personal statement for mha program

Free PDF: The 4 questions every SOP must answer → Master’s or PhD

How to Write Your MHA Statement of Purpose: Success Stories

• By Jordan Dotson
• Updated: March 2, 2023

MHA applications are booming on SOPHAS. No surprise, yeah? ALL healthcare fields are booming these days! That’s good news if you want to manage a hospital’s nitty gritty finances or work in Insurance Consulting. Grad schools now offer better programs and residencies than ever. Yet, this also means applications are more competitive than ever…and that’s why you need an MHA statement of purpose that makes you absolutely shine .

Fear not, future health administrator. In this article, we’ll examine the SOPs of two students who achieved insane success in recent admissions cycles. One, Cole, was a domestic US student. The other, Rishi, a self-described “average” international from India. Now, they’re both on their way to rock star careers.

Let’s learn from their amazing examples. First, we’ll review the magical WriteIvy template both students used to write their MHA statement of purpose. Then, we’ll read their essays. Then, you’ll know how to achieve the exact same success in public health.

The Students

Cole was a golden boy. With a 3.9 GPA from a top-50 public university, an excellent hospital internship, and a deadly certain goals, he was exactly the kind of students MHA programs look for. Yet, he didn’t consider himself a polished writer, and worried that his first-draft SOP was unfocused.

Rishi was a little different. A recent dental-school graduate from India, he described himself as “the most average student that has probably ever applied.” He did have a graduate certificate in Public Policy, but with his 3.3 GPA, he felt he needed a truly spectacular SOP to give him a chance.

The Results

Cole must have set an admissions speed record! Within 9 days of submitting his applications on SOPHAS , he interviewed with 3 of the top-10 MHA programs. Mind-blowingly, his #1 choice offered him admission on the spot, right there on Zoom…with a 75% tuition scholarship!

Rishi too had unbelievable success, but let him tell you the story in his own words:

“Jordan, you’re the man! I got into 2 of the top #5 programs that I applied to. Just got an acceptance from [Top-5 University] yesterday. This is a huge deal for me because I am THE most average student that has probably ever applied. My GPA is a feeble 3.33, I have no awards, no publications, no achievements . I relied on nothing but my statement of purpose and it got me to places I could not have imagined. Big thanks to you once again!”

Both and Cole and Rishi followed the Structure is Magic template, and they did so beautifully. Let’s recap:

• Frame Narrative Intro: Both began with a personal, story-based introduction. For Cole, this was two paragraphs at 20% of his total word count. For Rishi, two long-ish paragraphs, and 33% of his word count. (In my opinion, Rishi should have edited this down to 25% or less.)
• Academic Goals: Super important! Both applicants used their frame narratives to introduce the intellectual questions and humanistic issues that drive their goals. For example:

“ How can we prevent entire families from declaring bankruptcy due to healthcare costs? How can hospitals continuously improve the overall health of a community?”

• Why This Program: Both wrote a highly detailed section explaining exactly which courses they want to take, which resources they’ll use, and why the schools are uniquely relevant for them . For Cole, this was two paragraphs and 24% of his word count. For Rishi, two paragraphs at 21%.
• Why I’m Qualified: AFTER they’d fully explained their reasons for applying, ONLY THEN did Cole and Rishi describe their own credentials. For Cole, this section was 2 paragraphs and 25% of word count. For Rishi, it was exactly the same.

HOT TIP: Be like Cole and Rishi. Never put your “autobiography” of credentials at the start of the essay. Smart, super-competitive applicants never do this because it defies all logic of argumentation and annoys the crap out of your reader. It’s like clicking a YouTube video titled “How to get rich in crypto today!”, then having to wait 5 minutes as the speaker reads their CV.

“Shut up already,” you’d say. “Just tell me which dog coins to buy.”

• Career Goals: Both applicants transitioned into their Conclusion with a paragraph explaining their hopeful careers. Rishi kept his short. Cole, however, took the chance to further expound on his larger, overarching, humanistic concerns.
• Frame Narrative Conclusion: In their final paragraphs, both students circled back to the personal topics from their intros. For Cole, this was the story of how he transitioned from Pre-Med to Health Administration. Rishi reminded the reader of the larger healthcare problems in India, and why he wants to help solve them.

Thematic Similarity: Healthcare Disparities

I have to point out how, despite coming from opposite sides of the world, Cole and Rishi both want to solve the same problems.

“My career goal is simple: to attain a leadership position in the administrative side of a hospital or healthcare system where I can be of service to communities who, for whatever reason, are not receiving the exceptional care they need.”

Rishi says:

“World Bank data suggests that about 62% of health expenditure in India is out of pocket by patients, the economic consequences of which could be dire for families from lower income brackets…How can we prevent entire families from declaring bankruptcy due to healthcare costs? ”

In essence, both want to address an issue that’s ubiquitous today: healthcare disparities. They want to help everyone gain access to high-quality medical care, no matter their income, caste, race, or geographical location. The only difference between Cole and Rishi? One wants to make an impact in decaying US cities. One wants to help rising cities in India.

Same goals, different locations.

Same noble hearts.

Same fantastic results.

Now, what do you say we read these spectacular essays?

Cole’s MHA Statement of Purpose

My father is an internal medicine physician, and throughout my youth, I had always planned on following in his footsteps. I hoped to become a cardiologist; it seemed both challenging and fascinating. However, after I began my pre-med requirements at Metropolis University, curiously, a single class changed the trajectory of my life. The course was titled “The Science and Business of Cancer Therapies,” and it challenged my beliefs and sense of self in a way no biology or chemistry class ever had. As I delved deep into the study of cancer treatments, pharmaceutical companies, and medical patents, I faced a startling reality: the United States does not offer a singular healthcare system, but rather an array of systems in which certain populations suffer inferior outcomes for reasons as simple as their ZIP Code. Most troubling was the realization that in low-income counties not far from my home, residents face cancer recovery rates 10-20% lower than my own neighbors might.

Issues like these trouble me. Yet, they explain why I changed my major to Community Health with a concentration in Health Planning and Administration, and why I pursued an administrative internship at Kent Hospital in Smallville, KS. They also explain why I am applying to the Master of Health Administration program at Gotham University today. By becoming an administrative leader, I can play a role in improving healthcare access for far more people than I ever could as a doctor.

The MHA program at the Gotham Luther School of Public Health is my top choice for several reasons, with the yearlong residency chief among them. Far more intense than the simulations or short-terms residencies at other programs, this experience of working full-time in a healthcare setting will prove impactful as I begin my career. It is encouraging to see students from the class of 2022 being placed in residencies in locations as widespread as California, New York, and Florida. Yet, as a Midwesterner, it is also empowering to know that I could work in Kansas if this gave me a greater chance to learn and grow. At the same time, the program’s numerous finance courses interest me deeply. Though I have taken multiple undergraduate courses in healthcare finance and data analysis, I recognize the importance of preparing thoroughly for the complex quantitative aspects of a career in service to large, diverse communities. Encapsulating all of these efforts in an accelerated program will surely be challenging, but this gives me confidence that my Gotham education will make me immediately ready to contribute as a healthcare leader upon graduating.

I also look forward to numerous co-curricular opportunities at Gotham, especially those that will allow me to promote accessibility while learning about large-scale health policy applications. The American Mock World Health Organization seems particularly intriguing. Participating in simulations of the World Health Assembly stands out as an opportunity to consider policy from a macroscopic perspective, and I am excited that Gotham is one of the very few schools who participate. For all these reasons, I feel certain that the Luther MHA program is uniquely poised to offer opportunities I could not find anywhere else.

While I believe my academic record, highlighted by my 3.9 major GPA, demonstrates that I will be a strong addition to the MHA program, I think my experience in a hospital setting gives me a unique perspective that other candidates may not have. While interning at Kent Hospital in the summer of 2021, I worked with a wide range of healthcare professionals, including physical therapists, physicians, and hospital administrators. On one particularly impactful project, I was tasked with helping a team interpret three months of patient-survey data and identifying correlations. Which floor the patient stayed on, the problems that occurred most frequently (lack of communication, long discharge process, unprofessional behavior, cleanliness), and the patient’s likelihood of recommending the hospital to family – these all provided clues to improving patient outcomes and hospital efficiency. I am proud that our findings convinced leadership to address numerous concerns, including revamping their discharge process (the most frequent complaint) and creating a policy requiring physicians and nurses to walk into treatment rooms together to address a perceived lack of communication (another recurring grievance).

At Kent, I also helped launch a new policy-and-contract software that the hospital is implementing today. Their goal was to make all documents available digitally and I helped by uploading thousands of policies, vendor and physician contracts, and affiliation, sales, and licensing agreements into a new database. Yet, in the end, I feel strongly that my most important experience was shadowing both administrative and operational leaders. I spent hours, and sometimes weeks, with people in nearly every department, from the CEO’s office to patient safety, physician relations, and sterile processing. Observing their interactions made me realize how much collaboration and teamwork goes into making sure a hospital operates smoothly, and I eagerly await the chance to contribute to such teams on a larger scale.

