Those who aspire to fill executive roles or faculty positions at post-secondary institutions can pursue doctorate degrees such as a Doctor of Health Administration, a Doctor of Philosophy in Health Services and Policy, or a PhD in Public Policy and Administration.

While some colleges offer advanced degree programs in both self-directed and course-based formats, others combine an online delivery model with faculty mentorship throughout the course of study. Some doctoral studies programs base evaluations on real-world experiences in the candidate’s professional activities. Field experiences in healthcare settings may also provide scenarios and data for students’ dissertations.

Through self-directed studies at the doctoral level, students can concentrate on almost any aspect of health administration, from international policy to patient advocacy. Students hone decision-making skills at the executive level by integrating scholarly research with their professional experiences. Courses help learners meet the challenges of cost control and efficient delivery of services to an aging population. Providing effective healthcare in adverse economic and political environments is also a focus of some programs.

For those seeking senior positions in health administration, degrees at the master’s level include Master of Science in Health Informatics, Master of Science in Clinical Research Administration, and Master of Business Administration in Health Administration.

Students may pursue concentrations in subjects such as policy, patient safety, and public health. While core courses at the undergraduate level teach policy implementation, students in master’s programs are expected to evaluate existing policy and develop new policies to improve the delivery and quality of services. Healthcare specialists pursuing degrees in public administration need strong verbal and written communication skills to prepare government policy statements and explain them to the public.

Most master programs combine practice-oriented learning tasks with the exploration of theoretical approaches. Courses on planning healthcare services and managing professional staff complement guided inquiry into healthcare law and ethical issues related to quality of life.

Although some graduate programs in health administration admit candidates with a bachelor’s degree in any subject area, most courses of study are designed for healthcare professionals already working in the field. Some universities require a bachelor’s degree in a related academic area in addition to two years of relevant work experience.

Future health administrators and those already working in the field have a wealth of options among programs at the bachelor’s level. Courses of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science, or a Bachelor of Business Administration are open to applicants with no background in healthcare services and to experienced applicants who want to advance their career.

Possible degree concentrations at this education level include health information systems, emergency management, and long-term care. General courses teach key analytical skills for planning and managing health care in large facilities such as nursing homes and rehabilitation centers.

In all specializations, degree candidates learn the principles of resource allocation, policy application, and ethical standards in the delivery of health care. Students also explore issues related to serving diverse patient populations in multicultural settings. Although a master’s degree in health administration is the standard for employment in hospitals and insurance companies, graduates of bachelor programs can enter the field in assistant management positions.

If you are looking to transform your industry expertise into a key leadership position or as an executive level consultant, a PhD or a doctorate degree in operations management could give you the qualifications as well as the learning experience to further your career in this global marketplace.

In these degrees, you learn how to navigate the complexity of today’s business environment by exploring key challenges in operations such as cost control, sustained cost management, new industry dynamics, evolving product portfolios, and globalization.

As a student in a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program in Global Supply Chain Management, you study principles based on insights from seasoned faculty members and senior business leaders, taking in account the most recent theory and research and highest global standards.

Many doctorate programs offer active online discussion, an on-campus weekend residency, and international field experience.

Master’s degrees in operations management prepare you to manage operations of organizations. You learn advanced principles and techniques to optimize company processes in development and production. Curriculum topics may include quality management, operations research, and project planning.

You can earn a Master of Business Administration and learn about procurement, inventory control, and customer service. These degrees may also cover global operations for international markets.

There are online programs that award a Master of Science or Master of Arts upon completion. You can major in areas such as Organizational Management, Operations and Project Management, and Operations and Supply Chain Management.

Many industry executives see the supply chain as a critical driver of operational excellence and an integral component of their organization’s competitive strategy. For this reason, a bachelor’s degree in operations management is a solid degree for job seekers.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Supply Chain Management explores the principles of managing inventory and maximizing efficiency, so that you can implement a strong distribution channel for your employer.

The Bachelor in Logistics Management focuses on the movement and storage of materials across the supply chain, from acquisition of materials to manufacturing and delivery. This degree qualifies you for positions in supplier management, customer service, and manufacturing.

If you would like to pursue career opportunities as a logistics manager, inventory control manager, or transportation manager, consider enrolling in an online associate degree program in operations management. The Associate of Science in Logistics and Distribution Management or Associate of Applied Science in Logistics and Transportation Management are ideal starting points.

Both programs provide the fundamental education platform to get established in a managerial capacity in supply chain, logistics, or purchasing. Industry experts have found a correlation between an organization’s financial success and the quality of its supply chain so the skills you learn are valuable in the marketplace.

