Please Note: This program is also offered online. Click here to learn more about the online Master of Health Care Leadership degree.

Master's in Health Care Leadership Degree

The Master of Health Care Leadership (MHCL) was the first master’s-level degree specifically directed at leadership in health care administration in Wichita. The Health Care Leadership degree program is one of only three university graduate programs recognized in Kansas by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Higher Education Network (HEN) for providing appropriate, high quality curriculum to prepare students to take the board exam for fellowship. This recognition and membership in the HEN provides a competitive advantage for the MHCL program, its students and graduates.

The Master's in Health Care Leadership program will prepare students for responsible positions of professional leadership in the health care environment. The coursework was developed by leaders in the health care industry and specifically designed to encompass all phases of health care leadership, including acute and long-term care, clinic and hospital management, and home health and hospice agencies. Students will complete 12 courses over a two-year period, attending class one night a week.

Information from various sources – including The Wall Street Journal, the American College of Healthcare Executives, the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, the Kansas Job Vacancy Survey, InformationWeek, the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition and the Wichita Eagle – recognizes health care as a growing industry. Some of the reasons for this growth include advances and changes in technology, managed health plans, issues related to aging, physician and hospital ventures, and other areas. Nationally, health care providers are recognizing the majority of middle- to upper-level managers as highly skilled clinicians, with limited financial, management and leadership skills. The industry as a whole is demanding more efficiency, including increased regulations. The curriculum was constructed with recommendation from many of the region's health care providers. The instructors include full-time faculty members at Friends University who have health care experience, as well as full-time practitioners in various disciplines in the health care industry.

If you would like to progress in the health care industry, this Health Care Leadership degree program will assist in developing the leadership skills necessary. Although appropriate for the CEO career track, this program accommodates professionals aspiring for director-level positions as well. The last module consists of an internship where you will experience firsthand a topic of study you find most interesting.

Need more information? Request information about the Master's in Health Care Leadership degree at Friends University. You can also contact the Admissions Office at 316-295-5901 or learn@friends.edu.