My career goal is simple: to attain a leadership position in the administrative side of a hospital or healthcare system where I can be of service to communities who, for whatever reason, are not receiving the exceptional care they need. Metropolis, Gotham City, Cincinnati, and Detroit all interest me because 25% or more of their populations live in poverty, almost certainly reflecting unique healthcare needs. I am particularly interested in organizations whose grassroots efforts include opening more free health clinics, hiring more bilingual healthcare workers, hosting educational seminars, and incentivizing physicians and nurses to spend time helping these communities. Thus, organizations such as Stark Health in New Jersey and Shield Health in Illinois are of particular interest to me; the former because of their disease prevention initiatives, and chronic disease-care programs for the uninsured, and the latter for the way they reinvest in community benefit programs for those without the ability to pay. Of course, I realize that I am one person and that the health disparities many communities face are complex beyond reason. Yet, through steady efforts and continued devotion to educating, screening, and treating those who currently face gaps in healthcare access, I am confident that I can build the kind of career that I consider a success.

The first step to accomplishing this goal is to maximize all the resources available in the Gotham MHA program. During my internship at Kent, every leadership-team member held advanced degrees, typically an MHA, with approximately half also holding an MBA. Through my work with these professionals, I saw firsthand (and learned from anecdotes) how invaluable an advanced Healthcare Administration program can be. The majority of these administrators completed their degrees later in their career, indicating that I will face unique challenges as a recent graduate. Yet, I look forward to surmounting these challenges, knowing it will put me at an advantage professionally and provide me with all the more opportunities to make a difference in my career. Even though the Gotham University MHA program will undoubtedly present a great challenge, I know it will prepare me for a lifelong career in healthcare, and in service to my community.

Rishi’s MHA Statement of Purpose

A hallmark moment for any dental student is their first successful treatment — a denture restoring a smile, a restoration alleviating pain, or any procedure returning physiological function of the oral cavity. This is a pious and cathartic experience after three years of trials and tribulations studying dentistry in India. However, this feeling did not last long for me, as I experienced a gradual shift in perspective, a result of my close interactions with patients. My eyes opened to problems outside patient’s oral cavities, a dentist’s most common area of interest. As India and particularly richer cities like Bangalore marched ahead in their growth stories, multiple antithetical experiences in basic healthcare started to deeply plague me. Some of the recurring themes among patients, as evidenced in literature as well, were — affordability of appropriate care, impaired access to healthcare facilities, and distrust in the quality of health systems in place. This has been consistent in the feedback I receive from patients too. More perniciously, an overall unsatisfactory experience with the dental hospital system eventually drove them away, never to return or follow up. However, the holistic picture across the country is much more stark.

World Bank data suggests that about 62% of health expenditure in India is out of pocket by patients, the economic consequences of which could be dire for families from lower income brackets. In addition, existing solutions are only stopgap solutions. For example, private intervention in healthcare is good; but potential market failures and information asymmetry between patients and providers is largely disadvantageous to poorer patients, leading to disastrous consequences. While I noticed these issues long before the pandemic, the second wave of Covid-19, which devastated India, brought them to the forefront. I recall making frantic calls to secure hospital beds not just for my family, but strangers as well. This left a lasting feeling of helplessness that I needed to address. Issues of oxygen supply chain, inefficient resource management in delivering timely healthcare, and feeble policymaking further deteriorated the previously problematic healthcare system. This makes a basic premise for my deep interest in studying healthcare policy and administration.

At Gotham University, I plan to study the complex nature of healthcare administration. Studying at the Health Policy & Management Department will enable me to address the following issues based on aforementioned themes: How can we prevent entire families from declaring bankruptcy due to healthcare costs? How can hospitals continuously improve the overall health of a community? These questions spring to mind as I contemplate the future, and warrant a unique set of skills including but not limited to financial management of health services, developing evolved payment methods, and analytics in healthcare.

I look forward to courses like Database Systems which will allow me to work with relational database systems, build on my elementary understanding of SQL, and help me work with data to make informed decisions. As an international student in a region with very little context of demographic and health trends, I believe Population Health Informatics will also provide an indispensable skill. Factoring appropriate epidemiological data into managerial decision-making – this is something I can take with me back home, given the apparent spatial health disparities. Furthermore, I believe it is of utmost importance for health systems to be cognizant of health trends in the communities they serve.

Thus, beyond the core curriculum, the Value-Driven Insurance Design Institute will allow me to explore pertinent concepts like alternative, value-based payment, which would be pivotal in reducing bankruptcies secondary to healthcare costs. The clinical nuances driving value-based insurance design play to my strengths as a clinician. Furthermore, I believe the Stark Leadership Center will provide valuable insight from industry practitioners, allowing me to build vital relationships, and helping me leverage cutting-edge research into the kind of decision-making that is crucial for fostering innovation. Lastly, I feel enthusiastic about participating in case competitions where I can hone high-level analytical skills while networking with peers from other schools.

I fully realize the extent of the transition I intend to make, from a clinical field of study to that of management and administration. In my mandatory internship year as a dental student, I went beyond my confined role to assist in floor-level administration duties like stock/inventory management, maintaining outpatient registries, and addressing patient complaints. Part of my daily life as a dental student involved devising and revising treatment plans to fit patients’ affordability, helping patients get through their anxiety, and managing their pain effectively.

To cement my understanding, I attempted to write on how the patient inflow at my hospital was affected due to the pandemic and the government policies put in place, taking into account stringency measures such as travel bans, school closures, etc. While the paper still needs work, I used the opportunity to teach myself basic Excel, data visualization, and entry-level data analysis. I then understood the value that regression analysis brings to the table.

With a newfound hunger for knowledge in the healthcare domain, I enrolled in a Graduate Certificate course at The Public Policy Institute of Bangalore, for which I received a scholarship for my keen interest in the field as a dental student. I gained a clearer understanding of the multifaceted nature of healthcare. The highlight of my time at PPIB was learning Bardach’s Eightfold Path to policy analysis during a rigorous workshop, where I worked with a diverse team involving IT professionals and a nuclear medicine physicist. This provided me with a strong framework to approach problem-solving.

I aim to retain a strong focus on the health system in the future, working as a healthcare management consultant to bridge gaps between providers and payers. Gotham University will be instrumental in making me a well-rounded healthcare manager, through its courses designed to cover a range of competencies like financing and strategic operations.

In an extremely heterogeneous society such as India with multidimensional divisions based on — caste, ethnicity, color, and region, a hierarchical structure backboned by the above is a lived experience to me. However, I am deeply privileged compared to most of my country in having the ability to apply to Gotham University. Beyond acknowledging this, it is my single-minded focus to work on healthcare systems to break these hierarchies.

I’m grateful to both Cole and Rishi for allowing me to republish their SOPs. Both worked incredibly hard to craft poignant, profound essays. And both hope you’ll find inspiration in their writing. These guys are true rock stars.

Cole’s essay gives us one of the best “Why This Program” sections I’ve ever seen. It’s so incredibly thorough, and so connected to his goals, that it’s no surprise he was offered a giant scholarship in his Zoom interview. He knows everything about the program, and tells them exactly how it’s going to launch his career.

Rishi shows us that it doesn’t matter if your GPA isn’t perfect. It doesn’t matter if you have no awards, publications, or achievements. Intelligent writing proves, more than anything else, that you’re an intelligent student . If you take the time to write something poignant, you can win.

As you craft your MHA statement of purpose, remember to structure your essay correctly. Use the SOP Starter Kit to shape your outline, then use the timeless lessons of Structure is Magic to polish your story till it shines.

It worked for Cole and Rishi. Both are now students at top-5 MHA programs. Why don’t you join them?

Not sure you can write an SOP that’s perfect for top-schools? I can help !

How will you write your MHA statement of purpose?

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How to Write a Personal Statement for Graduate School

November 18, 2023

View all blog posts under Articles

Of all the application requirements writing a personal statement for graduate school is where you're able to express your intentions.

So make it count. It’s nothing to fear. Let's review important things to do and not do in writing your personal essay.

Applying to graduate school,  master's in healthcare  programs included, are fairly typical. A resume, letter(s) of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and official transcripts are the four documents students will need to apply.

After you write your resume, request your transcripts, and  request letters of recommendation , the essential ingredients, you're ready to put the icing on the cake.

How to Write a Statement of Intent

The goal of your statement is to inform the admissions committee why you’re the ideal person for their program.

How do I know if i'm the right person?

Every master's program has  specific requirements  such as grade point average, or years of professional experience, that schools use to qualify student's.

Whether the essay prompt is detailed or concise, we need to know what the program is looking for to demonstrate our aptitude and drive.  Before you apply , let's discuss a few common prompts and how to approach them strategically.

Why do you want to enroll?

Every master's program has specific outcomes. You've decided to  apply to graduate school  because the outcomes align with your professional goals.

In this section it is important to highlight the areas of greatest interest to you, what kinds of skills you’re looking to build, and how those skills will enable you to achieve strategic goals for your organization and career.

• What you plan to do with the degree after earning it?
• Why does this degree appeal to you?
• Why does this program specifically, or this university appeal to you?

If you're applying to multiple programs, each statement should be presented in a tailored, non-generic manner personalized to the specific institution.

Share your experience

When you're communicating  why  you wish to complete an advanced degree, its important to use both experience and passion to convey your message.

Professional experience should be used to accent your plans after graduation, your decision to apply, and how it uniquely qualifies you for the program.

Professional experience includes but is not limited to: personal achievements, challenging situations, strategic decisions, and leadership roles you held or hold.

Writing Your Personal Essay

Aside from your goals and experience, a statement of purpose also demonstrates your writing skills, an indicator of ability to complete assignments.

1. Brainstorm

With the degree outcomes and application requirements in mind, start a brainstorming session. Think about how a master's will advance your career.

Then, collect highlights from your education, professional training and work experience to validate how the program will accelerate your career.

If you're applying to an  executive-level master's program , limit your experiences to your professional roles. Professional context is more relevant to executive degrees.

