The Census Bureau projects by 2030, the United States will have more 65-and-older residents than children. As this baby boomer population continues to age, but remain active in their later years, there is an increased demand for healthcare services.

This means greater needs for physicians and other healthcare professionals, medical procedures and facilities – and for managers who organize and manage medical information and healthcare staff. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 18 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Employment is also projected to grow in offices of health practitioners. Many services previously provided in hospitals will shift to these settings, especially as medical technologies continue to improve. Demand in medical group practice management is expected to grow as these practices become larger and more complex. In addition, widespread use of electronic health records will continue to create demand for managers with knowledge of health information technology and informatics systems.

A graduate degree in healthcare administration can take you in a variety of exciting directions. In addition to more traditional careers in healthcare management, graduates work in many other areas ranging from pharmaceutical and health insurance companies to long-term care facilities and government agencies.

The core skill set you develop in a healthcare management program provides a competitive advantage within the field. Particularly with graduate training, you will advance in your field and career opportunities will be significant.

To meet this need, the College of Health and Human Services at UNC Wilmington has launched its newest graduate program in the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA). This program prepares early- to mid-level careerists to plan, direct and manage healthcare services. In doing so, the program provides essential foundational knowledge, skills and abilities to provide effective, ethical and innovative leadership, management and administration across a wide range of health care organizations.

This program is fully online and delivered in an online accelerated program (OAP) format admitting students six times per academic year. Courses are seven weeks in length, rather than the traditional 14-week semester, and are delivered asynchronously via the university’s learning management system. The 42 to 48 credit hour curriculum can be completed in as little as one year by students who meet all preferred admission requirements.

UNC Wilmington’s Master of Healthcare Administration program can provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle complex challenges that face healthcare in the 21st century. Explore more here.

The College of Health and Human Services consists of three professional schools - School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, School of Nursing and School of Social Work - and employs more than 250 full and part-time staff and faculty and enrolls more than 4,000 students in 16 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Hardy serves as chief academic, fiscal and administrative officer of the college, which is responsible for educating students across the health and human services programs. To learn more about the UNCW College of Health and Human Services, visit www.uncw.edu/chhs. Questions and comments can be directed to [email protected].