Health care is a big business. Across the nation, hospitals alone directly employ nearly 5.3 million people and represent a total of 14.8 million jobs, according to a 2009 study sponsored by the American Hospital Association¹. And those numbers don't account for the public administrators, city managers and others in the public sector, who deal with public policy concerning health care.

With a specialization in Health Care Administration, Anna Maria College's Master of Public Administration degree delivers both the requisite industry knowledge and business acumen to advance in a field that is expected to maintain high growth through the decade.

Especially designed for public administrators who want to help define policy as it relates to health care, this specialization provides insights into information management, legal issues, budgeting, and more. The specialization is comprised of four courses:

• PPO 634 Healthcare Information & Technology

• PPO 635 Legal Issues in Health Care

• PPO 636 The Economics and Financing of Health Care

• PPO 637 Analysis of the Quality of Health Care Delivery

These courses compliment the core curriculum of public administration classes. Through this diverse, balanced curriculum, MPA graduates receive the skills to help lead public agencies and advocacy and consulting groups, plus a variety of other organizations, including health care providers.

Careers in Public Health Care Administration

Health care reform and the public's increasing desire for information about health are driving a need for public health care administrators trained in both the development and execution of health-related community outreach programs. Often, they run entire organizations or departments of agencies that disseminate vital information. Many are employed by governmental health agencies, while others work for not-for-profit groups and educational institutions. Examples of job titles include:

• Director of Health Programs and Services

• Health Communications Specialist

• Director of Health Information Management

• Health Care Management Analyst

To learn more about Anna Maria College's MPA degree with a specialization in Health Care Administration, fill out our information request form or call 877-265-3201 to speak to an Admissions Advisor.

¹"Beyond Health Care: The Economic Contribution of Hospitals," http://www.aha.org/aha/research-and-trends/health-and-hospital-trends/2009.html.