science subjects, students can usually expect to receive instruction in healthcare law, management information systems, patient safety, and budgeting in healthcare. It’s also common for those enrolled to study principles in marketing, business law, and ethics.

Many colleges and universities also expect healthcare administration students to complete residencies or internships. This typically entails being placed in actual healthcare facilities and completing various tasks in order to gain real-world, hands-on experience in the field. These experiences supplement and support classroom learning, as well as helping participants to hone their knowledge and skills.

This type of degree can lead to jobs as medical office administrators, healthcare human resources managers, health information officers, and community service managers. In most cases, graduates can expect to work in positions that deal with the business side of medical facilities and organizations.

While those who possess bachelor’s degrees typically have the minimum education required for many occupations in the field, pursuing further study can lead to even greater professional opportunities. Those interested in graduate school should be prepared to provide grade point average (GPA) records and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) score results to their chosen institutions.

Online Masters (MS)

Master’s degrees in healthcare management generally range from 30 to 45 credit hours of coursework that take full-time students approximately two to three years to complete. Many students earning a master's degree already work in the health sector with an undergraduate degree in health informatics or health administration or even business administration, sometimes as a healthcare administrator. Notably, undergraduate credit hours may not be transferred or applied towards learning at this level. Additionally, general liberal arts classes are no longer incorporated into the curriculums. It’s important to realize, however, that some programs may require candidates to possess certain major-specific courses as prerequisites. Students who have not already completed these undergraduate requirements may be given the opportunity to do so while enrolled. Some institutions will expect these to be completed before being admitted.

In most cases, curriculums focus exclusively on subject matter pertinent to the field. As a result, it’s common for students in these programs to receive instruction in management, business, accounting, and healthcare. Other areas of study can include medical terminology, hospital organization, health information systems, health services management, human resources administration, strategic planning, and health economics.

As with the bachelor’s degree, many colleges and universities expect healthcare administration students to complete residencies or internships. These supervised administrative experiences help them gain hands-on experience in the field. Typical placements include hospitals and/or various healthcare consulting settings. Notably, these opportunities can last much longer than those at the undergraduate level. Some even span an entire academic year.

This type of degree typically leads to jobs as medical records supervisors, hospital administrators, health information management managers, and healthcare consultants. Graduates often enjoy more employment opportunities and receive preference during the hiring process. They are also more likely to qualify for positions offering higher pay.