Healthcare administration graduate programs focus on areas of leadership and organizational management. Learn about online and campus courses, Ph.D. degree requirements and the employment outlook for graduates.
What Courses Will I Take in a Healthcare Administration Ph.D. Program?
Healthcare administration Ph.D. and Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) programs help prepare you for leadership roles in healthcare administration, with similar curricula and requirements. You learn to evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare policies, while other courses develop management skills to help shape those policies. Ph.D. programs in healthcare administration combine independent research and a dissertation with didactic coursework covering topics such as:
- Strategic planning
- Administration and leadership
- Healthcare issues
- Healthcare law and ethics
- Financial management
- Healthcare economics
- Reasoning and analysis
- Organizational theory
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td> Healthcare issues, administration and leadership, strategic planning, organizational theory</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Online Availability</b></td><td> Fully and partially online programs are available</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Possible Careers</b></td><td> Hospital administrator, chief of nursing, CFO or CEO of hospitals or healthcare facility, university professor</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td> $104,280 (<i>for all medical and health services managers</i>)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Career Outlook (2019-2019)</b></td><td> 32% growth (<i>for all medical and health service managers</i>)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAboutOnlineOptions">What About Online Options?</h3><p>Healthcare administration Ph.D. programs are available online as structured course-based programs and as hybrid programs. Coursework for online programs is the same as on-campus programs but is typically delivered via the Internet, and communication with instructors is through online discussion boards and e-mail. Most online healthcare administration Ph.D. programs require you to meet on campus with faculty regarding guided research requirements. Hybrid programs blend online courses, independent study, on-campus lectures and on-campus meetings with faculty advisers.
</p><h3 id="section---CanIWorkAndEarnMyDoctorateInAnOnCampusProgram">Can I Work and Earn My Doctorate in an On-Campus Program?</h3><p>Both Ph.D. and DHA programs are designed for working healthcare professionals transitioning to administrative leadership roles. Most on-campus programs are offered as extended weekend classes to accommodate work schedules.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatIsTheCareerOutlook">What is the Career Outlook?</h3><p>Opportunities in <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Healthcare_Management_Online_Masters_Degree.html">healthcare management</a> are expected to increase by 32% from 2019-2029 according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics. Graduates of a Ph.D. program in healthcare administration may work in the healthcare industry in leadership positions such as the following:
</p><ul><li>Chief financial officer
</li><li>Healthcare provider vice president
</li><li>Chief of nursing
</li><li>Healthcare system president or CEO
</li><li>Hospital president
</li></ul><p>Although healthcare administration doctoral programs primarily prepare you for healthcare industry leadership, you might also work at a university or college as a president, dean or professor.</p>
