<iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TJCKC2" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> MS in Patient Safety & Healthcare Quality | Drexel Online

For a better experience, click the Compatibility Mode icon above to turn off Compatibility Mode, which is only for viewing older websites.

  • MS in Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in Healthcare

    MS in Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in Healthcare

    Drexel University's online MS in Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in Healthcare prepares you to lead organizational efforts that improve and monitor quality metrics, improve safety for both patients and staff, and manage risks in a dynamic healthcare environment.

    This interdisciplinary patient safety and healthcare quality master's program is designed for healthcare professionals seeking to develop essential competencies to assess, monitor, and improve healthcare outcomes in community-based care delivery settings, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations. 

    Program Features

    • Designed for those interested in a career that will impact quality, safety and risk management in the healthcare industry
    • Taught by faculty who are current practicing experts in the fields of law, quality, patient safety, and risk management 
    • Interdisciplinary structure, offering the opportunity to learn and work collaboratively as you would in practice
    • 100% online with no on-campus residency requirement
    • Learn through realistic virtual simulation experiences through a partnership with faculty from Drexel’s state-of-the-art simulation center
    • Three-year tuition lock for those who complete the program within 3 years 
    • Certified by The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). CAHME serves the public by advancing the quality of healthcare management education globally. CAHME is an interdisciplinary group of educational, professional, clinical, and other health sector organizations devoted to quality improvement of education for healthcare management and administration professionals.

    Program Mission, Vision, and Values

    Mission
    The mission of this program is to educate the next generation of leaders who will advance quality in healthcare. Through a focus on the core values of innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, data-driven decision making, inclusion, and equity, the program prepares students to influence change and improve care across the continuum. The current landscape in healthcare requires preparation for interdisciplinary collaboration to support optimal outcomes. The program’s curriculum provides students with interdisciplinary and experiential learning opportunities that support development of knowledge and skills needed to collaboratively solve complex issues in healthcare and improve outcomes.

    Vision
    The QSRM program aspires to expand our national and international reputation as a leader in quality and patient safety education. The program aims to produce highly skilled, innovative individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to improve the quality and value of healthcare, preparing them to lead in a demanding and dynamic healthcare arena.

    Values
    Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Innovation, Data-Driven Decision Making, Inclusion, and Equity.

    What is an MS in Healthcare Quality Improvement & Safety?

    Drexel’s online masters in healthcare quality improvement program will prepare you to apply a legal and ethical framework of healthcare deliver to help further the role of the quality, safety and risk management professional in the healthcare system. Upon graduation, you will be able to demonstrate critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in decision making and leadership skills in the development of outcome-based standards of care and practice-based health policy issues. While integrating multiple technologies and relevant theories into the organization, you will have the ability to synthesize health data to care patients, families, and communities. In addition, you will learn to evaluate and modify the quality and effectiveness of care based on current research findings, standards of care, and patient outcomes.

    What can You Do with a Master’s of Healthcare Quality Improvement?

    Quality assurance, risk management, and patient safety are some of the most critical areas of focus in healthcare. Earning your master’s degree in healthcare quality will help prepare you for these types of jobs within hospitals, clinical settings, insurance companies, government agencies, and other healthcare related roles. After earning your degree, your newfound knowledge and skills may prepare you to pursue some of the following types of jobs:

    • Associate Director of Operations, Quality and Patient Safety
    • Director of Patient and Family Experience
    • Director of Quality and Patient Safety
    • Healthcare Quality Analyst
    • Manager, Healthcare Risk Management

    Upon completion of this program, you will have gained the skills necessary to:

    • Apply a legal and ethical framework of health care delivery
    • Further the role of the quality, safety, and risk management professional in the health care system through scholarship, clinical experience, and organizational involvement
    • Demonstrate critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in decision-making
    • Integrate multiple technologies and relevant theories into the organization and synthesis of health data to care for patients, families, and communities
    • Integrate culturally sensitive care that contributes to the health and wellness of the community
    • Demonstrate leadership through the development of outcome-based standards of care and practice-based health policy issues
    • Drive the quality and effectiveness of care based on current research findings, standards of care, and patient outcomes
    • Contribute to the advancement of health care and humanity through communication, interprofessional collaboration, and education

    Master’s of Healthcare Quality Salary Expectations

    While salary can vary greatly by geographic location, position type, experience, and healthcare setting, the BLS suggests that professionals in the occupational health and safety specialists field are earning an average salary of $74,100. This drops to $51,550 for technician roles.

