Organizational Leadership EdD: Healthcare Administration Emphasis
Organizational Leadership EdD: Healthcare Administration Emphasis
journey today.
Position yourself for general management, administration and leadership roles in various healthcare settings with Grand Canyon University’s Doctor of Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Health Care Administration. Offered by the College of Doctoral Studies, this EdD program examines the modern challenges in the healthcare field and teaches you how to apply an evidence-based, systematic approach toward addressing those challenges in a way that benefits all stakeholders, including patients and staff.
The healthcare system faces unique challenges, with a need to balance the dual priorities of improving the quality and safety of patient care while also meeting the healthcare facility’s financial objectives and supporting the needs of staff. As a current or aspiring healthcare administrator, you likely already understand the critical importance of highly competent organizational leadership in healthcare. Prepare to meet the challenges of tomorrow by working through GCU’s evidence-based curriculum while benefiting from exposure to diverse viewpoints in classes as you earn your degree.
Complete Your EdD: Healthcare Administration Emphasis Online
GCU strives to accommodate the needs of working professionals who wish to enhance their career qualifications through higher education. You can earn your degree from virtually anywhere via online classes. Log into our intuitive e-learning platform to access your course materials and connect with fellow learners and experienced instructors on the discussion boards.
Benefit from the same quality of education as our on-campus students with added flexibility and convenience. In addition to online courses, learners will also participate in two in-person residencies on or near GCU’s campus.
This Degree Is Offered Online
Develop a framework for effective management and organizational leadership in healthcare using evidence-based research and strategies to cultivate a positive, productive culture. Discover the benefits of shared values and tactics that promote organizational excellence. Combining GCU’s comprehensive curriculum with reflective practice, you will have opportunities to increase your aptitude for scholarly research while exploring methods of design, analysis and dissemination. This online EdD program includes a formative dissertation process, the initial step of which begins in your first course.
This EdD: Healthcare Administration emphasis covers current topics and issues facing the healthcare industry, including:
Qualitative vs. Quantitative
This Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership degree is a qualitative program.
With a qualitative focus, it examines events to better understand an observed phenomenon, whereas the quantitative EdD program focuses on examining and analyzing events by interpreting numeric data. In this qualitative program, you will be expected to:
Create a sampling plan
Design and field test research tools
Collect data
Conduct a deep and careful analysis of the data using a systematic approach
Cultivate Leadership Skills in Healthcare Administration
This doctorate program strives to equip you with the necessary skills to manage and lead healthcare organizations with integrity and a servant leadership mindset.
Some of the skills you will be taught throughout the coursework include:
Throughout this EdD program, you will have the opportunity to acquire the following competencies:
As a private Christian university, GCU encourages all our students to strive toward a Christ-like character and to apply ethical principles when solving modern dilemmas in the workplace.
This degree program is designed for healthcare leaders looking to specialize their leadership skills in healthcare administration.
Graduates may have opportunities to pursue careers in the following settings:1
State, local and private hospitals
Outpatient care centers
Nursing and residential care facilities
Governmental agencies
Physician offices
$104,830
Median annual salary for medical and health services managers2
28% Job Growth
144,700 new jobs expected for medical and health services managers3
GCU is proud to be an institutionally accredited university that prioritizes academic excellence and student support. The Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Doctoral Studies shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
Frequently Asked Questions
As you reflect upon your intended career pathway, some questions may arise about doctoral programs and the healthcare field itself. GCU has compiled the following FAQs and answers to guide your decision-making process.
Healthcare administration leadership can encompass a variety of job titles. No matter the job title, however, healthcare leaders are generally charged with establishing and working toward department-wide or facility-wide objectives that serve all stakeholders, including patients, staff and the broader community. To fulfill the mission of the organization, healthcare leaders are responsible for inspiring and motivating staff to improve patient care, outcomes and healthcare practices, and to encourage continuous innovation and professional development.4
If you are motivated to work toward career advancement in your field, then you may find a doctor of education degree to be worth the effort. As a healthcare leader, you would have the opportunity to inspire your team to achieve their true potential and to work for the betterment of the patient/staff community. An EdD can prepare you to address complex challenges in the field — from regulatory compliance to public health issues and beyond. During your degree program, you will be encouraged to approach these common challenges from an ethical servant leadership perspective.
Start Your Journey Today
Apply online at GCU today and begin working toward your EdD: Healthcare Administration emphasis.
§ MOU-Alumni 2000 Doctoral-July2025: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application and begin a Doctoral program in July 2025. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship or awards and only applies to online and evening programs. Please speak to a university counselor for complete details.
1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). Medical And Health Services Managers: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Feb. 7, 2024.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Medical And Health Services Managers as of May 2022, retrieved on Oct. 19, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020-2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as medical and health services managers, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country, or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
3 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020-2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical And Health Services Managers, retrieved on Oct. 19, 2023.
4 Indeed. (2023, Aug. 16). Leadership In Health Care: Definition, Qualities, And Styles. Retrieved Feb. 7, 2023.