Comparison of MS and MBA Curricula

The Leadership in Medicine (LIM) Program is the only direct-entry medical school program to include either a Masters in Clinical Leadership in Healthcare Management (MS) or a Masters in Business Administration in Healthcare Management during the first four years of higher education. Tuition for the MS is covered in the Union College undergraduate tuition, tuition for the MBA requires payment for 2 additional courses to Clarkson University.

For most LIM students, the MS is the more natural extension of their medical education if their goal is to become physician leaders, medical directors, or academic physicians. Students interested in hospital administration, healthcare entrepreneurship, consulting, or executive leadership may benefit more from the MBA.

Which is a better fit?

For the MS, students complete a total of 12 courses through Clarkson University, 4 of which are credit-bearing at Union College. For the MBA, students complete a total of 14 courses through Clarkson University, 4 of which are credit-bearing at Union College.

These courses come in a variety of formats, from fully online or hybrid, to fully in person and on site for the program capstone. MS students are required to take 2 summer courses during their sophomore summer and 1 course during their junior summer. MBA students are required to take 2 summer courses during their sophomore summer and 2 summer courses during their junior summer. Summer courses are fully online.

Twelve courses required for either the MS or MBA

• AC604 Financial & Managerial Accounting for Decision Making
• HC605 Health Operations Management
• HC617 Health Care Finance
• HC620 Economics of Health
• HC630 Introduction to Health Systems (cross counts as an undergraduate course)
• HC633 Health Care Leadership (cross counts as an undergraduate course)
• HC647 Statistical Methods for Data Analytics
• HC650 Structural Dynamics of Healthcare
• HC656 Healthcare Administration and Practice Management (cross counts as an undergraduate course)
• HC674 Legal Aspects of Health Care
• HC680 Managerial Epidemiology
• HC681 Health Leadership Capstone (cross counts as an undergraduate course)

Two additional courses required for the MBA only

• HC626 Health Systems Marketing
• HC648 Health Informatics