The Master of Business Administration with Rural Healthcare Administration Emphasis at Southern Arkansas University integrates core business knowledge with specialized training in rural health policy, population health, and unique healthcare delivery challenges. This mission-driven program is explicitly engineered to prepare leaders who want to improve healthcare access, address regional disparities, and elevate outcomes in rural and underserved communities.
Program Format & Flexibility
We understand the demands of today’s workforce. Our MBA is built for versatility:
- Online: Access 100% of your coursework from anywhere in the world.
- On-Campus: Join us in Magnolia for evening classes that facilitate face-to-face networking.
- Hybrid: Mix and match formats to create a schedule that works for you
Program Duration & Start Dates
- Duration: Can be completed in as little as 2–3 years depending on course load (averaging two classes per term, including summer).
- Start Dates: Rolling admissions with intakes for Fall, Spring, and Summer.
- Accelerated Master’s Option: Eligible SAU undergraduates—including BBA and BBS students—can fast-track their education to earn both their bachelor’s and MBA in approximately five years via our accelerated master’s pathway.
Why Choose SAU for your MBA in Rural Healthcare Administration?
This unique track pairs top-tier corporate strategy with specialized, community-focused healthcare advocacy.
- AACSB International Accredited: Offered by the Rankin College of Business, placing your degree in the top 5% of business programs worldwide.
- Maximum Flexibility: Designed specifically for working professionals with options for fully online study, evening classes on campus, or a hybrid mix.
- Mission-Driven: Prepares leaders to improve healthcare access and outcomes in rural and underserved communities.
Skills You Will Gain
- Rural Health Advocacy: Navigating health policy, leadership, and public advocacy specifically tailored to rural healthcare systems.
- Population Health Analytics: Analyzing rural health disparities, tracking community health metrics, and utilizing data visualization.
- Core Enterprise Management: Developing advanced skills in accounting for decision-making, managerial finance, business analytics, and strategic marketing.
- Risk & Resource Management: Evaluating corporate risk, managing organizational behavior, and mastering enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
Faculty & Digital Learning Environment
Our faculty are dedicated teachers and expert researchers committed to preparing business leaders for the evolving healthcare landscape.
- Flexible Platform: Seamlessly access 100% of your coursework online from any location or join faculty face-to-face during evening on-campus sessions.
Curriculum
Core Courses (24 hours)
ACCT 6003 – Accounting for Decision-Making
ECON 6003 – Managerial Economics
FIN 6003 – Managerial Finance
MGMT 6003 – Strategic Planning and Analysis
MGMT 6013 – Human Behavior in Organizations
MGMT 6043 – Business Analytics
MKTG 6023 – Strategic Marketing
SCM 6003 – Enterprise Resource Planning
Emphasis Courses (6 hours)
HCAD 6033 – Rural Health Disparities and Population Health
HCAD 6063 – Health Policy, Leadership, and Advocacy in Rural Health
Elective Course (3 hours)
Select 3 hours from the following:
FIN 5113 – Enterprise Risk Management
HCAD 6983 – Field Experience in Healthcare Administration
IS 5313 – Data Visualization
Total Hours – 33
Admissions
- Degree Requirement: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Testing: GMAT and GRE scores are not required for admission to this program.
- GPA Standard: Applicants must meet the baseline standards established by the School of Graduate Studies.
Prerequisites:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university regardless of the undergraduate field of study.
Undergraduate degree other than business, prerequisites would include:
- Six hours Principles of Accounting (or three hours of Survey of Accounting)
- Three hours of upper-level Business Finance or Financial Management
- Three hours of upper-level Statistics
- Three hours of upper-level Microeconomics
Note: In many cases students can be conditionally admitted and complete the prerequisites while beginning the Master’s classes.
Career Outcomes
Graduates are prepared to step immediately into high-impact management roles across the expanding healthcare sector, particularly in underserved regions:
- Target Roles: Healthcare Administrator, Rural Health Program Manager, Clinic Manager, Health Policy Analyst, and Population Health Coordinator.
- ROI: Benefit from SAU’s highly competitive graduate tuition rates (~$10,857 total in-state tuition) alongside generous out-of-state tuition waivers for bordering states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee) for qualifying students.
Related Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
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Accreditation
The MBA in Rural Healthcare Administration is offered by the Rankin College of Business at SAU and is fully accredited by AACSB International, the premier accrediting body for colleges and schools of business. Fewer than 6% of all business programs worldwide are accredited by AACSB, which indicates the quality of our program.