    Online Open Houses

    Learn more about this and other nursing programs from our previously recorded online open house webinar series.

    Related Program

    Questions? We're here to help!

    For application related questions:
    enroll@drexel.edu

    For program related questions:
    College of Nursing and Health Professions Program Team
    CNHPGraduateDivision@drexel.edu


    Drexel University offers a variety of Graduate Minors that can be added to any master's degree program.
    State restrictions may apply to some programs.

    Curriculum

    This program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year (as opposed to the traditional two semester system) which means you can take more courses in a shorter time period. One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits.

    Graduate students who utilize student loans (FAFSA) must maintain a minimum enrollment of 4.5 credits per term.

    Core Courses
    IPS 502 Advanced Ethical Decision Making in Health Care 3.0
    IPS 503 Confronting Issues in Contemporary Health Care Environments 3.0
    IPS 544 Quality and Safety in Healthcare 3.0
    RSCH 503 Research Methods and Biostatistics 3.0
    RSCH 504 Evaluation and Translation of Health Research 3.0
    Major Courses
    IPS 584 Analysis of Performance Standards in Healthcare Quality 3.0
    IPS 585 Science of Safety, Human Factors, and System Thinking 3.0
    IPS 587 Safety Culture in Healthcare 3.0
    IPS 601 Quality, Safety and Risk Management Capstone 5.0
    LSTU 551 Compliance Skills: Auditing, Investigation & Reporting 4.0
    LSTU 600 Health Care Rules and Regulations 4.0
    LSTU 601 Health Care Quality, Patient Safety and Risk Management 4.0
    LSTU 602 Patients and Privacy: HIPAA and Related Regulations 4.0
    Total Credits 45.0

    View Course Descriptions

    Admissions Criteria

    • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
      • BSN degrees must be from an institution accredited by CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education), ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing), or NLN CNEA (NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation)
    • GPA of 3.0 or above on all previous coursework or last 60 credits completed
      • Applications with a GPA of less than 3.0 may be considered on an individual basis
    • While specific experience is not required, previous related work experience may make your application more competitive

    Required Documents

    With multiple ways to submit documents, Drexel makes it easy to complete your application. Learn more by visiting our Completing Your Application Guide.

    • A completed application
    • Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended
    • Two professional letters of recommendation from previous or current supervisors, managers, faculty members, or program directors who can attest to your knowledge, skill, and potential aptitude for graduate study
      • Letters must include the address, phone number, and signature of your recommender
      • Letters are waived for those with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
    • Personal statement (no more than two pages and no less than one page double-spaced) that will give the admissions committee a better understanding of:
      • Why you're choosing this program of study
      • Your plans upon completion of the degree
      • How your current work experience will enhance your experience in this program
    • Resume
    • Copies of any licensure and certification documents
    • Additional requirements for International Students

    An admissions interview may be required

    Tuition

    The tuition rate for the academic year 2024-2025 is $1134 per credit. (A 10% tuition savings off Drexel's regular tuition rate of $1260 per credit)

    For the academic year 2024-2025, students enrolled in an online graduate academic program will be charged a graduate online program fee of $125 per year.

    • This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
    • Special tuition rates available for Drexel University AlumniMilitary members, and members of our Partner Organizations.
      • These rates apply only to new online students and students being readmitted.
      • These rates apply only to fully online courses. Hybrid or on-campus courses may have different rates.
      • Tuition rates are subject to increase with the start of each academic year in the fall term.
      • All students must contact applyDUonline@drexel.edu within the first two weeks of the term to request tuition savings for which they qualify.
      • Special rates cannot be combined. If you qualify for more than one special rate, you'll be given the one with the largest savings.
      • When receiving special tuition plans with Drexel University Online, you may not combine them with other tuition benefits that may be available from Drexel University.

    Additional Equipment/Lab Fees

     

    Academic Calendar

    2024-2025 Academic Year

    Term

    Classes Begin

    Classes End

    Exams Begin

    Exams End

    Fall 2024

    September 23, 2024

    December 7, 2024

    December 9, 2024

    December 14, 2024

    Winter 2025

    January 6, 2025

    March 15, 2025

    March 17, 2025

    March 22, 2025

    Spring 2025

    March 31, 2025

    June 7, 2025

    June 9, 2025

    June 14, 2025

    Summer 2025

    June 23, 2025

    August 30, 2024

    September 2, 2025

    September 6, 2025

     

    Apply for admission to Drexel University

    Use the Apply Now form to get started.

    Previously enrolled at Drexel? Learn more about readmission.

    Any problems? Find help or contact us.