Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management online program enables you to develop essential skills to identify and implement effective solutions for challenges across the evolving healthcare landscape. You will study healthcare marketing, law and ethics, financial issues, and more.
Along with completion in as few as five months, this online healthcare management graduate certificate program provides an ideal stepping stone toward earning your Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management, which also is available 100% online. All 9 credit hours from the certificate program can be applied toward the MBA program. Whether you're looking to add to your expertise or start an MBA, this certificate complements any career goals.
Online courses are designed and taught by the same degreed Fitchburg State faculty who teach on campus, many of whom are working professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for medical and health services managers nationwide is expected to grow by 18% through 2028.

Fitchburg State University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
In this online program, you will:
- Explore how marketing principles apply to managerial decisions in healthcare and healthcare-related organizations
- Gain an understanding of the legal environment's impact on healthcare delivery, healthcare coverage, and medical decision-making.
- Apply cost control principles as they relate to management decisions in the healthcare industry
Also available
Fitchburg State offers a variety of specialized graduate certificate options. Check out all of our online graduate certificates.
Tuition and Fees
Our online graduate certificate programs offer affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition, which is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included.
Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
---|---|---|---|
Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management | $417 | $1,251 | $3,753 |
- Application fee: $50
- Visit the student accounts website for a breakdown of tuition and fees
Calendar
Fitchburg State online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.
Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Intent to Enroll Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Deadline | Drop For Non Pay | Last class day |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spring A 2021 | 01/19/21 | 12/18/20 | 12/28/20 | 01/04/21 | 01/11/21 | 01/12/21 | 01/13/21 | 03/07/21 |
Spring B 2021 | 03/15/21 | 02/12/21 | 02/22/21 | 03/01/21 | 03/08/21 | 03/09/21 | 03/10/21 | 05/02/21 |
Summer A 2021 | 05/17/21 | 04/20/21 | 04/30/21 | 05/03/21 | 05/10/21 | 05/11/21 | 05/12/21 | 07/05/21 |
Summer B 2021 | 07/12/21 | 06/11/21 | 06/21/21 | 06/28/21 | 07/05/21 | 07/06/21 | 07/07/21 | 08/29/21 |
Fall A 2021 | 09/02/21 | 07/30/21 | 08/09/21 | 08/16/21 | 08/23/21 | 08/24/21 | 08/25/21 | 10/20/21 |
Fall B 2021 | 10/28/21 | 09/20/21 | 10/01/21 | 10/08/21 | 10/18/21 | 10/19/21 | 10/20/21 | 12/16/21 |
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from Fitchburg State?
Admissions
At Fitchburg State, we've streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management online, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them. The requirements include:
View all admission requirements
You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for admission.
- Submit graduate application and $50 application fee
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, with official transcripts
- Overall undergraduate GPA of not less than 2.8
- Official transcripts of graduate-level coursework from a regionally accredited institution (if applicable)*
- Professional resume
- Students with undergraduate GPAs of less than 2.8 may also be considered for admission based on their professional work experience and a letter of recommendation
- No GMAT is required
To submit official documents by mail, send them to:
Fitchburg State UniversityAdmissions Office
160 Pearl Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
International Students:
- TOEFL or IELTS scores required for natives of non-English speaking countries
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended*
- General Foreign Credit Evaluation
- GPA of not less than 2.5
- Application fee ($50)
- Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose (300 word minimum)
*All foreign transcripts must be formally evaluated before we are able to make an admissions decision. Graduate applicants are required to submit a "general" evaluation. Following are suggested organizations which provide foreign credential evaluation services:
- The Center for Educational Documentation
- The World Education Services
- Educational Credential Evaluators
- International Documentation Center
You are encouraged to contact the Fitchburg State International Admissions department if additional information is needed at 978-665-4399 or intladmissions@fitchburgstate.edu.
U.S. citizens with foreign education (from a non-English speaking country) will need to follow the international admission requirements (TOEFL excluded). Students with the following visa are not eligible for the program:
- I-20
- F1
TOEFL Code: 3518
IELTS Code: No code; please select Fitchburg State as a recipient.
Ranked #8 for Best Colleges for the Money: Massachusetts by CollegeFactual.com, 2018
Courses
For the Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management online, the curriculum is comprised of 3 courses covering 9 credit hours.
MGMT 9250: Healthcare Marketing
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
As a graduate-level course, the focus is on exploring how marketing principles apply to management decisions in the healthcare industry using case analysis. Topics covered include product development, pricing and distribution, consumer behavior analysis, market definition, and forecasting and development of marketing plans focusing on application of these concepts to the healthcare organization.
MGMT 9251: Policy, Legal and Ethical Issues
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Examination of the law's impact on public health, role of legal institutions, individual rights, basic principles of medical decision-making, medical liability, basic regulatory aspect of healthcare delivery, universal health coverage, impact of technology and human rights issues.
MGMT 9253: Financial Issues in Healthcare
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
The focus is on exploring how cost control principles apply to management decisions in the healthcare industry using case analysis. Topics covered include an overview of financial management, tools such as accounting and cash flow analysis, financial statement analysis, the risks and returns associated with the financial market, capital budgeting and forecasting with a focus on the application of these concepts to the healthcare organization.
Still Undecided?
Check out our other graduate certificate programs or dicover our highly specialized MBA online degree programs.