Note, projects you've lead, honors you received, current events or trends that you want to discuss, and faculty you're interested in working with.

When discussing weaknesses, frame them positively. Here's an example: a physician looking to start a group medical practice might say, "healthcare accounting will allow me to take an active leadership role in risk management."

2. Organize your Content

You don't need to be a natural storyteller to demonstrate your ability to write a logical and compelling statement of intent.

Take your ideas and prepare an outline. If the program has a detailed statement of intent, proceed according to their directions. If the  personal statement  is open-ended, lead with your reason(s) for applying to this specific program.

Use the remaining one or two pages to support your statement with professional experience that align with the application requirements.

3. Write your First Draft

This version does not need to be perfect.

Its important that you get the main sections of your essay down. Then connect the ideas as you've outlined them. Lastly, ensure the structure follows logically.

Once you have a first draft that states and supports your reason for applying, you can begin the editing process (adding, deleting and refining).

4. Get Feedback

When you're happy with your first draft, show it to people you trust and whose opinion you respect: colleagues, friends, family, or mentors. Getting feedback from professionals inside your industry is preferable.

5. Polish and Submit

Once you've incorporated the feedback of professionals its time to make the adjustments and  prepare your application .

• Does your statement deliver the message you want?
• Does your paper read smoothly?
• Does your essay conform to the school's guidelines?
• Is your article free of grammatical errors?

If there isn’t a word or character limit,  err on the side of concision . Use as many words (500-1000) as you need to convey your message and demonstrate character.

Written by Frank Farrar

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Master of Health Administration

The MHA degree program was established in 2000, and graduated its first class in 2003. It is  CAHME   accredited. Administratively, the program is housed in the School of Allied Health Sciences (SOAHS), Division of  Health Care  Management. The SOAHS is one of four schools/colleges and institutes that make up the health science academic core on campus. Other components include pharmacy, nursing and public health. 

Curriculum Description

The curriculum is competency-based with forty-seven (47) credit hours distributed among core courses, including a capstone and fieldwork/residency component. Courses in finance, statistics, the application of research methods, and managerial skills development are designed to help students develop problem-solving and decision-making skills. 

The management, planning and marketing, quality, and leadership courses are included in the curriculum to acquaint students with the conceptual framework and operational aspects of health services administration. Also included are courses that develop students’ understanding of the legal and political factors affecting the healthcare delivery system. A capstone course and the administrative residency represent the integrative components of the curriculum.

MHA Curriculum

MHA Course Descriptions

Gradute Academic Policies and Procedures

Program Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods

The MHA program utilizes a variety of teaching and learning methods based on the course competencies, and desired mastery category and level.    The mastery categories are:

The  Novice  level reflects basic skills encompassing knowledge and comprehension. The Bloom’s Taxonomy levels for Novice are 1 and 2.   Courses at the Novice level utilize lectures with discussion, guest lecturers, research papers, and some teamwork. 

The  Competent  level focuses on intermediate skills encompassing application of knowledge and problem analysis. The Bloom’s Taxonomy levels for Competent are 3 and 4.   Competent learning activities include case analysis, several team projects, integrative exercises, strategic planning, evaluating health care delivery services, simulations and quality improvement proposals.

The  Proficient  level reflects professional competency, advanced skills encompassing the ability to evaluate, judge and synthesize information.  The Bloom’s Taxonomy levels for Proficient are 5 and 6. Similar to Competent, the Proficient level  learning activities include case analysis, several team projects, integrative exercises, strategic planning, evaluating health care delivery services, simulations and quality improvement proposals.

Assessment methods range from exams, quizzes, assignments, interviews, oral presentations, papers, proposals and project deliverables.

Admission Criteria

The Program admits a cohort twice a year, fall and spring. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements outlined by the School of Graduate Studies and Research.  In addition to earning a baccalaureate degree   from an accredited college or university, applicants must have: 

• a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours or documentation of a graduate degree,  or    
•   a minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 300 or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score of 600. 

Interested persons must submit the application, a resume, three professional references, academic transcripts, and a personal statement, electronically via the CollegeNet system.  All applicants will be interviewed by the Admissions Committee.   Both scholastic and experiential factors are considered in screening prospective students. Meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee program admission.  An applicant who does not have the required 3.00 GPA or GRE or GMAT score should enroll in an exam preparation class to facilitate obtaining an acceptable score on the exam.

MHA Student Handbook

Program Competencies

The competencies that guide the MHA Program are adopted from the Healthcare Leadership Alliance Competency Directory which identifies competencies that are important across diverse professional roles within healthcare management.  The Healthcare Leadership Alliance (HLA) is comprised of the following organizations: American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE); American College of Physician Executives (ACPE); American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE); Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA); Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSA); Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and its certifying body, the American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE). 

Competency 1.1: Building Effective Working Relationships : Understanding the importance of shared decision-making, dispute resolution, determining stakeholder expectations, exhibiting integrity, and building trust.

• Create, participate in, lead teams, facilitate group dynamics, process, meetings and discussions.
• Identify and utilize human and technical resources to develop and deliver communications.
• Describe stakeholder needs and expectations.
• Formulate and communicate organizational mission, vision, objectives and priorities.

Competency 1.2: Developing Effective Communication Skills : Understanding the importance of effective communication, cultural competency, non-verbal communication, listening skills, and appropriate utilization of communication methodologies.

• Recognize, value, and demonstrate correct behavior when communicating with diverse internal and external cultures.
• Prepare and demonstrate effective written communication, oral communication, and presentation skills using the principles of communication and their specific applications.
• Provide and receive constructive feedback.
• Demonstrate and utilize applicable business communications practices and principles including meeting agendas, presentations, business reports, and project communications plans.

Competency 2.1: Regulatory Environment : Knowledge and understanding of the health care and business regulatory environments.

• Articulate legal and regulatory standards for health care professionals and organizations.
• Examine and assess the organization including corporate values and culture, business processes and impact of systems on operations.
• Interpret and develop basic business contracts from a legal and financial perspective.

Competency 2.2: Leadership Theories : Knowledge of leadership theories, ability to conduct self-assessment, understanding of theory application.

• Recall and value leadership theory, styles, techniques, and use situational applications.
• Ability to incorporate and apply management techniques and theories into leadership activities.

Competency 3.1: Ethical Behaviors : Knowledge of ethical professional expectations, standards, and behaviors.

• Assess and determine conflict of interest and unethical situations as defined by organizational and professional bylaws, policies, procedures, and codes of ethics.
• Recall and apply organizational business and personal ethics and adherence to ethical principles, e.g. patient’s rights and responsibilities.
• Compose, develop, and participate in personal career planning.
• Explain and describe the implications of human subject research.
• Complete self-assessments, acquire, and remain current with the professional body of knowledge.
• Demonstrate appropriate industry-specific normative interpersonal behaviors.

Competency 4.1: Healthcare Milieu : Aptitude and knowledge of the health care infrastructure and key stakeholders.

• Identify and compare the various providers and their roles, interdependencies, integration, competitive, and regulatory forces guiding health care delivery.
• Compare and contrast the patient perspective and employee perspective.
• Assess and explain the relevant trends in health care delivery.
• Evaluate and interpret the interrelationships among access, quality, cost, resource allocation, accountability, and community.

Competency 4.2: Health Care Policy : Knowledge of policies affecting the health care industry and the role of regulatory agencies.

• Evaluate the governmental, regulatory, professional, and accreditation forces guiding health care delivery.
• Examine the public policy matters and legislative and advocacy processes.
• Advocate and participate in healthcare policy initiatives.

Competency 4.3: Technology Advancement : Knowledge and understanding of the use of information and decision-making technologies.

• Explain healthcare technological research and advancements.
• Design and develop information systems continuity including disaster planning, recovery, backup, and natural disasters.
• Explore the role and function of information technology in operations and health informatics.
• Discuss and apply technology trends and clinical applications.
• Demonstrate knowledge of administrative systems and programs.
• Develop and analyze technology security requirements.
• Discuss the changes in information systems and technology trends.

Competency 4.4: Health Care Economics, Quality, Performance Management and Measurement : The ability to understand and analyze individual and aggregated data.

• Seek and apply information from a variety of sources to stay current with market and industry.
• Utilize quality improvement theories, frameworks, planning, and management.
• Employ basic statistical analysis used to conduct needs analysis, identify and prioritize requirements.
• Demonstrate cause and effect relationships.
• Ability to collect, manipulate, analyze, understand, and explain data from internal and external sources relevant to each situation to support a decision or recommendation.

Competency 5.1: Financial Management Skills : Knowledge of finance and accounting, ability to create and manage budgets, and proficiency with decision-making skills based on financial data.

• Distinguish among the various funding, payment, and reimbursement methods and standards.
• Apply basic accounting principles, cost accounting, and financial statements.
• Demonstrate knowledge of financial management, revenue generation, and financial analysis principles.
• Develop, prepare, and manage budgets, including annual operating budgets, project budgets, and capital budgets.
• Explain reimbursement methodologies, principles, techniques, and ramifications including rate setting and contracts.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills and analysis.

Competency 5.2: Human Resources Management : Knowledge of regulations and laws governing human resources, ability to make strategic decisions based on resources, understanding of organizational structures, designs, awareness, and governance.

