In addition to serving as the headquartered for all three branches of our federal government, our nation’s capital city is also home to a vast array of accredited Master’s in Health Administration degrees in District of Columbia for training the next generation of healthcare leaders and innovators. Situated on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia on the beautiful East Coast, the District of Columbia is the nation’s seventh largest metropolitan area with a bustling community of over 5.8 million residents, including Congressional members, Supreme Court justices, and the President. Therefore, it is no surprise that Washington, DC is a booming center for finding health leadership jobs at government agencies, international organizations, hospitals, universities, research firms, and other health-related associations. For the training needed to advance your career into leadership roles, read on to learn about the various health administration degrees in the District of Columbia.
George Washington University
Milken Institute School of Public Health
Spread across a beautiful 43-acre urban campus across the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of downtown Washington, DC within miles from the National Mall, George Washington University is a premier comprehensive four-year private research institution with over 25,500 students studying in the midst of our nation’s capital. Consistently ranked by the Princeton Review as one of the “Most Politically Active” schools in the United States, GWU is named the 54th best national university by the U.S. News and World Report. Also recognized as a long-time leader in the field for its significant research initiatives focused on addressing the most critical health challenges, the Milken Institute School of Public Health is also acclaimed for having America’s 16th best graduate public health degrees.
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
Since its inception in 1959, the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program has developed the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for graduates to fulfill the growing demand for skilled executives to manage health-related organizations in the nation’s most fast-paced dynamic industry. Within the 50-credit curriculum, the program integrates business administration, medical informatics, healthcare systems, management theories, health ethics, healthcare law, health policy, professional values, decision making, and much more. Built with an emphasis on experiential learning, the MHA degree also offers community service projects, professional mentoring opportunities, seminars, conferences, networking events, internships, and residencies to apply their classroom knowledge in healthcare organizations across the country’s capital region. Graduates of this program have achieved a 95% employment rate in upper-level health management positions within just three months from completion.
Master of Science (M.S.) in Health Policy
Focused on virtually all aspects of U.S. health policy studies from a broad cross-cutting context within the nation’s health policy-making epicenter, the Master of Science (M.S.) in Health Policy program is designed to prepare graduate students for successfully entering academic and/or research careers in health policy. While it can be completed as a terminal degree for health professionals wishing to gain research skills, it is typically utilized as preparation for doctoral studies or for research roles in healthcare delivery systems, government agencies, and university campuses. Due to the program’s emphasis on individual study design, students are given the valuable opportunity to customize their training in a particular area of health policy, such as long-term care, maternal and child health, or health services policy. For completion, all students must complete at least 48 credits with a mandatory Master’s thesis project.
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Through a seamless blend of live online content, face-to-face classroom seminars, and practical real-world experience in healthcare organizations, the Master of Public Health (MPH) program strives to prepare graduate students with the knowledge and skills necessary for entering the dynamic public health field to make a positive difference in global communities. With the goal of producing professionals who can effectively assess the functions, capacities, governance, and management of organizations that comprise health systems, the program places a significant emphasis on local, national, and global health practices from the U.S. to abroad. In the 45-credit curriculum with practicum and a capstone experience, students are given the freedom to tailor their studies with a concentration in:
Biostatistics: MPH students who choose to concentrate in Biostatistics will be prepared to promote public health by developing the methodological research and quantitative skills for successfully applying statistics to the biological, biomedical, and health service fields. This concentration is strongly focused on meeting professional competencies in the statistical analysis and interpretation of health research data required for biostatisticians in public health.
Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC): In the MPH program, the Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) concentration has been devised to train healthcare professionals and future public health practitioners to implement evidence-based interventions for improving community health outcomes. With a focus on the skills needed to conceptualize, incorporate, assess, and disseminate public health interventions in clinical medicine, the concentration produces healthcare innovators for COPC practice with vulnerable communities.
Environmental Health Science and Policy: The goal of the Environmental Health Science and Policy concentration in the MPH program is to educate health professionals for applying critical analytical abilities to developing, implementing, and evaluating policies aimed at preventing environmental or occupational hazards (EOH). Graduates will be able to control exposure to human health hazards, conduct epidemiological research related to environmental risks, analyze policy implications, and manage environmental or occupational risks.
Epidemiology: For future epidemiologists, the Epidemiology concentration is offered within the MPH program to foster the development of essential quantitative skills for contributing to epidemiological research on public health in academic, governmental, private sector, or healthcare settings. This concentration is focused on preparing students to design research, conduct studies adhered to high scientific standards, follow ethical guidelines, manage health date, and make leadership decision in public health.
Global Health Communication: Since human behavior is typically at the core of our globe’s most pressing public health concerns, the Global Health Communication concentration trains MPH students to develop and evaluate behavior change communication programs in tackling the world’s health issues. Graduates are well-equipped to address global health issues by communicating evidence to clinicians, policymakers, technical experts, and lay audiences.
Global Health Policy: MPH students have the option to concentrate in Global Health Policy to enhance their professional abilities in developing, implementing, and evaluating essential healthcare policies that improve the well-being of underserved populations abroad. Students are prepared to assess the burden of health problems, evaluate relevant policy issues, and assume leadership roles in policy development to maximize health system performance.
Global Health Program Design, Monitoring and Evaluation: In order to form better policy decisions for investment of scarce resources, the MPH program offers a Global Health Program Design, Monitoring and Evaluation concentration to train global health professionals for implementing health initiatives that contribute to improved well-being on an international scale. Graduates are well-equipped to translate rigorous evidence into strengthening public health program design, implementation, and evaluation as well as generating policy recommendations.
Health Policy: For those seeking to improve health services both domestically in the U.S. and globally abroad, the Health Policy concentration enables MPH students to specialize their in-depth policy analysis abilities for obtaining leadership positions in government, private sector health policy consulting, and non-profit advocacy settings. This concentration comes with valuable opportunities to build strong connections with health policy leaders and public health practitioners due to the unique location in Washington, DC.
Health Promotion: Based on the competencies of the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH), the Health Promotion concentration prepares MPH students to improve public health using interventions at the individual, group, organizational, or community level as certified health education specialists (CHES). Graduates are well-trained in the social and behavioral approaches needed to implement health promotion programs for assisting at-risk populations.
Maternal and Child Health: MPH students who choose the Maternal and Child Health concentration benefit from building an in-depth education that integrates the biological, behavioral, developmental, social, epidemiological, and environmental factors that contribute to the well-being of women, children, or families. Through a multidisciplinary perspective, the concentration trains public health professionals for planning, designing, employing, and evaluating health promotion programs targeted at maternal and child health.
Physical Activity in Public Health: As our increasingly sedentary lifestyle continues to cause significant metabolic and cardiovascular problems across America, the Physical Activity in Public Health concentration aims to train MPH students for promoting exercise into the core of their public health practice. Students are prepared to assist public and private health-related agencies with the promotion of physical activity as prevention of chronic diseases at the community, national, and global levels.
Public Health Communication and Marketing: Strongly based on an ecological perspective of healthcare, the Public Health Communication and Marketing concentration educates MPH students on the strategic tools needed to influence people, policies, places, and environmental conditions for improving overall public health outcomes. With a focus on communication and marketing, the concentration equips graduates with the skills to work collaboratively with other health experts in designing high-impact health promotion programs.
Public Health Management: Within the MPH program, the Public Health Management concentration is strictly available to clinicians, registered nurses, physicians, dietitians, and non-clinical public health professionals who have around ten years of healthcare experience. On the pathway to becoming managers in state or local public health agencies, this concentration provides mid-career clinicians with the managerial skills for controlling, budgeting, decision making, problem solving, and leading in health promotion programs.
Public Health Nutrition: MPH students who choose the Public Health Nutrition concentration will supplement their broad-based public health core with specialized courses from a social-ecological perspective to better understand the role of nutrition in preventing and treating acute or chronic diseases. The concentration aims to train public health scientists as well as practitioners for designing, implementing, and evaluating nutritional interventions to alter the food environment of communities.
Online Executive Master of Health Administration
For graduates with a minimum of three years of professional work experience who are currently employed by a health-related organization, the Online Executive Master of Health Administration program is also available to specifically help working professionals advance careers into healthcare leadership positions. In the 50-credit program, individuals will complete eight 10-week online learning modules focused on the different core skill sets and knowledge base required for maintaining optimal healthcare delivery. Along with the live weekly online class sessions, students will be required to complete four real-world immersion experiences to collaborate with peers in Washington D.C. and at other healthcare settings nationwide. In the final term, students will also complete a capstone applied research project to demonstrate their leadership, communication skills, management strategies, business acumen, and professionalism across the widest spectrum of health organizations.
Health Services Administration Specialist (HSAS)
Intended for professionals who have already earned a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution who wish to update their knowledge in healthcare leadership, the Health Services Administration Specialist (HSAS) degree program is focused on nurturing the values, ethics, skills, and competencies necessary for obtaining roles in healthcare administration. Within the 30-credit curriculum, students will complete coursework related to health services delivery, quality improvement, epidemiology, health services, medical informatics, health finance, health economics, community health, health law, human resources, group leadership, acute care management, team facilitation, and more. Students will also be responsible for completing a field research project related to health services administration with a faculty mentor for successful completion.
