Winston-Salem State’s School of Business and Economics hosted an open house for people seeking a master’s degree in Health Care Administration April 16.
The event held in the Reynolds Center was hosted by Dr. Suresh Gopalan, the assistant dean for graduate studies in business economics and Janet Stewart, the program assistant in the school of business and economics.
Although a small crowd of a little more than a dozen adults attended the open house, they were given information concerning the benefits of an MHA, the requirements and prerequisites, accreditation, and the costs of entering the program.
The open house was intended for people interested in middle and upper management positions in the healthcare industry.
Dr. Gopalan identified four employment sectors acknowledged by The Association of University Programs in Health Administration that are directly related to an MHA degree.
The four sectors were health care providers, health care suppliers, health insurance organizations and health care policy organizations.
Professional fields in the four sectors identified by AUPHA are very diverse. Dr. Gopalan named numerous jobs related to an MHA. People who earn the MHA can work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, educational organizations, and as research analysts.
Dr. Gopalan said that there is always a demand for individuals with an MHA. Hospitals employ 30 percent of all healthcare administrators.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2006 there were 262,000 medical and health service managers employed. However, by 2016, that number is expected to be 305,000, a 16 percent employment increase.
The open house also focused on the income of those that work in healthcare management fields.
The Bureaus of Labor Statistics said that as of May 2006, the range of income was from $45,050 to $127,830. The median annual earnings of wage and salary were $73,340.
The job stability provided through healthcare management positions was also stressed. General medical and surgical hospitals employ 87,620 individuals in the healthcare management field alone.
While Dr. Gopalan said that there is substantial diversity amongst students studying for an MHA; their average work experience in a healthcare setting is 11 years.
The typical student enrolled in the MHA program is 38 years old with an average Graduate Record Examinations score of 1000.
The MHA program is a collaboration between the Society for Biological Engineers and the Southern Organization for Human Services.
The program was designed for working professionals, and classes are held two nights a week.
It takes two and a half years to complete, including summer semesters. In total, students will take 15 courses and receive 45 credit hours. Among the 15 courses taken are healthcare policy, accounting, health law and biomedical ethics.
The requirements for students wanting to enroll in the MHA program are a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, three letters of recommendation, an admissions essay, GRE scores, transcripts and a resume that identifies healthcare experience. The total fees a student will pay for the MHA program is $11,200.
The next open house for MHA will be May 11.