MBA – Healthcare Administration Emphasis
The largest and most complex growing industry needs a new type of leader. In recent years, the healthcare business has taken extreme turns with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010. Healthcare requirements have placed new demands on physicians, senior leaders, directors, and those wanting to be the healthcare leaders of the future.
Colorado Christian University's online MBA in Healthcare Administration seeks to give students a sense of leadership in the healthcare field by providing excellent education, small class sizes, and specialized training. Students will also learn to consider the spirituality of healthcare and its applications.
Program Focus
Healthcare system; healthcare economics and finance; healthcare law and accreditations; and performance improvement
The Healthcare Administration MBA equips students to professionally deal with the pace of change in healthcare today as they learn to manage the systems and resources of a clinic, hospital department, or long-term care facility. The degree will meet a drastically increasing need, as jobs for medical health and services managers are expected to grow substantially.
- 39 total credit hours
- Program Format: 100% online
- Prerequisite(s) or applicable transfer credit required
- MBA courses are taken one at a time and are typically completed in five-week and seven-week blocks
- Designed for busy adult learners; complete in as little as 18 months of consecutive coursework, even with a full-time or part-time job
- Students can transfer up to nine graduate-level credit hours
- Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
- Program Brochure
MBA Courses
CCU's MBA curriculum includes 13 online courses designed to develop effective, ethical leaders. Each course is typically taken over a five-week time period. Weekly assignments are required, but the course design generally allows participants to complete coursework at the times and places that work best for them (prior to scheduled deadlines).
CCU students utilize Brightspace, a leading solution in electronic education, to participate in MBA classes that blend the latest in eLearning technology with the latest business theory and practice. Students in this master's in business program attend classes electronically, do research using the Internet, exchange email, and participate in online discussions. Assignments and tests are submitted online for in-seat students as well as those taking their program online.
MBA in Healthcare Administration Courses
CCU's Healthcare Administration courses will prepare you to blend a focused business experience with technical aspects of Healthcare Administration. You’ll integrate academics with moral principles from Scripture so you can grow as a servant leader, strengthen your ethical framework, and responsibly influence your profession.
The healthcare administration emphasis courses at CCU include:
- Organization of Healthcare Systems and Policy. An overview and critical analysis of the U.S. healthcare delivery system, accreditation licensure, and regulatory policies that encompass most healthcare organizations today and into the future. Students will apply business decision-making to complex healthcare issues.
- Strategic Thinking in Healthcare Economics and Finance. This course examines shifting methods and strategies in fiscal management of healthcare systems including application of changing political environments, future legislative initiatives and financial implications that impact the local healthcare organization. Students will be challenged to be strategic leaders implementing and evaluating creative and effective solutions.
- Healthcare Law and Accreditations. Federal and state law pertaining to the healthcare industry including OSHA compliance, Medicare and Medicaid regulations and hospital federal and state mandates. Students analyze trends in accreditation, certification, credentialing and bylaw standards as a way to protect the public, improve quality and influence change for the future.
- Quality Methods for Healthcare Performance Improvement. This course describes and examines the leading quality improvement practices that are transforming the U.S. healthcare system. Quality frameworks such as Six Sigma and Lean productions systems will be examined as an advanced framework for performance improvement.
- MBA Capstone Course. The Capstone course has been designed to assist MBA students in assimilating and synthesizing all of the material covered over the course of their program at CCU. This course applies an integrated methodology to management, leadership, problem-solving and moral/ethical decision-making (biblical principles) using all of the functional areas of business; leadership theory and application, systems and technologies.
Admission to the MBA Program
Admission to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Colorado Christian University is selective. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of previous academic performance, personal and professional accomplishments and goals, and strength of character. A strong desire to complete graduate-level work in a Christ-centered, biblically based community is important.
Application Deadlines
You can enter the MBA program at multiple points in the academic year. You should complete the admission process as early as possible so you will have adequate time to work with an advisor and qualify for financial aid.
Prerequisite Coursework
All applicants to CCU's MBA program are required to have fulfilled prerequisite courses for Accounting, Finance, and Statistics. Specific emphases may have additional prerequisites.
Review the MBA Prerequisites prior to application submission.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the graduate admission application online (including essay and transcripts).
- Provide a professional resume and employment record. It is expected that MBA candidates will have at least 5 years of professional work experience or the equivalent.
