Curriculum - MS in Healthcare Management | Naveen Jindal School of Management

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.

View Degree Plan

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 health care 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 health care 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:

*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 5 domains shown below 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 compelling vision and serves as a change agent, assisting others in understanding needed changes and 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 system and departmental effectiveness
Financial management and financial analysis principles (e.g., balance sheets, income and cash flow statement, 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

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

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!