{"id":18185,"date":"2026-09-03T13:53:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T18:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/?post_type=program&#038;p=18185"},"modified":"2026-09-15T15:36:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T20:36:56","slug":"master-of-business-administration-with-rural-healthcare-administration-emphasis","status":"publish","type":"program","link":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/program\/master-of-business-administration-with-rural-healthcare-administration-emphasis\/","title":{"rendered":"Master of Business Administration with Rural Healthcare Administration Emphasis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW251135077 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW251135077 BCX0\">The <strong>Master of Business Administration with Rural Healthcare Administration Emphasis<\/strong> 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.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW251135077 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:120,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Program Format &amp; Flexibility<\/h3>\n<p>We understand the demands of today\u2019s workforce. Our MBA is built for versatility:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Online<\/strong>: Access 100% of your coursework from anywhere in the world.<\/li>\n<li><strong>On-Campus<\/strong>: Join us in Magnolia for evening classes that facilitate face-to-face networking.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hybrid<\/strong>: Mix and match formats to create a schedule that works for you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Program Duration &amp; Start Dates<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Duration<\/strong>: Can be completed in as little as 2\u20133 years depending on course load (averaging two classes per term, including summer).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start Dates<\/strong>: Rolling admissions with intakes for Fall, Spring, and Summer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accelerated Master\u2019s Option<\/strong>: Eligible SAU undergraduates\u2014including BBA and BBS students\u2014can fast-track their education to earn both their bachelor&#8217;s and MBA in approximately five years via our accelerated master&#8217;s pathway.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Why Choose SAU for your MBA in Rural Healthcare Administration?<\/h3>\n<p>This unique track pairs top-tier corporate strategy with specialized, community-focused healthcare advocacy.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>AACSB International Accredited<\/strong>: Offered by the Rankin College of Business, placing your degree in the top 5% of business programs worldwide.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Maximum Flexibility<\/strong>: Designed specifically for working professionals with options for fully online study, evening classes on campus, or a hybrid mix.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mission-Driven<\/strong>: Prepares leaders to improve healthcare access and outcomes in rural and underserved communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Skills You Will Gain<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Rural Health Advocacy<\/strong>: Navigating health policy, leadership, and public advocacy specifically tailored to rural healthcare systems.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Population Health Analytics<\/strong>: Analyzing rural health disparities, tracking community health metrics, and utilizing data visualization.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Core Enterprise Management<\/strong>: Developing advanced skills in accounting for decision-making, managerial finance, business analytics, and strategic marketing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Risk &amp; Resource Management<\/strong>: Evaluating corporate risk, managing organizational behavior, and mastering enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"TextRun SCXW209330972 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW209330972 BCX0\">Faculty &amp; Digital Learning Environment<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW209330972 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:60,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Our faculty are dedicated teachers and expert researchers committed to preparing business leaders for the evolving healthcare landscape.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Flexible Platform<\/strong>: Seamlessly access 100% of your coursework online from any location or join faculty face-to-face during evening on-campus sessions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&#8230; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/program\/master-of-business-administration-with-rural-healthcare-administration-emphasis\/\"> Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":18190,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_genesis_title":"","_genesis_description":"","_genesis_noindex":"","_genesis_nofollow":"","_genesis_noarchive":"","_genesis_canonical_uri":"","_open_graph_title":"","_open_graph_description":"","_twitter_title":"","_twitter_description":"","_social_image_url":"","_social_image_id":"","redirect":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"college_department":[71766,18307],"delivery":[28836,255,28834],"types":[28851,71780],"class_list":["post-18185","program","type-program","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","college_department-college-of-business","college_department-school-of-graduate-studies","delivery-hybrid","delivery-on-campus","delivery-online","types-graduate","types-masters","entry"],"acf":{"page_layout":"standard","landing_page_url":"","department_college":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/business\/\">Rankin