• Explain and apply human resources laws and regulations, worker safety, security, and employee health.
• Discuss organizational policies and procedures, systems theory, governance theory, and structuring.
• Design and develop recruitment, selection, and retention techniques and compensation and benefits practices.
• Define staff roles, responsibilities, and job descriptions and manage departmental processes.
• Identify the principles and practices of management and organizational behavior.
• Develop and apply employee satisfaction measurement, motivational and improvement techniques.
• Compare and contrast performance management processes.

Competency 5.3: Strategic Management : The ability to understand and analyze the relevant components of the external market impacting business decision-making, understanding of market dynamics, ability to integrate demographic, cultural, political, regulatory environments, and market resources into decision-making.

• Explain and apply characteristics of strategic decision support and strategic planning principles.
• Analyze and integrate organizational mission, vision, objectives, and priorities into strategic plan.
• Utilize comparative analysis strategies.
• Demonstrate techniques for business plan development, implementation and assessment.
• Ability to integrate information from various sources to make decisions and recommendations.

MHA Advisory Board Members

Mha program frequently asked questions .

The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) is the organization that accredits graduate programs in health administration.    Accreditation is a two phase process:    candidacy and accreditation.    The program is preparing for the initial accreditation site visit in spring 2020.    Obtaining full accreditation is our goal.

Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Vice President of Operations, Practice Manager, Director of Operations, Operations Manager, Network Manager, Health Systems Specialist, Systems Coordinator, Compliance Officer, Nursing Home Administrator, Project Manager, Assistant Administrator, Program Manager, Analyst, Patient Advocate Coordinator, and Team Lead Coordinator.

Community Health Centers, Clinics, Consulting Firms, Health Insurance, Healthcare Associations, Managed Care Organizations, Hospitals, Home Health Agencies, Assisted Living Facilities, Medical Group Practices, Mental Health, Health Departments, Rehabilitation Centers, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Pharmaceutical Industry, and Government Agencies.

Yes. The background screening is required prior to residency/fieldwork placement. Students are  required  to pay for their background screening.  The  minimum cost  is about $100.

Students are admitted twice a year, fall and spring.

The deadline for fall admission is July 1 and the deadline for spring admission is November 15.

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MHA Master of Health Administration Admissions

Congratulations to you for exploring career options and your interest in the MHA Program here at UK!

Applications Open: Mid-August

Early Decision Applications Due: November 1st

We can include you in this group if transcripts are still pending.

Applications Close: April 1st

Recommendation Letters and Transcripts: Obtaining these can take a long time (Maybe 4 weeks) - please plan ahead to avoid delays in reviewing your application.

Primary Application: Students applying to the Master of Health Administration program must submit a primary application (for the College of Public Health). This is the only application needed until an admissions decision is made.

After MHA Program Acceptance: If you are offered MHA Program admission and accept:

UK Graduate School Application: After acceptance to the MHA Program students will be directed to submit a supplemental application to the University of Kentucky Graduate School. Do not complete this step or pay the fee until after you are offered and accept admission to the MHA Program.

Information Sessions for Prospective Students - Meet us on Zoom!

Join us to learn more about the MHA Program and ask any and all questions about courses, applications, student experience, internships, our experiential learning framework, and much more!

Admission Requirements

Students applying to the Master of Health Administration program must submit a primary application (for the College of Public Health) and a supplemental application (for the University of Kentucky). MHA applicants must apply through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS). Refer to the process below for detailed instructions on what and how to prepare.

• Timeline NOTE: Obtaining documents can take several weeks therefore we strongly recommend you begin the process quite early. An application must be complete to be considered (all documents submitted).
• SOPHAS: SOPHAS verification process can take a few weeks as well so leave adequate time to meet the deadlines.
• 3 supportive letters of recommendations
• Graduate of an accredited (or equivalent) undergraduate program
• Submission of all required materials – link the Applications Checklist
• Personal Statement per guidelines on SOPHAS

Step 1 - Three letters of recommendation

• Letters should include at least one previous faculty member, one professional reference, and one of your choice. No family members, please.
• Submit via the letter writer using SOPHAS or HAMPCAS.
• Recommendation NOTE: The recommendations should speak specifically about your qualifications to enter an MHA Program. Those that demonstrate your qualities and capabilities will receive stronger consideration. This process can take some time so discuss this with your contacts well in advance. This is often the documents that hold up an application for consideration.

Step 2 - Transcripts

• Obtain your official current transcripts from ALL previous undergraduate and graduate work. Including any school in which courses transferred.
• Transcripts NOTE: Not including all schools often holds up your SOPHAS application
• International Students: TOEFL or IELTS scores are required and may take many weeks.

Step 3 - Resume/CV

• Review and revise your resume so it accurately reflect your experiences and skills as well as academic and volunteer accomplishments.

Step 4 - Personal statement

• Compose a personal statement that is organized, edited, concise, and clearly answers the questions that have been asked.
• addressing the following questions:
• Your statement should be approximately two pages in length, double-spaced, and cover the specific questions found in SOPHAS.
• Personal Statement NOTE: In addition to the personal statement, if your application is advanced, you will be invited to interview with a panel of faculty and alumni. In preparation, consider pressing healthcare issues, healthcare management challenges, and areas of healthcare of special interest to you.

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Master of Health Administration (MHA)

Offered By: Department of Health Policy and Management

Onsite | Full-Time | 2 years

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About the Master of Health Administration Program

Master of health administration program highlights.

health administration programs in the country (#7) as ranked by peers in U.S. News and World Report. 

month paid, full-time administrative residency working with senior leaders and developing the skills to thrive as executives.

graduation rate with 97% of graduates employed within three months.

average starting salary for MHA program graduates.

CAHME Accredited

Our MHA program is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. This accreditation assures you are receiving the highest quality educational experience and preparation for the future.

What Can You Do With a Graduate Degree In Health Administration?

According to the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth in healthcare employment, especially medical and health services managers, is expected to increase by 20% between 2016 and 2026. Visit the  Graduate Employment Outcomes Dashboard to learn about Bloomberg School graduates' employment status, sector, and salaries.

MHA graduates pursue career paths in many different settings including :

• Hospitals/Health Systems
• Consulting firms
• Non-profit organizations
• Physician practice management

Possible job titles after residency include :

• Administrator
• Assistant Director
• Project Manager
• Practice Manager

Curriculum for the Master of Health Administration

Browse an overview of the requirements for this master's program in the JHU  Academic Catalogue  and explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School  Course Directory .

Admissions Requirements

For general admissions requirements, please visit the How to Apply page. This specific program also requires:

Prior Coursework

Prior to matriculation, an undergraduate-level microeconomics course

Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA

Administrative Residency Requirement

The full-time residential program has a required administrative residency component during the second year of the program. The program has partnerships with local and national organizations providing the full-time paid residency positions, many exclusive to JHU students. However, because many of the residency sites have rules prohibiting placement of non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents, the program cannot guarantee placement of international students and thus the ability to successfully complete the degree program requirements for graduation. Therefore, non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. permanent residents should carefully consider these possibilities before applying to or accepting an offer of admission from the full-time residential program.

Standardized Test Scores

Standardized test scores are  not required and not reviewed  for this program. If you have taken a standardized test such as the GRE, GMAT, or MCAT and want to submit your scores, please note that they will not be used as a metric during the application review.  Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all required application components.

Program Faculty Spotlights

Mark J. Bittle

Mark Bittle, DrPH ’06, MBA, FACHE, focuses on the organizational and management factors that influence physician alignment and managing change in complex organizations.

Conan Q. Dickson

Conan Dickson, PhD ’04, MPH, leverages his experience in health system management to enhance education in health care strategy, finance, and quantitative tools.

David Chin, MD, MBA focuses on transforming health systems and academic medical centers for success under value-based health care models.

Karen R. Charron

Karen Charron, MPH ‘91, is an experienced course instructor and graduate cohort director who teaches and mentors students in the Master of Health Administration program.

The Master’s Tuition Scholarship is available to students in good academic standing in the two-year, full-time residential master’s program. The MTS is a 75% reduction in tuition for year two of an eight-term program. Students have the option of distributing the scholarship entirely in their second year of study or receive a 25% reduction in tuition their first year and 50% in their second year.

Questions about the program? We're happy to help.

Keasha Wormley [email protected]

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VCU College of Health Professions

Health administration, master of health administration (mha).

Ranked #3 among the best health administration programs by US News and World Report   and other external rating agencies, our Master of Health Administration (MHA) program is an “industry specific” MBA program — which means you will have rigorous business and management training while learning about the unique context of the health care and nonprofit sectors.

Leadership Focus

The VCU MHA differs from other top-ranked programs by our   singular focus on healthcare delivery organization leadership .  Our goal is for every graduate to be "Leadership Ready" in hospitals, physician practices, health systems and long-term care. Those who hire our graduates say they bring an exceptional executive presence to complement their content knowledge and skills. Successful applicants show evidence of personal achievement, scholarship, intellectual ability, compassion, and professional promise for a career in health services administration.

Student Success

Within 90 days of graduation, VCU MHA graduates have a high rate of job placement over the last five years (95.6%):

• 2018: 100% (21 of 21 students)
• 2019: 100% (20 of 20 students)
• 2020: 90% (19 of 21 students)
• 2021: 94% (16 of 17 students)
• 2022: 94% (17 of 18 students)

As a CAHME-accredited program, we are proud of our 100% 3-year graduation rate (2020-2022).

Meet our current students !

Learn more about the VCU MHA Program:

Why choose the mha at vcu .

If you really want to work in the health care service delivery industry, a master’s degree in health administration provides knowledge you need, and develops skills necessary for a leadership role in organization, financing, marketing, planning and management of health care services. 

