The Top Healthcare MBA Programs in California
The California healthcare industry is booming. The industry employs more than 1.4 million people across ambulatory settings, hospitals, and residential care facilities. And as the population continues to age, there’s no doubt that the healthcare industry will continue to expand.
So, it should come as no surprise that an MBA in healthcare is becoming a more popular track for future business leaders. With the industry estimated to be worth $2.26 trillion, there are many opportunities across the board. The key is to choose the right healthcare MBA.
Here are our top six California Healthcare MBA programs:
UCLA
Health Care@Anderson is a vast career path. In 2017, around 6.1 percent of UCLA Anderson students were hired into health care industry roles including consulting, marketing management, finance, and more. Top healthcare employers and internships include AMGEN, Edwards, Kaiser Permanente, and Genentech. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the Healthcare Business Association Club, Annual Healthcare Conference, UCLA Healthcare Mixers, and more.
At the UCLA Anderson School of Management, you can also specialize in Healthcare Management for your MBA concentration. This specialization includes courses in the Business of Healthcare, Healthcare, Healthcare Technology, Health Law, and Quantitative Analysis for Health Systems. Upon graduation, these MBA students should have the general management skills and industry-specific knowledge necessary to be successful in a career in a health-related field.
UC Berkeley
Berkeley Haas is home to the School of Public Health, which has abundant course and co-curricular opportunities for Haas business students. As one of the founding members of the Business School Alliance for Health Management, the school attracts a significant number of MBA students pursuing a career in health care each year (approx. 15 percent in 2019). Many of these students also participate in the Haas Healthcare Association, which organizes an annual Business of Health Care Conference.
Along with the MBA/Master in Health Policy and Management degree, students can earn a specialization in Health Management. This specialization covers a wide range of topics including Health Care in the 21st Century, Commercializing Biotech and Pharma, and Innovations in Health Care. There are also experiential learning opportunities, three health management research centers, and a seven-month Berkeley Board Fellows fellowship.
USC Marshall
USC Marshall offers a specialization in Health Care Advisory Services as part of the MBA. This concentration assists students in preparing for a career within the health care industry, whether in a hospital health maintenance organization, government agency, or consulting firm. The specialization is offered in association with the Health Services Administration Program in the School of Policy, Planning, and Development. Potential courses that MBA students can complete to earn their concentration include Health Care Operations Improvement, Legal Issues in Health Care Delivery, and Health Care Venture Development.
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USC Marshall is also home to a one-year Master of Medical Management degree program for healthcare executives. This specialized master’s degree teaches the same business competencies available in the EMBA curriculum. MBA business leaders interested in healthcare can also join the Healthcare Leadership Association, which is an industry-specific club focused on all sectors of the healthcare industry. It identifies MBA opportunities explicitly.
San Diego State University
Ranked 47th in Health Care Management by the U.S. News & World Report, San Diego State University’s Fowler College of Business is a solid choice for a healthcare-focused MBA degree. Their specialization in Health Services includes 12 units of coursework in Public Health, which prepares graduates to work in various healthcare administration positions.
Also, San Diego State University is home to the School of Public Health, which is ranked among the nation’s best public health programs. Students who choose this path will have an opportunity to learn from top professors, attend various events, and participate in research centers and institutes such as the Institute for Public Health.
Stanford
The Stanford Graduate School of Business is a standout innovator in California healthcare education. Faculty from both Stanford GSB and Stanford Medicine share research, strategic insights, and experiential curriculum to find creative solutions to today’s top health care challenges. This means there are many opportunities for skill development and learning.
As for MBAs, there is an opportunity to take 12 class units within the healthcare field. However, where Stanford excels is in their MD/MBA dual degree program. This five-year joint degree requires students to complete 90 units for their MBA and 249 units for their MD before they graduate.
Dominican University of California
The Dominican University of California is home to the MBA with a Concentration in Healthcare Leadership. This healthcare program provides students the market-driven skills and learning necessary to face a variety of challenges. This 40-unit program features 28 units in graduate business courses, and 12 units in graduate healthcare courses.
Students graduate in one or two years. As part of the program, students can also complete a global consulting practicum. This features an international trip, completing a project for a healthcare client.
About the Author
Kelly Vo
Kelly Vo is a writer who specializes in covering MBA programs, digital marketing, and personal development.
