Des Moines University & Healthcare Management
Des Moines University appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Master’s in Healthcare Management Online / Online MBA Healthcare Administration.
Students who attend Des Moines University have a few choices for majoring in healthcare management and administration. One option is the Master of Health Care Administration, which is a 48-credit program that students can complete in two years. The other option is a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Public Health Administration and Policy. Students can also concentrate in Public Health Practice or Health Education & Promotion in the MPH program.
Students who choose the Master of Health Care Administration program are commonly employed in full-time work while they are enrolled in online classes. The university offers starting terms in the spring, summer, and fall semesters. Students usually have somewhere between one and five years of professional experience when they enroll for classes.
Some of the topics under discussion in the program include health information management, leadership and health policy development, and financial management. The program is designed to assist graduates in entering a leadership role at their facility or organization. Students can benefit from the blended experience that features online learning, as well as five-day immersive experiences on campus.
In addition to its accredited status, the program is also affiliated with the National Council on Administrative Fellowships and the Iowa Department of Public Health. Classes a student may take in the program include Health Care Financial Management, Organizational Behavior & Leadership Theory, and Health Care Economics & Policy.
Meanwhile, students who choose the Master of Public Health program can complete their degree from home through the university’s online campus, as well as enjoy a program that is also accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. Students can complete their MPH with a concentration in Public Health Administration & Policy in as little as two years but may also proceed at a pace that suits their personal scheduling needs.
While enrolled in the program, students must complete an internship lasting 180 hours in a public health setting. Students will also complete a capstone project that will allow the student to use their newly-gained knowledge in public health to demonstrate mastery of the program’s many core competencies.
Some of the competencies that students must master when majoring in Public Health Administration & Policy include evaluating a health care organization and its organizational behavior and understanding how economic theory impacts health care organizations. Students must also master understanding how policy processes impact chronic disease management and developing methods for reducing health disparity issues.
To complete the Master of Public Health program at Des Moines University, students must earn 46 total credit hours in classes like Program Planning & Evaluation Research, Public Health Biology, and Environmental & Occupational Health. Other classes a student must take include Public Health Leadership, Administration & Finance, Organizational Behavior & Leadership Theory, and United States Health Care & Public Health Systems.
About Des Moines University
Des Moines University is located in Des Moines, Iowa and is an osteopathic school. Established in 1898, the university is the second-oldest such school in the country and is also one of the largest medical schools in the country with more than 1,800 students. The school’s official colors are purple and white, and the urban campus in Des Moines covers a total of 22 acres.
Approximately 74 full-time staff members serve students at the university and are supported by an additional 20 part-time staff members. The school’s motto is “Improving global human health through higher education.” The university was founded as the Dr. S.S. Still College and Infirmary of Osteopathy & Surgery. The school has several satellite clinics operating locally.
Des Moines University Accreditation Details
Regional accreditation for Des Moines University comes from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university was last accredited by the commission’s Institutional Actions Council in 2012. As a medical school, the university is also accredited by the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.
Several programs offered by the university are programmatically accredited. For example, the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation has accredited the College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education has accredited the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The Master of Healthcare Administration is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.
Des Moines University Application Requirements
Admission standards vary for each degree program at Des Moines University, but the application process is similar for several degrees. Students will submit an official application, submit official transcripts, and send MCAT scores to the university. Students will also need to send their letters of recommendation to the school.
Additionally, students must have several letters sent to the university that include a committee letter from the student’s pre-health professions committee, a letter from an academic advisor, and a medical letter from a doctor that details the student’s experience. For the Master of Healthcare Administration, students will indicate whether they are interested in full-time or part-time enrollment.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees at Des Moines University differ for each program but are the same for the Master of Healthcare Administration and the Master of Public Health program. Students will pay $665 per credit for the fall, spring, or summer semester. Students auditing a course will pay $333 per credit.
Students may also need to pay for health insurance and will pay $1,650 per semester. Other fees a student may need to pay include credit card service fees, application fees, and late fees. Non-degree students will pay $60 for their application, and students who pay their tuition late will pay $100 per term on balances of less than $5,000 or $250 per term on balances of more than $5,000.
Des Moines University offers more than $2.5 million in scholarships each year. Students will usually pay their tuition with a combination of loans and scholarships. The Financial Aid Office at Des Moines University offers individual counseling, group workshops, and presentations designed to offer students the information they need to make informed decisions about borrowing money for college.
Des Moines University is a private university, so it charges the same amount of tuition for out-of-state and Iowa residents. Students may qualify for general, institutional scholarships, as well as program-specific scholarships and loan repayment programs. Students enrolled in the Master of Health Care Administration program at Des Moines University should inquire about scholarships for new students.