- Submit an official transcript that reflects a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited higher education institution. For those seeking an emphasis in advanced accounting, a bachelor's degree in accounting is required.
- Have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with an undergraduate grade point average between 2.0 and 2.49 will be admitted on a conditional admit (CAD) basis for the first semester. CAD students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better in their first nine (9) credits to remain in the program.
- Complete any needed prerequisite courses. Review the MBA prerequisites prior to application submission.
- The Office of Admission reserves the right to request additional information as deemed necessary to make a selection decision.
- As part of the admissions process, applicants may be selected to participate in a video interview conducted via Zoom. This interview is designed to confirm applicant identity and support the integrity of the university’s enrollment process. Participation in the video interview, if requested, is a required step for admission and must be completed prior to enrollment.
Transfer of Courses
Students may transfer up to nine semester hours of graduate credit from an accredited college or university. The coursework must be comparable to that offered at CCU and fulfill the CCU MBA degree requirements.
International Applicants
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you are considered an international student. Learn more about whether or not you'll be required to submit TOEFL scores, and find additional information on our International Students page.
To submit application-related materials that were not already submitted through the online application, email them to AdmissionsSupport@securemail.ccu.edu or mail to:
Colorado Christian University
Attn: Registration Services/Transcripts
8787 W. Alameda Ave.
Lakewood, CO 80226
Who should consider an MBA in Healthcare Administration?
The traditional MBA holds its international reputation for being one of the best academic educational programs for generalized leadership in most organizations. An MBA in Healthcare Administration at CCU allows for this leader to address healthcare issues with expertise in: bio-ethics; accreditation and legal requirements; complex payer systems; and operational strategies that address mission, cost, and various healthcare revenue streams.
CCU's Healthcare MBA designed for the working adult who is in leadership, or expects to be in a healthcare leadership role in the next 10 years. This degree will serve individuals in acute care settings, long-term care, accountable care organizations, public healthcare organizations, community based healthcare organizations, physician executives, healthcare policy makers, and more.
What are some job opportunities with an MBA in Healthcare Administration degree?
If you're looking for a fulfilling career, join more than 271,000 Healthcare Administration professionals employed in the U.S. today. Most Healthcare Administration professionals work in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and outpatient care centers. However, there are new roles now developing in public policy, accountable care organizations (ACO’s), and medical homes programs.
Some specific jobs you could obtain with the MBA in Healthcare Administration include: Healthcare Facility Manager/Director, Hospital Administrator, Clinic Supervisor, Healthcare Consultant, Healthcare Services Director, Quality Improvement Program Manager/Director, Clinical Practice Manager/Director, Physician in an Administrative Position, Chief Nursing Officer, and Accountable Care Organization Director.
If you're interested in career development for healthcare administrators, fill out the form on the page today! Our enrollment counselors can answer your questions about CCU's Healthcare Administration graduate degrees.
Healthcare Administration Emphasis Program FAQs
If you have additional questions, please complete the form on this page to connect with a CCU Enrollment Counselor.
What career opportunities does this healthcare MBA create?
The MBA with Healthcare Administration emphasis positions you for executive leadership roles where strategic management meets healthcare expertise, offering strong earning potential in the rapidly growing healthcare industry. You'll be qualified for positions such as Healthcare Facility Director, Hospital Administrator, Chief Operating Officer, and senior consulting roles across health systems and healthcare organizations. The healthcare management education emphasizes ethical servant leadership, distinguishing you from traditional health services managers and opening doors to C-suite positions in hospitals, government agencies, and health care organizations.
Your enhanced business administration knowledge, combined with specialized healthcare management skills, creates a competitive advantage in today's market, where healthcare organizations need leaders who can navigate complex regulations and drive operational excellence. Join more than 271,000 healthcare administration professionals employed in the U.S. today, with specific opportunities including:
- Healthcare Services Director and Quality Improvement Manager positions
- Clinical Practice Manager/Director roles in medical offices and health systems
- Physician executive positions and Chief Nursing Officer opportunities
- Accountable Care Organization Director roles in emerging healthcare settings
How does Christian leadership integrate with healthcare management?
CCU's MBA with Healthcare Administration emphasis uniquely combines biblical stewardship principles with industry-standard healthcare management practices, preparing you to lead as an ethical servant leader in health care environments where trust and patient care are paramount. The healthcare MBA program examines scriptural foundations for responsible resource management, integrity in patient outcomes decisions, and leadership approaches that reflect Christian values while achieving organizational objectives in healthcare systems.
