Healthcare Management Master’s Programs in Pennsylvania

healthcare-masters-programs-in-pennsylvaniaBefore choosing healthcare management master’s programs in Pennsylvania, it’s important to review the many available in the commonwealth, and learn more about the state.

Pennsylvania was established by a charter given to William Penn by Charles II in 1680. Penn originally wanted to call the area “Sylvania,” which is Latin for woodlands, but it was chartered as Pennsylvania, meaning Penn’s Woods. It’s sometimes called the “Quaker State” due to the large number of Quakers who settled in the area. It is more commonly called the “Keystone State.” A keystone is a central wedge in an arch that locks all other pieces of the arch together, and there are several theories as to how Pennsylvania earned the Keystone State name.

One thought is that when the Continental Congress voted for independence, there were four against and four supportive of the split from England. The vote of John Morton for independence was said to be a keystone in America’s fight for independence. It is also said that the name comes from the location of the state among the original 13 colonies. In addition, when the Capital moved to Washington DC, a bridge over Rock Creek was named the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge. The state’s initials were carved in the keystone of the arch that supported the bridge. Regardless of how the state earned its nickname, there are several keystone healthcare management master’s programs in Pennsylvania, offering exceptional education in that area of expertise.

Pennsylvania State University

Department of Health Policy and Administration

Pennsylvania State University, known by most people as Penn State, consists of 24 campuses, one of which includes a teaching hospital. The college began in 1855 and originally focused on scientific farming principals. Expansion after the 1880s added more degrees, including a renowned healthcare management master’s program.

The Department of Health Policy and Administration:

  • addresses preventive and chronic care
  • offers information and incentives regarding health care issues
  • provides students the knowledge necessary to succeed in a world where health care is growing increasingly complex

Both of the master’s level healthcare management degrees at Penn State are research-oriented.  Graduates are well prepared to meet the demands of healthcare positions in:

  • government
  • academia
  • private industry

As one of the leading research universities in the country, Penn State is uniquely positioned to provide employers with the exceptional upper-level staff they need to succeed.

Master’s in Health Administration

This degree focuses on the reform and redesign of the healthcare system. It’s designed for part-time professional students who are already working in the healthcare field. It offers students additional skills and knowledge in the areas of:

  • care
  • managemen
  • , control of costs
  • quality in the delivery of care

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher, but the undergraduate degree can be in any major. The degree requires 36 credits, including 33 credits at the 500-level, as well as a three-credit capstone course.

Master’s in Health Policy and Administration

This degree focuses on management, policy and research with particular emphasis on:

  • cost
  • quality
  • healthcare access

It offers a solid foundation in knowledge and skills required for research in health services. It prepares students for the complexities faced by those who manage healthcare and healthcare-related organizations. Students learn subjects such as:

  • health law
  • health insurance
  • ethics
  • long-term care
  • many others necessary to succeed in the healthcare industry

Students must have:

  • a satisfactory score from the Graduate Management Admissions Test or the Graduate Record Examination
  • a junior/senior grade point average of 3.0 or better
  • a four-year degree from an accredited college or university

Contact Information
Department of Health Policy and Administration
The Pennsylvania State University
604 Ford Building
University Park, PA 16802-6500
Email: HPAGrad@psu.edu
Telephone: 814-863-9971
Website: http://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/H

Temple University

Fox School of Business

Temple University began in 1888 after Reverend Russell Conwell began teaching young men who were holding down jobs, unable to attend a traditional university. Using volunteer faculty, the school grew until receiving a charter of incorporation for “The Temple College.” Today, the university has more than 35,000 students following the school’s motto, “perseverantia vincit,” which means “perseverance conquers.”

At Temple, the Healthcare Management degrees are taught through the Fox School of Business, named for Board of Trustees member and former chairman, Richard J. Fox. The school of business at Temple was established in 1918, and renamed the Fox School of Business in 1999.

MBA in Health Sector Management (HSM)

Temple’s Fox School of Business, under the Department of Risk, Insurance & Healthcare Management, offers an MBA in Health Sector Management. It is designed to not only prepare those already in the healthcare field for leadership positions, but also those who are new to healthcare. It is the oldest healthcare management program in the area. It helps students develop leadership skills necessary for managing healthcare organizations.

Also taught under the Department of Risk, Insurance & Healthcare Management is the Risk Management and Insurance master’s degree. The undergraduate degree in the field is ranked fifth in the nation by US News and World Report. It’s designed to provide additional knowledge for those in the industry who wish to advance their careers. It is a 22-month program. Students are required to meet two residency requirements.

