March 29, 2024

Master’s in Healthcare Management Degrees in Texas, Part I

Finding high-quality, accredited healthcare management masters programs in Texas isn’t a chore because there are endless learning possibilities. Lying in the Southwest along the Mexican border, Texas is the nation’s second most populous state with over 27.4 million residents. College graduates are often attracted to the Lone Star State for its growing, $1.6-trillion economy. Healthcare jobs are particularly in-demand with the over 600 hospitals located here. Texas Medical Center is renowned for having the world’s largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions. Other highly regarded facilities include the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, UT Health Science Center, and South Texas Medical Center. It’s no surprise that Texas has the third highest employment level of health services managers. Master’s degree holders can expect an average yearly salary of $101,270. Begin your climb into executive leadership by reviewing Part I of the healthcare management masters programs for Texans.

Texas Woman’s University

College of Health Sciences / School of Management

First opened in 1901 as the Girls Industrial College, Texas Woman’s University is now a public, co-educational teaching institution enrolling over 14,900 qualified men and women on its main 270-acre suburban campus in Denton within the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Honored as America’s ninth best bang for the buck in Washington Monthly, TWU is ranked the South’s 160th top college by Forbes. The College of Health Sciences has its own center in Houston to award over 30 accredited degrees and increase enrollment by 28 percent since 1989. Within the School of Management, TWU is recognized by the U.S. News for hosting America’s 57th best graduate health care management programs.

Masters in Health Administration

TWU’s Masters in Health Administration (MHA) program is conveniently available with evening classes in Denton to prepare graduate students for assuming leadership in various health-related organizations. Courses bring guest lecturers from national health care arenas to provide stimulating, real-world classroom experience. The 51-credit program includes courses in operations analysis, finance, economics, health policy, human resources, health law, and more. The curriculum was adopted in 2007 following the NCHL’s competency model. Depending on their undergraduate background, students may need to add up to six foundational courses. For credited electives, students can request internship placements in administrative departments of Texas health care providers. MHA majors also develop a professional portfolio by completing a health administration capstone project.

Executive Masters in Health Administration

At the Houston campus, the Executive Masters in Health Administration (eMHA) program is also CAHME-accredited for TWU students with three or more years of managerial experience. This accelerated program waives Level I foundation coursework for administrators who already display competency in business leadership. Instead, eMHA students begin in Level II to develop their clinical knowledge for practicing in the health care industry. Courses conveniently meet on Monday through Thursday evenings. Some have a hybrid format for online/on-site blend. Texas Woman’s University tailors support services for non-traditional adult students and accommodate their career responsibilities. Clinical capstone credits can be obtained at students’ employing organization. Although GRE/GMAT scores are waived, applicants must submit a resume and three letters of reference.

Dual Masters MHA/MBA Program

Through the special agreement with the University of St. Thomas’ Cameron School of Business, the Dual Masters MHA/MBA Program is available for TWU students. This program accelerates the pathway for earning both degrees concurrently and mastering fundamental health services management skills. Students first complete the MHA before applying to the MBA. Anyone with non-business undergraduate degrees can complete the Bridge to Business program at St. Thomas. With a student-faculty ratio of 16:1, the dual degree gives students a competitive edge for Houston’s expanding health care community. The 36-credit MBA will feature evening classes for ethics, accounting, economics, finance, marketing, information systems, and more. Dual MHA/MBA students conclude their learning with an applied strategic management project.

Masters in Health Systems Management

Future health care executives studying at Texas Woman’s University could also pursue the Masters in Health Systems Management, which holds ACBSP accreditation. This 45-credit program blends health care policy with management science and strategic planning to develop well-rounded health service managers. Coursework is flexibly scheduled during evening and Saturday timeslots for working professionals. Students can attend in Dallas, Denton, Houston, Fort Worth, or Plano. In fact, some business courses are 100 percent online. HSM majors progress through curriculum for marketing, accounting, personnel management, health law, financial management, policy analysis, and organizational behavior. Nine credits of free electives are reserved for students’ specialization. Successful applicants will hold an accredited bachelor’s degree and minimum GPA of 3.0. No GMAT score required!

Dual MHSM/EMBA Program

Consisting of 57 total credits, the Dual MHSM/EMBA Program was established at TWU to provide in-depth management training for producing administrators with a sharpened business acumen to improve health care quality outcomes. Although it’s based in Dallas, the program utilizes a blended format to combine face-to-face Saturday meetings with online classes. This suits busy health care professionals seeking room for advancement into supervisory roles. Emphasis is placed on computer, word processing, and spreadsheet skills for managing 21st century information systems. Dual MHSM/EMBA students can finish both degrees concurrently within 48 months. Majors are invited to join the ENACTUS, NSLS, SHRM, and AFS student chapters on-campus too. Entering the program requires at least five years of work experience.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Care Management

For a quicker, less-intensive path to promotion, students can pursue the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Care Management from TWU. Even though it’s not reviewed by the CAHME, the 21-credit certificate features several overlapping courses from the aforementioned programs. Students lay the foundational skills for coordinating the successful delivery of health care services within a changing industry. The program is easily tailored to suit professionals’ unique work schedules with online, evening, and Saturday courses. Topics addressed will include organizational theory, health law, ethical analysis, health information management, and performance measurement. Graduates can transfer all earned credits with a “B” or better into the MHA program.

Accreditations

Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management (CAHME)
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

304 Administration Drive
P.O. Box 425738
Denton, TX 76204
(940) 898-2458
[email protected]

Texas Southern University

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Nestled on a park-like, 150-acre urban campus in Houston near the Gulf of Mexico, Texas Southern University educates over 9,600 diverse students as a public, state-funded historically black institution within the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Ranked fourth nationally in awarding degrees to African Americans, TSU is crowned the nation’s 256th best research university and South’s 190th top college by Forbes magazine. The U.S. News also named Texas Southern the 48th best HBCU in the United States. The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences holds CAHME accreditation to award five bachelor’s and four graduate programs for promoting quality, patient-centered care in multicultural communities.

Master of Science in Health Care Administration

Newly redesigned in 2014, the Master of Science in Health Care Administration (MHCA) program allows Texas Southern students to hone their leadership skills for managing the day-to-day operations of health care facilities. The 54-credit master’s curriculum spans four semesters and two summer sessions full-time. Professional development is delivered with engaging courses for epidemiology, economics, managerial finance, labor relations, bioethics, health policy, and communications. Students can complete a master’s thesis project or follow the non-thesis track with extra electives. All MHCA majors must successfully pass an administrative residency placement in Greater Houston. Past alumni interned at Houston Methodist, Baylor St. Luke’s, and Clear Lake Regional Medical Center. Students can also participate in research at TSU’s 19,380-square foot Gray Hall Pharmacy Building.

Accreditations

Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management (CAHME)
Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

3100 Cleburne Street
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 313-4463
[email protected]

Related:

Master’s in Healthcare Management Degrees in Texas, Part II