The George Washington University Online Programs in Health Care Quality & Management (Degrees and Graduate Certificates)

The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences offers a master of science in health sciences (MSHS) degree in both health care quality and clinical operations and health care management, with corresponding graduate certificates available. In addition, a bachelor’s of science in health sciences (BSHS) in clinical operations and health care management is offered. Finally, two additional graduate certificates are offered: correctional health administration and health services and outcome research. All courses in the graduate certificates may be applied to the respective MSHS degree.

The MSHS and graduate certificate in health care quality seek to educate students as leaders in patient-centered, high-quality health care while at the same time addressing safety improvement on local and global levels. Students learn skills in health care leadership, organizational change theories, collaboration with health care teams, safe practices, risk assessment in patient safety, health policy, and more.

The BSHS, MSHS, and graduate certificate in clinical operations and health care management seek to prepare health care professionals to spearhead patient quality of care improvement, communicate effectively with all parties involved in operations, and develop effective strategies using data analysis. Students learn skills in communication, systems evaluation, data analysis, quality care improvement, and organizational performance.

The graduate certificate in correctional health administration seeks to prepare students to serve in an administrative role in correctional health care settings. Students learn to develop health care plans for incarcerated patients in a way that meets their needs while still applying cost-effective strategies. In addition, students learn to lead health care teams in a correctional setting, manage budgets, fill staffing requirements, and handle public relations.

Finally, the graduate certificate in health services and outcome research focuses on quantitative methods which apply to research design. It is ideal for practicing physicians, medical students, clinicians, and other health care professionals who are required to lead research studies. Students learn to evaluate key areas of research design and teaming, effectively communicate research outcomes to the necessary entities, and use cost-benefit analysis and advanced quantitative methods.

The George Washington University is located in Washington DC near the White House. Students can attend on campus or online from all US states and from countries around the globe. GW is dedicated to providing a real-world education that can be applied to real issues in the workplace. The faculty includes health care experts from public and private health care organizations and corporations, as well as alumni who are serving as experts in their respective fields.

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the BSHS in clinical operations and health care management must have an associate’s degree or transfer 45 to 60 credits of college-level coursework to the program, with a minimum GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0. Additional materials include an application fee, official transcripts, a resume/CV, a personal statement, and one letter of recommendation.

Applicants to the GW MSHS and graduate certificate programs (except the graduate certificate in health services and outcome research) must hold at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additional materials include an application fee, official transcripts, a resume or curriculum vitae, a statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation. No GMAT/GRE is required. Applicants must have relevant work experience in clinical research or a related field.

The unique requirement for the graduate certificate in health services and outcome research is holding a master’s degree or doctorate in a health care-related field, but no work experience is required for admission.

Please note that international students must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores for all degree applications.

Study Plan: The online BSHS and MSHS degrees can be completed in two years. The graduate certificate completion times are as follows: health care quality (18 to 24 months); clinical operations and health care management (18 months); correctional health administration (12 months); and health services and outcome research (18 months).

Start dates are offered in the fall, spring, and summer; however, the correctional health administration graduate certificate is only offered in the fall and spring. Students can expect to spend 18 to 20 hours of work for each three-credit course.

Curriculum: The breakdown of courses and credits for each degree follows:

MSHS in Health Care Quality (36 credits): 21 credits of core classes, six credits of research courses, and nine credits of professional courses. Courses may include: building a quality culture, the health care quality landscape, patient safety systems, leadership and change in health care quality, and the health care enterprise, among others.

Graduate Certificate in Health Care Quality (18 credits): Courses are taken from the MSHS and include: introduction to health care quality; building a quality culture; the health care quality landscape; quality improvement science in health care; health care quality measurement, data management, and analysis; and patient safety systems.

BSHS in Clinical Operations and Health Care Management (60 credits): Students transfer 45 to 60 credits of college-level coursework. Any gap must be completed in addition to the 60 credits for this degree. Courses may include the management of human resources in health sciences organizations, finance for health care managers, health policy and the health care system, current issues in bioethics, quality improvement in health sciences, and several others.

Students complete supervised fieldwork in a clinical operations and health care management setting. Electives may include the psychosocial aspects of health and illness, health care in literature, principles of biostatistics for health sciences, pathophysiology, and disease prevention and health promotion concepts.

MSHS in Clinical Operations and Health Care Management (36 credits): 30 core credits, three credits of practicum, and one elective. Core courses may include leadership and change, strategic communications, informatics for operational leadership and health care quality, health care systems operations, and human resource development. The practicum involves completing a health care operations proposal, which is then presented to a group of professionals and can be added to their portfolios upon graduation.

Graduate Certificate in Clinical Operations and Health Care Management (18 credits): Courses are taken from the MSHS and include strategic communications, informatics for operational leadership and health care quality, health care systems operations, finance for health care operations, topics in health care leadership, and applications in clinical operations and health care management.

Graduate Certificate in Correctional Health Administration (15 credits): Courses include the fundamentals of correctional health care, correctional health care fiscal management, correctional health care delivery, correctional health care administration for special populations, and correctional health care oversight.

Graduate Certificate in Health Services and Outcome Research (18 credits): Courses include biostatistics translational research, grantsmanship in translational research, decision making and economic evaluation in health care, a survey of advanced quantitative methods for health services and outcomes research, and research methods for health professions I. In addition, students take an elective titled the economics of health care systems. An alternative elective must be approved.

Online Experience: Students in the online GW BSHS, MSHS, and graduate certificate programs start with virtual student orientation, and new students are also assigned an academic advisor. GW uses the Blackboard learning management system (LMS) for online learning, including course videos, assignments, course syllabi, faculty/peer communication, forums, discussion groups, and assessments. GW provides 24/7 online technical support and other student services to all online students.

On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements for the online BSHS and MSHS degrees or graduate certificates from George Washington University. Some pathways require a practicum of field experience where the students live and work. Students are invited to participate in graduation on campus.

The George Washington University charges $635 per credit for the online BSHS in clinical operations and health care management for a total estimated tuition of $38,100 plus fees. The MSHS degrees and graduate certificates cost $990 per credit plus fees. Because tuition may change each year, prospective students should contact the admissions department of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences for exact costs.

GW also offers financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, and student loans. Students who are local can also apply for work/study opportunities. Students may also seek outside resources for help paying for their degree. Graduate students may check with their employer concerning tuition reimbursement programs for employees seeking an advanced degree.

* Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the currently published tuition rate. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the out of state, part-time student rate. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Total cost of tuition does not include additional fees.