M.S. in Criminal Justice
The M.S. in Criminal Justice at UTC is structured to provide students with advanced kno...
Master of Business Administration: Healthcare Administration
Chattanooga, Tennessee
INTAKE: Jan & Aug
Program Overview
The MBA with a Healthcare Administration concentration at UTC provides a robust curriculum that integrates core business knowledge with specialized insights into the healthcare sector. The program emphasizes the development of critical thinking, strategic planning, and leadership abilities tailored for healthcare organizations. It is available in flexible formats, including 100% online delivery with eight-week accelerated courses, and a hybrid option combining in-person evening and online courses. This flexibility makes it particularly suitable for working adults and full-time students. The curriculum typically consists of 39 credit hours, with a combination of core business courses, dedicated healthcare administration courses, and often includes internships to provide practical experience. There is no thesis requirement, focusing on applied knowledge.
AACSB-Accredited: A significant strength of the UTC MBA program, including its Healthcare Administration concentration, is its AACSB International accreditation. The Gary W. Rollins College of Business at UTC holds this prestigious accreditation, which is the highest standard for business schools worldwide. This dual accreditation (for both business and accounting programs) signifies that UTC's MBA program meets rigorous global standards for quality, faculty scholarship, high-caliber teaching, and relevant curriculum, ensuring that graduates receive a top-tier business education recognized by employers globally.
Curriculum: The curriculum for the MBA with a Healthcare Administration concentration is comprehensive, blending general business principles with specialized healthcare knowledge. Core MBA courses typically cover areas such as Managerial Economics, International Business, Marketing Management, Analytical Methods for Planning and Control, and Financial Management and Policy. The Healthcare Administration concentration then delves into specific topics crucial for the industry, which may include Information Systems in Healthcare, U.S. Health Care Delivery Systems, Quality Management in Health Care, and Strategic Management in Health Care. The program often includes required internships within healthcare organizations, providing practical, hands-on experience in different administrative areas. Depending on prior undergraduate coursework, some students may need to complete additional foundation courses in areas like accounting, economics, finance, marketing, and operations management.
Research Focus: While the MBA with a Healthcare Administration concentration is highly practical and career-oriented, it incorporates a focus on applied research and data-driven decision-making within the healthcare context. Courses emphasize understanding the complexities of healthcare information systems, quality management, and strategic planning, which inherently involve analyzing data and applying research methodologies to improve outcomes and efficiency. Students learn to critically assess healthcare delivery systems and develop strategies based on evidence. Faculty members in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business often engage in research relevant to management, economics, and business analytics, which can inform the curriculum's approach to healthcare challenges.
Industry Engagement: The UTC MBA in Healthcare Administration program is deeply committed to strong industry engagement, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for the demands of the healthcare sector. The program's design, including its internship requirements, provides valuable practical experience within healthcare organizations. The curriculum is developed to meet the current and emerging needs of the healthcare industry, with a focus on topics like U.S. healthcare delivery systems and quality management. While specific partnerships are not extensively detailed, AACSB-accredited programs typically foster connections with healthcare providers, industry associations, and alumni networks to provide networking opportunities, guest speakers, and insights into industry trends, enabling graduates to successfully transition into leadership roles.
Global Perspective: The MBA with a Healthcare Administration concentration at UTC inherently fosters a global perspective by addressing universal challenges and innovations in healthcare management. While focusing on the U.S. healthcare system, the principles of quality management, information systems, and strategic planning in healthcare are globally applicable. The program's emphasis on developing critical thinking and leadership skills prepares graduates to navigate diverse healthcare policy environments, contribute to global health initiatives, and adapt to international best practices in healthcare delivery. The very nature of healthcare, with its global movement of knowledge, technology, and patient care models, provides an underlying international dimension to the curriculum.
Location
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Score
IELTS 6.5
Tuition Fee
USD 26852
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Application Fee: $40
Academic Qualifications: Applicants for postgraduate programs typically require a minimum academic achievement of 70% or above in their bachelor's degree.
