Master of Business Administration - Healthcare Administration

Program Overview

The MBA with a Healthcare Administration concentration at the University of the Potomac is a 36-credit-hour program. It is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of core business functions before delving into specialized healthcare administration knowledge. Students complete eight foundational MBA core courses (24 credits) covering essential areas such as managerial accounting, economics, finance, marketing, human resources, and strategic management. Following this, they undertake four specialized courses (12 credits) within the Healthcare Administration concentration. This integrated approach ensures graduates develop not only deep expertise in healthcare management but also the broader business acumen necessary to make effective strategic decisions and lead diverse teams within healthcare organizations. The program is generally designed for completion within approximately two years.

Curriculum: The 36-semester-hour curriculum for the MBA with a Healthcare Administration concentration at the University of the Potomac begins with a robust set of MBA core courses, providing a solid business foundation. These typically include: "Managerial Accounting," "Managerial Economics," "Managerial Finance," "Strategic Management," "Human Resources and Organizational Behavior," "Marketing Management," "Management and Information Systems," and "Business Ethics." After establishing this foundational knowledge, students then transition to the four specialized Healthcare Administration concentration courses: "HLTH 500 Healthcare Systems," "HLTH 510 Managing Healthcare Organizations," "HLTH 520 Healthcare Policy, Law, and Ethics," and "HLTH 530 Decision Analysis for Healthcare Managers." This curriculum is crafted to provide graduates with a comprehensive understanding of healthcare operations, policy, ethical considerations, and data-driven decision-making within the sector.

Research Focus: The University of the Potomac's MBA with a Healthcare Administration concentration is highly applied, focusing on equipping students with the analytical and problem-solving skills necessary to address real-world challenges within healthcare systems. While it does not typically involve a traditional academic research thesis, the curriculum emphasizes the ability to "create policies and processes and execute decisions in compliance with the legal, regulatory and ethical considerations inherent in managing healthcare systems and organizations." Courses like "Decision Analysis for Healthcare Managers" and the overarching program goals suggest a strong focus on utilizing data and evidence-based methodologies to evaluate healthcare scenarios, develop solutions, and make informed strategic decisions. This applied research approach prepares graduates to contribute meaningfully to operational and strategic improvements in healthcare settings.

Industry Engagement: The University of the Potomac's MBA with a Healthcare Administration concentration demonstrates strong industry engagement by aligning its curriculum directly with the current and future demands of the healthcare sector. The program's learning outcomes highlight the importance of applying "methodologies used in healthcare finance and reimbursement processes to evaluate and execute decisions regarding optimal organizational and system direction." The university emphasizes that its instructors are "C-suite instructors and senior business leaders who compassionately lead healthcare organizations," ensuring that the curriculum is taught by professionals with direct industry experience. This practical approach, coupled with the program's explicit goal to prepare managers for leadership roles across public, private, and non-profit healthcare sectors, indicates a strong connection to real-world career opportunities and industry needs.

Global Perspective: The MBA with a Healthcare Administration concentration at the University of the Potomac explicitly incorporates a global perspective through its curriculum. While the provided details for the MBA concentration don't explicitly list "Global Health Systems" as a dedicated course within the MBA concentration, the university's M.S. in Healthcare Administration program does include "HLTH 570 Global Health Systems" as a core course, and similar topics are often integrated into MBA programs that aim to prepare students for a globalized world. The broader MBA program at the University of the Potomac generally aims to prepare graduates to "identify problems related to U.S. and foreign businesses and to artfully respond to these challenges." Given the interconnected nature of global health crises, policy initiatives, and healthcare innovations, a program focused on healthcare administration would inherently touch upon international benchmarks, diverse healthcare models, and cross-border health challenges. The university's diverse student population further enhances this global understanding by bringing varied perspectives to classroom discussions.