Leadership in Health Care Systems Academics & Curriculum

The interdisciplinary Leadership in Health Care Systems program sharpens the skills of existing and aspiring managers and leaders. Gaining advanced skills that are critical to successful leadership and management practice in complex health care systems that focus on the patient, the health care team and the organization is a priority for our graduates. The faculty in the Leadership program are committed to providing a comprehensive curriculum to prepare health care leaders.

Coursework

The 31-credit program features hybrid coursework - a blend of in-person classes as well as online education using the Blackboard course management system. Tutorials and self-study help students master Blackboard basics in a few weeks.

Synchronous and in-person classes in the evening consist of a variety of presentations, guest lecturer presence, small group discussions, team projects, and interactive activities to build systems thinking and teamwork skills. Most students work full time during the program. 

The coursework provides students with the necessary grounding to be an effective and innovative leader, including:

• human resource management
• performance improvement and informatics
• health care finance
• health care economics
• population health
• program design
• program evaluation
• organizational leadership
• research and evidence-based practice

Final Capstone

Beginning in the foundational course and again in the pre-capstone and capstone courses, students will complete a total of 224 experiential learning hours with an executive of a health care organization. In contrast to classroom-based courses where you’re placed at the center of the learning, the experiential learning is focused externally as students design and direct organizational projects. Learning from leaders who are experts in their fields enables students to gain real-world experience and forge invaluable professional relationships.  

Curriculum