New market dynamics and evolving relationships between manufacturers and distributors have triggered a new demand for job talent that understands the best practices in logistics, transportation, purchasing, warehouse management, and inventory management.

Tomorrow’s business champions are optimizing their supply chain strategies, taking advantage of the latest tools and methods to create competitive advantages. If you enroll in an operations management degree program, you can pursue a career in an emerging, in-demand discipline for business organizations today.

The evolution of online retail giants like Amazon.com has put a renewed focus on operations management in the enterprise. This field includes topics such as supply chain strategy, inventory management, planning, fulfillment, and compliance.

Customized programs in operations management provide the opportunity to learn more about supply chains, logistics, and purchasing in degrees such as an Associate of Science in Logistics and Distribution Management or an Associate of Applied Science in Logistics and Transportation Management.

In these degrees, you learn how to plan, deploy, and maintain the flow of products and services in a logistic platform, such as how to ship products from warehouse to the consumer in the most effective way. Typical jobs post-graduation include management positions in operations, logistics, inventory control, and transportation.

A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Operations Management prepares you for roles such as production manager, operations manager, or purchasing manager. This degree helps you understand real-world business situations. You learn about supply chain and financial principles that drive high performance business decisions.

If you pursue an MBA in operations management, you can develop competitive skills and qualify for high level jobs. This is the route to consider if you aspire to become a Chief Operations Officer (COO).

The operations management major covers the part of an organization concerned with development, deployment, and maintenance of processes that create and deliver products and services. As businesses continue to be pressured by eroding margins and increasing price pressure, there is a need for increased efficiency in processes, improved procurement capabilities, and potential use of offshore operations.

Business leaders are rapidly realizing that supply chain should no longer an independent aspect of their companies. Instead, it should become an integral part of the organization. Consumer-focused companies that need to constantly introduce new product lines have driven this change and paved a way for career opportunities in production, construction, compliance, operations, and purchasing.

Learn about online degrees in operations management, sorted by degree level:

Associate Degrees
Bachelor Degrees
Master Degrees
Doctorate Degrees

[Click to request more information for online degrees in health administration]

A master’s degree in health administration helps you learn leadership skills and provides thorough training in human resources management, information systems, healthcare economics, population health, financial management, marketing, and communications. You gain the capability to manage and coordinate a medical staff, oversee financial accounts, and strategize the operational direction of medical organizations as the need for healthcare services continues to grow.

Health administration degrees can differ widely among various institutions. Some provide a solid grounding in health care including basic medical training while others may focus more extensively on administrative and business directives.

The curriculum covers the processes and procedures involved in managing a hospital, treatment center, or medical clinic. It is designed to develop essential skills for entering the workforce in vital support and administrative positions.

Job: Medical and Health Services Manager

Medical and health services managers may find work in hospitals, healthcare clinics, medical centers, and doctor’s offices. Like any other business, there is a need for marketing, management, HR, and planning in the medical field, and medical and health services managers provide the business and management direction to various healthcare organizations.

Also known as healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, these business experts are able to restructure medical work for greater efficiency, often sparking technological innovation and a renewed focus on preventive care.

The majority of those working in healthcare administration get their start in assistant administrator positions and are gradually promoted to positions of greater responsibility. Entry-level positions generally require business and management training such as a master’s degree in health administration or equivalent coursework and experience.

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[Click to request more information for online degrees in information systems]

A bachelor’s degree in information systems includes courses in systems management and systems development as well as training in some combination of commerce and economics, business management, business law, accounting, marketing, project management, problem solving, human resources management, and organizational behavior.

Students pursuing this bachelor’s degree can develop the skills they need to analyze and resolve problems, improve communications, and implement, create, and manage information systems.

Many degree programs in information systems can be completed entirely online, but some include an in-class or laboratory component to round out the experience. Another option is a co-op or work-study program, which enables students to find temporary job placement in an IT field while studying. A co-op position can serve as a stepping stone to future job opportunities for information systems graduates.

Job: Computer Support Specialist

Computer support specialists provide troubleshooting and technical guidance to people who need assistance with their computers. They may provide this service remotely, over the phone or via email, or by traveling to a client’s location to provide hands-on support or training.

While computer support specialists focus mainly on diagnosing and solving problems, their work also involves setting up systems, installing hardware and software, writing manuals, training users, monitoring business computer usage, and developing IT solutions. They may also install, clean, and repair hardware and software on computers.

There are many paths of entry to the position of computer support specialist, all requiring either a college degree in computer science or equivalent experience and proficiency. A bachelor’s degree in information systems provides a solid foundation in the science and technology of this position.

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