University of Arkansas Healthcare Management Degree Program(s) Available
The University of Arkansas appears in our ranking of the Top 30 Best Online RN to BSN Programs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare management positions are expected to grow by 20 percent over the next decade, much faster than positions in other industries. The average annual salary of a healthcare management professional in 2018 was $99,730 per year and many of these positions require only a bachelor’s degree to. The University of Arkansas offers degree programs in the healthcare management field that prepare students for the changing industry.
For aspiring nurse managers, the University of Arkansas offers an online RN to BSN program that prepares individuals for the changing world of nursing. The program uses evidence-based practice that helps guide the development of nursing practitioners who are focused on patient care, preventing disease and promoting healthy communities. In addition, the program helps strengthen analytical and clinical reasoning skills and prepares graduates for a broader scope of practice. Students gain a better understanding of social, cultural, political and economic issues that can impact healthcare delivery and outcomes. Courses required may include Therapeutic and Interprofessional Communication, Pharmacology in Nursing, Foundations of Professional Practice, Children and Family and Adult Health and Illness. A practicum is also required.
The Master of Business Administration with Executive Healthcare Concentration prepares students for leadership roles in healthcare organizations. The program combines business knowledge with an understanding of today’s ever-changing healthcare industry. Students gain an understanding of corporate financial management, marketing and supply chain management along with health law and the healthcare system. Courses that may be required include Strategic Management, Global Business, Economics of Management and Strategy, Healthcare Quality Management, Analytics and Visualization as well as Leadership and Organizational Behavior. The program is available both online and on-campus.
About University of Arkansas
When the University of Arkansas was established in 1871, the state was still recovering from the Civil War, leading many to believe that creating an institute of higher learning was unwise. However, the establishment of the school during a time of significant upheaval actually brought former rivals together to help the school succeed. The school was established under the Morrill Act and received federal lands they could use for the site of the school or sell to establish an endowment to build a school that would focus on agriculture and mechanical arts.
Washington County provided the successful bid for the location of the school and, using funds from the sale of federal lands, a 160-acre farm owned by William McIlroy was purchased. The land was located in Fayetteville and the school began with the construction of a temporary classroom on the property as the Arkansas Industrial University in 1872. Unfortunately, many students who arrived to attend the school lacked the basic educational background they needed to succeed. Because the trustees did not want to turn any student away, they established a preparatory school that prepared students for college studies.
By 1899, the focus of the school had changed and students led a campaign to change the name to the University of Arkansas. Despite accepting designation as a land-grant institution which required the school to focus on mechanical and agricultural arts, the leaders put more emphasis on mathematics and classical education. Despite pressure from the legislature in 1887 to return to the school’s initial focus, students and faculty were uninterested in the change, leading to the push for a name change a decade later.
Enrollment dropped significantly during World War II and, to keep the doors open, the school took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program. Students were given a Navy commission after completing the program, allowing the school to offset the lower enrollment while also contributing to the war effort. After the war, enrollment grew significantly as soldiers returned to take advantage of the GI Bill.
Today, there are more than 27,000 students enrolled at the university. President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began their careers by teaching law at the University of Arkansas. Mrs. Clinton founded the University’s legal clinic.
University of Arkansas Accreditation Details
The University of Arkansas is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Accreditation indicates that the University of Arkansas has the resources necessary to meet its stated goals and objectives. It also indicates that the school offers programs that are of the highest quality as determined by criteria set forth by the Commission.
In addition to regional accreditation, many programs throughout the college are also accredited by the following organizations:
- American Bar Association
- American Psychological Association
- Association of American Law Schools
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Council of Social Work Education
- Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Council on Rehabilitation Education
- Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- National Association of Schools of Music
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- National Council for Teachers of English
- National Council for Teachers of Mathematics
- National Council for the Social Studies
- National Science Teachers Association
University of Arkansas Application Requirements
Applicants for the RN to BSN program must hold a valid nursing license and provide employer information. They must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. They must also provide a letter of good standing from the director or dean of the nursing school where they earned their degree.
Applicants to the Master of Business Administration with a Healthcare Management Concentration must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. They must also submit official GMAT or GRE scores. Recommendations, essays, and a current resume must also be provided. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
The University of Arkansas Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for the online RN to BSN program is $298.22 per credit hour. Tuition for the Master of Business Administration with a Healthcare Management concentration is $587.46 per credit hour.
The University of Arkansas awards almost $180 million each year in financial assistance. In order to qualify, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which must be renewed each year. Assistance may be awarded as scholarships, grants, loans or work-study programs.
The University of Arkansas is one of the country’s top public research facilities. The school has a student-first philosophy, ensuring that each person attending gets as much one-on-one attention and mentoring as possible. The Carnegie Foundation classified the University of Arkansas as having the highest level of research and places it in the top three percent of colleges and universities in the country.