PhD Healthcare Administration Degree Programs in Alabama
Why Should I Get My PhD in Healthcare Administration in AL?
As health reform shapes up all over the United States, each state has its own challenges and hurdles to overcome. In Alabama, rural health is an area that has struggled significantly in recent years. A large percentage of Alabama’s population lives in remote rural areas, limiting access to care. This problem is compounded for those struggling with the effects of poverty.
With a PhD in health administration in Alabama, you can prepare for leadership roles that combine financial management, staff leadership, research, and legal compliance.
As a healthcare administrator, you can develop the skills needed to solve these and other problems in Alabama. A recent development in Alabama healthcare allowed the state to turn control of Medicaid managed care over to state hospitals and nonprofit organizations, rather than for-profit insurance companies.
This decision changes the face of Medicaid managed care and increases the need for highly trained and educated healthcare professionals. In addition to lowering the cost of care for low-income residents, this program is expected to save taxpayers millions of dollars in coming years.
Are There Online PhD Programs in Healthcare Administration In AL?
As you begin to compare PhD programs in Alabama, you need to look into each school’s admission requirements. Some programs accept Bachelor’s degree graduates, combining graduate and PhD courses into one long degree program. Others require you to first earn a Master’s degree and maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher. If you have prior education and work experience in the healthcare field, you may have an advantage over other prospective students. However, if you are trying to transition into the medical field from another industry, you may be considered for acceptance if you have strong references and an excellent history of academic performance.
In a traditional PhD program, anticipate earning approximately 25 credits by the time you graduate. These credits may include courses like Quantitative Analysis in Research, Qualitative Analysis in Research, Research Design and Analysis, and Seminar in Health Administration. Doctoral students get a fair amount of control over their electives, so you can choose electives that align with your previous education and current career goals.
Your thesis is the crux of your PhD. Assuming a four-year program, you begin researching the idea for your thesis in your second year and defend your thesis proposal in the third year of study. The entire final year of your education is centered on writing and defending your thesis. You may spend more than four years in school if you take longer to write your thesis, since many schools allow you to spend several years at this stage of the process.
What Kind of PhD in Health Administration Jobs Can I Find In AL?
If you plan on working in rural health care after graduation, you may qualify for federal loan forgiveness, scholarship programs, or grant programs. However, as a PhD candidate, you may not have any educational expenses. Most schools only accept students whom they believe will produce high-quality research in their field and for whom they can provide funding. Generally, this comes in the form of a teaching position or a research position.
After graduation, you may become a health services manager. In Alabama, job openings in this field are projected to grow by 14 percent between 2018 and 2028, and the average salary is $93,330 per year. If you would rather focus on research and health administration, you may become a postsecondary instructor. In Alabama these jobs are projected to increase by 22 percent between 2018 and 2028, and the average income for an Alabama instructor is $102,390 per year.
With a Doctor of Health Administration in Alabama, you can explore career routes that focus on research, management, and legislation. Look at Alabama school listings below and contact local schools to learn more.
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 December 2021.
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