Purdue Global Online Master's in Health Care Administration

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• Online Master's - Health Care Administration

Purdue Global is based in West Lafayette, Indiana (IN), and offers an online master of science in health care administration (MHCA) program through the School of Health Sciences. The program is 100 percent online, with no campus visits or internships required. The curriculum covers a variety of topics including health care finance, human resources, quality assessment, organizational development, health care law, leadership, and health care administration. Graduates are prepared with the necessary professional, leadership, and management skills to serve in leadership positions in the health care industry.

Students have a variety of support sources to make online learning more successful, including Purdue Academic Success Centers for math, writing, and science. These centers provide free tutoring and seminars. Students also have access to faculty office hours, the Purdue Global Library, and career services. In addition, courses are taught by experienced health care professionals, many of whom hold advanced degrees and doctorates.

No health care or work experience is required to apply. Courses run ten weeks each, and the program ends with a capstone project that provides the opportunity for students to apply their learning to a real-world issue. Graduates may go on to careers serving in government facilities, hospitals, long-term care facilities, research organizations, private practice groups, and other settings.

Admission Requirements: Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. No work experience or experience in the health care industry is required. In addition, GRE and GMAT exam results are not required. Applicants must complete an enrollment agreement and an informational interview. Admissions materials include an online application, an application fee, and unofficial transcripts with official transcripts necessary by the end of the first term and before any aid is disbursed. A background check may be required.

International students must submit language proficiency test scores if English is not their first language.

Study Plan: Courses run for ten weeks, and start dates are offered frequently with one to two per month. Students should expect to spend 15 to 18 hours on each course per week. The program is 100 percent online with no internship or practicum required. Students do complete a final project.

Curriculum: The online MHCA program comprises 52 credits and 13 courses. Courses include organizational development for health care, leadership in health care, health law, health care financial management, health care statistics, human resources for health care managers, health care operations and quality assessment, health policy, community health assessment, health care ethics, health information management and assessment, health care marketing, and a master’s capstone in health care administration.

Online Experience: Purdue Global utilizes Blackboard Learn as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Through this versatile online LMS, students have access to course documents, readings, assignments, assessments, grades, syllabi, and online learning tools such as discussion boards and chat rooms. Courses are asynchronous, but some courses may have synchronous learning seminars.

Courses are divided into one-week units where students are expected to participate in discussion boards, complete assessments, and submit papers as required. Students must be able to use email and Microsoft Office, access the web and download and install plug-ins, and configure and run applications on a computer including antivirus software. Professors provide online office hours, and students can access the online Writing Center, Technology Center, Science Center, library, and Math Center through Purdue Global. Each student is assigned an advisor and students can get help through Career Services for career planning, resume writing and reviews, mock interviews, alumni resources, and networking advice.

On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements for the Purdue Global online MHCA as the program is 100 percent online. Students must complete a capstone project at the end of the program.

The online MHCA at Purdue Global costs $485 per credit. Prospective students should contact the Purdue Global Online College of Health Sciences for current tuition information as costs may change yearly.

Purdue Global offers discounts to active military members, their spouses, and veterans, as well as to in-state students and alumni. In addition, students may have access to unsubsidized federal student loans in accordance with the FAFSA. Purdue Global also has many partnerships with organizations that provide educational benefits to employees. Students should research the possibility of a tuition reduction or employer tuition reimbursement program. Finally, students can seek outside opportunities to fund their MHCA degrees such as community and organizational scholarships.