3/22/23, 6:16 PM Health Administration Degree: Types, Possible Jobs, and More | Coursera

Articles Health Health Administration Degree: Types, Possible Jobs, and More

Health Administration Degree: Types, Possible

Jobs, and More
Written by Coursera • Updated on Oct 22, 2022 Share

Curious about where a health administration degree can take you? Here’s a breakdown of the
types of degrees, possible jobs, and entry requirements to get you started.

A health administration degree is a dynamic field of study that can help you get a job in
health and business. Depending on your career goals, you can tailor your degree and
internships toward health care or business administration. The market is promising: Jobs in
health care are expected to grow 16 percent between 2020 and 2030, much faster than any
other industry [1].  

Job growth within the next decade is even higher for Medical and Health Services Managers
at 32 percent [2]. Health administration degrees prepare you for leadership roles in health
organizations such as nursing homes and hospitals, where you can apply your business
acumen to improve delivery and efficiency of health care services.

https://www.coursera.org/articles/health-administration-degree 1/10
3/22/23, 6:16 PM Health Administration Degree: Types, Possible Jobs, and More | Coursera

Is a health administration degree right for you? Find out more below.

What is a health administration degree?

A health administration degree helps prepare students for managing and overseeing daily
operations in a health care or medical facility. Enrolling in a health administration degree
program equips you with the skills needed to succeed in leadership and administrative
roles. 

For a job such as health services manager, over half (54 percent) hold a bachelor’s degree, 20
percent have a master’s, and 16 percent have an associate degree [3]. A health
administration degree can be any of these types. With a degree in health administration,
you’ll be qualified for a job as a health services manager, but the skills you’ll learn in this
degree are broadly applicable. You could also work as a product manager for a health tech
startup, go on to get an MBA, or even go to nursing school.

There are many possibilities for a rewarding career with a health administration degree.

Health administration coursework

Coursework will vary depending on your program and university, but typically you can
expect to take classes in the following topics:

Compliance, risk management, and conflict resolution

Digital transformation
Ethics
Financial management
Global and public health
Health care planning
Health care marketing
Health care systems
Health policy and law
Human resource management
Leadership
Medical coding

https://www.coursera.org/articles/health-administration-degree 2/10
3/22/23, 6:16 PM Health Administration Degree: Types, Possible Jobs, and More | Coursera

Some programs allow you to specialize in a focus area. You might choose from
concentrations like policy and law, operations management, education, patient care, or
health informatics.

Read more: What Is Health Care Administration? What You Need to Know in 2022

Types of health administration degrees

Health care administration degrees are offered at all levels. You can choose to pursue the
type of degree that suits your career goals and current level of education.

Type of Time to
Best if... Sample job titles
Degree complete

You're looking for an entry-level

Billing or coding specialist,
Associate's position or planning to transfer from
Two years administrative assistant,
degree a community college to a bachelor's
medical transcriptionist
program.

You want to enter the workforce in a Office manager, human

Bachelor's
Four years management position at a smaller resources manager, health
degree
facility. care consultant

You have work experience and want Hospital administrator,

Master's Two to
to advance to a higher-paying practice administrator,
degree three years
position or bigger facility. clinical director

You want to conduct research in

Doctoral Three to College instructor, policy
health care, direct policy, or pursue
degree five years director, hospital CEO
a career in executive leadership.
Online vs. in-person degrees

At every degree level, you have the choice to study online or in person. Both online and in-
person degrees have benefits and drawbacks.

Studying online is becoming increasingly popular for people who have other jobs and
priorities, or prefer the flexibility of studying anywhere. You can earn a degree from a top
university without having to visit a physical campus, while learning the same material from
the same professors and earning the same degree. Keep in mind, however, that some
degrees may not have an online option.

https://www.coursera.org/articles/health-administration-degree 3/10
3/22/23, 6:16 PM Health Administration Degree: Types, Possible Jobs, and More | Coursera

Although a health administration degree might involve some patient care tasks, it is less
hands-on than say, a nursing degree. Completing the degree online would not necessarily
detract from your learning experience.

Studying in person can provide you with more interactive classroom experiences. You’ll be
able to engage in the university’s community, resources, and facilities. Class schedules tend
to be rigid, making it difficult to manage a career, family, or other obligations at the same
time. If there’s a specific health administration degree program you’re interested in, you
might have to relocate.

Entry requirements for a health administration degree

The admission requirements for a health administration degree will vary by school and the
type of degree you’re seeking. Typically, you’ll need to submit the following for a bachelor’s
degree:

Official transcripts (high school GPA of at least 2.5 or 3.0)

SAT or ACT test scores
Letters of recommendation
College (university) application, including a personal statement
Application fee

And for a master’s degree, you’ll need the following:

Bachelor’s GPA of at least 3.0 

GRE test scores 
Letters of recommendation 
Official transcripts
Resume or CV
Application, including a personal statement

Read more:What Is the Master of Health Care Administration (MHA)?

Remember to highlight any personal or work experiences that emphasize your interest and
ability to succeed in a health administration degree program. Admissions counselors look for
candidates who are passionate about their chosen subject.

https://www.coursera.org/articles/health-administration-degree 4/10
3/22/23, 6:16 PM Health Administration Degree: Types, Possible Jobs, and More | Coursera

4 jobs you can get with a health administration degree

No matter what type of health administration degree you choose to pursue, you’ll likely have
several career paths to choose from. You can find leadership or administrative positions in
hospitals, nursing home facilities, and more. Most of your work will revolve around ensuring
efficient operations, so you’ll need strong management and organizational skills, along with
empathy and compassion for liaising with employees and patients.

