Students researching Master’s in Health Administration degrees in North Carolina will find there are 16 accredited options. Positioned on the South Atlantic coast, the “Old North State” has the nation’s ninth largest population at nearly 10.5 million. Health administrators attracted by North Carolina’s subtropical climate will stay for the booming job prospects. The $424.9 billion economy has an extensive medical industry with Carolinas Medical Center, Duke University Hospital, and WakeMed Health in the state’s five largest organizations. North Carolina currently employs 7,910 medical services managers with an annual mean wage of $106,920. Climb to this lucrative business profession by pursuing one of the following master’s degrees in health administration for North Carolinians.
Appalachian State University
Beaver College of Health Sciences
Established in 1899 by the Dougherty brothers as Watauga Academy, Appalachian State University has evolved dramatically into a public, co-educational master’s institution within the ORAU Consortium that’s educating over 19,000 students from a 1,300-acre rural campus along the Blue Ridge in Boone. Crowned America’s 28th best public value on Kiplinger’s, ASU is the South’s ninth best college and seventh most veteran-friendly school according to the U.S. News. Niche also recognized Appalachian State for the nation’s 140th best student life. The Beaver College of Health Sciences provides collaborative education in six departments with a 15:1 student-faculty ratio.
Master of Health Administration
Appalachian’s Master of Health Administration was established in 2016 to provide hybrid education for working adults in western North Carolina seeking advancement in healthcare. Available full-time or part-time, the 46-credit program includes courses in health economics, financial management, organizational development, disease prevention, human resources, and more. Students can elect the Leadership Focus or Information Systems Focus for specialization. As an Innovations in Rural Health Award winner, ASU strives to produce administrators in underserved medical facilities across Appalachia. Coursework predominantly consists of asynchronous online modules, but one weekend orientation in Boone is required. The AUPHA certified curriculum also culminates with a strategic health administration project.
Accreditations
Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
L.S. Dougherty Room 101
261 Locust Street
Boone, NC 28608
(828) 262-7482
lanesj1@appstate.edu
https://hcm.appstate.edu/academics/master-health-administration
Duke University
Fuqua School of Business
Historically tied to the United Methodist Church, Duke University is a private, nonsectarian RU/VH institution tracing back to 1838 that’s endowed for $7.2 billion to selectively enroll over 14,900 students in Durham within North Carolina’s Piedmont region. Ranked the 15th “College with the Best Academics ” on Niche, Duke is crowned the eighth best national university and 12th most innovative school by the U.S. News. Chief executives surveyed for The New York Times also placed Duke 13th globally for recruitment. The Fuqua School of Business is further applauded for America’s sixth best executive MBA program.
MBA Health Sector Management Certificate
The AACSB-accredited Fuqua School offers a Health Sector Management Certificate that can be woven into any of the Duke MBA options. First, the Daytime MBA is a full-time, 22-month program for early career professionals sharpening leadership capacity in Durham. The Global Executive MBA is a 16-month accelerated option for senior-level leaders with 10+ years of work experience to study online and internationally. The Cross Continent MBA is a cohort-based, 17-month program with six global residencies. Each offering can be supplemented with the six-course certificate to enhance functional skills in the healthcare industry. Students will complete a HSM Bootcamp, study health policy in Washington DC, and intern at Duke University Hospital.
Accreditations
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
100 Fuqua Drive
Campus Box 901290
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 660-7700
david.ridley@duke.edu
https://centers.fuqua.duke.edu/hsm/home/students/academics/
Pfeiffer University
Division of Applied Health Sciences / Division of Business
Opened by Miss Emily Prudden in 1885 as a home school, Pfeiffer University celebrates its over 130 years of private, nonprofit Methodist higher education by serving more than 1,200 Falcons from a 321-acre rural campus in Misenheimer near Richfield. Picked as America’s 202nd most diverse college on Niche, Pfeiffer is the 84th best Southern university according to the U.S. News. The Division of Business was recognized in the Charlotte Business Journal for the state’s fourth largest MBA. The Division of Applied Health Sciences also boasts a nearly 100 percent placement rate in growing medical fields.