College of Business<\/a>","badge_text":"","Number_of_Hours":"33","tuition_instate":"","tuition_outstate":"","estimated_total_tuition":"","start_dates":"Rolling admissions (Fall, Spring, and Summer)","duration":"2-3 years","Degree Plans":"<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.saumag.edu\/preview_program.php?catoid=11&amp;poid=2754&amp;returnto=407\">2026-2027<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","Program_Contact_Info":"[dirswitch contacts=\"mead-esther\"]","Catalog Entry":"<h4>Core Courses (24 hours)<\/h4>\r\nACCT 6003 - Accounting for Decision-Making\r\nECON 6003 - Managerial Economics\r\nFIN 6003 - Managerial Finance\r\nMGMT 6003 - Strategic Planning and Analysis\r\nMGMT 6013 - Human Behavior in Organizations\r\nMGMT 6043 - Business Analytics\r\nMKTG 6023 - Strategic Marketing\r\nSCM 6003 - Enterprise Resource Planning\r\n<h4>Emphasis Courses (6 hours)<\/h4>\r\nHCAD 6033 - Rural Health Disparities and Population Health\r\nHCAD 6063 - Health Policy, Leadership, and Advocacy in Rural Health\r\n<h4>Elective Course (3 hours)<\/h4>\r\nSelect 3 hours from the following:\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\r\nFIN 5113 - Enterprise Risk Management\r\nHCAD 6983 - Field Experience in Healthcare Administration\r\nIS 5313 - Data Visualization\r\n<h4>Total Hours - 33<\/h4>","minor_requirements":"","Admission Requirements or Deadlines":"<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Degree Requirement<\/strong>: A bachelor\u2019s degree from an accredited institution.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Testing<\/strong>: GMAT and GRE scores are not required for admission to this program.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>GPA Standard<\/strong>: Applicants must meet the baseline standards established by the School of Graduate Studies.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><strong>Prerequisites:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nBachelor\u2019s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university regardless of the undergraduate field of study.\r\n\r\nUndergraduate degree other than business, prerequisites would include:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Six hours Principles of Accounting (or three hours of Survey of Accounting)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Three hours of upper-level Business Finance or Financial Management<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Three hours of upper-level Statistics<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Three hours of upper-level Microeconomics<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nNote: In many cases students can be conditionally admitted and complete the prerequisites while beginning the Master\u2019s classes.","careers":"Graduates are prepared to step immediately into high-impact management roles across the expanding healthcare sector, particularly in underserved regions:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Target Roles<\/strong>: Healthcare Administrator, Rural Health Program Manager, Clinic Manager, Health Policy Analyst, and Population Health Coordinator.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>ROI<\/strong>: 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.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","faq":[{"faq_question":"Do I have to attend classes on campus?","faq_answer":"No. The program is fully accessible 100% online, though you can choose to take evening classes on campus or mix both formats to fit your schedule."},{"faq_question":"Is there an opportunity for practical field training?","faq_answer":"Yes. Students can choose a dedicated healthcare field experience elective to apply their classroom knowledge directly to real-world healthcare settings. "},{"faq_question":"Do I need an undergraduate business degree to apply?","faq_answer":"No. Students from all undergraduate backgrounds are welcome, though non-business majors may need to complete foundational prerequisite courses in statistics, accounting, microeconomics, and finance. "}],"Accreditations":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/files\/2015\/03\/aacsb-e1506099670767.jpg\" data-featherlight=\"image\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/files\/2015\/03\/aacsb-300x101.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"264\" height=\"89\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\nThe MBA in <span class=\"TextRun SCXW18526326 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentStart CommentHighlightPipeHovered CommentHighlightHovered SCXW18526326 BCX0\">Rural Healthcare Administration<\/span><\/span> 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.","Testimonials":"","student_information":"","Advisors":"","rankings":"","keywords":"","custom_tab_title":"","custom_tab_text":"","rfi_shortcode":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/programs\/18185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/programs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/program"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/programs\/18185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18191,"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/programs\/18185\/revisions\/18191"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"college_department","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/college_department?post=18185"},{"taxonomy":"delivery","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/delivery?post=18185"},{"taxonomy":"types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saumag.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types?post=18185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}