Fast-track Your Career with a PhD in Healthcare Management Online
The need for doctoral-degree holders in healthcare management is growing with the increasing demands of an aging population and sophisticated technology. Online PhD programs help professionals prepare for senior positions or become researchers.
If you’re a healthcare professional who has already “mastered” their field (pun intended) by earning a master’s degree, you may have considered going back to school for your PhD. If you’re looking to not only advance your healthcare career but also be a manager or conduct healthcare management research, a PhD is an ideal next step. But what about the disruption to your life and career that a doctoral program can cause?
Great news: If you pursue your PhD in healthcare management online, you’ll have more flexibility and skip relocation stress while you earn your doctorate. With U.S. News and World Report ranking healthcare management as No. 2 on the list of best business jobs — and citing an average salary of six figures — this is a field full of opportunity–where doctoral-level expertise can only help. Take a look at some online doctoral programs in healthcare management to see if one might be right for you.
Program Profiles: Online PhDs in Healthcare Management
When you begin researching hybrid and fully online doctoral programs in healthcare management, you’ll discover a variety of options. While which one will be best for you depends on a variety of personal factors, including class format, finances, and more, we’ve included these profiles to start you in the process. These schools are worth considering because of their rigorous academics, strong student support, and financing opportunities. Have a look as you start your research:
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University, a private university based in Baltimore, Maryland, is world-renowned for its healthcare and medicine programs. Their Bloomberg School of Public Health offers two doctoral programs in healthcare management — a PhD and a DrPH. While the PhD is an on-campus program, the DrPH can be completed either on-site, online, or through a hybrid of both. The DrPH is geared toward working professionals, with part-time and flexible study options and will take you anywhere from four to nine years to complete.
Once enrolled in this program, which is fully titled the DrPH with a concentration in healthcare policy and management, you’ll be expected to complete coursework, a dissertation, and practical experience for a total of at least 64 credits. You’ll also have opportunities to customize your curriculum before formulating your dissertation topic. Financial aid may be available.
Colorado Technical University
At Colorado Technical University, a state university with a campus in Colorado Springs, you can enroll in a fully online doctoral program in healthcare management and leadership. Although your coursework is entirely online, you’ll still be expected to complete an on-site residency as part of your studies. This accelerated, flexible online PhD in healthcare management can be completed in as little as three years. The curriculum emphasizes management strategy and ethics and prepares students to complete a dissertation, even if you begin the program with no research experience.
Colorado Tech prides itself on having designed the curriculum for this program to meet the standards set out by the American College of Healthcare Executives. To graduate, you’ll need to complete 100 credit hours and have your dissertation passed by a committee of experts. Financial aid may be available. Colorado Tech offers reduced tuition for active-duty military members.
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University, a private school with a campus in Jacksonville, Florida, offers a variation on online doctoral programs in healthcare management with their online-forward Doctor of Business Administration In Healthcare Leadership. This AACSB-accredited program focuses on the business side of healthcare management. It prepares students for two different types of careers, with one track for those interested in a professional, rather than academic, career and another for aspiring academics.
This program is designed for flexibility. Its curriculum requires only monthly visits to campus (or the alternative of watching lectures online) and two start dates per year. You’ll also have the opportunity to study part-time if that works better for you. Jacksonville University is an affiliate of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA).
Admission Criteria for Healthcare Management Programs
While every school has its own admissions process, there are a few things that you’ll typically find in the admissions requirements for PhD programs in healthcare management:
- Master’s degree from an accredited school in a relevant field
- Official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and postgraduate education
- Letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources
- Personal statement detailing the reasons behind your interest in the program and your career goals after graduating
Reasons to Earn a PhD in Healthcare Management Online
Even if you’re interested in getting your doctorate, you might still have questions about whether to pursue healthcare management and the pros and cons of studying online as opposed to on campus. Healthcare management is a field full of opportunities, and earning your PhD can be an excellent career move for healthcare professionals looking to advance or business professionals looking to transition. Plus, studying for your doctorate online can be a convenient and useful alternative to on-campus programs. Take a look at some of these advantages of an online PhD in healthcare management:
Leadership Skills
Even if you’re already a seasoned healthcare professional, you may not have much experience taking on a leadership role at work. Your doctoral studies will help you develop your leadership skills; online doctoral programs in healthcare management are designed to prepare you to work as a leader in the field.
Flexibility
If you’re interested in pursuing a PhD in healthcare management but have family or professional responsibilities to consider, you may be concerned about the time commitment. Enter online programs — a flexible way to earn your degree on your own time, from home, at a pace that works for you.
Research and Development
One of the most important aspects of doctoral study is completing original research. This sets a doctoral program, including one in healthcare management, apart from any other graduate degree. In your healthcare management PhD, you’ll be conducting your own research at the top of your field.
