University of North Florida

What you'll study

• Core management and leadership: organisational behaviour, strategic management, leadership in healthcare settings and human resources for health services.
• Healthcare finance and economics: budgeting, financial management, reimbursement systems and healthcare economics.
• Health policy, law and ethics: healthcare regulation, compliance, legal issues in medicine and professional ethics.
• Health informatics and data analytics: health information systems, electronic health records, data for decision-making and basic analytics methods.
• Quality improvement and patient safety: methods for performance improvement, clinical governance, accreditation standards and risk management.
• Research methods and evidence-based practice: biostatistics, epidemiology basics and applied research design relevant to health services.
• Practicum or capstone project: an applied internship or culminating project that places students in real-world healthcare settings to integrate coursework with organisational practice.

Entry requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in any discipline; degrees in health-related fields are advantageous.
• Competitive applicants typically present a cumulative undergraduate GPA around 3.0 or higher; admissions may consider the full academic record and professional experience.
• Relevant work experience in healthcare or related fields strengthens an application, particularly for applicants without a health-related undergraduate degree.
• Statement of purpose outlining career goals and fit with the programme, current CV or résumé, and two professional or academic references are usually required.
• Standardised tests (such as the GRE) may be optional or waived for qualified applicants; check the programme for current testing policies.

Career prospects

• Hospital or health system administrator and department manager roles overseeing operations, finance or clinical support services.
• Clinic or practice manager positions in primary care, specialty clinics and outpatient services.
• Health information manager or analyst roles focused on electronic records, data governance and reporting.
• Quality improvement and patient safety coordinator positions within hospitals, long-term care facilities and community health organisations.
• Policy analyst, programme manager or administrator roles in public health agencies, insurers and non-profit organisations.
• Consultancy opportunities advising healthcare providers on operations, finance, compliance and strategic planning.

Why study at University of North Florida

• Applied, career-focused curriculum: the programme emphasises practical skills and applied learning through a practicum or capstone project that links academic study to local healthcare organisations.
• Location and professional networks: based in Jacksonville, the university offers proximity to a diverse healthcare market with hospitals, clinics and health services that provide internship and employment opportunities.
• Faculty with professional experience: instructors typically combine academic expertise with real-world healthcare administration experience, bringing current industry perspectives into the classroom.
• Smaller cohort environment: class sizes support close faculty mentoring, teamwork and networking with peers from a range of clinical and administrative backgrounds.
• Connections across Brooks College of Health: collaboration with allied health, nursing and public health programmes enhances interdisciplinary learning and expands career pathways.