Information on an Associate of Arts Degree in Healthcare Administration
Graduates of associate degree programs in health care administration may find employment in hospitals, nursing homes or other medical facilities as administrative assistants, medical billers, office managers or patient customer service representatives. Training in health care administration involves gaining a general knowledge and understanding of the health care system, along with basic business and management skills.
Other People Are Reading
-
Potential
-
Although most health care administrators hold either a bachelor's or graduate level degree in the field, individuals with an associate (two year) degree may find entry-level opportunities open to them. Some positions held by individuals with an associate in health care administration include medical coders, health unit coordinators (or unit clerks), financial clerks, medical records clerks and business office managers.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2010, projects that health care administrators will experience a good job outlook for the next decade. Nonetheless, this projection is for individuals who hold either a bachelor's or master's degree in the field.
Coursework
-
Health care administrators need to have a strong knowledge of medical office procedures, business management and technology. Consequently, students pursuing a degree in health care administration must successfully complete a variety of classes. Although health care administrators are not directly involved in patient care, they must be able to understand the medical process. Classes such as medical billing, terminology and legal issues in health care are a few medically related classes required in the health care administration curriculum. Business related and technology courses are also a core part of the curriculum. Classes such as accounting, finance, management, marketing, keyboard and software applications may also be required. In addition to career related courses, students must also complete general education and liberal arts classes like English, math, biology, psychology, history and public speaking.
-
Schools
-
Numerous community colleges and universities offer the associate of arts (or science) degree in health care administration. A few of these schools include Brown Mackie College in Akron, Ohio, California Coast University in Santa Ana, California, Ashworth College in Norcross, Georgia and New York University in New York City. Various schools also offer this degree online as well. A few of these schools are the American Intercontinental University, Western Career College Online, West Coast University Online, LA College International and Keiser University Online.
Considerations
-
Taking the time to choose a quality program is very important. First, will you be attending a traditional (or brick and mortar) college or taking classes online? Begin by doing an internet search and narrowing down your selections. Next, gather information on the programs you might be interested in. If financial aid is needed, is it available at this college or university? Further, there are many questions to ask that may help you make an informed decision. For example, is the school or program accredited and if so by whom? A reputable accreditor such as the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools is very important. Next, is the school or program respected in your community or the facility in which you desire to work? Lastly, what percentage of graduates have gained employment in their field of study?
Opportunities
-
After gaining some experience in health care administration,you may qualify for a number of promotional opportunities. This includes supervisory jobs in clerical, food or maintenance departments. You may also find advancement in other support or administrative areas like purchasing/supply, human resources, marketing or community/public relations. Also, having obtained an associate degree in health care administration, you can easily transition into a bachelor's level program. With a bachelor's degree, many more employment opportunities will be available.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit hospital image by les sanders from Fotolia.com