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
Conducted online or on-site in Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, Pfeiffer’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) is the largest program sharpening leadership skills for health system improvements in the Carolinas. Working adults engage in a 12-course curriculum for practical experience making ethnical decisions that impact patient well-being. Coursework will delve into organizational communication, health policy, marketing, finance, information management, and comparative international health. Students could even add a 10-day study abroad trip to destinations from Liberia to the United Kingdom. During the last semester, an applied field experience is conducted under senior managers at facilities like Stanly Regional Medical Center and Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center.
MHA/MBA Joint Degree Program
Leading healthcare organizations with strategic confidence is the goal of the MHA/MBA Joint Degree Program at Pfeiffer University. The intensive 54-credit curriculum saves time and money blending the MHA with a Master of Business Administration. It’s intended for clinicians with 5+ years of experience who seek advanced management training. Coursework is conveniently scheduled online, in Charlotte, or in North Carolina’s capital. Topics addressed will range from quantitative decision-making and managerial accounting to health services policy. Funding is also available for the optional 10-day international study experience in Europe. Supervising faculty have terminal degrees plus real-world business expertise. Admitted students achieve an average GMAT score of 525.
MHA/MSL Joint Degree Program
Seeking an alternative to the above Master’s in Health Administration degrees in North Carolina? Well, Pfeiffer University has another accredited option with the MHA/MSL Joint Degree program. Unlike the MBA, the Master of Science in Leadership places greater emphasis on the interpersonal skills requisite for developing an organization’s human capital. Students choosing this 63-credit program will identify strategies for resolving real-life workplace conflicts in healthcare. Prepare for coursework in change management, negotiations, quality improvement, employment law, and workforce diversity. Concentrations could be added in Human Resources Management or International Management. Sessions conveniently meet online or at the Charlotte and Triangle campuses. Each course currently costs $659 per credit.
Accreditations
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
48380 US Route 52
P.O. Box 960
Misenheimer, NC 28109
(704) 945-7312
deborah.wilkinson@pfeiffer.edu
http://www.pfeiffer.edu/academics/programs/health-administration-mha
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Gillings School of Global Public Health
Belonging to the Atlantic Coast Conference, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a historic public, doctoral-granting RU/VH research powerhouse with nearly 30,000 peers studying on the 729-acre urban campus surrounding Polk Place in Orange County. Placed at #16 among America’s best values on Forbes, UNC Chapel Hill is the 30th best national university and fifth top public college according to the U.S. News. Niche applauded Carolina as eighth best big college countrywide. The Gillings School of Global Public Health houses the fifth top graduate healthcare management education too.
Master of Healthcare Administration
The CAHME-accredited Gillings School confers a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) full-time for residential graduate students who exhibit promise for upper-level careers in medical management and consulting. Encompassing 60 credits, the intensive two-year program begins every Fall with approximately 50 students of diverse backgrounds. Admission will require a minimum 3.5 GPA and GRE scores in the 75th percentile. MHA students then develop needed managerial competencies in finance, marketing, human resources, technology, strategic planning, and more. In addition to a business plan development capstone, graduates complete a 12-week internship at UNC Health Care or adjacent facilities.
Executive Master of Healthcare Administration
Managers with at least three years of clinical leadership experience could pursue UNC Chapel Hill’s Executive Master of Healthcare Administration (EMHA). Also CAHIM-accredited, the 49-credit program develops on students’ healthcare knowledge to foster the decision-making and policy-making abilities needed for administrative function. The two- to three-year program is conducted predominantly online with three required four-day residencies in Raleigh. Around 30 to 35 executives are matriculated yearly with an average GPA of 3.2. Graduates form multi-disciplinary teams to eventually develop a business plan for the healthcare market. The Gillings School also offers global leadership practicum in 55 countries.
