Loyola University Chicago

What you'll study

The programme combines core management disciplines with healthcare-specific content to develop skills in operations, finance, regulation and quality improvement. Typical subject areas include:

• Healthcare operations and service delivery: workflow design, capacity planning, supply chain and process improvement.
• Healthcare finance and accounting: budgeting, reimbursement systems, financial decision-making for hospitals and clinics.
• Health law, policy and ethics: regulatory compliance, patient rights, and ethical frameworks for decision making.
• Quality improvement and patient safety: methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma applied to clinical and administrative processes.
• Health information systems: an introduction to electronic health records, data governance and how information technology supports administrative decisions.
• Research methods and analytics: quantitative and qualitative approaches for evaluating programmes, operational metrics and outcomes.
• Leadership and human resources: organisational behaviour, change management and workforce planning in healthcare settings.

Most students complete a combination of classroom-based coursework and a culminating experiential component, such as a practicum, internship or capstone project that applies learning to a real organisational challenge.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a recognised undergraduate degree. Admissions typically review academic transcripts, a current CV or résumé, and a personal statement outlining career goals and relevant experience. Employers often seek candidates with some healthcare or supervisory experience, though applicants from related sectors who can demonstrate transferable skills are also considered. The programme may request one or more professional references. Where English is not the applicant's first language, proof of English-language proficiency is usually required.

Standardised tests such as the GRE may be optional or considered on a case-by-case basis; applicants should consult the programme for the current testing policy.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a broad range of management and leadership roles across the health sector. Common career destinations include:

• Hospital or health system administrator
• Clinic or practice manager
• Operations manager for ambulatory or specialty services
• Revenue cycle or billing manager
• Quality improvement and patient safety coordinator
• Healthcare consultant or analyst
• Director of practice management or clinic operations

Alumni work in hospitals, outpatient centres, long-term care facilities, public health agencies, insurance firms and consulting organisations. The programme equips graduates to take on roles that require both clinical awareness and strong administrative capability.

Why study at Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago offers this programme within a broader health and professional education environment that emphasises ethical leadership and service to diverse communities. Students benefit from the university's connections with a wide range of Chicago-area healthcare providers, offering opportunities for practicum placements and professional networking. The curriculum integrates practical, management-focused coursework with an emphasis on social justice, patient-centred care and interprofessional collaboration. Faculty typically bring a mix of academic expertise and real-world healthcare leadership experience, and career services support helps students explore local and national employment pathways.