March 29, 2024

Ohio State University

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Healthcare Management Degrees Offered at Ohio State University

Ohio State University appears in our ranking of the Top 30 Best Online RN to BSN Programs.

Ohio State University (OSU) offers a few degree options at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for students pursuing careers in healthcare management. The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Systems (HIMS) program provides a comprehensive introduction to the field as well as hands-on practice in a variety of related careers. The curriculum combines the disciplines of business and information technology with healthcare. During their first two years, students take eight core classes covering the foundations of accounting, anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, and statistics among other topics. This is followed by a 15-course advanced track including health-related classes like Principles of Disease, Fundamentals of Health Care Law, Clinical Classification Systems, Health Care Reimbursement, and Health Care Research. The track also includes courses like Management Principles, Systems Analysis and Design, and Quality Improvement. HIMS students are encouraged to participate in study-abroad programs, research projects, and internships throughout their four years of study.

Many graduates go on to pursue the Master of Health Administration (MHA) in Health Services Management and Policy which typically takes 2 years and 60 credit hours to complete. During their first year, students take five classes that cover the fundamental areas of public health which are biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health services administration, and social and behavioral aspects of health. There are then 15 required advanced classes including Health Services Finance, Information Systems for Health Services Organizations, Operations Management, Health Services Strategy and Marketing, Introduction to Health Policy, and Health Insurance and Payment. While this track is preset and mandatory, students do choose two electives which allows them to focus on a particular area of interest. Faculty emphasize hands-on learning, and the program features a 1.5-credit-hour clinical rotation experience as well as a summer residency.

The Master of Applied Clinical and Preclinical Research (MACPR) is another option that is available entirely online. The initial 21-credit-hour core includes pharmacy and nursing courses like Fundamentals of Pharmacology, Fundamentals of Medical Product Development and Regulation, and Clinical Research Design and Methods. Upon completion of this track, students choose a concentration, either Clinical Research Management or Regulatory Affairs, and complete 12 hours in this area. Prior to graduation, a final project is required which can be either an extensive research experience or a practicum.

The final related program is the Master of Healthcare Innovation that is also offered completely online through the College of Nursing. The coursework consists of nine required classes covering topics like policy, leadership, organizational culture and operations, communication, and research methods. A unique feature of this program is that students must complete an extensive 3-course, 9-hour capstone series following the core curriculum.  An online RN to BSN is also offered.

About Ohio State University

Ohio State University initially opened as a land-grant university in 1870 with a plan to focus on agricultural, engineering, and mechanical studies. The Ohio governor at the time chose, instead, to expand the curriculum, and the university offered education in a variety of disciplines from the beginning. The school has always celebrated diversity, encouraging women to enroll at its inception, and currently, the campus is listed among the best in the nation for African American and LGBTQ individuals. OSU is also renowned for its top-tier faculty, curriculum, and student experience, and the U.S. News and World Report has ranked it #17 on its list of Top Public Schools and #18 on its Most Innovative Schools list. The online programs are also very successful earning the #2 and #3 spots in the categories of Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs and Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.

Ohio State University Accreditation Details

Regional accreditation status is an important benchmark when evaluating the quality of a school. Ohio State University has maintained continuous accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) for over 100 years, since 1913. The HLC is responsible for evaluating colleges and universities in 19 states, mostly located in the central part of the U.S. To earn accreditation, the school must demonstrate that it meets standards in a variety of areas that range from faculty expertise and curriculum to financial standing, administrative policy, transparency, and overall campus experience. There are also other groups that evaluate specific programs and departments within a school. The following organizations have certified that the healthcare management programs at OSU meet quality standards.

  • Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
  • Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education
  • Consortium of Academic Programs in Clinical Research

Ohio State University Application Requirements

Prospective freshmen may use either the Common Application or the Coalition Application to apply and must additionally submit official high school transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. While not required, applicants also have the option of sending up to two letters of recommendation from teachers or counselors. There are no published cutoff GPA or test scores for freshmen, but transfer students need at least a 2.0 GPA and may be subjected to additional requirements based on their specific major. Students applying to the graduate programs at OSU need to send transcripts demonstrating completion of an undergraduate degree with at least a 3.0 GPA. Certain programs do have additional requirements. For example, MHA and MACPR applicants need to include a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, and a resume. In addition, the MHA program also requires the use of the HAMPCAS application and submission of GRE scores.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition at the Columbus and regional OSU campuses runs approximately $11,000 and $8,000 respectively per year for in-state students which increases to $32,000 for non-residents. The university does offer many merit-based scholarships for both in-state and out-of-state students including the Eminence Fellows Program and Scholarship, the Morrill Scholarship Program, and the National Buckeye Award. At the graduate level, in-state MHA students can expect to pay about $950 per credit hour with a cap at 8 hours plus an additional $1,474 fee per hour for out-of-state students. All online full-time graduate students pay approximately $6000 per semester. The Health Services Management and Policy Alumni Society offers a few scholarships to MHA students including the William O. Cleverley Scholarship. All Ohio State University graduate students also have the opportunity to work as graduate administrative, research, or teaching associates to cover tuition costs.