Accreditations
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
950 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20052
(202) 994-5179
gwsphadmit@gwu.edu
http://publichealth.gwu.edu/academics/graduate/masters-programs
Georgetown University
School of Nursing and Health Studies
First established in 1789 as the country’s first comprehensive private Catholic and Jesuit research institution focused on educating the whole person, Georgetown University is home to more than 17,800 students on historic 104-acre urban campus on a hilltop overlooking the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC and the beautiful Potomac River. In addition to being ranked as the 21st best national university and 1st top school for veterans in America by the U.S. News and World Report, Georgetown has been recognized in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings as the 173rd best college worldwide. Even more importantly, the School of Nursing and Health Studies is distinguished for hosting the 29th best health care management degrees in the United States.
Bachelor’s in Health Care Management and Policy
Through a well-designed undergraduate education centered on the liberal arts, the Bachelor’s in Health Care Management and Policy program aims to develop a strong foundation for building a career in the administration of health services for protecting and promoting well-being. As a certified member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), the program offers the unique opportunity for undergraduates to enhance understanding on the role of health care services in achieving quality of life to start forming a career in the management, organization, and/or policy of health care delivery systems. In pursuit of the 120-credit degree, students will be given the option to pursue a Health Administration track or a Health Policy Analysis track depending on future career interests. With a professional preceptor, students will also be required to complete an extensive internship in the final year at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital or another health-related organization.
Master of Science in Health Systems Administration (MHSA)
Offered solely as a full-time graduate degree, the Master of Science in Health Systems Administration (MHSA) program is nationally accredited by the CAHME for training the nation’s next generation of health administrators early in their career with the advanced knowledge necessary for leading improvements in the quality of health care delivery. Within its innovative competency-based curriculum, the program supports the university’s commitment to social justice by promoting Jesuit values in shaping the social, economic, technical, and policy forces at play within the context of health organizations. MHSA students benefit from small class sizes, highly accessible faculty, mentoring opportunities with practicing executives, integrative case studies, and residency sites at a wide variety of health settings in the unique richness of Washington DC. In fact, students will be required to spend up to 40 hours per week in a host facility with a professional preceptor in the final term for substantive skill development.
Master of Science in Global Health
Ideal for graduate students who are seeking careers as program managers, health administrators, policy analysts, or public health practitioners, the Master of Science in Global Health degree is designed to build the knowledge, skills, values, ethics, and competencies that are widely accepted as essential for obtaining leadership positions in global health agencies. In an innovative multi-disciplinary curriculum of at least 36 credits, students are given the freedom to choose from five areas of concentration in Disease Prevention and Control, Health Policy and Financing, Health and Development in Africa, Demography and Reproductive Health, or Trade and Health. With a significant research emphasis, the program prides itself on offering an international field experience for students to apply their classroom knowledge in obtaining first-hand experience conducting research with populations around the world.
Accreditations
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
3700 Reservoir Road NW
Washington, DC 20057
(202) 687-8521
cloonanp@georgetown.edu
http://nhs.georgetown.edu/healthsystems
University of the Potomac
Department of Business Management
Strategically headquartered on a main urban campus in Washington, DC within a few blocks from the Tenleytown metro station on the city’s Red Line with a satellite location in Vienna, Virginia and online from anywhere, the University of the Potomac is an independent for-profit higher learning institution devoted to offering academic programs tailored to meet the needs f working adult learners. Featuring an open admissions policy, UOTP is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education to award associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in accounting, international business, business administration, digital forensics, health systems management, governmental contract management, and information technology. In the Department of Business Management, students can choose from high-quality degrees focused on providing a competitive edge in today’s competitive business marketplace.
Health Systems Management Advanced Certificate
For graduates interested in pursuing a rewarding career in healthcare leadership, the Health Systems Management Advanced Certificate program has been built to foster the development of essential skills necessary for managing, transferring, and retrieving clinical data in health-related organizations. In the 18-credit program, students will focus their training on better understanding the general structure of health delivery systems as well as the evolution of today’s healthcare models in a fast-paced industry. Students will be required to complete courses related to health information technology, global health administration, healthcare financial management, quality improvement, strategic healthcare planning, and societal health either 100% online or on-site at the Washington, DC campus. Courses taken for the advanced certificate will also provide graduates with a platform for enrolling in the MBA program.
Accreditations
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact
1401 H Street NW Suite 100
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 274-2303
admissions@potomac.edu
https://potomac.edu/advanced-certificate/health-systems-management/
As our nation’s healthcare industry continues to evolve with new federal health insurance regulations, technological advancements in electronic medical records, and an aging baby boomer population, there is a booming market for qualified health administrators to supervise the delivery of high-quality patient services in various medical settings. Earning a degree in health administration is strongly suggested to delve into the business and legal side of the healthcare industry for addressing unique challenges in this fast-paced field. Since Washington, DC remains at the forefront of training administrators in the epicenter of health policymaking, be sure to include Master’s in Health Administration degrees in District of Columbia when looking to start your career in healthcare leadership.
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