Dartmouth University

What you'll study

This programme blends core health sciences with business, information management and law to give a practical, systems-focused grounding in healthcare administration. You will study how healthcare organisations operate, how clinical services are coordinated and how policy, finance and technology shape patient care.

• Core sciences and clinical context: human anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, public health principles and epidemiology to ensure administrators understand clinical workflows and patient needs.
• Management and organisational skills: healthcare management, organisational behaviour, leadership, human resources and strategic planning for operating clinics, departments and multi-site services.
• Finance and policy: healthcare finance and budgeting, health policy and regulation, medical billing and reimbursement systems, and fundamentals of health insurance.
• Health information and technology: health informatics, electronic health records, data analytics for quality improvement and basic introductory coding or database management as applied to patient and operational data.
• Law, ethics and governance: healthcare law, compliance, patient privacy (including data protection and confidentiality) and ethical decision-making in clinical settings.
• Applied learning: workplace practicum or internship in a hospital, clinic or health organisation, project-based courses and a capstone project focused on a real-world organisational challenge.

Typical programme structure

Students normally complete a combination of general education requirements, a set of core modules in health administration and supporting electives over three to four years. The final year commonly includes an integrative capstone and a supervised placement or practicum.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold secondary-school qualifications equivalent to A‑levels, the IB Diploma or an accredited high-school diploma with a record of strong academic performance. Admissions typically consider the whole application, including academic transcripts, a personal statement, and references.

• Academic preparation: recommended study or strong grades in sciences (for example biology) and quantitative subjects (mathematics, statistics or similar). Coursework or demonstrated interest in social sciences, business or computing is advantageous.
• Experience and personal qualities: some evidence of commitment to healthcare — such as voluntary work, paid employment in a health setting, or relevant extracurricular activity — and strong communication, organisation and teamwork skills.
• Application materials: personal statement explaining interest in health administration, at least one academic reference, and any institution-specific assessments or interviews where required.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a wide variety of administrative, operational and policy roles across the health sector. The degree provides both immediately employable skills and a foundation for further study.

• Health services administrator, hospital unit manager or clinic/practice manager
• Patient services or operations coordinator in hospitals, primary care networks and community health organisations
• Medical billing and revenue cycle analyst, insurance claims specialist or health finance officer
• Health information manager, clinical data analyst or EHR implementation specialist
• Quality improvement officer, compliance or risk management roles
• Consultant roles with management consultancies, public health agencies, insurers or health technology firms
• Pathways to postgraduate study such as Master of Health Administration (MHA), Public Health (MPH), MBA or specialised masters in health informatics or health policy

Why study at Dartmouth University

Studying this programme at Dartmouth University offers a close-knit academic environment with interdisciplinary teaching that bridges health sciences, management and technology. Students benefit from small-group instruction, opportunities for supervised placements with local health providers and access to faculty with applied experience in healthcare management.

The curriculum emphasises practical skills — project work, internships and data-driven decision-making — so graduates are prepared to step into operational roles or to continue to professional and postgraduate training. Strong links with regional health organisations and an emphasis on ethics and quality mean students graduate ready to contribute to safer, more efficient patient care.