FAQ – MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management

The MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management program is 36 semester credit hours which is 9 core courses and 3 electives. It can be completed in one year by taking 12 credit hours (4 courses) per semester, but most students take 18 months to two years to complete the program. International students must take a minimum of nine (9) credit hours (3 courses) per semester. The entire program must be completed within six (6) years.

The MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management program is NOT a cohort program. Students can start in any semester: fall, spring, or summer.

The Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership and Management degree program teaches the principles and application of healthcare concepts and best practices. Different tracks emphasize different topics, such as advertising and branding, business development, digital Healthcare Management, Healthcare Management analytics, Healthcare Management and product management.

The healthcare industry is changing rapidly, and graduates can expect to fill leadership and administration roles in a variety of functional areas. Our classes are designed to give you the competencies you need to lead, not just manage.

Classes are taught by a variety of professors with healthcare industry experience. From consultants to chief financial officers to hospital administrators, you will learn from experts with hundreds of years of combined experience in healthcare.

Please go to the Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership and Management program description in the UT Dallas graduate catalog.

Tracks are for informational and guidance purposes only and do not appear on your degree. You may switch from one track to another as long as you follow our degree plan. When you are not able to strictly follow one of the 4 specialty tracks listed on our curriculum page, you should make sure that you, at a minimum, meet the criteria of the Healthcare Leadership and Management Quality Improvement track, which acts as a self-guided track and gives you the most flexibility.

Our small program size of 80 students and dedicated team of professionals allows us to cater to students’ needs, ensuring their success in a fast-paced environment in as few as 18 -24 months. Join the program where staff and faculty believe in you.

No, the Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership and Management program is not yet a STEM-designated program.

Our student club, Elite Scholar and Leader Program, is designed for high-performing graduate healthcare leadership and management students who aspire to be dynamic leaders in healthcare. ESLP will prepare students to be pacesetters on the business side of healthcare and is designed to recognize our student leaders and give them an edge academically and professionally.

Our department is also affiliated with the North Texas chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) of North Texas and Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society HIMSS of Texas

Yes, there are several classes offered online; however, they may not be offered every semester. Please see the Healthcare Leadership and Management Course Modalities map.

No, the MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management program does not have every Healthcare Management elective available as an online course. Please see the Course Modalities map. F-1 students are limited to one (1) online class per semester.

Of the Healthcare Leadership and Management specialty tracks offered, only our Quality Improvement and Supply Chain Track can be completed entirely online.

For more information, see:

• MS Programs Admission
• COVID-19 International Student FAQs

Yes. The program is designed so students can complete the program while working. Many students who work full-time choose to complete the program on a part-time basis.

No. An internship is not required to graduate, but we strongly encourage any student who has not worked or interned in the healthcare industry to complete an internship.

The Jindal School offers several certificate programs, including Healthcare Information Technology and Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare Quality yellow and green belts. These are considered separate programs, but some or all the courses may overlap with your degree requirements.

No, because most students in the MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management program work, it is difficult to organize a foreign trip with enough students. However, the Jindal School frequently offers different semester-long study abroad programs, which may count for credit only if a student is completing the double MBA-MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management program and has pre-approval from the Healthcare Leadership and Management program director. Domestic trips are planned through the program during summer.

Upon approval, up to 9 hours of graduate-level coursework from other universities may be transferred into the MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management degree program. You must have obtained a grade of B or better, and the courses cannot have been taken more than six years ago. You can apply for transfer or waiver of credits after enrolling in the MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management degree program.

Waivers of program requirements may be granted in recognition of previous coursework completed with a grade of “B” or better within the past six years in a specific business program area. Waivers are approved by the appropriate program director through a process that allows a student to skip a core course and take the next higher-level course in the same academic area with no reduction in the overall program hour requirements.

Transfer of credits may be granted for equivalent graduate coursework taken at other universities with a grade of “B” or better within the past six years. Up to 9 semester credit hours of coursework from other universities may be waived or transferred to the MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management program.

Students officially admitted to a Naveen Jindal School of Management graduate program must obtain prior approval before taking any courses at another university. The resultant transfer hours may be denied if prior approval is not obtained. See the Jindal School Advising Office for details on applying for pre-approvals.

Yes, the minimum required total for both degrees is 63 semester credit hours, or 26 fewer semester credit hours than if you pursue them separately. However, you may have to do more than the minimum 63 semester credit hours due to preferred tracks.

Yes, the minimum required total for both degrees is 55 semester credit hours, or 17 fewer semester credit hours than if you pursue them separately. However, you may have to do more than the minimum 55 semester credit hours because some master’s programs do not share many of the same courses as the MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management.

First, read the Frequently Asked Questions provided by the Academic Advising Office, then please visit the MS Programs Admission page to start the admission process online for the MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management degree.

Healthcare Management is an essential part of our communities. Healthcare Leadership and Management graduates pursue careers in such areas as healthcare administrator, director, information or practice manager, healthcare consultant, social services manager, physician practice manager, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), or Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of healthcare organizations. Students can specialize in industry-specific careers in business-to- business operations, consulting, medical packaged goods, rehabilitation and sports management, nursing home management, auditing, policy and law, pharmaceutical, technology, quality improvement and many more.

These can be obtained from your local U.S. embassy or consulate. Consult UTD’s International Student Services for helpful tips and links. For more information, see

• COVID-19 International Student FAQs