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.
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.
MS Core Courses | ||
IPS 502 | Advanced Ethical Decision Making in Healthcare | 3.0 |
IPS 503 | Confronting Issues in Contemporary Healthcare 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 501 | Legal Compliance: Structure and Implementation | 4.5 |
IPS 504 | Regulations in Health Care | 4.5 |
IPS 505 | Health Care Quality and the Legal Context | 4.5 |
IPS 506 | HIPAA: A Patient’s Legal Right to Privacy | 4.5 |
IPS 584 | Analysis of Performance Standards in Healthcare Quality | 3.0 |
IPS 585 | Science of Safety, Human Factors, and Systems Thinking | 3.0 |
IPS 586 | Creating a Culture of Safety | 2.0 |
IPS 601 | Quality, Safety, and Risk Management Capstone | 5.0 |
Total Credits | 46.0 |
Admissions Criteria
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- 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 2022-2023 is $1069 per credit. (A 10% tuition savings off Drexel's regular tuition rate of $1187 per credit)
- This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
- Special tuition rates available for Drexel University Alumni, Military 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.
Academic Calendar
2022-2023 Academic Year
Term
Classes Begin
Classes End
Exams Begin
Exams End
Fall 2022
September 19, 2022
December 3, 2022
December 5, 2022
December 10, 2022
Winter 2023
January 9, 2023
March 18, 2023
March 20, 2023
March 25, 2023
Spring 2023
April 3, 2023
June 10, 2023
June 12, 2023
June 17, 2023
Summer 2023
June 26, 2023
September 2, 2023
September 4, 2023
September 9, 2023
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.