Online PhD in Health Administration
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Individuals who pursue an online PhD in health administration, which may be synonymous with a Doctor of Health Administration (DHA), develop the leadership and problem-solving skills required to effectively respond to the continuously evolving health care industry. Through coursework that blends the theoretical with the practical, online PhD programs in health administration equip students with the knowledge necessary to transition into careers in which they can improve the industry for the benefit of society. Their understanding of field-specific research, issues and trends enables online health administration PhD graduates to significantly impact health care through strategic planning and outcome-driven approaches. Moreover, their work not only directly influences people’s managed care experiences, but also poses political, economic and social implications both in the immediate and long-term.
Online PhD in Health Administration Requirements
Individuals who pursue a health administration PhD online must be critical thinkers who can identify the linkage between the conceptual and the experiential through the skillful application of textbook studies to their roles as practitioners in the field.
Applicants to online doctoral programs in health administration must have a Master’s degree from an accredited institution and must have maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average in that program of study as verified by an official transcript. Master’s degrees may have been earned in disciplines such as:
- Management, e.g., Human resources and Public administration;
- Public health; and
- Business administration.
Some programs may require applicants to submit a work history, i.e., a resume, as well as letters of recommendation. Admission to online health administration PhD programs may also require at least three years of relevant professional experience such as work in either administrative functions or public health.
Online PhD in Health Administration Education
Coursework in online doctoral programs in health administration provides instruction in finance, ethics, public policy and research methods to prepare students for the managerial responsibilities they will undertake in their careers. As a result, students who earn the online doctorate in health administration acquire a business-oriented understanding of the health care industry and best practices that enable them to help ensure that it operates efficiently. Programs for an online PhD in health administration require a dissertation on a research topic chosen in consultation with students’ advisors, and some may also require short-term residency courses.
Information on Health Administration Courses
Top online doctoral programs in health administration provide flexibility to meet the demanding schedules of students concurrent with delivering course content in subject matter such as risk management, organizational change and quantitative and qualitative analyses that is essential for professionals in the field.
Students seeking accredited online doctoral degrees in health administration have classes such as:
- Administration of Complex Health Care Systems
Students examine the administration of health care from a systemic rather than a singular organization perspective with focus on governance and decision-making. They study the architecture of major health care systems and subsystems. - Risk Management in Complex Organizations
Online PhD health administration students acquire a knowledge of the legal, licensure and certification factors that enable risk management. Topics studied include labor law, contract law, partnership agreements and professional credentialing. - Population Health and Epidemiology
The causes, distribution and control of diseases are studied to project health needs and the necessary allocation of resources. The subject matter is explored within the contexts of policy and public health. - Health Care Strategic Management
This course instructs online PhD health administration students in business planning, performance audits and gap analysis as they examine current and future trends affecting health care. Case studies and research are analyzed to understand the dynamics of the industry. - Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care Research Management
Legal and ethical issues such as whistle blowing, authorship issues and conflict of interest are studied. These issues are examined within the contexts of management and leadership.
Specializations and Concentrations
Students may opt to specialize in the online health administration doctorate program to align their course of study with specific areas of interest. For example, students pursuing online doctorate degrees in health administration may decide to concentrate in:
- U.S. health policy;
- global health;
- health care advocacy; and
- health care leadership.
Careers in Health Administration
The best online PhD programs in health administration connect textbook learning to real-world practice by demonstrating how classroom coursework can be integrated with the day-to-day roles that students will assume as leaders within their workplaces. The online health administration doctorate allows graduates to manage health care facilities, to teach on the university level and to oversee the operations of health care systems.
Individuals who earn online PhD degrees in health administration can transition into occupations such as:
- Administrative Services Manager
Practitioners in this profession direct and coordinate the support services within organizations such as residential health facilities and hospitals. They manage activities such as record keeping, internal communications and support staff functions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average annual income for
administrative services managers is $81,530. - Medical and Health Services Manager
These professionals plan, direct and coordinate services within hospitals, managed care facilities and public health agencies. They are responsible for the administrative oversight of these institutions. The average annual salary for this career is $90,970. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of practitioners in the field of medical and health services managers will increase by 16% by 2018 as the industry continues to expand and to diversify. - College/University Professor
Graduates may decide to teach in the field of health specialties with a focus on public health, global health and/or health administration. According to the U.S. of Bureau of Labor Statistics, professors of health specialties earn $103,340. - Chief Executive
Individuals who earn online PhD degrees in health administration may head managed care systems, determining and formulating policies in collaboration with subordinate executives. This occupation pays an average $167,280.
Online PhD degrees in health administration position individuals to enter leadership roles within the ever evolving health care industry, which is rapidly growing due to shifting demographics, political legislation and technological advances. Earning an online doctorate in health administration provides not only a chance to be chiefly involved in a field that amalgamates the business and human aspects of patient care, but also one that touches every segment of both the domestic and global populations.