The advantages of a traditional Master of Health Administration (MHA) program include:

• A core curriculum of business management coursework with health care content throughout, rather than just a few elective courses specific to healthcare, as is typical in MBA programs; and
• The opportunity to apply health care focused knowledge immediately, recognizing that health care services are unique, for the treatment of persons often experiencing one of the most difficult situations in their lives.

Distinctive features of management positions in health care include:

• Legal, regulatory, and reimbursement intricacies of, and differences between, for-profit, not-for-profit and government subsidized health care;
• The core business of patient care, and how quality health care services are  conceptualized and measured;
• The moral basis inherent in the delivery and support of health care services; and
• Practice settings dominated by clinical professionals.

Here are some great reasons why you should choose the MHA at VCU:

• Reputation   – We are consistently ranked in the top 5 in health administration programs by U.S. News and World Report.
• Administrative Residency   – MHA students are guaranteed a 12-month paid administrative residency with senior level healthcare executives.
• Cutting-Edge Curriculum –   Our carefully planned curriculum and real-world learning experiences reflect the rapidly changing healthcare industry, and authentically prepare students for success.
• 100% Job Placement –   Most of our MHA graduates are offered an entry-level placement with the organization where they completed their administrative residency upon graduating.
• Outstanding Alumni –   Our students gain access to a network of over 2,500 alumni representing every sector of American healthcare.
• Affordable Tuition –   Tuition and fees are lower than non-resident tuition for comparable top-ranked programs.
• Internationally-Renowned Faculty –   Faculty members provide exceptional teaching while conducting nationally recognized and funded research programs.
• Location –   Richmond provides exposure to multiple major health systems and innovative care models in an urban learning environment.
• Student Life –   Our student-centric atmosphere and small class sizes allow students to develop meaningful and long-lasting relationships with faculty, staff, and alumni. Students entering our program are welcomed into a close-knit and caring community.

Admissions Requirements and How to Apply

Application Process

Admissions is all about the right fit. We want you to be in the right health management program for your background, career goals, learning style and personal interests. The program selects highly qualified applicants with 1-2 years of work experience, shadowing, internship, etc. preferred. If this describes you, we encourage you to attend an information session (virtual, held monthly) and email us at   [email protected]   with any questions. 

The Department of Health Administration uses a rolling admissions process -- we begin reviewing applications as soon as they are deemed complete. Applications open annually on   September 1 . The first interview days are held in November of each year and continue monthly until the class is full.

Apply for Fall 2024 admissions consideration starting on September 1, 2023.

Application Checklist:

• Complete HAMPCAS Application
• Request official transcripts

All applications for the MHA program must be submitted via HAMPCAS, the national centralized service that allows applicants to apply to health management programs across different colleges and universities throughout the U.S by way of a single, web-based application. 

To start the HAMPCAS application process visit the following link   www.hampcas.org .

Application Materials

A complete application must include the following items (all submitted via HAMPCAS):

Transcript:  Your transcript should show a conferred or in-progress baccalaureate or graduate degree from a fully accredited college or university. An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale in undergraduate work and/or evidence of achievement in a substantial amount of graduate-level work is required. Transcripts from all postsecondary institutions (including community or junior colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs) are required.

Resume:  Your resume should demonstrate evidence of personal achievement, scholarship, intellectual ability and professional promise for a career in health administration.

Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose:  Your personal statement is your opportunity to highlight your background, interests, plans, and decision to pursue a MHA degree. Most importantly, this is your opportunity to communicate your passion for the field of health administration and demonstrate why you are a good fit for the program and VCU. Applicants can also use the personal statement to explain any inconsistencies in other components of the application. Please limit personal statements to no more than two typed pages.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Prompt:  You will be asked to respond to a DEI prompt where you will share what this topic means to you and how you envision integrating it into your future work.

Three Letters of Recommendation:  You must submit three letters of recommendation, preferably from academic and/or work supervisors who can speak to your character and leadership ability. 

Standardized Test Scores: The GRE/GMAT requirement has been waived for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. 

Next Steps: Interview                                                                                                                

Eligible applicants will be invited to an on-campus interview day. The day includes meeting with three members of the Admissions Committee (consisting of faculty, students, and alumni/ae), question and answer sessions with current students, and a tour of the campus and our building. If you are selected for an in-person interview based on your application materials, you will be notified and an interview will be scheduled between November and March, depending on when you complete your application. 

Information for International Applicants:

International students add a valuable perspective to the Department of Health Administration and enhance the educational experience for all.  We embrace diversity in our student body and encourage aspiring health care administrators from outside of the U.S. to apply.

• Prospective students who have studied outside of the U.S.  must provide an external credential evaluation  as part of the admissions process. This report should be unopened with a seal and sent directly to international admissions. All official transcripts and relevant credentials (e.g., diplomas) will be required if admitted. Common examples of accepted evaluations include those from the   American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers ,   World Education Services   and   Educational Credential Evaluators .
• There is a required third-year residency for the MHA Program, which must already be identified and secured as all international applicants apply to the MHA Program.  There must be a person in an accredited health care facility that agrees to oversee the third year residency requirement in an applicant’s home country where they hold citizenship. 
• A minimum computer-based  TOEFL score  (Test of English as a Foreign Language) of 250 should be submitted through the   international graduate student application.

Learn more about applying to VCU as an international graduate student at the   VCU International Admissions website .

The required application materials are expected of all applicants. 

Upcoming Information Sessions

Virtual information sessions for prospective students.

Learn from current MHA students and faculty about why the VCU program is the right fit for you! Join us for a one-hour virtual information session where you can learn about the curriculum, our administrative residency program, admission requirements, and more.

All times are Eastern Time.

We'll post information session dates for Fall 2025 recruitment in late summer 2024.

MHA Program Mission, Vision, Values & Goals

Mha program mission statement.

Through experiential learning and reflective and inclusive practice, our renowned faculty, industry-leading executives, and engaged alumni community educate practicing and aspiring leaders to reimagine healthcare delivery across the nation and continuums of care.

MHA Vision Statement

The vision of the MHA Program is to be the preeminent program developing diverse and inclusive leaders who will transform health care across the nation.

MHA Values Statement

The MHA program recognizes that the following core values and concepts are essential to the program’s success:

• Professionalism - We value collaboration, service to the community, personal development, and growth of students, faculty, and staff. 
• Respect - We create a culture that respects individual differences, strengths, and talents.
• Integrity - We demonstrate ethical behavior, authenticity, and accountability to self and others.
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion - We value differences in backgrounds and perspectives, while striving to increase equity in our communities, through inclusive and diverse leadership.
• Excellence - We exceed expectations, focusing on continuous improvement, while demonstrating high personal and professional achievement.

Program Goals

The specific mission of the Master of Health Administration program is to prepare early careerists for management and leadership positions within complex health care organizations. The program is nationally accredited and has been consistently ranked in the top five programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

The overall purpose of the Department of Health Administration in which the M.H.A. is housed is to provide top quality education, research and service related to the organization and administration of health care services. The department also has a major research program and is involved in a wide range of public service activities, including professional development programs for health services administrators and other health professionals. 

The mission of the Department of Health Administration is to   prepare, support and connect exceptional leaders who shape the health care industry. This is accomplished through:

• Educating the next generation of health administrators and enhancing the skills of the present generation
• Preparing a new generation of health services researchers and educators
• Creating and disseminating basic and applied knowledge about the management, organization, financing, function and performance of the health care system
• Serving people in the public and private sectors of the health care system

These activities, when mutually reinforced among all key people — faculty, staff, students, alumni — elevate the department to a premier status in the United States.

MHA Curriculum

MHA students are required to complete a total of 59 semester hours (including transfer credit, if any) to qualify for the Master of Health Administration degree. This requirement includes 48 hours of core coursework plus at least three semester hours of elective studies in health administration and related disciplines, such as business administration, public health, urban and regional planning, and gerontology. In addition, eight semester hours of practicum course work are required as a part of the administrative residency. The graduate program is designed to provide a balanced combination of academic studies and field experience to enable students to achieve the program’s educational goals and become well-prepared to enter the field of health administration. 

The core curriculum of the graduate program in health administration consists of 19 courses totaling 51 semester hours that must be completed by all MHA degree candidates. These courses represent an integrated series of learning experiences designed to provide students with a common body of knowledge and skills which are considered to be essential to completion of the administrative residency.

First Year (Fall) 

Health System Organization, Financing and Performance  (HADM 602, 3 Credits)

Data Skills Basecamp (HADM 603, 2 credits)

Population Health Management   (HADM 609, 3 credits) 

Health Care Organization and Leadership   (HADM 646, 3 Credits)

Executive Skills I   (HADM 682, 1 credit)

Approved Elective Course from another department or Independent Study in Health Administration. Independent Studies are offered to students who wish to explore areas of special interest and are conducted under the guidance of a faculty sponsor.

First Year (Spring)

Health Care Managerial Accounting   (HADM 606, 3 Credits) 

Health Analytics & Decision Support   (HADM 610, 3 credits)

Management of Health Care Organizations   (HADM 647, 3 Credits)

Strategic Management in Health Care Organizations   (HADM 648, 2 Credits) 

Executive Skills II   (HADM 683, 1 credit)

Second Year (Fall)

Financial Management in Health Care Organizations  (HADM 607, 3 Credits) 

Information Systems for Health Care Management   (HADM 612, 3 Credits)

Health Care Politics and Policy   (HADM 615, 3 Credits)

Health Economics   (HADM 624, 3 Credits) 

Second Year (Spring)

Seminar in Health Care Finance   (HADM 608, 3 Credits)

Health Care Law and Bioethics  (HADM 611, 3 Credits)

Health Care Marketing   (HADM 614, 2 Credits)

Human Resources Management in Health Care   (HADM 649, 3 Credits)

Clinical Concepts and Relationships  (HADM 681, 2 Credits)

Third Year Residency

Practicum in Health Care Administration I, II   (HADM 694 (5 credits), HADM 695 (3 credits))

3rd Year Administrative Residency

Required 3rd year administrative residency.

