Complete HCMT-515 concurrently or prior to HCMT-523
Explore Healthcare Administration
Make measurable change in healthcare environments with a cutting-edge MHA degree. Champlain's online master's in healthcare administration degree challenges you to think boldly and innovatively, and arms you with the technical knowledge, interdisciplinary strategies, and creative problem-solving techniques needed to become a change agent in your organization.
Build Your Career Future
Champlain's healthcare administration masters online degree will equip you with the skills needed to increase efficiencies, foster collaboration, and make measurable improvements to patient access and quality of care in a variety of healthcare settings. With a comprehensive, interdisciplinary education that encompasses project management, quality and process improvement, human resources, finance, leadership, and healthcare information systems, as well as key soft skills like communication and critical thinking, graduates of Champlain's online MHA degree will be prepared to take on the challenges faced by today's healthcare organizations.
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Academic Excellence and Recognition
Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education
Designated as a Military Friendly School for our commitment to the military community
Ranked among the best by Tech Guide for game design and computer science
Named the among the best schools with accelerated bachelor's degrees by Intelligent.com
Prepare For What's Next
As an experienced healthcare professional, you are more than familiar with the complexities and challenges that face the healthcare field, and are optimistic about the opportunity to bring fresh thinking to the industry. With a valuable combination of healthcare expertise and the critical soft skills needed in advanced roles, graduates of Champlain's master's in healthcare administration program will be prepared to pursue leadership roles in the field.
Healthcare administration occupations are expected to grow 32% between 2019 and 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations, due to an increased demand for healthcare services as the population ages. The median annual salary for these roles is $104,280 per year.* Additionally, master's degrees are in high demand and employment in master’s-level occupations is projected to grow by 15% from 2019 to 2029. A master's degree also pays off: the median salary for professionals with a master's degree is $78,210.*
*Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2020; job titles: Payscale, 2020
Top Jobs for Master's in Healthcare Administration Graduates
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Operations Officer
- Clinic Manager
- Health Care Consultant
- Health Services Manager
- Hospital Administrator
- Nursing Director
- Program Manager
Program Details
Learn more about Champlain's 100% online master's in healthcare administration program, designed for working professionals.
Champlain's online healthcare administration courses encompass the top skills needed by today's healthcare professionals.
Healthcare Administration Courses (30 Credits):
Students learn about the U.S. health care system, including the government's role in the industry, cost and quality issues, managed care, reimbursement mechanisms, legal and regulatory issues, profit vs. non-profit care, the role of technology, and then compare it to international health care systems. Students will begin to conceptualize new models of delivery through analysis of barriers to process improvement and the use of design thinking and analytics. Students will appraise development, implementation and management of system components.
Managing information as a strategic resource is challenging. Students will design IT systems to capture, combine, and transform data into information to measure processes/outcomes of care, support clinical decision-making and management decisions, empower patients, and improve health care operations. Students explore health information systems within the context of associated business processes to develop innovative solutions. Management of change as related to clinical systems will also be stressed to help build buy-in, engage individuals and ultimately improve workflow and system design.
Prerequisites
Students gain systemic overview of the financial operations of common healthcare organizations, both public and private and an understanding of various financial components enabling health services to be delivered. Students identify key issues confronting the financial management of healthcare systems and provide innovative strategies for effective management of these financial management challenges. Topics explored include traditional and innovative financial management techniques and data analytical methods applied to healthcare settings, as well as financial management challenges unique to the industry.
Prerequisites
Complete HCMT-515 concurrently or prior to HCMT-527.
Students learn to apply elements of regulation, law and ethics to the administrative process in a variety of healthcare settings and situations. Healthcare administrators can avoid many legal disputes by understanding basic concepts such as patient rights, informed consent and privacy regulations. Course themes include the legal barriers that interfere with process improvement, malpractice, and the limits on sharing information across institutions. Students analyze recent legal developments, including the Affordable Care Act, medical marijuana, and right to die legislation.
Prerequisites
Complete HCMT-515 concurrently or prior to HCMT-535.
This course is designed to introduce a systemic process for planning, organizing and controlling healthcare projects using design thinking and innovation. The course presents a practical methodology for completing projects more quickly with fewer problems. Student work consists of readings, research, class special-topic presentations, group activities, a project management journal, and participation in a real world healthcare project. Students will be encouraged to apply project-management techniques to solve existing real-world healthcare business problems using design thinking and innovation.
Prerequisites
Complete HCMT-515 concurrently or prior to HCMT-545.
Students learn about healthcare organizational measurements, assessments and improvement practices related to the quality of healthcare services and examine and analyze traditional and innovative quality, structure and process assessments including risk management, credentialing and the role of oversight agencies. They will then develop innovative applications of outcomes-based process improvement methods, focusing on rapid cycle tools such as PDSA, and utilizing data analytical methods that result in improved patient outcomes.
Prerequisites
Complete HCMT-515 concurrently or prior to HCMT-555
To gain a foundation for the Human Resource certificate, students take a macro-view of the field and examine the role of an HR department as a critical strategic business partner within the organization. Students integrate concepts and current workplace issues, including using new technologies in the field; the need for a broader understanding of business and culture; and how to build and support agile teams that work effectively.
The complexity of today's health care environments challenges organizations to become adaptive and innovative. Everyone must find a way to adopt new leadership skills for health care organizational survival. Students learn to meet this challendge wherever they will exert influence in an organization by developing knowledge and skills to effectively lead change, including communicating with others in the organization, identification of how change is accomplished and impacts people, and affects organizational relationships and ultimately, patient outcomes.
