The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates that over the next eight years, approximately 45,000 new positions for healthcare professionals will become available. Because these jobs typically require a master's degree, individuals who wish to capitalize on the growth in this industry may want to consider enrolling in a campus-based or online degree program in a related field.

Fortunately, many institutions are creating new courses of study in an effort to help prospective healthcare leaders prepare for careers in this evolving field.

For instance, a Missouri-based school recently announced the launch of a graduate degree program that will enable enrollees to earn both a master's of public health (MPH) and an MBA.

The curriculum will include classes on healthcare policy, business and economics. This interdisciplinary approach is intended to prepare enrollees for jobs with hospitals, policy think tanks, pharmaceutical companies or consulting firms.

Individuals who complete similar courses of study at campus-based or online schools may be eligible for high-paying jobs, as the BLS reports that medical and healthcare managers who were working in 2008 earned an average of $80,240 per year.