The residency is a ten-month, paid administrative practicum, in which students complete academic coursework and gain hands on experience in a health care setting under the mentorship of a senior level executive. All MHA students are required to complete the residency. Dual-degree students substitute the residency for a 400-hour internship.

The MHA administrative residency allows students to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in a health care setting, gain a greater understanding of the context in which health administration is practiced, and strengthen personal and professional values. In the past, the residency was a common graduation requirement for health administration programs. VCU has maintained its commitment to requiring the residency, believing that it is the hallmark which distinguishes true professional preparation in the field.

Residency site selections are made through a facilitated match process in which the Program invites organizations within our network to interview students on campus. Through this process, VCU students compete for sites of their choice and preceptors compete for students of their choice. This is in contrast to other programs in which students must compete for fellowships through a post-graduation process that is student-initiated, rather than facilitated by the program prior to graduation.

Residencies ordinarily begin   June 1 , after the completion of on-campus coursework, and are completed by the following May, just before graduation ceremonies.

Past Administrative Residency Preceptors/Placements

The Department of Health Administration is grateful to our past preceptors who have accepted administrative residents in their organizations. This list is reflective of placements made in 2021-2023 and is organized by-state.

CommonSpirit Phoenix, AZ

CommonSpirit San Francisco, CA

HCA Inc. - ASC Denver, CO

HCA Florida Northwest & Westside Hospitals Fort Lauderdale, FL

Baptist Health Jacksonville, FL

HCA Florida Memorial Hospital Jacksonville, FL

HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital Jacksonville, FL

Orlando Health Orlando, FL

HCA Healthcare - Doctors Hospital Augusta Augusta, GA

Piedmont Atlanta Hospital Atlanta, GA

Wellstar Health System Atlanta, GA

LifePoint: St. Francis Hospital Columbus, GA

LifePoint - Lake Cumberland Lake Cumberland, KY

Massachusetts

Emerson Health  Concord, MA

HCA MidAmerica Division Kansas City, MO

North Carolina

Novant Health Charlotte, NC

Siemens Healthineers - HQ Cary, NC

Duke PRMO Durham, NC

Duke University Hospital Durham, NC

LifePoint Wilson Medical Center Wilson, NC

Bon Secours Mercy - Supply Chain Cincinnati, OH

Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pittsburgh, PA

South Carolina

Medical University of South Carolina Greenville, SC

HCA Behavioral Health Services Nashville, TN

Baylor, Scott, & White Dallas, TX

HCA Ambulatory Surgery Division Dallas, TX

Houston Methodist Houston, TX

UHS Edinburg Regional Medical Center Edinburg, TX

LifePoint - Sovah Health Danville, VA

Gateway Health Danville, VA

Bon Secours Mercy Health Hampton Roads, VA

Inova Health System Falls Church, VA

RSM, US McLean, VA

Children's Hospital of the King's Daughter Norfolk, VA

Sentara Health System Norfolk, VA

Riverside Health System Newport News, VA

Bon Secours Mercy Health Richmond, VA

CBRE Healthcare Richmond, VA

Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Richmond, VA

HCA Inc. - Henrico Doctors’ Hospital Richmond, VA

Hunter Holmes McGuire Richmond, VA

Pinnacle Living Richmond, VA

VCU Health System Richmond, VA

Valley Health Winchester, VA

MHA Core Competencies

The competency model utilized by the VCU MHA Program is operationalized in curricular offerings in the development of learning objectives for individual courses.  MHA graduates exhibit 25 essential leadership competencies.   These competencies, developed in and out of the classroom throughout the students' tenure in the program, cut across five domains: communication and relationship management, leadership, professionalism, knowledge of the healthcare environment, and business and analytical skills.

Communication and Relationship Managemen t

1. Interpersonal Communication (Build collaborative relationships and develop negotiation skills)

2. Writing Skills (Prepare effective business communications)

3. Presentation Skills (Demonstrate effective oral communication and presentation skills)

Leadership:

4. Leading and Managing Others (Hold self and others accountable for organizational goal attainment)

5. Change Management (Promote and manage change)

6. Ability for Honest Self-assessment (Demonstrate reflection through self-assessment)

7. Systems Thinking (Be able to assess the potential impacts and consequences of decisions in a broad variety of situations)

8. Problem-solving and Decision-making (Apply evidence-based decision making techniques to healthcare questions)

Professionalism:

9. Personal and Professional Ethics (Adhere to ethical business principles and exhibit ethical behaviors; fulfill one’s commitments)

10. Professional & Community Contribution (Participate in community service; balance professional and personal pursuits)

11. Working in Teams (Create, participate on, and lead teams, including inter-professionalism)

Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment

12. Healthcare Issues and Trends (Explain and discuss important issues in healthcare, including circumstances causing major changes and reform in U.S. health care delivery)

13. Healthcare Legal Principles (Discuss and critically analyze health-related legal principles including standards, regulation, and risk management)

14. Health Policy (Articulate the impact of health policies on the delivery of health services)

15. Population Health and Status Assessment (Understand and explain the major factors in population health status)

Business and Analytical Skills

16. Financial Management (Ability to compile and analyze financial data)

17. Human Resources (Apply methods and techniques related to the management of health care organizations, employees and professional staff)

18. Organizational Dynamics and Governance (Articulate and explain the roles, responsibilities, structures, and influence governing bodies hold in health care organizations)

19. Strategic Planning (Ability to perform environmental analysis and develop strategic alternatives; discern competitive strategy; formulate business strategy based on evidence)

20. Marketing (Analyze and assess markets, market segmentation, strategy, change and innovation)

21. Information Management/Understanding and Using Technology Skills (Apply techniques and methods to plan, design, implement and assess information management and communication)

22. Quality Improvement/Performance Improvement (Identify relevant problems and apply concepts of process improvement and patient safety)

23. Quantitative Skills (Analyze data and interpret quantitative information)

24. Planning and Managing Projects (Design, plan, implement and assess projects and develop appropriate time lines related to performance, structure and outcomes)

25. Economic Analysis and Application (Analyze and apply economic theory and concepts and decision making)

Master of Health Administration(MHA)/Juris Doctor(JD) from the University of Richmond

Students must apply separately and be accepted by both programs of interest in order to pursue the dual degree.

Students wishing to pursue a dual degree must apply to both programs and be admitted separately. An admissions decision in one program does not affect the admissions decision in another program.

Law & Health Administration (Master of Health Administration(MHA)/Juris Doctor(JD) from the University of Richmond)

The Health care industry is becoming increasingly more complex in both the delivery of services and in organizational structure. Along with this has come competition among providers to a degree heretofore unheard of in health care. As the nation's third largest business sector, the health care industry accounts for about 15 percent of our GDP. As leaders of one of the most regulated industries in the United States, health care executives require extensive knowledge of state and federal regulations, reimbursement, insurance, medical ethics, contract law, mergers and acquisitions, tax laws, and antitrust laws, to name but a few areas.   This has created a vigorous demand for legal experts who understand the intricacies of the health care industry as well as health law.   To meet the demand for health law experts, VCU developed a dual degree program in law and health administration in partnership with the   University of Richmond School of Law , a program established in 1986. Created as a cooperative venture between the universities, the program addresses legal issues that affect organizations, financing, and delivery of health services.

Program Schedule & Curriculum

The JD/MHA can be completed with a minimum 4 years of coordinated study and a minimum 123 credit hours instead of 146 credit hours. Students accepted into this program will be permitted to count 11 credit hours from the JD program towards the requirements of the MHA program and 12 credit hours in the MHA program towards the requirements of the JD program, for a total savings of 23 credit hours.

The 49 semester hours to be completed in health administration include 46 hours in core curriculum, and at least three credits to be earned during a ten week summer administrative internship. Dual degree students complete this internship in lieu of the 12-month residency.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

Graduates of the MHA/JD program may choose either to work in health administration or to practice law. Choices include positions in corporate offices of multi-institutional health care systems or careers in the public sector, working with various government departments that deal with health care. Many health attorneys are pursuing careers as general in-house counsel or specialty areas such as risk management or hospital personnel. For those who choose to practice health law, opportunities abound: antitrust, employment and labor law, tax law, corporate law, reimbursement consultation, fraud & abuse, administrative law, and litigation in medical malpractice are a few examples. Given the fast paced growth of the health care industry and the increasingly complex legal issues that have evolved, students will be assigned a faculty advisor from each school to help them plan a specialized program to meet their individual interests and needs. Each school has developed specialty "tracks" to help students choose elective courses that will enable the students to achieve a high degree of specialization in health administration law. 

In health administration these tracks include:

• management of hospitals and hospital systems
• long-term care administration
• health planning and policy
• health care finance.

In law the tracks include:

• labor and employment law
• hospital corporate counsel
• litigation and medical malpractice
• general health law.