Prerequisites
Complete HCMT-515 and HCMT-545
Students learn organization analysis from a holistic perspective. Financial reports and financial ratios are the basis for traditional organizational analysis and builds from that foundation into the analysis of customer, supplier and employee metrics. Focus is on the Balanced Scorecard and other holistic approaches.
Students review and apply skills gained through the program to an independent healthcare project. Students develop a project plan; establish objectives collect and analyze information and deliver a final product with the support of a faculty advisor. This experience provides an opportunity to observe, apply and develop technical, interpersonal, and conceptual skills while integrating leadership expertise and knowledge of healthcare administration to improve healthcare delivery.
Prerequisites
Complete HCMT-555 and HCMT-565.
In addition to developing advanced communication and analytical skills, and a strategic mindset, graduates of the healthcare administration master's online program will demonstrate a mastery of the following industry-specific competencies:
- Analyzes the financial performance of healthcare organizations and recommends approaches to improve financial results
- Applies and integrates information technology to improve patient care, outcomes, and quality
- Demonstrates ability to lead change in health care organizations through strategic thinking, collaboration, and communication for impact
- Constructs practices that optimize the performance of the health care workforce, aligning personnel and processes to meet the strategic goals of the organization
- Integrates ongoing self-assessment and self-reflection into action plans for future professional growth in support of the advancement of healthcare systems
- Integrates ethics, privacy and security, governing law, and regulatory structures to maintain optimal organizational effectiveness and compliance
In addition to the admission requirements for all graduate program applicants, our online master's of healthcare administration program has specific requirements that must be met.
Related Work Experience Requirement
We expect that applicants have a minimum of 2 years experience or current employment in a healthcare setting with opportunities for applying new skills. Applicants with limited work experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Champlain College Online's healthcare administration faculty are expert practitioners in the field. Their industry expertise ensures that our master's in healthcare administration curriculum is aligned with the needs of employers, and reflects the skills today’s healthcare professionals need for success. Classes led by our seasoned experts will give you real-world insight into the field and create a rich community of career-focused learning.
Alumni of the Champlain College Online master's in healthcare administration program work in healthcare organizations nationwide, including:
- Aetna U.S. Healthcare
- Burlington Housing Authority
- Central Vermont Medical Center
- Child & Family Services
- CIGNA
- Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
- Department of Defense (DOD)
- Humana
- Inova Health System
- North Country Hospital
- Northwestern Medical Center
- Rex Healthcare
- Rutland Regional Medical Center
- Spartanburg Regional Medical Center
- Veterans Administration
- Veterans Affairs
- University of Vermont Medical Center
- Veterans Affairs
- Wageworks
Titles our alumni hold include:
- Administrator
- Assistant Director of Operations
- CEO
- Director of Community Relations
- Director of Marketing
- Director of Materials Management
- Director of Performance & Productivity
- Health Outcomes Liaison
- Health Systems Specialist
- Licensed Nurse Practitioner
- Management Analyst
- Patient Benefits Advisor
- Practice Manager
- Principal Technical Consultant
- Nurse Consultant
- Radiology Supervisor
- Team Leader
- VP of Hospitalist Services
- Vice President of Rehabilitation
Many students come to us seeking ways to get noticed at their current employers or to get hired in a new field. Given that, we are hyper focused on increasing the career mobility of our students and that's why we developed the Fast Start Formula Career Bundle, a suite of career offerings designed to help our students get noticed, get hired and land jobs they'll love.
Valued at over $1,000, the career bundle is offered to Champlain College Online students and includes:
- Fast Start Formula Course: The Fast Start Formula Course for getting noticed and getting hired is taught by Jen Morris, an executive career coach that we've developed a partnership with to support our students in their job search journeys. This course is online, self-paced and full of tips and tricks to land a job you'll love.
- Live Webinars: Log-on to ask your specific job search questions, get live “hot seat” coaching and gain valuable insights from leading career coach, Jen Morris.
- Landing A Job You'll Love Ebook: Download this ebook full of tips and tricks for standing out from the competition. From how to optimize your LinkedIn profile, to insider information on how recruiters work and bypassing the automated application websites, you’ll be sure to learn how to rise to the top.
Upon enrollment in a degree or certificate, your access to the Fast Start Formula Career Bundle will made available to you.
Tuition & Costs
Graduate Tuition Fall '23 - Summer '25
*Based on a 3-credit course; cost will vary if course is a different number of credits
** Starting Summer 2024, not retroactive
See the graduate cost of attendance and fees here
Meet the Program Director
Lanaya Sandberg, MBA, MS Healthcare Administration
- BS, Healthcare Administration
- MS, Healthcare Administration
About
Lanaya Sandberg is Assistant Professor and Director of the undergraduate and graduate Healthcare Administration programs at Champlain College Online. She has worked in various roles within the healthcare delivery system over the course of her career, beginning initially in provider contracting for managed care organizations before working on mergers and acquisitions, operational and strategic planning, and dental benefits administration. She has held positions as Chief of Staff, Associate Vice President, and Director during her time working in management support, client engagement, strategy and provider network management, and revenue cycle management.
Lanaya is a three-time graduate from Champlain College, having earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, an MBA, and a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration. She is a Certified Physician Practice Manager, a Certified Professional Compliance Officer, earned her Fellow, Academy for Healthcare Management credential, and has her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
Why Champlain
Online Experience
"I was 100% certain I would only do my bachelor's, but great advising led me to apply for the master's program. Going back to school helped me pursue further dreams and eventually be promoted, and gave me confidence in my own abilities and skillset."
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