If you’re interested in working in healthcare, some people might assume you want to become a doctor or a nurse. But there is a growing need for healthcare management positions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is predicted to grow 23% between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average.¹

As a medical and health services manager or a healthcare administrator, you can help make a difference in patients’ lives. You could work as a clinical manager, overseeing a healthcare department by evaluating your team’s work quality and managing financial reports and budgets. Or you could maintain and secure patient data and records as a health information officer. You might choose to work for a hospital, a clinic, a consulting firm, a health insurance organization, a university, a public health department, a mental health organization, or a health charity or foundation. You can focus your healthcare management career on whichever aspect of health interests you most.

A good step toward a future in healthcare management or hospital administration is to earn a relevant degree from an accredited institution. If the convenience of online learning appeals to you, consider Walden University’s BS in Healthcare Management degree program. At Walden, you’ll enjoy the flexibility of learning from any location with a Wi-Fi connection at any time of day or night that suits you. Walden’s bachelor’s degree in healthcare management also offers different learning formats: course-based learning or competency-based learning.

Course-based learning is the standard path to earning a degree. You take specific classes that require a set number of weeks to complete. Faculty guide you through your courses. You meet deadlines to make steady progress. You pay by the course. Once you pass your courses and earn the required number of credits, you earn your degree.

Competency-based learning is a more flexible option. Walden’s competency-based learning format is called Tempo Learning®. Rather than being structured, Tempo Learning is flexible. You set your pace, whether it’s quick or methodical. You pay a flat fee for three months of learning, and you learn as much as you’re able to during each three-month subscription. Once you’ve completed an assessment that demonstrates you’ve mastered a subject or skill, you can move on to a new area of study and ultimately earn a degree. Faculty are there to help you when you need it, and you’ll have a personal academic coach to support you.

Is a course-based degree or a competency-based degree best for you? Consider these areas:

• Group vs. Independent. If you know you thrive with the support of your fellow students and instructors, you may prefer course-based learning. If you’re self-directed and prefer to study on your own at a pace you set, you may enjoy competency-based learning.
• Novice vs. Experienced. If you’re new to the subject you’re studying, course-based education will likely provide you with the background and theory that you need to master the subject. If you already have work or life experience that have given you an understanding of a subject, competency-based education could allow you to apply the knowledge you already have and move forward with your degree quickly.
• Structure vs. Flexibility. Do you work and learn best within the structure of a predictable format and a set pace? Course-based learning can provide the structure that you crave. Or would you prefer to move forward as quickly as you want to and take breaks when you need them? For maximum flexibility, choose competency-based learning.

The question isn’t whether course-based or competency-based degrees are better. It’s which is best for you? Consider your personality and lifestyle. Think about what situations you thrive in and whether they are structured or flexible. Ultimately, you must decide what type of learning will help you reach your goal and earn a degree.

Whichever learning path you choose, a bachelor’s in healthcare management from Walden can help you become a leader in healthcare. By completing your bachelor’s degree, you’ll be prepared for roles such as medical and health services manager, healthcare executive, or healthcare administrator. Master the skills you’ll need to help healthcare organizations provide better care for their patients.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering BS in Healthcare Management and Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree programs online. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.

¹Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm