Today's healthcare industry is complex and fast-changing, and navigating the economic, regulatory, and ethical landscape can be challenging. When you earn your Graduate Certificate in Business Management for Healthcare, you'll build core knowledge of critical healthcare issues and develop your ability to make strategic business decisions for improving patient care.
Graduate Certificate in Business Management for Healthcare Program Overview
- Program Structure: 4–5 courses
- Class Schedule: Monday–Thursday evenings at 5:20 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Time to Complete: 1 to 3 years
Part-Time Graduate Certificate | Typical program timeline
*Starts in September or January. May be completed at a flexible pace but is usually completed in three semesters.
Unique Features
Top 50
Among national universities (U.S. News & World Report)
12 or 15
credits may be applied toward a future MBA
- Learn the essentials of business and management—including frameworks for decision-making and critical principles of organizational design—with the goal of improving patient access and experiences
- Specialize your studies with elective topics that are relevant to your goals, such as health informatics or supply chain for healthcare
- Build your confidence and experience through applied project work and case studies—key components of Northeastern's practice-oriented approach to learning
- Access expert career guidance from an experienced counselor at Northeastern's office of Employer Engagement and Career Design
- Build the foundation for a future master's degree from Northeastern—you may be able to apply your earned certificate credits toward an eligible master's program
Meet our students
Admissions
- Interview required? Upon request.
- English language proficiency: English proficiency, both written and verbal, is necessary for success in D'Amore-McKim classrooms. For more information, review our admissions policies.
- GMAT Required? No.
- Where do I apply? Learn more here.
- Eligible for International Student Visa? No. This program is not F-1 visa compliant.
- Is a graduate business certificate worth it? Learn more here.
- Graduate certificate or a master's degree? Explore what business credential is right for you here.
Campus-Based Graduate Certificates
| Application Deadlines | Decision Notifications | Classes Begin |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 26, 2024 | Rolling Basis | January |
| Oct. 24, 2024* | Rolling Basis | January |
| Dec. 5, 2024 | Rolling Basis | January |
| Jan. 9, 2025 | Rolling Basis | September |
| March 27, 2025** | Rolling Basis | September |
| May 15, 2025 | Rolling Basis | September |
| June 26, 2025 | Rolling Basis | September |
| Aug. 7, 2025 | Rolling Basis | September |
**March 27, 2025 deadline is the final deadline for international candidates who require a new F-1 or J-1 visa (Full-time certificates only)
Tuition
Northeastern Student Financial Services publishes the tuition rates for Graduate Certificates. Under the “Graduate Programs” section, the cost per credit appears next to “D'Amore-McKim School of Business Programs.”
Financial Aid
Northeastern offers resources to help you finance your graduate education, and the Student Financial Services team will guide you through your options. Please visit the Graduate Financial Aid page.
Once you are a student, your financial aid advisor will work with you one-on-one to answer your questions, point you to resources and provide valuable insight as you navigate the financial commitments of your program.
Scholarships
Northeastern University has a variety of scholarships. As a graduate certificate applicant you may be eligible for the Full Circle Scholarship. You may also qualify for funding support as an alum, U.S. servicemember, or veteran.
Application Fee Waivers
D'Amore-McKim offers application fee waivers to applicants that meet specific criteria. You can review the policy on the Graduate Application FAQ web page.
The D'Amore-McKim community believes that understanding and solving problems requires constant interaction among people who bring diverse contexts and experiences to the conversation.
We value uniqueness, recognize the power and importance of diversity in our own and surrounding communities, and ensure engaged participation. Numerous student groups and campus resources focus on building inclusive communities.
Curriculum
The coursework for the Graduate Certificate in Business Management for Healthcare explores the fundamentals of managing successful healthcare organizations in order to deliver optimal patient outcomes.
In your required coursework, you'll study the underlying structure of the American healthcare system—and identify its unique challenges and opportunities. The electives you choose will broaden your knowledge in areas such as health policy, health informatics, and supply chain management for healthcare.
Required courses
HINF 5105 | 3 Hours
Covers key issues and introduces management principles in health organization management. Offers students an opportunity to apply important theoretical ideas, such as systems thinking and organizational learning, to meet challenges effectively, to learn how the healthcare workplace functions, and how to manage in these workplaces. Emphasizes case-based learning, critical thinking, and evidence-based management using individual and group projects. Introduces cutting-edge tools in areas such as work redesign, performance management, brand enhancement, and quality improvement. Addresses the management imperatives of today's healthcare organizations and how to implement strategies and programs to meet those imperatives effectively. Intended for anyone interested in working or managing within the healthcare industry, including the field of public health.
HRMG 6220 | 3 Hours
Offers students an opportunity to understand general business strategy concepts as they relate to the healthcare industry. Explores how to analyze market opportunities and challenges as they apply to various healthcare organizations, such as hospitals, physician organizations, and nursing homes. Presents and discusses analytical frameworks for making strategic decisions, drawing on different disciplines, including economics, management, and psychology. Strategic issues include mergers and acquisitions, vertical integration, joint ventures and alliances, performance-control systems, and organizational design.
STRT 6220 | 3 Hours
Electives (Select 1 or 2)
Introduces the history and current status of information systems in healthcare: information architectures, administrative and clinical applications, evidence-based medicine, information retrieval, decision support systems, security and confidentiality, bioinformatics, information system cycles, the electronic health record, key health information systems and standards, and medical devices. Requires enrollment in Graduate Health Informatics Program.
HINF 5101 | 3 Hours
Focuses on the conceptual and methodological foundations for evaluating the quality of care of healthcare providers—both individual providers and healthcare organizations. Aimed at students pursuing careers in public health, public policy, healthcare management, and the various health professions in the growing field of quality evaluation and improvement. Also designed to give healthcare providers an appreciation for how they may be evaluated. Examines scientific issues in the measurement of quality of care as well as key quality evaluation methods. Also covers the use of risk adjustment and other methodologies for comparing the quality of healthcare providers. Focuses on mechanisms that assess quality, including licensure, accreditation, and board certification.
PHTH 5232 | 3 Hours
Uses basic economic concepts to illuminate the many factors that shape health, healthcare, and the healthcare system in the United States. Examines the role of these concepts in explaining the challenges faced in achieving three core goals of the healthcare system: increasing access, limiting cost, and improving quality. Explores how policy makers, market participants, and others can remedy access, cost, and quality deficiencies. Illustrates how economic concepts can be applied to the study of health and health behaviors.
PHTH 5234 | 3 Hours
Examines concepts and topics related to the design and management of supply chain operations in the healthcare sector. Focuses on activities and functions such as inventory control, order fulfillment, logistics, procurement, managing processes, relationship management, and information technology systems. Introduces various tools and techniques that enhance effective supply chain operations in healthcare organizations.
SCHM 6223 | 3 Hours
The following is a sample curriculum and is subject to change. Enrolled students should reference the academic catalog for current program requirements.
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