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Promote Patient Care in a Growing Industry
The healthcare industry is growing rapidly and seeing an influx of open positions — especially for leaders ready to take charge. Learn to improve quality of care and access for individuals, communities, and everyone in between with ACU’s online graduate Certificate in Healthcare Administration program. A flexible format accommodates you and our vibrant, virtual Christ-centered community helps you flourish.
Introducing
Locked-In Tuition.
Our Locked-In Tuition program guarantees you’ll pay the same price for your entire certificate program.
About the Program
Through a Christian worldview, our graduate Certificate in Healthcare Administration prepares leaders by focusing on innovation in the healthcare industry and exploring how faith shapes the ethical challenges of patient care. This program is designed to assist learners interested in pursuing work in healthcare and for those currently working in the field looking to expand their knowledge and administrative skills. Taught by experienced healthcare professionals, the program offers a depth and breadth of field-specific expertise that is beneficial to students and stands out to employers.
Program Structure
All the Details on Your Degree
This graduate certificate provides an introduction to leadership and health policy and allows students to customize their experience by selecting from a number of graduate healthcare administration courses, such as strategic planning, revenue cycle management, informatics, and innovations and trends in healthcare.
Stackable Certificate:
You’re one step closer to a master’s degree.
Want to expand your skills in healthcare delivery? Our graduate certificate’s credit hours are stackable toward ACU’s online Master of Healthcare Administration degree. It’s a great option if you plan on applying for the master’s program at a later time. Simply complete the certificate program, and ACU will seamlessly apply your 15 credit hours toward your master’s. Earn both the graduate certificate and master’s degree in approximately two years.
Required Hours
15 hours
12 month timeframe
Example Coursework
Healthcare Policies and Ethics
Foundations in Health Services Administration & Leadership
Innovation and Trends in Healthcare
Healthcare Informatics
Department
Upcoming Start Dates
April 30, 2024
June 25, 2024
Common Job Titles
Director of Patient Access
Clinic Operations Director
Healthcare Strategy Director
Compliance or Business Operations Director
Vice President of Quality Healthcare
Research and Development Analyst
Population Health Manager
Meet the Program Director
Dr. Meghan Hope, Certificate in Healthcare Administration
Dr. Meghan Hope is an assistant professor and program director for ACU’s Master of Healthcare Administration and Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration programs. Meghan received her Juris Doctor with health law concentration from the University of Tulsa and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Midwestern State University. Prior to joining ACU, she worked as a healthcare regulatory and operations consultant focusing on new hospital development, management, and reimbursement issues. With more than a decade of expertise in the healthcare industry, Meghan has also served as an administrator in community-based and academic healthcare environments. Her research interests and passions include healthcare policy influences on management decisions and regulatory considerations in clinical research.
Meghan received her master’s online and has since developed a passion for the online learning experience. She loves the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with her students while helping them develop the leadership skills and industry expertise necessary for successful careers in healthcare administration.
Spotlight
Furthering Your Career: Pursuing Professional Development vs. Earning A Degree
The job market is as competitive as ever. In order for you to advance your career and standout, additional education and training are a must. Check out our latest blog where we compare and contrast furthering your career by pursuing professional development opportunities vs. earning a degree. Read more to learn about which route might be best for you.
The Growing Need for Healthcare Administrators
A Master of Healthcare Administration is a versatile degree. The types of positions, duties, and settings can vary, but one thing is certain: there’s no shortage of openings for people with both a solid medical background and the right academic credentials.
The Top Five Industries in High Demand for 2021
For more than a year now, COVID-19 has played a role in the personal and professional lives of individuals worldwide. Finally, after groundbreaking unemployment numbers, the job market is reopening and adapting to accommodate our new reality. Here are the five industries set to experience regrowth and seek recruitment in 2021.
Faculty Spotlight: Meghan Hope
A lot happens beyond the four walls of a hospital. For Meghan Hope, Program Director for Healthcare Administration programs at ACU Online, this was true throughout her education and continues to inspire her as she leads the next generation of healthcare professionals. Check out our latest blog to learn more about her story.
What Can You Do with a Healthcare Administration Degree?
“Healthcare is so much more than treating illness or disease. It is an opportunity to improve the lives of patients and the communities we serve.” – Meghan Hope, Program Director, BS in Healthcare Administration and Master of Healthcare Administration. Learn how our program recognizes this by incorporating tools and skills to address the changing healthcare landscape that you can start using right away.
ACU’s Certificate in Healthcare Administration is designed to prepare students for leadership and management positions in governmental, nonprofit, public, and private organizations. Program outcomes focus on:
- Relationship management
- Leadership
- Professionalism
- Knowledge of the healthcare environment
- Administrative knowledge and skills
To be considered for admission, students must:
- Complete the online program application accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee.
- Submit official transcripts showing earned bachelor’s from a regionally accredited college or university or the equivalent.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, probationary status may be granted for those with a 2.5 to 2.99 GPA.
- Submit a current resume.
Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of ACU.
Abilene Christian University enjoys a strong national reputation as one of the leading private Christian universities in the west and southwest, indicated by various ratings (such as U.S. News and World Report and other reports).