SNHU Online MS in Healthcare Administration & Health Information Management Programs

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• Online MS in Health Information Management
• Online MS in Healthcare Administration

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Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers an online master of science (MS) in healthcare administration and an MS in health information management (HIM). SNHU is located in Manchester, New Hampshire, about 20 minutes from Concord. The university is committed to the success of its online students and has many measures in place to support busy professionals.

The MS in healthcare administration focuses on several key areas: law, policy, informatics, finance, economics, and strategic planning. The MS in healthcare administration is designed for entry- to mid-level healthcare managers. Healthcare administrators ensure access to quality, affordable healthcare, and the MS degree prepares students to take on such a leadership position. The curriculum is aligned with standards from the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) and the Healthcare Leadership Alliance (HLA). These standards include high-level communication skills, critical thinking skills, computational skills, understanding of societies and cultures, relationship management, and leadership skills. Graduates from a MS in healthcare administration program may go on to work in leadership positions in hospitals, nursing homes, pharmaceutical companies, state health departments, home health agencies, and other entities.

The MS in health information management degree combines knowledge in the areas of business, computer science, and data analysis to create a program which prepares students for a healthcare technology career. The curriculum follows standards set up by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Health Information Management (CAHIIM). Students learn to use software systems like SQLite, Neehr Perfect, and Minitab Express so they have the technical skills necessary to succeed in today’s health information careers. Graduates of the program may go on to work for hospitals, insurance providers, medical groups, research organizations, or policy making organizations.

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the online MS in healthcare administration and health information management programs must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Applying is easy with a simple online application, a small application fee, and submission of official undergraduate transcripts. No GRE/GMAT or work experience are needed.

International students must have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree with a 2.75 GPA or higher. They must also provide proof of English language proficiency through any of several exams and submit all foreign transcripts from the institution in a sealed envelope.

Study Plan: The program offers five ten-week graduate terms per year. The degrees can be completed in as little as 15 months by taking two courses per term.

Curriculum: The MS in healthcare administration consists of 36 credits which include three-credit courses such as global health and diversity; healthcare informatics; healthcare quality and improvement; biostatistics; health policy and law; program design, planning, and evaluation; strategic human resources management; marketing, communication strategies, and outreach; and healthcare finance and reimbursement, among others. The program ends with a healthcare administration capstone course.

The MS in health information management is also 36 credits. Courses include leading as a health information management professional; health information governance; research methods and evaluation; data management and data quality; managing compliance; HIM informatics technology and infrastructure; and advanced topics in HIM, among others. The program ends with a health information management capstone course.

Online Experience: SNHU students have 24/7 access to the online classroom. The online experience is student-centered and has an extensive support system to help degree candidates succeed. Each week, everything is laid out for students so that they can budget their time as necessary.

Even though the program is online, it is very hands-on. Assignments include discussion questions to promote communication between students and faculty, papers, and group projects, as well as larger assignments due at the end of the term that students work on throughout the ten-week course. Students communicate through multimedia tools, discussion boards, phone calls, and email. Students are assigned an advisor who can help plan a course schedule, and get students in touch with the necessary resources such as IT solutions, admissions, writing center, tutoring services, career services, library services, and others, even on weekends. Students can also participate in SNHUconnect, an online student union where students can meet up with faculty, staff, and other students to get feedback, collaborate on projects, and share ideas.

On-Site Requirements: Both programs are 100 percent online so there are no on-site requirements. Students are welcome to participate in campus graduation.

SNHU charges $627 per credit plus fees for the online MS in healthcare administration and health information management programs. Full or part-time U.S. service members as well as the spouses of those on active duty pay $470 per credit. There is a $150 graduation fee, in addition to course material costs. This is one of the most affordable graduate tuition rates in the country. Online students should contact the admissions department of SNHU for updated costs.