| In an uncertain economic climate, job | | | | Online learning also provides students with a |
| security is a valuable commodity. But many | | | | flexibility they might not otherwise receive. |
| careers that previously seemed | | | | Stein tells the story of one student who is |
| recession-proof have been downsized, | | | | stationed on a ship with the Navy. He was |
| outsourced or shipped off to foreign | | | | going to be without Internet access, so Stein |
| countries. The trick is to find an industry | | | | worked with him so that he could remain on |
| in which the demand for services will be | | | | track with his coursework. |
| continual. One such area is healthcare. | | | | |
| | | | At AIU Online, students receive the same |
| No matter which way the economic indicators | | | | services and support that they might find at |
| are pointing, people will continue to need | | | | a traditional campus. They can access the |
| medical care. And as the Baby Boomers get | | | | campus Cybrary (thats AIU Onlines term for |
| older, theyll need more and more health | | | | its cyber-library) and get career guidance |
| services, whether they seek care in | | | | from the Career Services Center, where a |
| hospitals, assisted living facilities, or at | | | | Career Services Advisor can assist them with |
| home. The demand for doctors and nurses will | | | | a cover letter, their rsum, and interviewing |
| stay strongas will the demand for the type of | | | | tips. Students earn a degree from a |
| take-charge individuals who have the business | | | | regionally accredited university and may even |
| skills and healthcare experience to run these | | | | qualify for financial aid to help pay for |
| facilities or programs. | | | | their studies, if eligible. And contrary to a |
| | | | popular misconception, Hoffman says, students |
| This career path is generally known as health | | | | have as much, if not more, interaction with |
| services management, and according to the | | | | their professors than they would at a |
| Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for | | | | traditional university. While the interaction |
| personnel is on the rise. According to the | | | | might not be face-to-face, students can |
| bureaus 2003/2004 Occupational Outlook | | | | communicate with their teachers via email or |
| Handbook, Employment of medical and health | | | | online chats. Stein says she really gets to |
| services managers is expected to grow faster | | | | know her students personally because she |
| than the average for all occupations through | | | | responds to 10 to 15 student emails a day, |
| 2012, as the health services industry | | | | and she holds two live online chats per week |
| continues to expand and diversify. | | | | that allow students to ask questions or |
| Opportunities will be especially good in | | | | clarify assignments. The chats are archived |
| offices of physicians and other health | | | | for students who are unable to log on at the |
| practitioners, home healthcare services and | | | | designated time. Students interact with their |
| outpatient centers. Applicants with work | | | | peers as well, by conducting discussions on a |
| experience in the healthcare field and strong | | | | class bulletin board. |
| business and management skills should have | | | | |
| the best opportunities. | | | | AIU Online is also geared toward adult |
| | | | learners. Instead of a traditional final exam |
| Earning potential is solid, as well. The | | | | or paper, students work on projects that are |
| median salary for health services managers | | | | focused on real-world deliverables. |
| was $61,370 in 2002, with the highest 10 | | | | |
| percent in the field earning more than | | | | The AIU Online program is ideal for career |
| $109,000, according to a Bureau of Labor | | | | changers who cant afford to give up the |
| Statistics report. | | | | steady job they currently hold but are eager |
| | | | to explore new career options. Students on |
| Career opportunities are good for job seekers | | | | the virtual campus can earn a Bachelor of |
| who have either a Bachelors degree or Masters | | | | Business Administration in Healthcare |
| degree in health services. Those with | | | | Management in just 13 months,* provided they |
| Bachelors degrees tend to start out in | | | | have already earned an associates degree or |
| entry-level assistant positions, while those | | | | its equivalent. The specialized curriculum |
| with Masters degrees may find work as | | | | includes courses offering an overview of the |
| department managers, the Bureau of Labor | | | | healthcare industry, the ethical and legal |
| Statistics reports. | | | | aspects of healthcare and healthcare |
| | | | management, and statistical analysis and |
| The key is to find a program that provides | | | | economics in a global environment. Students |
| the necessary training. At American | | | | seeking an MBA in Healthcare Management can |
| InterContinental University (AIU) Online, | | | | earn that degree in 10 months. They will |
| students can earn either a Bachelors or an | | | | study topics like health policy, global |
| MBA in healthcare management, and they can do | | | | financial management, systems in healthcare, |
| it all online. | | | | and leadership and ethics for managers. |
| | | | |
| Distance learning holds several advantages | | | | The healthcare management program is |
| over traditional on-campus learning. | | | | especially attractive to students who are |
| According to Dr. Judy Stein, a professor in | | | | already in the healthcare field and want to |
| AIU Onlines healthcare management program, | | | | move their careers in a new direction, says |
| online learning provides nontraditional | | | | Stein. But even students who are new to the |
| studentsthose with different learning styles, | | | | field can find success with an online degree |
| those with obligations that might prevent | | | | from AIU Online. By studying healthcare |
| them from taking part in an on-campus degree | | | | management, students can open the door to a |
| program, or those who dont live near a | | | | career in a fast-growing, well-paying new |
| brick-and-mortar universitywith a way to | | | | field, and they can do it all from the |
| advance their education and their careers. | | | | comfort of their own computer screen. |
| Dr. Lyn Hoffman, AIU Onlines dean of academic | | | | |
| affairs, agrees. Online education is so | | | | *The 13-month Bachelors degree is a 2+2 |
| important to reach people who wouldnt | | | | program and assumes that all associate-level |
| otherwise have the opportunity, she says. | | | | requirements have been met through an |
| | | | Associate degree or the equivalent. |