Online PhDs in Healthcare Management: Review Schools

Featured Online Healthcare Administration Doctorate Programs

The primary purpose for earning a doctorate in healthcare administration is to prepare graduates to become effective and influential leaders at the very highest levels of the profession. In other words, it’s more than just managing an organization’s operations, it’s about moving the entire industry ahead by enacting real, positive change.

Doctorate programs focus on several core competencies including communication, leadership, and healthcare policies and regulation. There may also be an opportunity to specialize.

Most online healthcare administration doctoral programs feature fully online coursework, and some include in-person student participation, typically in the form of short-term residencies. These residencies normally take place on the school’s campus, but some programs feature off-campus options at locations throughout their state, region, or the nation.

Specific in-person requirements vary from program to program, so be sure to carefully review all degree and in-person requirements before you enroll. You’ll also want to carefully review tuition costs, as well as opportunities for financial aid.

We’ve profiled below three current healthcare administration doctoral programs that combine the flexibility of online learning with quality instruction. These profiles provide a good idea of what you should expect to find as you explore your program options.

FAQs About Online Healthcare Administration Doctorates

Are online healthcare administration doctorate degrees accredited?

There are currently no U.S.-based agencies that specifically accredit healthcare administration doctoral programs, online or on-campus. You will, however, need to confirm institutional accreditation of the school itself offering your HA doctorate.

Institutional accreditation of colleges and universities in the U.S. is administered by several national and regional agencies recognized by the Department of Education. Confirming proper accreditation is important as it’s your way of being assured of the academic quality of any program you consider.

You can check a school’s accreditation status by visiting the school’s website, contacting the school directly, or searching the Department of Education’s official accreditation database.

What are the admissions requirements to get into a good online healthcare administration doctoral program?

Admissions requirements vary from program to program, but the requirements for most online HA doctorate programs include:

• Master’s degree in healthcare administration, healthcare management, or closely-related field. Most programs also require a minimum GPA (3.0 is not uncommon) for the degree and/or other completed relevant graduate-level coursework.
• Substantial work experience, typically in a position in mid-level healthcare administration or management, health policy, or a closely-related field. Five years minimum is not uncommon.
• Other requirements may include a current resume or CV, career goal statement or personal essay, letters of recommendation, and proof of English proficiency (for non-native English-speaking applicants).

Are there specialization opportunities in Doctor of Healthcare Administration programs?

Some online programs allow students to tailor their studies to explore specific interests within the larger healthcare administration field. This is done either by offering formal specialization or concentration track options or through flexibility in elective course choices.

Popular specializations include:

• Healthcare Administration
• Healthcare Leadership
• Healthcare Analytics
• Healthcare Professions
• Advocacy and Policy

Is healthcare experience required for admission to a DHA program?

Yes. DHA programs are generally intended for current working professionals seeking to fill mid- to senior-level positions. So, in addition to a master’s degree in the healthcare field, most programs require applicants to have three to five years of work experience to be considered for admission.

Will I earn a PhD at the completion of my program.

No. The DHA and PhD are two different types of doctoral degrees in the healthcare administration field, each offering its own content emphasis and career outcome purpose:

• PhD programs in healthcare administration focus on preparing graduates for careers in advanced research, policy analysis, and postsecondary education. PhD programs culminate in the writing and defense of a dissertation.
• DHA programs prepare graduates to apply academic research in top administration positions with healthcare organizations. Some DHA programs require the writing of a dissertation while others culminate in the completion of a capstone or applied research project.

Career Profile: What Can You Do with a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration?

Healthcare administration doctoral degrees prepare graduates for a wide range of terminal roles throughout the healthcare field as:

• Executives with healthcare corporations, agencies, and non-profit organizations
• Leaders in advanced research, policy-making and postsecondary education
• Independent consultants in a variety of specialized practice areas

The five jobs described below are among some of the most popular for DHA graduates.

Postsecondary Healthcare Educator

Postsecondary educators are responsible for preparing the next generation of healthcare industry leaders. Duties include:

• Creating course materials
• Evaluating student progress through assignments, papers, and exams
• Keeping informed of new new developments and future trends in the healthcare field by reviewing academic journals, attending professional conferences and seminars, and consulting with fellow colleagues

Common job titles include professor, assistant professor, instructor, and lecturer.

Chief Executive Officer

The very top of the career ladder for many healthcare administration professionals, CEOs are responsible for all operations within a healthcare organization. Specific duties include:

• Formulating and implementing organization policies, objectives, and activities
• Creating budgets and coordinating financing activities such as funding and investments
• Evaluating organization performance and effectiveness and seeking ways to cut costs and improve efficiencies
• Appointing department heads and other management professionals, and delegating duties to them

Healthcare Consultant

Healthcare consultants provide a number of specialized services for clients of all kinds throughout the healthcare industry. Healthcare consultants meet with clients to identify and define problems and issues within an organization and then conduct studies and reviews to find solutions to those problems and issues.

Healthcare consultants are typically independent contractors working with a variety of clients, but may also be fully employed by a single large private healthcare corporation, non-profit organization, or governmental agency.

Hospital Administrator

A hospital administrator manages the day-to-day operations and finances of a hospital or hospital system. Job responsibilities often include:

• Recruiting and hiring staff
• Creating budgets
• Quality assurance
• Regulation compliance
• Overseeing patient care

Nursing Home Administrator

Nursing home administrators have similar job duties and responsibilities to hospital administrators, but with a focus on the long-term care of residents in nursing homes and retirement homes. Nursing home administrators have special training in elder care and may work non-traditional hours including weekends and holidays.

Top Online Healthcare Management Doctorate/PhD Degrees