Master of Health Administration
Overview
The Master of Health Administration (MHA) program is an online program, with the exception of the required practicum experience for students with less than one year of healthcare leadership experience. The program is built on the College mission and values and is designed to prepare aspiring and existing healthcare professionals to serve or advance in healthcare leadership roles. The program will encourage students to demonstrate an understanding of evidence-based decision making within a context that values diversity and is sensitive to the ethical implications of decision making within healthcare delivery. The program provides a broad base of knowledge and prepares graduates to lead in a value-based healthcare environment.
Mission
The mission of the MHA program is to provide individuals with the advanced knowledge and skills needed to lead and to serve in dynamic healthcare organizations.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the MHA program, the graduate will be able to:
- Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment: Explain the legislative, regulatory, political, and consumerism impact on the environment of healthcare and the components of healthcare delivery systems in the United States.
- Essential Business Literacy: Demonstrate the essential business principles required for the stewardship of healthcare organizations.
- Ethical Practice, Diversity, and Inclusion: Evaluate the professional and ethical standards of decision making within the management and delivery of healthcare, including inclusion and diversity within employee and patient populations, and other related complex health issues.
- Population Health and Evidence-Based Decision Making: Analyze population health management strategies in the delivery of value-based healthcare, utilizing health information science, technologies, and analytics to drive evidence-based decisions in the management of care.
- Communication and Relationship Management: Demonstrate effective communication and human resource practices in the management of healthcare organizations.
- Health Leadership: Inspire individual and organizational excellence and successfully lead change to attain the healthcare organization’s strategic initiatives.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the MHA program must complete the following:
- Submit a completed graduate program application with required documents and any fees.
- Submit official transcripts from the bachelor degree granting higher education institution and all graduate-level transcripts.
- An applicant with less than 40 credit hours on the bachelor degree granting transcript will be required to provide additional transcripts.
- An applicant must possess a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally-accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale)*
- Submit a current professional resume or Curriculum Vitae and a statement of purpose. The statement of purpose (750-1000 words) should state education and career goals as well as the reason for seeking this degree.
- Provide three professional references: MHA Reference Form at https://mercycollege.edu/academics/programs/graduate/health-administration. References may include employers, previous instructors, or healthcare professionals with whom the student has worked who can speak to professional/leadership experience and capacity for successfully completing the MHA program.
Master of Health Administration Curriculum
Complete all of the following:
| HCA 510 | Healthcare Delivery in the United States | 3 |
| HCA 515 | Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| HCA 520 | Health Policy and Law | 3 |
| HCA 525 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| HCA 530 | Healthcare Operations Management | 3 |
| HCA 535 | Healthcare Financial Management | 3 |
| HCA 540 | Healthcare Informatics | 3 |
| HCA 545 | Quality Improvement in a Changing Healthcare Environment | 3 |
| HCA 550 | Leadership, Communications, and Organizational Culture | 3 |
| HCA 555 | Healthcare Ethics and Spirituality | 3 |
| HCA 560 | Population Health and Managed Care | 3 |
| HCA 565 | Health Administration Practicum | 3 |
| HCA 570 | Healthcare Strategic Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36-39 |
Sample MHA Program of Study
Semester I
| HCA 510 | Healthcare Delivery in the United States | 3 |
| HCA 550 | Leadership, Communications, and Organizational Culture | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Semester II
| HCA 515 | Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| HCA 520 | Health Policy and Law | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Semester III
| HCA 525 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| HCA 535 | Healthcare Financial Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Semester IV
| HCA 530 | Healthcare Operations Management | 3 |
| HCA 540 | Healthcare Informatics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Semester V
| HCA 545 | Quality Improvement in a Changing Healthcare Environment | 3 |
| HCA 555 | Healthcare Ethics and Spirituality | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Semester VI
| HCA 560 | Population Health and Managed Care | 3 |
| HCA 565 | Health Administration Practicum | 3 |
| HCA 570 | Healthcare Strategic Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6-9 |
Total Credit Hours: 36-39
HCA 565: Health Administration Practicum
- Students having one-year or more of healthcare leadership experience as approved by the program director (by the end of semester IV), are not required to take the practicum course, but will have the option to participate in the practicum experience in a varying credit hour format (1-3 credit hours). Note: One credit hour = 40 hours.
- Students with less than one year of healthcare leadership experience as approved by the program director (by the end of semester IV), will be required to take the practicum course (3 credit hours = 120 hours).
Health Requirements
The College requires all students entering programs which include a clinical component, practicum, or field experience (health program) to comply with specific health requirements, such as documentation of positive titers, vaccinations other health requirements. Students may request waivers or extensions of vaccinations and other health requirements, which may be approved or denied by clinical facilities. If waivers/extensions are denied, it will prevent placement in clinical experiences and progression in the academic program. The College will make a reasonable attempt to find alternate clinical placements for students seeking waivers or extensions of vaccinations, but it is at the discretion of clinical sites whether students are permitted to participate in clinical experiences. The requirements may vary depending on the program of study and the clinical agency. Students in such programs can find information on criminal background checks, drug screens, and health requirements at (https://www.mercycollege.edu/background). Current information is maintained on the College website and is subject to change. Students are responsible for all costs associated with criminal background checks, drug screens, and health requirements. Students who do not meet listed health requirements may not be able to fulfill the clinical, practicum, or field experience requirements and complete their program of study.
Please see the program administrator with questions regarding documentation for health records, including titer and vaccination requirements.
Graduation Requirements
The Master of Health Administration degree will be awarded to students who have successfully completed all required coursework, have a minimum of 36 credit hours, and have fulfilled all other requirements for graduation. The program of study must be completed within five years as measured by the first semester of enrollment through degree completion.