The University of Richmond School of Law

Founded in 1870, the University of Richmond School of Law combines a rigorous academic program with an extensive selection of clinical placements and experiential learning opportunities to create an extraordinary legal education. The Law School’s highly regarded faculty of teacher-scholars includes nationally and internationally recognized experts, and its low student-faculty ratio reinforces a culture of professional mentoring and mutual support. Through individualized attention aimed at maximizing the personal potential of each and every student, we equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need, preparing them to make valuable contributions to the legal system. The school is located on the beautiful 350-acre campus of the University, just seven miles west of the Virginia Commonwealth University’s MCV Campus.

Program Accreditation

Each program in the cooperative arrangement is fully accredited. The graduate program in health administration is one of only a few in the nation to have been granted the maximum seven year accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). The University of Richmond Law School partner is fully accredited by the recognized standardizing agencies in the United States. U of R is a member of the Association of American Law Schools and on the approved lists of the American State Board of Bar Examiners and the Virginia State Board of Bar Examiners. A law degree from U of R qualifies the holder to seek admission to the bar of any state in the nation.

Students applying for admission to the Dual Degree Program must meet the standards and be accepted by both the Department of Health Administration and the University of Richmond School of Law. Students may either 1) apply to both schools in the dual degree program simultaneously, and upon acceptance into both programs, select, with the assistance and approval of both schools, which school to start in, or 2) enroll in one of the two programs first, and then apply for the other program during that first year of study. However, applying under this latter scenario does not guarantee acceptance into the other school. For more information about the MHA application process, see the MHA Admissions Requirements section. 

The two most important considerations in evaluating a candidate for admission to the University of Richmond School of Law are the candidate's Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the candidate's undergraduate performance. The admissions committee at UR also take into consideration an applicant's leadership potential, extra curricular activities, recommendations, employment experience, maturity, motivation, and character. Interested students may familiarize themselves with the admissions standards applied by UR by reviewing the statistical information about median grade point average and median LSAT score in the Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools, published annually by the American Bar Association and the   Law School Admission Council .

Information for Current Students

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Current Student Handbooks:

• MHA Handbook Class of 2024
• MHA Handbook Class of 2025
• MHA Handbook Class of 2026

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• Standard 2-year degree track June 23-26, 2024
• Accelerated 1-year degree track June 23-28, 2024

Application Process

How to Apply

Applicants to the MHA program should apply online through the Dartmouth MHA application portal . The first time you click through to the portal you will be prompted to create an account that will allow you to visit and modify your application until you submit the completed documentation. 

Requirements to Complete Your Application

Basic information about the applicant (e.g., address, prior schools, awards or honors, etc.) is collected in an online form in the  MHA application portal .

In the academic history section of the application, you may scan and upload a copy of your academic transcript (front and back of each page) issued by the institution(s) from which you obtained your undergraduate (bachelor’s or first) degree and any advanced/graduate degrees.

Transcripts should include the following information: course names, course numbers, dates, grades (including incompletes, failed courses, and withdrawals), and grade modes (pass/fail). If you completed coursework at institutions other than the one that awarded your degree (e.g., transfer coursework, domestic or study-abroad programs, postgraduate non-degree coursework, etc.), you are required to scan and submit those transcripts as well.

For any degree earned at a foreign institution (outside the U.S./Canada), we do require an official WES evaluation to review your application. Please select the course-by-course evaluation when you visit World Education Services.

If admitted to the MHA program at Dartmouth you will be required to request that ONE official, original hardcopy transcript (mailing address below) sent directly from the registrar’s office at each college and/or university you have attended.  We will also accept an official transcript via email if that is your prior institution’s method of transcript delivery.

Master of Health Administration

Attn: Lillian Emerson

100 Tuck Hall, HB 9000

Hanover, NH 03755

Email delivery to:  [email protected]  

Letters must be submitted by your three (3) recommenders directly to us through the online application portal. Once you enter contact information for your recommenders in the application, instructions on how to submit their letters will automatically be emailed to them. 

Recommendation letters should come from individuals who are able to speak with certainty about your intellectual ability, communication skills, leadership, teamwork, and interpersonal skills. If you are currently employed or in the military, we prefer that you submit recommendations from people who know you well and are in a position to judge your professional performance and leadership capacity, such as your direct supervisor. If you are applying as a recent college graduate, we suggest letters from your professors attesting to your academic abilities.  

Please contact your recommenders well in advance to give them sufficient time to write and return their evaluations by the deadline.

The personal statement is the heart of your application. The statement provides you with an opportunity to help the admissions committee gain greater insight about you as a potential member of the MHA community. Please be clear, succinct, forthright, and thoughtful in your response.

Your statement should be no more than 750 words should address the following:

Why do you want to pursue a Master of Health Administration degree and why is Dartmouth is the right school for you? 

The accelerated 1-year degree track is a rigorous academic commitment that will require approximately 32 hours of student work per week.  The admissions committee needs to understand that you have adequately considered how you’ll meet that commitment through personal efforts, employer accommodations, etc.  Please elaborate in 500 words or less how you will be able to meet this challenge amongst other personal and, if you are employed, professional commitments.

Please upload a current version of your resume into the application portal in the documents section.

There is a $100 application fee, which can be paid by credit card when you submit your application or by check made payable to The Trustees of Dartmouth College (please send checks to the address listed under "Transcripts"). The application fee is non-refundable and is not credited toward any charges when an accepted applicant registers as a student.

Strong interpersonal skills are essential for success as a leader in health care and as a member of the MHA community.  Therefore it is important for members of the admissions committee to have a chance to speak with you directly.  

Interviews will take place by invitation only. If we would like you to interview, we will contact you to schedule an interview after your application has been submitted and the admissions committee has had a chance to read your materials. At this time, all interviews for the MHA program will be done remotely through Zoom.  

Evaluating Applications

Applicants for admission to the MHA program will be evaluated on a holistic basis. It is impossible to predict a candidate's chances of admission solely by looking at his or her academic record.  Each decision by the admissions committee hinges on the interplay of four principal factors: academic excellence, leadership capability, strong interpersonal skills, and a diversity of background and experience. We also expect candidates to be comfortable (or native) English writers and speakers and to have familiarity with quantitative subjects such as statistics, which can be demonstrated through prior academic performance or professional work experience. 

A Note About False Statements

If a candidate for admission to Dartmouth makes a false statement or submits falsified material in connection with his or her application, and the misrepresentation is discovered after the candidate has been admitted, the offer of admission ordinarily will be withdrawn. If the misrepresentation is discovered after a student arrives on campus or at any time during their enrollment, the student will be subject to loss of credits earned and disciplinary action that could include separation from the College. If the discovery occurs after a degree has been awarded, the degree normally will be rescinded.

Summer and Fall Registration is Open

Online Master of Health Administration

Move Into Senior or Executive Leadership with MU’s Online MHA Degree

100% Online

Affordable Tuition

No GRE/GMAT Required

Request More Information

If you’d like to learn more about Methodist University’s application process, admissions requirements, tuition and financial aid or specific program details, fill out this form, and we’ll be in touch shortly.

• Duration 18 months
• Cost per Credit $545
• Credit Hours 36

Program Benefits

• Convenient online format
• Enter a field with 32% job growth 1
• Learn from seasoned health care practitioners
• Eight-week terms
• Request Info

High Growth, High Pay, and High Rewards

It’s no surprise that health care administration is one of the largest job sectors in our economy, and health care leaders are needed to support the medical professionals who save our lives and keep us healthy.

Methodist University’s online MHA program provides health care administration and organization coursework that will give you the strategies, tools, and techniques you need to lead teams, make important decisions, understand organizational effectiveness, and change processes to improve performance.

Completing an MHA program can lead to opportunities for advancement and higher earnings in health care administration and health management positions. Top leaders are earning six figures 1 and enjoying roles within a growing industry with numerous career options. Consider positions such as chief executive officer, chief operations officer, clinic manager, department or division director, and more to impact public wellness.

Career Outlook: Pursue Senior- and Executive-Level Roles

Graduate ready to achieve upward mobility in one of the most in-demand and lucrative industries with your online MHA degree from MU. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for medical and health services managers is in the six-digit range, and the number of positions with this title are expected to grow 28% by 2031. 1 Upon graduation, you’ll be well-poised to compete for these opportunities and many others.

Curriculum: A Rigorous, Achievable Program

There’s no question that the online Master of Health Administration program is rigorous — it has to be, given the nature of environments in health care. But alongside the outstanding faculty at Methodist University, you can learn all you need to know across health management and leadership, policy issues, marketing, legal and ethical issues, statistics, organizational behavior, and more. Completing our MHA program will prepare you with the skills necessary to advance into high-paying leadership positions.

Program Outcomes

In the online Master of Health Administration, you’ll:

• Prepare to manage, lead, and improve a changing health care system.
• Meet the needs of a dynamic United States health care system.
• Create and apply evidence-based knowledge to enhance the health of individuals and communities.
• Learn to lead and manage in today’s contemporary health care environment that is rapidly evolving and challenging social dynamics.
• Be able to successfully build on undergraduate-level knowledge and skills to successfully compete for mid- and senior-level positions.

Admissions Requirements

No GRE or GMAT is required to apply for the online MHA degree from Methodist University. For admission, you’ll need:

• Completed application .
• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college or university before starting the first term of the program.
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Two letters of recommendation, and one letter must be from a professor or employer.
• Complete a typed personal statement including your background, interest in attending Methodist University, interest in the program, and your career goals.
• Official transcripts.

