This program has been updated for the Spring 2026 term.

Today’s challenging health care environment is intensifying the need for more effective leadership that combines strategic awareness, visionary prowess, operational expertise, and knowledge of health policy. The MBA in Healthcare Leadership (MBA-HCL) is a 33 credit online program, designed to enhance students’ analytical, leadership, communication and problem solving skills and strengthen their proficiency in the theory and practice of effective management of health care organizations. The program is ideal for:

• Healthcare executives and senior managers seeking to advance their leadership responsibilities and organizational influence.
• Health sector leaders and senior professionals from areas such as health insurance, pharmaceuticals, HMOs, regulatory agencies, and medical supply who wish to broaden their strategic perspective and industry impact.
• Clinicians and healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers, preparing to move into administrative or leadership roles.
• Allied health professionals, such as rehabilitation therapists, imaging specialists, nutritionists, and public health practitioners, looking to develop stronger leadership capabilities within their disciplines and beyond.
• Board members and trustees aiming to enhance their knowledge of healthcare governance, strategic oversight, and executive leadership.
• Professionals in areas such as law, regulatory affairs, marketing, human resources, finance, information technology, risk management, informatics, and patient relations, who aim to contribute more strategically to their organization, enhance their understanding of the intersection between health policy and professional practice, and acquire the competencies necessary for career advancement.

Transfer Credit

After admission, students should discuss the possibility of transfer credit with their academic advisor. To request transfer credit, students complete the Transfer Credit Request Form available through the Quicklinks box of the Graduate Student Center on MySUNYEmpire.

Program Delivery and Tuition Rate

This master’s program is delivered through online courses and is billed at the MBA rate.

Admission

Admission to this program is selective. This program enrolls new students in the fall, spring, and summer terms.  Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. The preferred professional background includes 2-4 years of experience in a managerial or clinical capacity in a health care environment or relevant experience in a related organizational setting.

PREREQUISITES

Any or all of the following prerequisites will be waived if the student has taken an undergraduate course in the area:

• accounting (3 credits)
• microeconomics (3 credits)
• statistics (3 credits)

Application

Please see the Graduate Admission section of this catalog for a complete listing of materials required to complete a graduate application.

Program Curriculum

The MBA in Healthcare Leadership consists of six core courses (18 credits), four elective courses (12 credits) based on student interest and which reinforce the individualized focus of the degree, and a capstone course (3 credits) culminating in a final project.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Core Courses		18
HCLM 6005	Mastering Leadership in Healthcare Organizations
HCLM 6010	Analysis of Healthcare Markets & Health Policy
HCLM 6015	Health Information Management and Informatics
HCLM 6020	Healthcare Economics
HCLM 6025	Healthcare Financial Management
HCLM 6030	Quantitative Methods & Healthcare Operations Management
Elective Courses (four)		12
Capstone Course		3
HCLM 7015	Strategic Executive Leadership for Healthcare Organizations
Total Credits		33

Enrollment Sequence

Students have flexibility in pacing through the program. The following is a suggested part time enrollment sequence:

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
HCLM 6005	Mastering Leadership in Healthcare Organizations	3
HCLM 6010	Analysis of Healthcare Markets & Health Policy	3
	Credits	6
Spring
HCLM 6020	Healthcare Economics	3
HCLM 6025	Healthcare Financial Management	3
	Credits	6
Summer
Elective		3
	Credits	3
Second Year
Fall
HCLM 6030	Quantitative Methods & Healthcare Operations Management	3
Elective		3
	Credits	6
Spring
HCLM 6015	Health Information Management and Informatics	3
Elective		3
	Credits	6
Summer
Elective		3
	Credits	3
Third Year
Fall
HCLM 7015	Strategic Executive Leadership for Healthcare Organizations	3
	Credits	3
	Total Credits	33

The following is a suggested full time enrollment sequence:

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
HCLM 6005	Mastering Leadership in Healthcare Organizations	3
HCLM 6010	Analysis of Healthcare Markets & Health Policy	3
Elective		3
	Credits	9
Spring
HCLM 6025	Healthcare Financial Management	3
HCLM 6020	Healthcare Economics	3
Elective		3
	Credits	9
Second Year
Fall
HCLM 6015	Health Information Management and Informatics	3
HCLM 6030	Quantitative Methods & Healthcare Operations Management	3
Elective		3
	Credits	9
Spring
HCLM 7015	Strategic Executive Leadership for Healthcare Organizations	3
Elective		3
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	33

Electives

While some students select electives to gain exposure to new areas and others to develop greater expertise in a particular discipline, many choose electives to fulfill both purposes. The term registration information will provide you with a listing and description of electives offered that are specific to the MBA-HCL program. Electives also are offered during the summer term. Sample program electives include:  

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
HCLM 6023	Health Care Delivery & Reimbursement Systems	3
HCLM 6026	Comparative Health Care Systems	3
HCLM 6035	Healthcare Accounting	3
HCLM 6040	Competencies for Healthcare Ethics	3
HCLM 6045	Case Studies in Bioethics	3
HCLM 6050	Healthcare Legal & Regulatory Affairs	3
HCLM 6055	Healthcare Marketing Services	3
HCLM 6060	Healthcare Quality Control & Compliance Risk Management	3
HCLM 6065	High Performance Leadership	3
HCLM 6070	Human Resources Competencies in Healthcare	3
HCLM 6075	Managing Healthcare Systems	3
HCLM 6080	Health Policy & Management	3
HCLM 6085	Governance & Trusteeship	3
HCLM 7005	Healthcare Strategic Communication	3
HCLM 7010	Evidence-based Decision Making in Healthcare Organizations	3

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Integrate core functional knowledge in areas such as Finance, Economics, Operations Management, and Information Management to facilitate sound managerial decision-making (Disciplinary Knowledge).
• Assimilate theory and practice to analyze business problems through inference and evaluation (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving).
• Use evidence-based practices to facilitate effective strategic decision-making (Strategic Thinking).
• Steer organizational processes and transformational change effectively (Leadership).
• Apply theory and tools necessary for integrity-driven reasoning (Ethical Reasoning).
• Synthesize the needs of stakeholders, perspectives, trends, and developments that guide the industry’s direction (Understanding the Healthcare Ecosystem).
• Articulate effectively orally and in writing across managerial healthcare contexts and with diverse stakeholders (Managerial Communication).
• Contribute effectively to the achievement of organizational goals in a collaborative environment (Teamwork).