Master of Public Health
UNC’s Master of Public Health program follows CEPH guidelines to provide a terminal, practice-oriented degree for professionals with a prior clinical background. The 42-credit residential program spans two years full-time to prepare graduates for management jobs in public health. Each learner tailors the curriculum with majors in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Science and Engineering, Health Behavior, Health Policy and Management, Maternal Child Health, or Nutrition. Core knowledge is applied through at least 400 hours of community-based fieldwork. Passing a comprehensive exam and capstone project is required before graduation. There’s also a Global Online MPH track in Public Health Leadership available.
Master of Science in Public Health
Tar Heels seeking another alternative to the Master’s in Health Administration degrees in North Carolina could consider the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH). This 42-credit program is ideal for graduates with strong backgrounds in the sciences who are pursuing advanced careers in research, teaching, or management. Each Fall and Spring, new cohorts are admitted into the two-year, full-time curriculum to potentially prepare for PhD study. Concentrations are available in Epidemiology, Environmental Science and Engineering, Health Policy and Management, or Maternal Child Health. There’s also a Dual MSPH/MBA program offered. The residential degree will include one field practicum and a master’s thesis.
Dual Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of Business Administration
Getting the best of the Gillings School and the Kenan-Flagler Business School is possible with the Dual Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of Business Administration. The MHA/MBA holds AACSB and CAHME approval to deliver comprehensive understanding on the managerial responsibilities of the healthcare sector. Featuring 96 credits, the intensive full-time program spans three years starting each August. Face-to-face or Skype interviews are required with admission faculty before entrance. Having at least two years of post-graduation experience is also suggested. Dual students prepare for the C-Suite with courses from health economics to quality improvement. At least 12 weeks (480 hours) of clinical practicum is mandated.
Dual Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of City and Regional Planning
One of UNC Chapel Hill’s most unique graduate offerings is the Dual Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of City and Regional Planning. The MHA/MCRP program consists of 81 credits for aspiring administrators seeking a sound foundation in planning theory for developing sustainable health facilities in urban areas. Costing around $32,400 annually, the three-year degree follows concepts outlined by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB). Specialization tracks are available in Economic Development, Housing & Community Development, Land Use & Environmental Planning, or Transportation Planning. In addition to the 12-week MHA internship, students must successfully finish the MCRP master’s project.
Dual Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of Science in Information Science
Today’s digital revolution of electronic health records is making UNC’s Dual Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of Science in Information Science popular. The MHA/MSIS is a residential, three-year program starting every Fall to prepare health services managers for developing efficient IT networks. The 87-credit curriculum ensures students have the requisite technical skills to streamline the delivery of patient information in upper-level jobs. Available concentrations include Data Analytics, Digital Libraries, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Retrieval, Information Systems Design, and Records Management. Requiring a laptop computer, the curriculum features a MSIS master’s project and 12-week MHA professional experience.
Accreditations
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Planning Accreditation Board (PAB)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Rosenau Hall CB #7400
135 Dauer Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
(919) 966-2499
jimhsph@email.unc.edu
http://sph.unc.edu/gps/?rasp_st_level_tax%5B%5D=masters
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
College of Health and Human Services
Chartered in 1946 after the G.I. Bill to serve WWII veterans, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public, co-educational research institution endowed for $152 million to enroll over 28,700 students across nine colleges from a 1,000-acre suburban headquarters in “Queen City.” Named a “Top 50 Best Value” with average graduate tuition at $4,128, UNCC is ranked America’s 202nd best university and 110th top public school by the U.S. News. Niche also recognized UNC Charlotte as the 122nd most conservative college nationally. The College of Health and Human Services stands out for the 33rd best healthcare management degree.
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
Accepting applicants every February, the Master of Health Administration (MHA) at UNC Charlotte is a premier, CAHME-accredited program producing confident leaders for addressing challenges in today’s changing medical field. PhD-level faculty from diverse disciplines join together to foster leadership skill development for improved public health. The 51-credit curriculum is typically completed in two academic years full-time with evening classes at the main or Center City campus. Before graduation, a 10-week summer internship and master’s health administration thesis is required. Extra credits could be added for the Graduate Certificate in Community Health for CHES certification. MHA admission mandates a minimum 3.0 GPA and combined GRE score of 90.