Contact Information

Admissions Office
Fox School of Business
Alter Hall (006-22)
1801 Liacouras Walk
Suite 701
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Phone: 215-204-5890
Email: foxinfo@temple.edu
Website: http://www.fox.temple.edu/cms_academics/dept/risk-insurance-healthcare-management/graduate/master-of-science-in-risk-management-and-insurance/

University of Pittsburgh

Department of Health Policy and Management

The University of Pittsburgh was founded in 1787 in a humble log cabin in what was then the American frontier. On February 18, 1819, the Pennsylvania legislature rechartered what was then known as the Pittsburgh Academy as the Western University of Pittsburgh. The first degrees were conferred in 1823. The school moved to downtown Pittsburgh in 1830, relocating to what many students called a “large and imposing” three-story building on Third Street. That building was destroyed in the Great Pittsburgh Fire in 1845, along with many of the records, files, books and equipment.

A local church offered their basement as a temporary classroom while another building on Third Street was constructed. That building was also destroyed by fire in 1855, and the university again lost many records and equipment. The university built another building, and in the cornerstone was placed a copy of each of the city’s newspapers and a list of those working on the project. Today, the University of Pittsburgh ranks among the top 20 universities in US News & World Report. The graduate programs rank highly among the publication’s ranking of such programs.

Master of Health Administration in Health Policy and Management

The Master of Health Administration in Health Policy and Management at the University of Pittsburgh prepares graduates for supervisory and management positions in:

  • managed care
  • healthcare systems
  • health insurance
  • long-term care facilities

The program focuses on teaching students the skills necessary to perform duties required in mid-level management positions. However, many students move into executive management or other leadership positions rapidly after completing the program. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution to apply for the program

Contact Information

Wesley Rohrer, PhD, MBA
Vice Chair, Education
Director, MHA Program
A649 Crabtree Hall
Telephone: 412-624-2743
Email: wmrun@pitt.edu
Website: http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/health-policy-and-management/prospective-students/mha

University of Scranton

Panuska College of Professional Studies

Scranton University was founded as the Saint Thomas College in 1888 by the Most Reverend G. O’Hara, the first bishop of Scranton. The cornerstone he blessed, which was a single block of granite, is preserved in the wall of St. Thomas Hall, representing the humble beginnings of the university. In 1942, 19 Jesuits, led by Reverend Coleman Nevils, S.J., who had been appointed president, began administering the college. The Jesuits restructured the curriculum with more focus on liberal arts. Today, the University of Scranton remains dedicated to enriching the academic offerings to provide students with quality, up-to-date education to prepare them for their professional careers.

Master of Health Administration

The goal of the Master of Health Administration program is to provide students with a comprehensive knowledge base, skills and values necessary for positions at the administrative level in the healthcare industry. It uses a combination of:

  • lectures
  • presentations
  • applied research
  • volunteer opportunities

The program satisfies the needs of employers while keeping true to Jesuit ideals. In 2011, graduates of the program achieved 90 percent job placement at a median annual salary of $60,000. Students must have:

  • a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college
  • an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
  • three letters of reference from those who can attest to their background, work experience and personal character.

Contact Information

Health Administration & Human Resources
4th Floor, McGurrin Hall
Scranton, PA 18510-4699
Telephone: 570-374-0101
Email: cgce@scranton.edu
Website: http://www.scranton.edu/academics/pcps/hahr/programs/health-admin/graduate/index.hshtml

Widener University

School of Business Administration

Widener University began when John Bullock established the Bullock School for Boys in 1821. The goal was to prepare young men for their college entry. In 1846, the school was renamed the Alsop School for Boys after the new headmaster, Samuel Aslop. The school was purchased by Theodore Hyatt in 1853, who renamed the school the Hyatt Select School for Boys. Legend has it that when Hyatt found students performing drills with broomsticks in the gym in 1858, he introduced a military discipline to the school.

In 1859, the school became the Delaware Military Academy, beginning what would be a long history of distinguished graduates. In 1862, the school relocated to West Chester, Pennsylvania, due to the state’s abolishionist beliefs. In the 1960s, military schools fell out of favor due to the lack of public support for the Vietnam War. In 1966, what was then the Pennsylvania Military College admitted women and civilians after joining with Penn Morton College, changing the name to PMC Colleges. In 1975, the college was renamed Widener College after the prominent Widener family of Philadelphia.

Master of Business Administration Health Care Management

Widener recognizes that health care is one of the largest and fastest growing fields in the United States, employing more than 13 million people. Therefore, the curriculum provides a unique and integrated program for business leaders who want to pursue administrative positions in the healthcare field. Graduates from Widener’s master’s in Health Care Management have found positions in every major health care firm in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Contact Information

Widener University
School of Business Administration
One University Place
Chester, PA 19013
Phone: 610-499-4305
Email: sbagradv@mail.widener.edu
Website: http://www.widener.edu/academics/schools/business/graduate/mba/

These healthcare management masters programs in Pennsylvania offer exceptional education for those who are seeking to further their healthcare career or want to move into the administrative level of an organization.