Courses and Outcomes: Online Healthcare Management PhD
Once you’re enrolled in your Ph.D. in healthcare management online, the details of your course schedule will depend on your program structure—for instance, whether you’re studying synchronously online, asynchronously online, or taking in-person classes. How many classes per semester you take will also vary depending on whether you’re studying full- or part-time. Expect to take a mix of electives and core courses.
Common Classes
While each program is different, some classes will likely come up in multiple programs, providing the foundation for your studies. Here are a few courses you’re likely to encounter during your PhD in healthcare management online:
Healthcare Economics
Healthcare management can be uniquely complex because while healthcare is a multi-billion dollar worldwide industry, it’s powered by a mix of public and private sector actors and policies. In this course, which mixes social sciences and foundations of health systems with mathematics, you’ll learn the economics of the health system in the United States and around the world and how policy impacts health economics on different scales.
Management and Leadership Strategies
A PhD in healthcare leadership is as much a business and management degree as a healthcare degree, so a class in leadership and management strategies will reflect this. In this course, you’ll study how to develop an effective leadership strategy within the context of a healthcare organization, such as a hospital or clinical group. This course may build on psychology and sociology as well as business.
Biostatistics
One important factor healthcare management professionals need to consider in their day-to-day operations is the impact of their work on broader health systems. One tool you can use to understand this is biostatistics, an interdisciplinary branch of mathematics and biology that incorporates probability and data analysis to understand biological trends.
Research Methods
Conducting original research, from formulating a research question to writing up your results, is an important part of earning a doctorate. However, many doctoral students begin their studies with no prior research experience. This course teaches you how to conduct original research in a sound and ethical manner. It will lead to designing and submitting a research hypothesis and a dissertation proposal to your adviser.
Dissertation
This isn’t a course in the traditional sense, but it’s a crucial aspect of your PhD. Your dissertation will require you to develop a research proposal and then, with the help of your adviser, conduct original research and write up and submit your results. The final part of your PhD will be presenting and defending your dissertation before a panel of experts, known as the PhD viva.
Do I Need to Complete a Dissertation or Internship?
Completing a dissertation is one of the most important aspects of your doctoral study. Whether studying online, in person, or in a hybrid program, you’ll design and complete a dissertation. When it comes to a practicum or internship, the requirements vary from program to program.
Possible Specializations
In your PhD program, you may have the opportunity to specialize or declare a concentration, which is helpful if you have a particular career track in mind. Some schools, such as Johns Hopkins, offer further specialties within healthcare management, including healthcare and public policy, bioethics, or health economics.
Online Healthcare Management Doctoral Program Costs
A PhD in healthcare management online can be a major financial commitment. Not all programs have the same costs, even among online degrees. This is why it’s important to know your total costs and have a plan to pay for your degree before you enroll. Be sure to research financial aid you may be eligible for, including need- or merit-based aid from your school, research fellowships, federal grants and student loans, and scholarships from private organizations.
Possible Specializations
| School Name | No. of Credits | Cost/Credit | Est. Total Tuition Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University | 64 | $1,374 | $87,936 |
| Colorado Technical University | 100 | $598 | $59,800 |
| Jacksonville University | 63 | $1,571.43 | $99,000 |
Financial Prospects for HCM Doctoral Graduates
Once you’ve completed your PhD, you’ll be ready to look for your next job. It’s valid to wonder about job opportunities before making the commitment to a PhD program, but luckily, healthcare management is a high-demand field. Potential careers for graduates from a healthcare management doctoral program include working as a financial manager, human resource manager, or medical and health services manager for a hospital or other clinical organization or going into academia and working as a college professor.
Healthcare Management Graduate Salary Expectations
Below, you’ll find data on popular, fast-growing, and lucrative careers for PhD graduates in healthcare management. While these are just a sampling of potential jobs, they’re all expected to grow at above-average rates over the next decade and pay comfortable salaries:
| Career | Median Annual Pay | Job Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Manager | $139,790 | 16% |
| College Professor | $80,840 | 8% |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $104,830 | 28% |
| Human Resources Manager | $130,000 | 5% |
| Administrative Services Manager | $101,870 | 5% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023
Final Questions?
What’s the difference between a PhD in healthcare management and a Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA)?
While a PhD in healthcare management and a Doctor of Healthcare Administration share many key aspects, the two degrees are fundamentally different. Not only does a PhD in healthcare management have a stronger research element than a DHA, it also has more potential to lead to an academic career and more of a focus on leadership skills.
Who are the top accrediting bodies for healthcare management programs?
It’s vital that your degree be accredited, meaning it has passed certain standards of rigor and will be recognized as legitimate. Accrediting bodies for PhD programs in healthcare management include the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education and the AUPHA.
How long can a PhD in healthcare management online take?
In theory, your online PhD in healthcare management can take as little as three years to complete, but in reality, the process can be significantly longer — as long as 10 years or more. Relevant factors impacting your completion time include not only how many credits your program is but also if you study part-time and how long it takes you to complete your dissertation.