In the past year, health care has become one of the most important industries throughout the world. As the pandemic grips the United States, hospitals and other health organizations have been thrust to the frontlines. But behind front-facing staff and heroes, like doctors, nurses and more, is the business side, like managers and executives.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for health care managers will increase by 32% over the next 10 years. The median salary for this profession? More than $100,000. UNI’s business college is attempting to fill the need by offering an interdisciplinary certificate for both business and non-business majors, including financial accounting, health economics, introduction to public health, and health care and the consumer. Students then select one or two additional courses relevant to health care administration from departments across campus, including family services, gerontology, political science and sociology.

Bryce Kanago, associate professor of economics, helped create the certificate. The idea stemmed from an alumnus who went on to study health administration in 2006.

“As I discussed this opportunity with other students, I looked for courses outside of economics, which I thought would help them be admitted to and succeed in graduate school,” Kanago said. “The department also offered an experimental course in health economics, which has since become part of the curriculum.”

Kanago added that a business major, especially an economics major who also has the certificate, is well prepared for admission into a master’s of health administration program. Students with this certificate have been consistently admitted into the top-10 programs in the country, he said. Some universities also now offer master's in data analytics with an emphasis on health care analytics.

Students from across campus who are interested in careers in public health or health services can enhance their degrees by earning the certificate to gain basic accounting skills and to learn more about public health, the economics of health care and issues in health care.

Students interested in the certificate can contact Bryce at bryce.kanago@uni.edu or visit business.uni.edu/undergraduate/business-healthcare.