Could Earning A Master’s in Healthcare Management Be Right for You?

A degree may open the door to a variety of opportunities and diverse career paths. The degree programs offered at AIU will not necessarily lead to the featured careers. This collection of articles is intended to help inform and guide you through the process of determining which level of degree and types of certifications align with your desired career path.

Though doctors and nurses may be the face of the healthcare industry, there is an entire business side of the industry filled with individuals who play various roles in ensuring that medical and health services are delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible. These individuals are collectively known as medical and health services managers.

Whether you aspire to work in healthcare management or are a seasoned professional looking to advance and enhance your skills and knowledge, pursuing a master’s in healthcare management degree progr

am could be an important step in helping you to achieve your academic goals. But how do you know if this type of degree program is the right option for you?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question, but we hope that this article—which gives an overview of what healthcare management is, what medical and health services managers do, and how the Master of Healthcare Management degree program differs from the Master of Business Administration degree program—can help to inform your decision.

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What Is Healthcare Management?

When we talk about the business side of healthcare, what we are referring to is all the roles and responsibilities that don’t involve direct, hands-on patient care.

Generally speaking, the business side of healthcare involves the planning, directing or coordinating of medical and health services. But what healthcare managers do on a day-to-day basis can vary depending on the type of role or work environment. Creating reports and budgets, ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, and improving the utilization and quality of services are just a few examples of possible healthcare management duties.^1,2

What Could You Do With a Healthcare Management Degree?

What types of job opportunities could someone with a healthcare management degree potentially pursue? One possible career path for healthcare management degree holders is medical and health services management.

Medical and health services managers plan, direct or coordinate medical and health services. They may work in hospitals, clinics, manage care organizations or public health agencies, where they oversee the facility’s or department’s daily operations. Their job duties and job titles vary by area of expertise and where they work. Examples of reported job titles are Cancer Center Director, Clinical Director, Health Information Management Director (HIM Director), Health Information Manager (HIM Manager), Healthcare System Director, Medical Records Director, Medical Records Manager, Mental Health Program Manager, Nurse Manager and Nursing Director.^1,2

Medical health and services managers may do the following:²

Oversee and evaluate the work activities of personnel, including medical, nursing, technical, or clerical
Conduct and administer fiscal operations, including budget planning and establishing rates for services
Track the use of facility services (e.g., diagnostic services, inpatient beds) and use this information to assess the need for more resources
Stay up-to-date on advances in medicine, computerized diagnostic and treatment equipment, data processing technology, government regulations, health insurance changes and financing options
Direct or conduct personnel recruitment, hiring and training
Ensure facility/departmental compliance with applicable laws, regulations or standards

To enter the occupation, medical and health services managers typically need to hold a bachelor’s degree and have management or administrative experience in a healthcare facility. Common fields of study are health administration, nursing and business. An associate degree plus relevant professional experience may be sufficient for some roles, but some employers may prefer candidates who hold a master’s degree (e.g., MHCM, MBA).¹

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 29 percent from 2023 to 2033. Underlying reasons for this projected growth include:¹

An aging baby boom population: An aging population means a greater need for healthcare services. This increased demand is expected to fuel a need for managers to organize and oversee both medical information and medical personnel, and to improve coordination of healthcare services generally.
Widespread use of EHRs: Demand for medical and health services managers who possess knowledge of IT and informatics systems will continue to be driven by the widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs). These managers will organize, oversee and integrate EHRs across the healthcare industry.

What Is a Master’s in Healthcare Management Degree?

Healthcare management graduate degree programs, such as a Master of Healthcare Management (MHCM), include a mix of business and healthcare-related courses.

MHCM vs. MBA

Although they share some similarities, MHCM degree programs are different from MBA degree programs. MHCM degree programs are designed to focus on the application of business skills and knowledge in the context of the healthcare industry, whereas MBA degree programs are designed to focus on general business skills and knowledge that may be applied in any industry. This specialized focus of master’s in healthcare management programs means that MHCM students typically take more healthcare-related courses than they would in an MBA program.

Explore Online Business Programs at American InterContinental University

AIU’s Online Master’s in Healthcare Management Degree Program

American InterContinental University’s Master of Healthcare Management (MHCM) online degree program is a 45-credit program designed for working professionals who are interested in pursuing management or administrative opportunities within the healthcare industry. The program is fully online and may be completed in as little as one year.³

Students in the online MHCM degree program work to develop a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the field of healthcare management. The program is designed to cover skills and knowledge relevant to the planning, directing or coordinating of health services. Courses may include:

Accounting for Managers
Employment Law
Healthcare Leadership and Management
Healthcare Information Systems Management
Healthcare Administration
Legal and Ethical Implications in Healthcare
Healthcare Market Research Analysis
Healthcare Strategies
Healthcare Financial Management and Decision Making
Capstone—Strategic Management for Healthcare

The AIU Master of Healthcare Management (MHCM) is programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Should You Pursue an MHCM?

If you are an existing or aspiring healthcare management professional, earning a graduate degree in healthcare management could help you to build relevant skills and knowledge and differentiate yourself in the job marketplace. But only you can decide whether pursuing an MHCM degree program is worth it—where “it” means the time, cost and effort. Choosing an online degree program could be one way to put your educational goals within reach. For working adults, one of the main benefits of pursuing an online MHCM degree program versus an on-campus one is flexibility: you get to choose how to fit your coursework into your existing schedule.

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm (last visited March 31, 2025).
² National Center for O*NET Development, O*NET Online, “11-9111.00—Medical and Health Services Managers,” https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-9111.00 (last visited March 31, 2025).
³ The Master of Healthcare Management online degree program is designed as a two-year graduate degree program. Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. See the University Catalog for transfer credit policies.

American InterContinental University cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2120886 3/2025