We have previously discussed progressive MBA programs that take advantage of the new economy. Today we focus on MBA programs in the ever growing health care sector.
Last week BusinessWeek.com posted an article discussing the growing opportunities for MBAs in health care. The job climate for the past two years has been down, but it’s important to remember that not all sectors have seen declines. The health care industry has been on the cusp of a boom for some time now, today the health care industry accounts for almost 20% of US GDP This, coupled with a possible Health Care Reform Bill on the horizon, promises even more opportunities for MBA graduates to take advantage of this growing market.
If this is career direction that is of interest to you, here are three schools that have MBA programs that have tracks that specialize in the health care industry:
1. Harvard Business School
The Healthcare Initiative at Harvard Business School is a highly respected program launched in 2005. The first-year coursework is focused on immersing the student in the health care industry while in the second year the student can customize their curriculum to explore areas of global health, entrepreneurship, medicine management, and a variety of other topics. MBA students involved in the Healthcare Initiative can integrate coursework from the Harvard School of Public Health, the Law School, and the Kennedy School of Government.
2. Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management
The Health Care MBA program at Vanderbilt’s Owen School integrates coursework with the Vanderbilt Medical Center. This collaboration allows students to gain real-world perspective from all areas of the health care field, with extensive on-the-job training. Another advantage of attending the Owen School is its geographic location in Nashville, TN. Over 300 health care companies are located in the city, including Caremark Rx and American Healthways.
3. University of Pennsylvania Wharton
Wharton invites prospective students to indicate in their application whether they want to specialize in the Health Care Management. This program differs from others at Wharton by blending industry-specific coursework with hands-on professional development.
The MBA Exchange admissions consultants can help you determine whether these or other programs would be right for you. Your next step? Just request a free, expert evaluation of your MBA candidacy.
