Studies & Degrees in Health Care Management
Health Care Management Study Programs
Healthcare management, also called health administration, is the organisation and direction of health services: hospitals, clinics, care homes, medical practices and the public bodies and insurers that pay for care. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes medical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, as the people who plan, direct and coordinate medical and health services. They may manage an entire facility, a clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians.
A degree in the field combines business subjects with knowledge of how health systems work. According to the BLS, degrees that focus on both management and healthcare combine business-related topics with subjects such as medical terminology, hospital organization and health information systems, and may include courses in health services management, accounting and budgeting, and health informatics. Health law, quality and patient safety, health economics and human resources are also usual parts of the curriculum.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree. In the United States, universities and colleges offer bachelor's degrees in health administration or healthcare management. The BLS notes that managers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation, and that common majors are health administration, nursing or business.
- Master's degree. The Master of Health Administration (MHA) is the standard graduate qualification in the United States. At Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia the MHA takes two years and has 36 credits, in a hybrid format. At the University of Alabama at Birmingham the Master of Science in Health Administration is a 33-month programme: 21 months of full-time courses on campus and 9 to 12 months in an administrative residency. The university states that the programme is accredited by CAHME, the US accreditor for graduate healthcare management education.
- Master's degree in Spain. The subject is taught at postgraduate level, usually after a first degree in another field. Official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. One example outside our school list is the Máster Universitario en Administración Sanitaria, an official master's degree of 60 ECTS credits taught jointly by the UNED and the Escuela Nacional de Sanidad by distance learning over two academic years. Its page says there is no new intake for 2026-27, so check with the UNED before planning on it.
- Certificates and short courses. These are aimed at health professionals who move into management. The Healthcare Management Certificate at Saint Joseph's University has 12 credits, or four courses.
Many private schools also offer their own master's programmes in health management. Ask the school what recognition the qualification has before enrolling, particularly if you need it for a public-sector post.
Where to study healthcare management
SpainExchange lists 70 active schools for healthcare management. Most are in the United States (47 schools), followed by Spain (6), the United Kingdom (2) and Canada (2). There are single schools in countries including Italy, Denmark, Ireland, France, Australia and Uruguay.
In the United States the subject is taught at large public universities such as The Ohio State University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, at private universities such as Saint Joseph's University, Drexel University and Temple University in Philadelphia, and at colleges such as Broward College. Teaching is in English. Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh offers a related two-year Master of Science in Health Care Analytics, focused on managing and analysing health data.
In Spain the list includes Acedis Formación, a training provider with online courses and professional master's programmes. Spanish-speaking students can also look at the Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín, Colombia. Health systems differ widely between countries in funding, law and organisation, so it makes sense to study in the country, or at least the type of system, where you plan to work.
Careers
Graduates work as department or clinic managers, hospital administrators, nursing home administrators, health information managers and practice managers, and in insurers, consultancies and public health authorities. Many managers come from a clinical profession and add a management qualification later.
The BLS counted about 640,400 medical and health services managers in the United States in 2025. Hospitals employed 28 percent of them and offices of physicians 13 percent. It projects employment to grow 24 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 62,300 openings each year. Some posts are regulated: all US states require a licence for nursing home administrators. The BLS adds that advancement to top executive positions may require a master's degree. These figures apply to the United States; other countries organise and staff their health services differently.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a medical background to study healthcare management?
No. According to the BLS, common backgrounds include health administration, nursing and business. Employers do typically look for work experience in an administrative or clinical role in a healthcare facility.
How long does a master's in health administration take?
Usually about two years in the United States; the MHA at Saint Joseph's University takes two years and has 36 credits. Programmes with a residency are longer, such as the 33-month programme at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Can I study healthcare management in Spain?
Yes, mainly at master's level. Official master's degrees have 60 to 120 ECTS credits, and the UNED and the Escuela Nacional de Sanidad teach an official 60-credit master's in health administration by distance learning.
What is the job outlook?
In the United States, the BLS projects employment of medical and health services managers to grow 24 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.