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Healthcare Administration Master Programs in Alabama

If you are looking to earn a degree in healthcare administration often finds employment as a health services administrator. Health services administrators manage either a department within a healthcare facility or an entire facility and direct and coordinate health services within the facility or department.

A health services administrator’s job description can be lengthy. Responsibilities you may be in charge of in a healthcare leadership role include the following:

  • Facility’s fiscal operations
  • Direct and supervise the activities of healthcare personnel within the facility
  • Recruiting and hiring of personnel
  • Administering programs within the facility
  • Monitoring the use of healthcare equipment and other services
  • Determining the need for new or additional equipment and services
  • Developing and implementing computerized record management systems

Health services administrators are also required to keep abreast of changing government regulations, medical advancements, changes to health insurance, and new technology. Health services administrators are expected to have excellent reasoning, comprehension, problem-solving, decision making, time management, and writing skills.

Contact the schools below to learn more about your options and to learn how a healthcare administration degree can position you within this growing field.

Education for Healthcare Administration in Alabama

The first and foremost item you should check when looking for a healthcare administration program is the school’s accreditation. Currently, only one Alabama university, the University of Alabama-Birmingham, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, or CAHME.

The Master of Science in Health Administration program at UAB is ranked fifth in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

There are numerous scholarship opportunities for students enrolled in the Master of Science in Health Administration program at UAB.

The University of Alabama-Birmingham offers an Executive Master of Science in Health Administration program for working professionals with five or more years of experience in the field, and a residential Master of Science in Health Administration program for students who have either just completed their undergraduate degree or working adults who are attempting a career change. Both of these degree programs are CAHME accredited.

The residential Master of Science in Health Administration is a 33-month program. Students spend 21 months enrolled in full-time courses and an addition nine to twelve months in an administrative residency. Students applying for the residential program may also apply to one of two dual degree programs if they desire to earn either a Master of Science in Health Informatics or Master of Business Administration degree along with their Master of Science in Health Administration.

UAB offers summer internships for students enrolled in either the residential Master of Science in Health Administration program or the dual Master of Science in Health Administration/Master of Science in Health Informatics Program.

The executive Master of Science in Health Administration program generally takes two years of full-time study to complete. This program does not require an admissions test but does require a resume, letters of recommendation, transcripts of previous coursework, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 during the last 60 hours of undergraduate study. Students in the executive program will complete a three to four day preceptorship, which is an intensive hands-on experience working in healthcare in another part of the United States or even a foreign country.

UAB also hosts the annual Health Administration Case Competition, where students from other CAHME-accredited master’s programs in the United States and Canada gain practical experience by working on a real life case. This competition is held in February at the same time as the school’s L.R. Jordan Distinguished Lecture Series.

Career Outlook for Graduates in Alabama

There are many places where you could find yourself in a healthcare administrative role. Although many health services administrators work in general hospitals, physicians’ practices, or skilled nursing facilities, other health services administrators may work for home healthcare services, outpatient care facilities, laboratories, and specialty hospitals.

Nationwide, job growth for health services administrators is projected to occur much faster than average in the next few years. In Alabama, health services administrator jobs are projected to grow by 14 percent, or 360 jobs annually, between 2018 and 2028.

In 2020 the median annual wage for a health services administrator in Alabama was $82,610.

If you’re ready to explore a career in healthcare administration, you can begin investigating your educational options in Alabama now! Request information from the schools you’re interested in below and compare your options to find the best program for you.

 

2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Medical and Health Services Managers. Job growth projections sourced from the Alabama Department of Labor and published in the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Long Term Occupational Projections (2018-2028) database. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expressly refers users to this source for state-specific job market data. Salary figures and job market projections reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2021.

Health Administration Schools