English Language Proficiency:
- IELTS: Overall band score of 6.5 or 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL: Overall score of 79 or higher.
- DET (Duolingo English Test): Minimum score of 100.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) offers a variety of scholarship opportunities specifically designed to support international students pursuing their education in the United States. These scholarships aim to recognize academic excellence, leadership qualities, and contributions to the campus community, helping to make higher education more affordable and accessible for students from around the world.
Merit-Based Scholarships: UTC provides merit-based scholarships that international students can apply for, typically based on their academic achievements, standardized test scores, and overall potential. These scholarships often cover partial to full tuition and are renewable based on maintaining satisfactory academic performance.
International Student Scholarships: Special scholarships are available exclusively for international students, helping offset tuition fees and living expenses. These awards may vary annually and are competitive, encouraging students to demonstrate strong academic records and involvement in extracurricular activities.
Departmental Scholarships: Many academic departments at UTC offer scholarships targeted at students within specific fields of study. International students enrolled in areas such as Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, or Arts and Sciences can explore scholarship options through their respective colleges or departments.
An MBA with a Healthcare Administration concentration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) is a highly valuable degree, preparing graduates for leadership and management roles in a rapidly growing and complex sector. This specialized MBA blends core business principles with critical insights into healthcare operations, policy, and finance, making graduates well-equipped to drive efficiency and innovation in patient care. The demand for skilled healthcare administrators is significant, particularly in Tennessee, where healthcare is a major employment sector with a reported shortage of managerial talent.
Hospital Administrator/Medical and Health Services Manager: This is a prominent career path. Graduates oversee the daily administrative and operational functions of hospitals, clinics, group medical practices, nursing homes, or other healthcare facilities. They manage budgeting, finance, human resources, compliance, and overall efficiency to ensure effective patient care delivery.
Healthcare Consultant: Working for consulting firms or independently, graduates advise healthcare organizations on improving efficiency, optimizing operations, navigating regulatory changes, enhancing patient care quality, and developing strategic plans. They identify inefficiencies and propose data-driven solutions to complex healthcare challenges.
Health Services Manager: A broad role that encompasses planning, coordinating, and generally overseeing health services for various entities, including physician groups, insurance providers, government agencies, and educational institutions. This can involve managing clinical care, insurance coverage, or public health initiatives.
Health Information Manager: As healthcare becomes increasingly digitized, these professionals manage the flow, security, and integrity of patient health information and other critical data within healthcare organizations. They oversee electronic health records (EHRs) systems, data analytics, and ensure compliance with privacy regulations like HIPAA.
Pharmaceutical Project Manager: Graduates can apply their business and healthcare knowledge to lead projects within pharmaceutical companies, overseeing the development of new drugs, clinical trials, regulatory compliance, and market launch strategies.
Medical Practice Manager: Focused on smaller healthcare settings, these managers handle the operational aspects of a medical practice, including staffing, financial management, billing, compliance, and ensuring smooth day-to-day functioning.
Public Health Policy Analyst: These professionals research, analyze, and develop policies that impact healthcare delivery and public health. They often work with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies to shape new healthcare programs and initiatives aimed at improving population health.
Quality Assurance Manager (Healthcare): Ensuring high standards of patient care and operational excellence is crucial. Graduates in this role develop and implement quality improvement programs, monitor compliance with healthcare regulations and accreditation standards, and drive initiatives to enhance patient safety and outcomes.
Healthcare Operations Director: This role involves a higher-level oversight of operational strategies across multiple departments or facilities within a healthcare system. They focus on optimizing resource allocation, streamlining processes, and implementing system-wide efficiencies to improve overall organizational performance.
Healthcare Entrepreneur: The comprehensive business and specialized healthcare knowledge gained from the MBA can empower graduates to identify unmet needs in the healthcare market and launch their own ventures, such as specialized clinics, health tech startups, or consulting services.