You'll develop abilities to integrate faith-based perspectives into health policy development, quality improvement initiatives, and team leadership while maintaining professional effectiveness. The master's degree serves as a platform for ministry through excellent stewardship of healthcare resources, building trust-based relationships with diverse medical teams, and fostering workplace cultures that prioritize patient safety and ethical decision-making in health care organizations.
How long does this healthcare management program take?
CCU's MBA with Healthcare Administration emphasis totals 39 credit hours and can be completed in as little as 18 months, allowing you to balance career advancement with family commitments. The accelerated online MBA format presents courses one at a time in manageable five-week blocks, enabling you to focus intensively on each healthcare management concept while maintaining current professional obligations.
This sequential approach prevents academic overload and ensures mastery of essential areas, including healthcare economics, health policy analysis, and risk management, without sacrificing family time. You can complete coursework at convenient times, while the structured approach ensures steady progress toward your graduate degree and immediate application of new healthcare management skills in your current role.
What online flexibility accommodates working professionals seeking advancement?
CCU's 100% online format provides scheduling flexibility essential for balancing director-level responsibilities with family commitments and healthcare management education. The healthcare MBA program utilizes advanced technology to deliver interactive coursework accommodating your professional schedule, allowing engagement with healthcare management concepts at your convenience rather than rigid class times.
Course design enables participation in case studies, health policy analysis projects, and faculty interactions from any location, while weekly assignments provide structure without compromising scheduling autonomy. The one-course-at-a-time approach prevents overload that could compromise effectiveness in current leadership roles and connects you with healthcare professionals from diverse health systems, creating networking opportunities across different healthcare organizations.
What hands-on healthcare experience is included?
The MBA program emphasizes practical application through healthcare management courses designed to bridge theory with real-world challenges in healthcare leadership roles. Core courses offer hands-on experience with health policy analysis, quality improvement methodologies, and financial management strategies immediately applicable to healthcare organizations and health services management responsibilities.
Strategic Thinking in Healthcare Economics provides practical skills in fiscal management affecting healthcare systems, while Quality Methods for Healthcare Performance Improvement offers experience with methodologies used in leading health care organizations. The curriculum includes:
- Healthcare Law and Accreditations integrating compliance with operational decision-making
- Organization of Healthcare Systems and Policy addressing complex payer systems
- MBA Capstone Course synthesizing learning through comprehensive healthcare management projects
- Real-world applications in health information systems and patient care coordination
How does this apply across healthcare industries?
Healthcare management expertise transfers seamlessly across every healthcare sector, from acute care hospitals and health systems to long-term care facilities, government agencies, and emerging healthcare delivery models like accountable care organizations. The healthcare MBA concentration prepares you to lead strategic initiatives in hospital operations, clinic management, health policy development, and healthcare consulting across traditional and innovative health care environments.
The Master of Business Administration with Healthcare Administration emphasis serves working professionals in acute care settings, long-term care, public healthcare organizations, community-based healthcare organizations, physician executives, and healthcare policy makers. Your enhanced qualifications position you for opportunities in emerging fields such as digital health transformation, population health management, and healthcare quality improvement, while the program's Christian values integration particularly benefits professionals in faith-based health care organizations.
Is this program properly accredited and credible?
CCU maintains accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring this master's degree meets rigorous academic standards recognized by healthcare employers nationwide. CCU's commitment to academic excellence creates credentials respected in both secular and faith-based healthcare environments, providing competitive advantage in healthcare career advancement pursuits within health systems and healthcare organizations.
The healthcare management program curriculum aligns with industry standards while incorporating Christian worldview, distinguishing CCU's approach and preparing you for ethical leadership in complex health care environments. Faculty members bring extensive healthcare industry experience, ensuring current, practical knowledge enhancing effectiveness as health services managers. CCU's established reputation in healthcare management education, coupled with comprehensive coverage of healthcare economics, health policy, and strategic management topics, provides professional credibility needed for executive advancement in top-tier healthcare organizations.
State Exclusions for Online Students
Colorado Christian University is required by the U.S. Department of Education to be in compliance with state laws regarding where we can offer distance and/or online education. The College of Adult and Graduate Studies at Colorado Christian University offers courses to online students in all states with some exceptions for specific academic programs.