College of DuPage has expanded its healthcare education offerings with a new Healthcare Management degree designed to prepare students for the business and operational side of the healthcare industry.

“COD is the first community college in Illinois to offer an Associate in Applied Science degree in Healthcare Management,” said Andréa Brus, assistant professor and chair of the College’s Health Information Technology program. “While bachelor’s degrees in healthcare management and healthcare administration have become more common, community colleges have traditionally focused much of their healthcare education on direct patient care professions. This degree creates another pathway for students who are interested in healthcare but may want to work outside of direct patient care.”

As healthcare organizations have grown larger and more complex, the teams and systems supporting patient care have expanded as well, increasing demand for professionals who understand healthcare operations. To address this workforce need, the Healthcare Management degree provides students with a broad foundation in how healthcare organizations operate, including health information, insurance, revenue cycle and patient access.

“We wanted to create a program that gives students an understanding of how the different pieces of healthcare fit together,” Brus said. “A patient may experience healthcare as one encounter, but behind that encounter are people working with records, reimbursement, technology and compliance. Understanding those connections is increasingly important across the healthcare industry.”

The Healthcare Management degree was developed with input from faculty in healthcare, business and technology programs at COD. The degree includes 12 elective credits, allowing students to personalize their education based on their interests, career goals and previous college coursework.

Students also have opportunities to incorporate select stackable certificates into their degree or pursue additional credentials that complement their professional interests. This structure allows students to develop specialized skills while building a broader understanding of healthcare operations.

“The flexibility was intentional,” Brus said. “Healthcare is a large industry, and students come to us with different experiences and different goals. Some may be entering healthcare for the first time, while others may already be working in the field and looking for opportunities to advance. We wanted a degree that could serve both.”

Demand for healthcare professionals with business and operational expertise is growing nationwide. Employment of medical records specialists is projected to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment of medical and health services managers, positions that typically require additional education and experience, is projected to grow 24% during the same period.

“College of DuPage has a long history of preparing students for healthcare careers,” Brus said. “The Healthcare Management degree expands those opportunities by recognizing that delivering healthcare requires more than clinical care. It also requires people who understand the business, technology and operational systems that make that care possible.”

Learn more about the Healthcare Management degree.