Online Health Care Degree Programs

Online health care degree programs include associate, bachelor's, master's, doctorare degrees, certificates and courses in healthcare management, healthcare administration, nursing and other healthcare degree specializations.

Accredited Online Health Care Degree Programs and Specializations

Online health care degree programs, certificates and related courses are available by distance learning in these and more areas of study:

Associates in Health Sciences
Associates in Medical Technology
Associates in Medical Assisting
Associates in Medical Office Mgmt/Admin
Medical Billing & Coding
Bachelor in Health Informatics
Bachelor in Nursing
Public Health
Physical Therapy
Pharmacy
Nutrition
Physical & Occupational Therapy
Massage Therapy
Dental Assistant
PhD/Doctorate in Health Sciences

What can I expect from a healthcare management degree program?

Healthcare management degree programs introduce you to the principles of accounting, medical terminology, healthcare and medical ethics, healthcare policy and law, finance, risk management, economics, marketing and communications, public relations, statistics, and supply chain management with an emphasis on their application to a healthcare setting. You can earn an associates degree in healthcare administration, an associate's degree in health information management, a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration or healthcare management, or a master's degree in healthcare administration.

Online Health Care Degree Education

An online health care degree provides learners access to credible health care administration and management education at a convenient and flexible schedule. You should be careful to make sure that the online health care degree program you earn is accredited to ensure that it will be accepted by employers and other colleges and universities, and to protect yourself against fraudulent degree programs and diploma mills.

Distance learning education offers learners the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of exciting healthcare degrees and courses. Your associate's degree in health care administration coursework will include healthcare terminology, health and diseases, and health care financial issues. You will also learn effective communication skills and legal and ethical issues in health care.

A bachelor's degree in health care administration and management will deepen your understanding of the legal and ethical issues in healthcare, and the financial issues facing healthcare providers and insurers. You will also learn about human resource management, healthcare quality control, healthcare regulations and compliance issues, public health, healthcare information systems, leadership and development, and healthcare facility planning. You can choose to concentrate in healthcare information technology or healthcare management.

A masters degree in health care administration will increase your competitive edge when applying for supervisory positions in health care administration and management. Most healthcare administrators and managers return to school to earn a masters degree in order to advance their careers in health care administration and management to the highest levels. You will complete courses in change management, leadership, healthcare information systems, healthcare marketing, healthcare outcomes evaluation and management, and much more. You may also be required to complete a master's project or thesis.

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Careers and Salaries with a Health Care Administration or Management Degree

Private hospitals, managed care facilities, and physician's offices hire health care administration and management graduates. In the public sector, many health care administration and management graduates find employment with the Veteran's Administration, county hospitals and managed care facilities, and prisons.

All healthcare providers are concerned that patient's receive the best possible care, that their private information is adequately protected, that patients and insurance companies are billed appropriately, and that staffing is adequate, professional, and properly licensed. As the health care administration and management professional, it will be your responsibility to attend to these issues.

Graduates with an associate's degree in health care administration are qualified for employment as an assistant office manager or health information manager in a physician's office. Large healthcare organizations may hire you as an assistant department manager if you have work experience in a health-related field, but most positions open to holders of an associate's degree will be with small to mid-sized physician's offices.

A bachelor's degree in health care administration and management will open careers as an assistant department manager, clinical manager, nursing home manager, office manager in a physician's office, or as a healthcare manager in a managed care facility. A bachelor's degree in health information management will open doors to you as a health information manager. You will find positions open to you in private physician's practices, hospitals, and managed care facilities.

A master's degree in health care administration will increase your competitive edge when applying for supervisory positions in health care administration and management. Your masters degree in health care administration will help you start a career as a hospital administrator, managed care facility director, health service manager, and health care policy analyst. Many large hospitals and managed care facilities will only consider you for senior management position if you have at least a masters degree in health care administration.

Opportunities to enter a career in healthcare management are expected to continue to grow faster than average due to the increasing age of the US population and changes in the healthcare industry, which have all contributed to the growing need for healthcare administration professionals.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2008), most healthcare administration professionals' average earnings exceed $70,000, and salaries in excess of $100,000 are common. For example, a nursing home director can expect to earn an average of $95,000, but top earners may earn over $120,000. A director of a substance abuse center can expect to earn between $80,000 and $120,000, with some directors earning over $140,000. An office manager for a home health care operation may earn less than $50,000, however.