OSIM Programs > Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership and Management > Curriculum – MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management
Start your competency-based, industry-focused and flexible degree plan.
The Master’s in Healthcare Leadership and Management has specific core and concentration courses for developing in-depth knowledge in leadership and management of the U.S. healthcare industry by utilizing key business and healthcare competencies. Students are encouraged to review the UT Dallas Graduate Catalog for the most updated curriculum details.
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MS Healthcare Leadership and Management Mission
The mission of the MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management program is to conduct relevant industry-related research; prepare students to lead and thrive in a rapidly changing, technology-driven healthcare environment and engage with our business and healthcare communities to deliver high-quality leadership and management education for early and mid-careerists. We do this by developing key business and healthcare competencies that enable our students to make a positive difference.
Program Level Student Learning Outcomes
- Assess the role of organized efforts to influence health policy formulation, cost and anticipated outcomes, trends, and the contributions of technology, research and societal values on our evolving healthcare delivery system.
- Describe how laws, regulations and policies control healthcare delivery and assess the relationship between cost, access and quality in healthcare.
- Identify and evaluate the role of information systems and analytics that are prevalent in healthcare organizations; apply analytical tools for continuous improvement.
- Analyze how healthcare organizations create sustainable strategies to stay competitive, including strategic partnerships, supply chain operations, performance improvement key measures and decision-making.
Degree Plan Highlights – MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management
“SCH” indicates “Semester Credit Hours.”
27SCH
Core Courses*
27 semester credit hours
27 semester credit hours in healthcare-focused core business classes
9SCH
Elective Courses*
9 semester credit hours
4SCH
Four Optional Concentrations*
3 elective courses from one of these specific areas:
- Healthcare Informatics
- Healthcare Internal Auditing
- Quality Improvement
- Supply Chain Management
*These details apply to the most recent catalog. Catalogs from previous years are available online at the main UT Dallas Catalog page. Please contact the JSOM Academic Advising Office if you have further questions. See catalog for course requirements.
Competency-Based Curriculum
The MS Healthcare Leadership and Management curriculum is developed and updated in relation to the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) which serves the public by advancing the quality of healthcare management education globally, with 145 CAHME programs accredited worldwide. In Fall 2023, UTD’s MS Healthcare Leadership and Management program received official accreditation. Learn particulars about our accredited program.
The purpose of the competency model is to enable you to develop the right knowledge, skills and abilities to make an immediate difference upon graduation. Each competency is tied to specific course objectives in each of our nine core classes. By improving your leadership and technical skills, you will graduate as a valuable resource in the healthcare industry.
Our competency model has five domains, which are shown below, along with their associated competencies. You can find more information in the Competency Booklet, and once enrolled, within a course’s online learning module. Modules provide more practical insights into the competencies within the UTD Blackboard platform (log in with your UTD ID, search organizations and Building Healthcare Competencies).
- Build collaborative relationships
- Develop and maintain medical staff relationships
- Build trusting, collaborative relationships with staff, peers, other disciplines, physicians, vendors, community leaders, legislators, nursing and other educational programs
- Present data analysis results to decision makers
- Mediation, negotiation and dispute resolution techniques
- Foster an environment of mutual trust and ethical decision-making
- Advocate and participate in healthcare policy initiatives
- Critically analyze organizational issues after a review of the evidence
- Create a compelling vision and serve as a change agent, assisting others in understanding needed changes, reasons for change and the change process
- Promote continuous organizational learning and improvement
- Participate in the legislative process concerning healthcare through membership in professional organizations and personal contact with public officials
- Healthcare and medical terminology
- Managed care models, structures and environment (e.g., group, staff, IPA, PPO)
- Evidence-based management practice
- Healthcare economics and emerging trends
- Analyze and evaluate information to support a decision or recommendation
- Demonstrate critical thinking and analysis
- Assess organizational perception of systems and departmental effectiveness
- Financial management and financial analysis principles (e.g., balance sheets, income and cash flow statements, ratio analysis)
- Outcomes measures and management
- Define roles, responsibilities and job descriptions
- Evaluate existing and emerging technologies in planning the technological direction to support organizational strategy and systems architecture
- Strategic planning processes development and implementation
Customize Your Degree
The nine hours of electives allow students to customize the degree to fulfill their specific career goals, such as proficiency in IT, quality improvement, supply chain or internal audit.
View Elective Courses
Student Testimonials
Nora Tassabhji, MS’18
Senior Regulatory Associate, UT Southwestern Medical Center
The program perfectly aligned my healthcare and business interests hand in hand. The resources you can access as a student are unmatched.
Kennedy Shaffer, MS’20
Patient Coordinator, Identity Eyecare
Upon graduation, I approached one of my professors with my dilemma, and he introduced me to ‘the business of healthcare.’ I have been hooked ever since!
See all Master’s in Healthcare Leadership and Management Student Testimonials
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