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Meeting both workforce demands for qualified healthcare administrators and students' needs for flexibility, Utah Tech University is offering a fully online Master of Healthcare Administration program for the first time this fall at the most affordable tuition rate in Utah.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 1.8 million healthcare job openings are projected each year for the next decade, and Utah Tech seeks to help fill that need by preparing graduates for administrative roles in both the private and public healthcare sectors.
Making the program even more affordable for those already working in healthcare, Intermountain Health employees can apply their PEAK tuition coverage benefit toward the cost of Utah Tech' Healthcare Administration degree.
"Utah Tech's MHA program is not just an academic pursuit but a vital community service," Tiffany Vickers, director of Utah Tech's Population Health Program, said. "We want to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for healthcare administration roles, enhancing the quality and accessibility of healthcare in our region, including underserved rural and frontier areas."
In line with Utah Tech's active learning approach to education, the program offers hands-on opportunities such as internships, study abroad opportunities and research projects. The required internship ensures students go beyond the classroom and gain real-world experience in understanding healthcare operational complexities, engaging in strategic decision making, enhancing their leadership skills and collaborating with other healthcare professionals to prepare for future leadership roles in healthcare.
Additionally, study abroad opportunities help students gain a global perspective by engaging with worldwide health issues. Closer to home, students are at the forefront of innovative research projects spanning various fields of technology and science.
Unique to Utah Tech, the Healthcare Administration program awards micro-credentials, and students can earn a biomedical informatics certificate if they wish to specialize their degree without additional time or cost. These credentials embed critical informatic skills and enhance students' expertise in the intersection of healthcare, information, technology and data management.
Additionally, the program, which can be completed in two years, prepares graduates for diverse healthcare settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, and health information technology sectors.
Utah Tech's MHA program is not just about gaining knowledge, it's about acquiring the skills and credentials that matter to employers and preparing graduates to fill vacancies in in-demand healthcare roles, such as revenue cycle manager, quality improvement director and healthcare operations manager, all of which average annual salaries over $100,000, according to Glassdoor.
"Incorporating a Master of Health Administration program in our region offers a significant value proposition for aspiring healthcare leaders," Vickers said. "Our curriculum is purpose-built to equip students for advanced leadership roles, focusing on fostering inclusive environments and contributing to healthcare systems that positively impact the communities they will serve."
The first cohort starts in the fall semester and applications are due Aug. 1. For more information or to apply, visit health.utahtech.edu/masters-of-health-administration.