If you decide to pursue a bachelor’s in health administration, here are four jobs to consider.

1. Medical and health services manager

Medical and health services managers can fall under several different job titles, but the
majority of them coordinate the business operations for health care providers, facilities, and
even insurance companies. They often work in health care facilities such as hospitals and
nursing homes to plan, direct, and implement processes for hiring, marketing, and financial
management.

Annual median salary in the US: $101,340 [2] 

2. Health care consultant

A health care consultant, like other types of consultants, examines existing processes within
an organization and gives professional advice and guidance on how to improve patient care
and reduce costs. Health care consultants typically have backgrounds and experience in
health care or health care management, so they can provide valuable expertise and training
to help organizations overcome challenges and improve service delivery. 

Annual median salary in the US: $84,208 [4]

3. Office manager

Office managers within a hospital or other health care setting are responsible for a range of
administrative tasks. These tasks might include implementing office policies and
procedures, supervising administrative staff, approving staff schedules, collaborating with
nurses and doctors, and more.
https://www.coursera.org/articles/health-administration-degree 5/10
3/22/23, 6:16 PM Health Administration Degree: Types, Possible Jobs, and More | Coursera

Annual median salary in the US: $46,044 [5]

4. Medical records technician

Medical records technicians (MRTs) are administrators who manage patient records in a
hospital or clinic. Though some office managers may take on MRT tasks, medical records
technicians are focused on maintaining patient records to make sure they are standardized
across the health care system and accessible to the patient, health provider, and insurance
company.

Annual median salary in the US: $45,240 [6]

While these are typical jobs you can get with a health administration bachelor’s degree, your
degree (and career) is what you make of it. You can decide to start your own health-based
company, go on to get a master’s in public health (MPH), or work in digital health. There are
countless possibilities to thrive at the intersection of health care and business.

Pursue a health career with Coursera

A successful career in health and health care management could be in your future. Enroll in
Rutgers University’s Healthcare Organization Operations Specialization to get started today.

Healthcare Organization Operations

Specialization
Beginner level · 4 month(s)

Skills you'll build: Pharmacy Healthcare Organization Operations, Public Health and Wellness
Healthcare Organization Operations, Medical Healthcare Organization Operations, Healthca…
Administration, Dental Healthcare Organization Operations
4.6 (363 ratings)

Article sources

https://www.coursera.org/articles/health-administration-degree 6/10
3/22/23, 6:16 PM Health Administration Degree: Types, Possible Jobs, and More | Coursera

View all sources

Keep reading

What Is Health Care Administration? What You Need to Know in 2023

7 min read · December 22, 2022

What Is the Master of Health Care Administration (MHA)?

8 min read · February 28, 2023

10 In-Demand Jobs You Can Get with a Business Degree (2023)

8 min read · February 16, 2023

Written by Coursera • Updated on Oct 22, 2022 Share

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional
research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

Develop career skills and credentials to stand out

Build in demand career skills with experts from leading companies and universities

Choose from over 8000 courses, hands-on projects, and certificate programs

Learn on your terms with flexible schedules and on-demand courses

Join for Free

Learn Something New

Learn a Language
Learn Accounting
https://www.coursera.org/articles/health-administration-degree 7/10
3/22/23, 6:16 PM Health Administration Degree: Types, Possible Jobs, and More | Coursera

Learn Coding
Learn Copywriting
Learn HR
Learn Public Relations
Boulder MS Data Science
Illinois iMBA
Illinois MS Computer Science
UMich MS in Applied Data Science

Popular Career Paths Articles

Business Analyst Career Guide
Data Analyst Career Guide
Data Engineer Career Guide
Data Scientist Career Guide
Product Designer Career Guide
Project Manager Career Guide
Scrum Master Career Guide
Social Media Manager Career Guide
UX Designer Career Guide
UX Researcher Career Guide

Popular Resume & Cover Letter Articles

A Guide for When to Add GPA on Resumes
Check Out These Resume Length Guidelines
Crafting an Impressive Project Manager Cover Letter
Examples of Successful UX Designer Resumes
How To Add a Resume to LinkedIn
How to Craft a Resume With No Experience
How to Show Management Skills on Your Resume
Learn How Long Your Cover Letter Should Be
Learn How to Include Certifications on a Resume
Write a Standout Data Analyst Cover Letter

https://www.coursera.org/articles/health-administration-degree 8/10
3/22/23, 6:16 PM Health Administration Degree: Types, Possible Jobs, and More | Coursera

Popular Interviewing Articles

Crafting the Perfect Follow-up Email After an Interview
Data Analyst Interview Questions
Data Engineer Interview Questions
IT Interview Questions
Marketing Interview Questions
Project Manager Interview Questions
Scrum Master Interview Questions
SQL Interview Questions
Strengths and Weaknesses Interview Questions
UX Designer Interview Questions

Coursera Community
About Learners
What We Offer Partners
Leadership Beta Testers
Careers Translators
Catalog Blog
Coursera Plus Tech Blog
Professional Certificates Teaching Center
MasterTrack® Certificates
Degrees
For Enterprise
For Government
For Campus
Become a Partner
Coronavirus Response
Free Courses
All Courses

More
Press
Investors
Terms
Privacy
https://www.coursera.org/articles/health-administration-degree 9/10
3/22/23, 6:16 PM Health Administration Degree: Types, Possible Jobs, and More | Coursera

Help
Accessibility
Contact
Articles
Directory
Affiliates
Modern Slavery Statement

Learn Anywhere

© 2023 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.

https://www.coursera.org/articles/health-administration-degree 10/10