Healthcare Management vs. Healthcare Administration

When it comes to studying the business side of healthcare, there are several different options out there, including healthcare management, healthcare administration, and health sciences degree programs. But choosing which of these programs to pursue may not always be easy as there is no universal, clear dividing line between health management and health administration in the academic or professional context.

In this article, we give an overview of these fields to help you decide which focus—healthcare management vs. healthcare administration vs. health sciences—could be the best fit for you.

What Is the Difference Between Healthcare Management and Healthcare Administration?

The difference between healthcare management and healthcare administration is often in the eyes of the beholder. Schools, employers and other organizations may define these terms differently or use them interchangeably.

Often, schools offer one type of program or the other. But it is also not unusual for a school to offer both healthcare management and healthcare administration degree program options. And some even combine them into a single offering—healthcare management and administration.

There is also a lack of consistency among employers when it comes to differentiating between healthcare management vs. healthcare administration roles. Job titles, departments and responsibilities can vary from employer to employer. It is so important to always carefully read through and assess any job listing to make sure it is what you are looking for.

The government, meanwhile, appears to treat healthcare management and healthcare administration as equivalent/interchangeable terms. O*Net (which stands for Occupational Informational Network), an online database run by the U.S. Department of Labor, combines Health/Healthcare Administration/Management into a single educational category. In turn, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an agency within the Department of Labor, appears to acknowledge the interchangeability of healthcare management and healthcare administration in noting that medical and health services managers are also known as healthcare administrators.¹

But among those that do view healthcare management and healthcare administration as distinct functions, here is how they commonly break them down…

What Is Healthcare Management?

Healthcare management does not involve the provision of direct patient care, but the decisions made by healthcare managers impact how healthcare providers operate and the care that patients receive. Healthcare managers play a role in policymaking, budgeting and strategic planning, and they may also represent the facility at investor meetings or governing boards. They are responsible for setting goals, developing strategies and carrying out initiatives that help to improve overall efficiency, profitability and quality of care. They may be focused on the business operations of a single department, multiple departments, or an entire facility. Hospital administrators and health information managers are just two examples of occupations that fall under the healthcare management umbrella.¹

What Is Healthcare Administration?

Like healthcare management, healthcare administration does not involve the provision of direct patient care. Unlike healthcare management, however, those who work in healthcare administrative roles tend to be focused more on the day-to-day responsibilities that keep a facility running rather than on the development of broad strategic or operational goals. They may even be responsible for implementing the high-level initiatives and business objectives that are handed down by healthcare managers. Medical records specialists—those who compile, process and maintain patient files²—are one example of an occupation falling under the healthcare administration umbrella.

What Is Health Science?

Health science, or the health sciences, is a multidisciplinary field focusing on improving population health outcomes through education and evidence-based healthcare practices. A health sciences education provides an opportunity to study the science of health and disease, helping learners to develop a foundation that prepares them to pursue opportunities not only in healthcare administration but also in public health. Graduates of health sciences degree programs may be able to seek out roles in a variety of professional settings, including health departments, government and voluntary health agencies, clinics, hospitals, businesses and health-related industries.

Medical and Health Services Managers

Medical and health services managers plan, direct and/or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.3 While their responsibilities may vary based on employer, medical and health services managers’ duties typically include the following:³

• Developing and implementing organizational policies, programs, goals and objectives
• Developing operating strategies, plans, or procedures, and coordinating operational activities with external stakeholders
• Directing financial operations and preparing operational budgets
• Maintaining knowledge of current developments in area of expertise, including legal and regulatory compliance matters
• Recruiting, hiring and training personnel

Education/Professional Background

Medical and health services managers typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation as well as professional experience in a clinical or administrative role at a healthcare facility. Common fields of study include healthcare administration, nursing, business, or health information management. Medical and health services managers also typically need administrative or clinical professional experience in a hospital or other healthcare facility. State licensure may be required.¹

Skills

Medical and health services managers should possess a number of skills, including critical thinking, speaking, active listening, problem solving, personnel management, analytical (operations and systems), financial management and resource management, among others.³

Choosing Your Path

As we have seen, whether to pursue a healthcare management vs. healthcare administration vs. health sciences degree program may not always be an obvious choice. As a general rule, those who are interested in pursuing management or leadership roles in a healthcare setting may find that a healthcare management/administration degree program is better suited to their interests and goals. A degree program in the health sciences, with its focus on population health and healthcare policy, as well as its applicability to an array of healthcare-related settings (health departments, clinics, businesses, etc.), might be a better fit for those with an interest in both public health and healthcare administration.

When trying to decide on your path forward, consider the following questions:

• What are your career goals and interests? For example, are you interested in developing business strategies and implementing organizational changes in a private healthcare facility, or are you interested in playing a role in influencing public health policy?
• Do you prefer a hands-on operational role or a strategic leadership position? Because there is some overlap between them, pursuing a healthcare administration degree, healthcare management degree, or health sciences degree may help you prepare for both hands-on operational and strategic leadership positions. Ultimately, however, you will have to look at a school’s curriculum to know for sure whether a specific program meets your needs.
• What type of healthcare setting are you drawn to? Are you interested in leadership roles within healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, or private practice settings? Or are you interested in public policy or research roles?

Trident’s Degree Programs in Health Administration and Health Sciences

Trident University International offers online degree programs in health administration and in health sciences at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Bachelor of Science in Health Administration (BSHA): This degree program is designed to help students prepare to pursue entry- and mid-level functional positions in healthcare administration, or to pursue graduate education in the field. Students who successfully complete the program should understand the social, economic and political forces that shape healthcare systems; be familiar with leadership theories of healthcare administration professional practice; have explored different healthcare quality improvement practices; know the relevant ethical, legal and regulatory principles in healthcare delivery; and more.

Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA): This degree program is designed to help students work to develop a strong knowledge base in health administration, including management, healthcare delivery systems, finance, law and ethics, policy and leadership. Students who successfully complete this program should be able to evaluate the impact of social, economic and political forces on healthcare systems; employ theory-based healthcare management or leadership strategies to foster organizational effectiveness; implement data-driven decision making to address issues in healthcare management, finance, or information systems management; and more.

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS): This degree program is designed to help students prepare to pursue entry and mid-level positions in public health and healthcare administration, or to pursue graduate education in a health-related field. Students who successfully complete this program should understand the social, cultural, economic, political and environmental factors that impact population health; know how to craft persuasive, theory-based messages to stakeholders; be able to obtain primary and secondary health-related or community data to inform evidence-based decision-making; and more.

Master of Science in Health Sciences (MSHS): The MSHS degree program is designed to help students prepare to pursue managerial and leadership career paths in various health fields. Upon successful program completion, students should be able to apply evidence-based theories, concepts or models to develop and evaluate health programs, policies or interventions; critically examine health policies, programs or resources to advocate for evidence-based interventions that lead to improved health outcomes; understand how cultural factors can contribute to health disparities; and more.

Contact us today to learn more about our online degree programs in health administration and health sciences, or apply now.

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Medical and Health Services Managers,” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm (visited Nov. 24, 2025).

² Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Medical Records Specialists,” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm (visited Nov. 24, 2025).

³ National Center for O*NET Development, O*NET Online, “11-9111.00—Medical and Health Services Managers,” https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-9111.00 (visited Nov. 24, 2025).

Trident cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. REQ2177317 11/2025