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Grounded in the field’s five core principles, the Master of Public Health (MPH) transforms UNCC students into advanced generalist practitioners who lead efforts to help communities attain the highest possible health. Class sizes of 15 to 30 peers progress through a rigorous, CEPH-accredited curriculum for practical public health knowledge. Emphasis is placed on the unique needs of emerging urban environments like Charlotte. The 45-credit curriculum can be completed in two to five years full-time or part-time. MPH majors must satisfy the 160-hour field internship requirement with placements like Levine Cancer Institute and Cabarrus Health Alliance. Around 50 percent of full-time students receive tuition-saving assistantships.
Accreditations
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
CHHS Building 431
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28223
(704) 687-8926
publichealth@uncc.edu
http://publichealth.uncc.edu/degrees-and-programs/phs-graduate-programs
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
School of Health and Human Sciences
Conferring 185+ majors, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a four-year public, liberal arts institution holding Carnegie’s Community Engagement classification to promote the learning of over 19,600 Spartans studying on its 231-acre urban campus in the Piedmont Triad. Noted for America’s 232nd “Best College Food” on Niche, UNCG is named the 220th best national university and 125th top public school by the U.S. News. Washington Monthly also honored UNC Greensboro as the Southeast’s 21st best bang for the buck. The School of Health and Human Sciences is designated the country’s 99th best master’s nursing department.
Master’s Program of Public Health (MPH)
Featuring a built-in Community Health Education specialization, the Master’s Program of Public Health (MPH) allows UNC Greensboro students to develop careers involving the management of population-based disease prevention initiatives. Aspiring practitioners progress through a CEPH-accredited curriculum of 45 credits to pursue the Certified Health Education Specialist credential. Each course will meet once weekly during evening hours to accommodate full-time working professionals. Students develop an e-Portfolio while studying epidemiology, health policy, health research, community health analysis, and environmental health. MPH majors must complete one 180-hour internship with field partners, such as the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity and Guilford County Health Department. Students can also join the Eta Sigma Gamma National Honorary.
Accreditations
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Coleman Building Room 437
1408 Walker Avenue
Greensboro, NC 27412
(336) 334-5532
bfhenry@uncg.edu
https://phe.uncg.edu/masters-of-public-health-education/
Winston-Salem State University
School of Health Sciences
Created in 1892 by Dr. Simon Green Atkins to educate African American teachers, Winston-Salem State University is a public, co-educational HBCU in the Thurgood Marshall College Fund that’s endowed for $34 million to educate over 6,400 students in North Carolina’s “Twin City.” Recognized for a 20-year net ROI of $296,000 on PayScale, WSSU is ranked the 91st best regional college and 37th top public school in the South by the U.S. News. Niche also salutes Winston-Salem State as America’s 11th best historically black educator. The School of Health Sciences guides diverse enrollees toward medical careers with a 79 percent retention rate.
Master of Healthcare Administration
At Winston-Salem State, the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) takes approximately 2.5 years with four semesters and two summer sessions to equip professionals with the basis for medical facility management. Students are trained with 21st century skills to ensure today’s changing health organizations have the clinical, operational, and financial resources to succeed. The 40-credit curriculum explores useful courses in decision analysis, patient centeredness, grant writing, public relations, population health planning, environmental health, and more. Real-world clinical experience is offered with the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Students could also help manage WSSU’s Hands on Wellness Mobile Unit. Admission criteria requires an accredited bachelor’s and minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credits.
Accreditations
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
F.L. Atkins Annex Room 138
601 South MLK Jr. Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27110
(336) 750-8855
aragons@wssu.edu
https://www.wssu.edu/school-health-sciences/departments/healthcare-management/mha/default.aspx
Whether you’re born and raised or moving to the “Tar Heel State,” you’ll find increasingly demand for a health administration background. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that management jobs will grow much faster-than-average by 17 percent through 2024. According to CNN Money, Raleigh is also ranked the #1 best city for active job openings in America. Consider the above Master’s in Health Administration degrees in North Carolina to make your resume marketable for top-level clinical management positions.
Related:
Top 10 Best Online Masters in Health Administration Degree Programs
