Healthcare Management at American University
American University appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Online Healthcare Law Degree Programs.
Students who enroll at American University have three program options for studying healthcare management that include a Master’s in Healthcare Management, Master of Science in Health Promotion Management, and a graduate certificate in healthcare management. All of these degrees are available online. Students who elect to enroll in the Master’s in Healthcare Management will enroll in classes within the university’s Professional Studies Experience framework.
The curriculum for the program is designed as a four-phase experience that builds important skills in presentation, evaluation, and data analysis. The university indicates that 92 percent of graduate students in the program are able to find work in the field within six months of graduation. Benefits of online study at American University include access to advising and coaching, free membership to the Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society for students, and a curriculum that focuses on career development.
The curriculum was designed by the university to align with the guidelines of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration, as well as the standards published by the Healthcare Leadership Alliance. The curriculum is also designed to adhere to the requirements of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. Overall, students will take ten courses to complete their degree.
Classes required include Standards & Systems in U.S. Healthcare, Evaluation of New Models of Care Delivery & Payment, Principles of Health Information Technology & Innovation, and the Healthcare Management Capstone class. Other classes include Innovation Through New Technologies, Intercultural Communication for Professionals, and Data-Driven Decision Making.
For students who enroll in the online Master of Science in Health Promotion Management, requirements include completing 30 credits in ten courses, and the university indicates that students can complete the program in as few as 20 months. Classes in the program include Strategic Planning in Health Promotion Management, Behavior Change in Health Promotion, Worksite Health Promotion Management, and Science of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.
The final option for studying healthcare management at American University is the online Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management. The certificate requires students to complete 12 credits in four classes. The university indicates that teachers in the program are currently employed in the healthcare industry and have decades of experience in the field.
About American University
American University was chartered in 1893 by Congress and was the brainchild of a Methodist bishop named John Fletcher Hurst. He wanted to create an institution that would focus on teaching idealism and public service. After several years of construction, the university would begin operations in 1914. The university remains affiliated with the United Methodist Church, but there is no religious test or requirement to attend the school.
The official colors of the university are blue and American red, and the university’s official mascot is named Clawed Z. Eagle. The school is part of the Patriot League for its collegiate athletic conference, and its students play in NCAA Division I games on their varsity teams. The campus of the university is located in Washington, D.C., and covers 84 acres in a suburban area of the Capital Region.
American University Accreditation Details
American University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and is also a recognized institution of the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. Regional accreditation is an institutional-wide approval and is granted by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. There are also some programs offered at the university that are programmatically accredited by various agencies.
Approvals have been earned from the American Bar Association’s Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation, and the National Association of Schools of Music Commission on Accreditation. Other approvals come from the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
American University Application Requirements
To apply to American University, students will use the Common Application or the Coalition Application and will also need to submit the essay portion of those applications. The application fee is $75 and is non-refundable. The application process also requires high school transcripts, a teacher recommendation letter, and standardized test scores. Students should also have their high school counselors complete a secondary school report.
For graduate students, American University, students will submit an official application, pay the application fee, and upload all required additional materials. Additional items required include a statement of purpose, resume, and transcripts from previously attended institutions. Some programs also require letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, and a portfolio or writing sample. Students should check with their intended program to see if any additional materials are requested by their future academic department.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for undergraduate students enrolled at American University is $1,635 per credit for part-time enrollment, which is considered enrollment in fewer than 12 credits. Full-time students who enroll in 12 to 17.5 credits will pay a flat rate of $24,535. Students who enroll in more than 18 credits will pay an additional $1,635 per credit hour. For graduate students, tuition is charged by the credit, and programs are $1,759 per credit hour.
Some programs and options feature different tuition rates. For example, students enrolled in the law program will pay $28,342 for full-time enrollment in 12 to 17 credit hours or $2,099 per credit for part-time enrollment in fewer than 12 credit hours. The university also has a non-degree-seeking rate of $1,635 per credit for courses level 100 to 400 and a rate of $1,759 per credit for courses labeled 500 and above.
American University awards 80 percent of its incoming students some type of financial aid, with more than $85 million available each year to students. Aid offered to students may include need-based aid, merit-based aid like scholarships, or offers of student employment. To qualify for federal financial aid awards like loans and Federal Pell Grants, students will need to submit a Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) form and have details like their tax forms available for upload.
In addition to federal and state grants, American University also offers institutional aid like the Presidential Scholarship, Leadership Scholarship, Frederick Douglass Scholarship, and Deans’ Scholarship. To maintain financial aid awards each year at American University, students must submit a FAFSA each year, as well as ensure satisfactory academic progress throughout their time at the college.