Accredited healthcare administration degree programs in New Mexico provide the professionals necessary to supervise New Mexico's thriving healthcare industry. With population growth rising faster than the general U.S. population in the past 20 years, the demand for highly trained healthcare workers, including knowledgeable administrators, has risen as well, especially in rural areas of the state. Combining the effects of this growth with the retirement of baby boomers from the workforce, New Mexico programs of higher education are looking to train the next generation of professionals who can lead cutting edge healthcare programs in their communities.

New Mexico State University

College of Health and Social Services

New Mexico State University encourages the discovery process in all its academic programs. This philosophy extends into the classroom with innovative, experiential curricula that prepares students for public service and leadership within their chosen fields. The College of Health and Social Services, in particular, guides its students to embrace the knowledge and passion required to make an impact in their local communities through research and service.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

The Master of Public Health (MPH) with a focus in community health education lays a strong foundation of management principles from a public health perspective. Students develop competencies in core healthcare and management areas that allow them to demonstrate professionalism and leadership while providing high caliber services to community healthcare participants. Due to New Mexico's unique geographic concerns, the program emphasizes health problems in rural communities including those along the U.S./Mexico border.

Degree candidates with appropriate undergraduate credentials can enter into the master's program full or part time for on-campus instruction or take classes through an online format. All students complete 40 credit hours of core public health and community health education coursework, including field experiences. Non-thesis students complete an additional nine credit hours of electives, while thesis candidates complete four to six credits of research and written requirements.

Accreditations

  • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC-NCA)
  • Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

Contacts

New Mexico State University
Department of Public Health Sciences
P.O. Box 30001 MSC 3446
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8001
(575) 646-4300
Dr. James Robinson, Graduate Coordinator
[email protected]
MPH Program: http://publichealth.nmsu.edu/graduate-programs/current-graduate-students/mph-overview/

University of New Mexico

Graduate Studies

Priding itself on being the state's flagship institution of higher learning for 125 years, the University of New Mexico continues to provide relevant, creative curricula for new generations of community leaders. One of UNM's most important goals includes funding new advancements in healthcare through research and hands-on training programs. For those pursuing degrees with administrative emphasis in healthcare, there are two program options.

Public Health Program: Master of Public Health (MPH)

This degree offers three concentrations in: community health, epidemiology, or health systems, services and policy. All of these stress leadership and management skills as part of the core foundations for working within the field. Candidates complete 42 credit hours involving core coursework and specialized classes in the area of concentration. Other requirements include participating in a practicum and completing a thesis or integrative experience course, and passing an oral master's examination.

School of Public Administration: Master of Health Administration (MHA)

Using interdisciplinary sources and approaches from business and health programs, this master's offers students specific emphasis on managerial practices within the healthcare system. The program is completed in 48 credit hours with coursework and a practicum geared towards one of three concentrations: hospital and clinic administration, general healthcare administration, or minority health. Topics of study include healthcare finance and economics, management principles, legal and ethical issues, Native American health policy and administration, and evaluation of healthcare policies and programs.

Accreditations

  • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC-NCA)
  • Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
  • Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)

Contacts

University of New Mexico
MSC09 5060
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001
(505) 272-4173
Kristine Tollestrup, Director, Public Health Program
[email protected]
MPH Program: http://fcm.unm.edu/education/public-health-program/master-of-public-health.html

University of New Mexico
MSC05 3100
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001
(505) 277-1092
[email protected]
MHA Program: http://spa.unm.edu//mha-graduate-program/index.html

With New Mexico's rural population and the retirement rate of its current healthcare workers increasing, the state needs more healthcare professionals. Higher learning institutions have responded with innovative, experiential curricula to provide qualified healthcare providers. As a result, those interested in public health careers have many choices to become the next generation of healthcare leaders through accredited healthcare administration degree programs in New Mexico.