For students researching accredited healthcare degree programs in North Carolina, the Tar Heel state offers abundant opportunities when it comes to education and life beyond graduation. North Carolina boasts lush country sides and bustling urban centers, and health professionals can expect lucrative opportunities in one of the state’s top employers: North Carolina Baptist Hospitals, Wakemed Health & Hospitals, and Cone Health among others. In fact, 11 of the top 50 employers in the state of North Carolina center on the healthcare industry, which means students who pursue this field enjoy ample career options. The following article outlines some of the best programs in the state for degrees.

East Carolina University

The Brody School of Medicine

Founded as a public institution in 1907, East Carolina University ranks 181st on U.S. News and World Report’s “Best National Universities” list and offers a wide range of programs to more than 21,000 students seeking undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees. Students searching for accredited healthcare degree programs in North Carolina can look to East Carolina University for thorough instruction, affordable in-state tuition and a decent faculty-to-student ratio of 18:1. The Department of Public Health under East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine offers a comprehensive Master of Public Health program designed to prepare students for top careers within the field of health administration.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Public health professionals need a strong grounding in several health industry disciplines, and the Master of Public Health degree program offered by East Carolina University will help students develop this grounding through the course requirements. The master’s program requires completion of 45 semester hours spread out as follows: 24 credits of core courses, nine credits of courses related to the student’s specific concentration, six credits on a research paper and internship, and six credits of electives. Students may enroll in the program on a part-time or full-time basis, and full-time students typically complete the program within two to four years. Students have the option to take many of the required courses during the late afternoon and evening, which is ideal for students with busy schedules. All students must complete a field placement in order to gain the necessary experience required of public health professionals, but some students may be able to waive this requirement with advisor approval.

Accreditation

• The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

Contact

• Organization: East Carolina University – Brody School of Medicine, Department of Public Health
• Address: Lakeside Annex 7, Mailstop 660, 600 Moye Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27834
• Phone: (252) 744-5185
• Email:mph@ecu.edu
• Website:https://www.ecu.edu/

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Gillings School of Global Public Health

Opened officially to students in 1795, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill boasts a unique distinction as being the nation’s first public university and a long-standing history of offering academically rigorous programs to the nation’s top-performing students. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also makes education affordable with its unique Carolina Covenant program for low-income students, which allows students to graduate debt-free by participating in work-study opportunities and applying for grants instead of loans. For students interested in health administration careers, the university offers three programs at the graduate level that specialize in public health and healthcare administration.

Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)

Chapel Hill offers three programs under what they call the “Residential Master’s Curriculum” of the Gillings School of Global Public Health: a Master of Science in Public Health, a Master of Healthcare Administration, and a Master of Public Health. The Master of Science in Public Health teaches students how to analyze, develop and implement health policies at the public and private levels. This program prepares students for careers in public policy, research and organizational advocacy. Designed for professionals, this graduate program offers in-depth courses on a variety of topics within the public health field such as epidemiology, health law and economics, and techniques for evaluating health care. The MSPH program requires the completion of 60 semester hours covering core classes and electives, and students will complete internships and professional papers in conjunction with their coursework requirements. At the end of the program, students will also sit for a comprehensive exam.

Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

For students who already hold management positions or those who possess work experience within the health industry, UNC Chapel Hill offers a Master of Healthcare Administration degree program designed for professionals who hope to advance their careers by enrolling in accredited healthcare degree programs in North Carolina. The MHA centers on providing the advanced training and theories needed to progress in the healthcare industry. Students who enroll in this program typically already understand the industry and are hoping to advance their position, but the program is open to people with limited experience. Chapel Hill encourages students with limited experience to enroll in the distance-learning version of this program so that they can continue to gain valuable work experience; the school recommends the same approach to professionals who want to continue working full-time during school. Like the MSPH program, the MHA degree requires 60 semester hours, an internship and an extensive research paper as well as a comprehensive final exam.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Degree programs don’t always follow a linear progression, and in this case the Master of Public Health program offered by UNC Chapel Hill is designed for students who already hold doctoral degrees such as a J.D., Ph.D. or M.D. degree. Like other public health degrees, students will gain a better understanding of healthcare management and how policy affects hospitals and other institutions within the medical community. Unlike other graduate-level public health programs, the students enrolled here already have a strong basis of knowledge when it comes to the ways hospitals and healthcare facilities work. UNC Chapel Hill also allows students who are working toward a doctoral degree to earn an MPH degree simultaneously by completing the necessary requirements for each program. The Master of Public Health degree requires 42 semester hours divided into core classes and electives along with a six-week internship program. Students must also complete a course on professional training and a final paper.

Accreditation

• The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

Contact

• Address: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, 170 Rosenau Hall, CB #7400, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400
• Phone: (919) 843-0908
• Email:a.figueroa@unc.edu
• Website:https://sph.unc.edu/

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

College of Health and Human Services

Despite the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s relatively short history dating back to 1946, this large urban public school offers a wide range of degrees and programs to more than 26,000 students each year. In just over 60 years, the university has grown into a premier North Carolina university that ranks number 201 on U.S. News and World Report’s “Best National Universities” list. Students seeking accredited healthcare degree programs in North Carolina will find exciting opportunities in one of the school’s two graduate-level programs offered by the school’s College of Health and Human Services under the direction of the Department of Public Health Sciences.

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

UNC Charlotte’s Master of Health Administration program seeks to prepare students for rewarding careers in the health administration field by using an interdisciplinary approach that combines faculty and instructional methods with a diverse range of disciplines and experiences. The program centers on core subjects necessary for pursuing a career in this industry: quantitative methods, accounting and finance, epidemiology, marketing, and strategic management, among others. Students will complete at least 51 credit hours to earn the degree. Of these 51 hours, 45 must come from core courses, three must come from an internship, and the remaining six must come from electives. Students who pursue the MHA program can combine their degree with other disciplines in a dual-degree program in order to develop better specialization in the industry. UNC Charlotte offers the program primarily during the evenings at two locations, and students can complete the program on a full- or part-time basis.

Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)

Students who plan to pursue careers as health professionals or to lead hospitals and other similar facilities in effective health management will appreciate the Master of Science in Public Health offered by UNC Charlotte’s Department of Public Health Sciences. The program offers detailed instruction on topics related to the public health industry while encouraging students to hone their skills as leaders in a variety of settings such as health facilities, government agencies, and hospitals. Educational objectives include the development of crucial critical thinking skills and analytical abilities within the context of health care decision-making. The MSPH program requires the completion of 45 credit hours divided as follows: 21 core credit hours, nine credit hours of specialty courses, six to nine credit hours of electives, a capstone or thesis worth three to six credits, and an internship worth three credits. Full-time students typically complete the MSPH degree program within five semesters.

Accreditation

• The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)

Contact

• Address: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Public Health Sciences, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223
• Phone: (704) 687-7191
• Email:publichealth@uncc.edu
• Website:https://www.charlotte.edu/

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

UNCG School of Nursing / Bryan School of Business

Coming in at number 190 on U.S. News and World Report’s “Best National Universities” list, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro enjoys a long history of providing quality education since its founding as a public university in 1891. More than 17,500 students attend the university in person with an additional 900 distance-learners enjoying relatively small classes taught by experienced faculty members. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is one of the original members of the UNC system in North Carolina, and students enrolled in the school’s (Department) will find an excellent dual program for health administration at the graduate level.

Master of Science in Nursing / Master of Business Administration in Health Management

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro takes a different approach to health administration. Rather than concentrating the program into a business degree, the university’s School of Nursing offers a dual degree program that combines elements of the Master of Science in Nursing with the Master of Business Administration in Health Management. Students will apply for this program through the School of Nursing, and many of the courses center on topics relevant to both nursing and health administration careers. The program requires the completion of 62 credit hours covering a broad range of graduate-level professional courses such as the economics of health care, integrative business, quantitative analysis, and organizational leadership and management. Students will take courses that range from theoretical analyses of modern health care topics to technology-driven courses that prepare them for careers in a fast-paced environment. Within the program, students will also take specialty courses to focus on areas that particularly interest them.

Accreditation

• The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Contact

• Address: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, UNCG School of Nursing, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
• Phone: (336) 334-5261
• Email:eileen_kohlenberg@uncg.edu
• Website:https://www.uncg.edu/

In 2013, Forbes ranked the public health profession as number six on its list of the best careers for earning a master’s degree, and it’s no surprise why: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health administration professionals enjoy a median income of $88,580 and can expect a 23 percent increase in jobs by 2022. Any one of the accredited healthcare degree programs in North Carolina outlined above will help propel students into this rewarding career.

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