Tuition Details

The online Master of Health Administration costs $545 per credit hour and has 36 total credit hours. If you or a family member are a veteran or active-duty service member, your education at Methodist University could be even more affordable. Visit our Military Support page .

Why Study Online?

Enjoy an online learning environment that offers the same quality as in-person courses, including dedicated faculty members and an overall caring, friendly atmosphere for achieving your professional and personal goals.

You’ll also have access to all of MU’s academic support services. That means you’ll get personalized assistance you need, such as access to the tutoring and writing centers. Experience a distinctive education in a flexible environment that fits your schedule.

Financial Aid

You can earn a high-quality education from a private institution without worrying about the cost. As a Yellow Ribbon school and a university where 97% of students qualify for financial aid, Methodist is committed to affordability.

Learn more about federal student loans and grants, military benefits, and scholarship opportunities. We’re proud to make your goals as affordable as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have other questions not answered here? Request more information or call 910.212.4956.

The estimated total tuition is $19,620, not including fees or other costs you may incur. Learn more at the Master of Health Administration tuition page .

*This is an estimate of the total tuition based on the current school year and is subject to change.

Yes. You may transfer up to nine credits toward this degree. Methodist University generally accepts credits for courses completed with a grade of C or higher from other regionally accredited institutions of higher education. To find out whether or not you are eligible, you can request more information or call us at 910-212-4956 .

To apply to the online Master of Health Administration, applicants need a bachelor’s degree, an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, three letters of recommendation, a typed personal statement, and official transcripts.

See the online Master of Health Administration admission requirements page for more details.

A variety of scholarships are available for Methodist University’s online programs. Learn more about scholarships here .

• “Medical and Health Services Managers.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved on August 30, 2022 from https://www.bls.gov/ .

About Health Care Management

The health care industry is the largest and fastest growing industry in this country. According to employment forecasters, over the next decade, eight of ten fastest growing career fields will be in health services occupations.

Health care management is a profession that utilizes administrative and managerial principles and concepts to direct the allocation of resources and delivery of services in health care organizations. Health care managers perform the same functions as managers in any other industry or field. Health care managers plan, direct, or ganize, control, and coordinate the resources of health care organizations. As integral members of the health profession, health care managers are responsible for working with the Board of Directors to create the best possible working environment for the medical staff, nurses, therapists and other clinical professionals who provide direct health care services. Additionally, they ensure that health care is provided in a cost-effective and humane manner.

The primary focus of the Division of Health Care Management is to provide comprehensive undergraduate and graduate education in health care management. Upon graduation, students are prepared for entry-level management positions in a variety of private and public settings in healthcare.

Program Description

The Master in Health Administration (MHA) degree program is designed to meet the educational needs of both traditional and non-traditional students. A minimum of forty-seven (47) credit hours, divided between the didactic and experiential component (fieldwork/residency) is required for the MHA degree. The curriculum is offered in a lock-step format with new cohorts entering the program each fall and spring semesters. Courses in finance, economics, statistics, application of research methods and quality are designed to help students develop problem-solving and decision-making skills. Management, strategy, human resources, legal aspects and organizational theory courses are included in the curriculum to provide students with the conceptual framework and operational aspects of health services administration.

Also included in the curriculum are several courses that foster students’understanding of the social, political, and economic factors affecting the delivery of health care. The integrative portion of the curriculum includes a capstone course and an administrative fieldwork/residency. Students participate in the capstone course during the final semester of didactic training. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to complete the following foundation courses prior to starting the program: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Microeconomics, Statistics and/or Research Methods, and Computer Applications.

Program Admission Requirements

Applicants to the program must meet the minimum requirements for admission including:

• An earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university,
• A grade point average of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work completed or a requisite combined score on the GRE.
• Application to the School of Graduate Studies, application to the School of Allied Health Sciences MHA program, transcripts, GRE scores, resume, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Students may be interviewed by the admissions committee.

Program Mission

Through excellence in teaching, research, and service to the community, the MHA Program utilizes a competency-based, applied curriculum in health administration, which provides students with a firm foundation to become compassionate leaders for health care and related fields.

Program Vision

The vision for the MHA Program is to be the premier academic program for graduate health administration education producing exceptional leaders for health care and related fields.

Program Values

The MHA Program holds the following core values essential to the achievement of the stated mission: Excellence; Accountability; Integrity/Ethics; Respect; Service; and Collaboration.

The Program Competencies

The program seeks to develop in students an essential understanding of the management, organization, financing, delivery, and performance of the healthcare delivery systems and services. The program also seeks to develop professional competencies that are relevant in the healthcare environment of today. These competencies are achieved through classroom-based, student-centered learning experiences such as: case analysis, in-class presentations, team activities and simulations.

The Health Leadership Alliance (HLA) Core Competencies have been identified as the set of competencies for the Program. Domains for the core and specialty competencies are outlined below.

Domain 1: Communication and Relationship Management Domain 2: Leadership Domain 3: Professionalism Domain 4: Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment Domain 5: Business Knowledge and Skills

** MHA Curriculum

Fall admission *.

• HSA 5103 Intoduction To Health And Medical Care Organization (3)
• HSA 5426 Legal Aspects And Ethics In Health And Medical Care (3)

Total Hours: 7

• HSA 5752 Statistics In Health Care Management (3)
• HSA 5935 Executive Symposium I (1)
• HSA 6175 Health Care Financial Management I (3)

Total Hours: 10

• HSA 6149 Health Care Plan & Marketing (3)
• HSA 6507 Health Information System (3)
• HSA 6735 Application Of Research Methods In Health Services Management (3)
• HSA 6925 Executive Symposium II (1)
• HSA 6178 Health Care Financial Management II: Case Studies (3)
• HSA 6385 Quality Managment In Health Care (3)
• HSA 6937 Advanced Topics In Health Care Strategic Planning 1-6

Total Hours: 7-12

• HSA 6875 Administration Residency In Health Organization (6)
• HSA 6938 Health Management Capstone (3)

Total Hours: 9

Spring admission *, total hours: 8.

• HSA 6342 Leadership And Human Resources Management In Health Care (3)

* Course offerings may vary among semesters

Health management capstone.

The health management capstone course is a strategic health management case study that requires the student to synthesize, evaluate, and apply the theoretical, analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to all aspects of health services administration. Capstone eligibility includes successful completion of all courses with a grade of “B” or above. In order to complete the capstone students must demonstrate the successful acquisition of critical competencies necessary for effective leadership in health services organizations. A case analysis and case presentation is used to evaluate the successful integration of all MHA course learning outcomes.

Health Management Fieldwork/Residency

The health management fieldwork/residency requirement is an integral part of the MHA curriculum. This experiential component of the program is designed for students to bridge the gap between academia and health management practice by gaining practical experience in one of a variety of health care agencies and organizations. Under the supervision of a qualified preceptor the fieldwork/residency experience benefits the student by providing an opportunity to apply management and leadership theory, management principles, and management practices.

In order to be eligible for fieldwork/residency, students must successfully complete all courses with a grade of “B” or above before they can register for this course. The fieldwork experience is conducted in the last semester of study, the semester of graduation.

Thesis Option

The Program offers a thesis option to satisfy the MHA residency/fieldwork requirement. This option must be selected upon acceptance to the Program and is not available after the first semester of study. There have been no requests for the thesis option for the past two years.

The Program follows the School of Graduate Studies Policy on thesis and dissertation guidelines. Graduate School Dissertation and Thesis Guidelines Manual can be found on the School of Graduate Studies’ website.

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DUAL DEGREE Master in Health Administration / MBA

Systemic challenges inherent in today's health care delivery, including inefficiency, over capacity, labor shortages, and unchecked litigation, have resulted in higher costs and lower standards of care. Higher insurance premiums and taxes make U.S. firms less competitive in the global marketplace, creating fewer jobs. Personal health is declining, with more lifestyle-induced illnesses, such as obesity, lost productivity, shortened longevity, and reduced quality of life.

Hence the ever rising demand for managers and leaders who not only have sound business skills, but who also possess substantial insights and function as change agents to effectively manage limited resources in a rapidly evolving health care environment.

Students who are enrolled in the MHA/MBA program can earn both degrees in three academic years. If earned independently, these degrees would require four years of study.

Applicants to the MHA/MBA Program must complete the application requirements of both Fisher College of Business and the College of Public Health separately, applying independently to each school. In order to enter the combined MHA/MBA program, students should indicate to both program offices their intent to study in the dual degree program. An applicant who is admitted to only one degree program may elect to pursue that particular degree separate from the dual degree program format. Further, while it is possible after beginning either program to apply for admission to the other, this may not permit the usual dual degree schedule efficiencies.

Both colleges have small classes, approximately 30 students in the MHA program and 120 students in the MBA program, and start in the fall of each calendar year. The business school follows rounds admissions process; for the MHA, you are expected to send in your application by December 1. For both programs, it is in an applicant's best interest to submit application materials early.

MHA Admissions Requirements

• Completed SOPHAS or HAMPCAS application
• WES evaluations for all non-U.S. transcripts (SOPHAS requires that all students obtain a WES evaluation of non-U.S. transcripts)
• Official transcripts from any previous or current college coursework taken within the U.S.
• Official TOEFL scores (SOPHAS code: 5688)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Personal Statement
• Resume or CV
• Ohio State University Supplemental Application (this will be emailed to you from Ohio State once your centralized application is complete)

MBA admissions requirements

• A completed online application
• Application fee
• Admissions essay
• Updated resume
• Official university transcripts
• GRE or GMAT scores ( test waivers available )
• Optional letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency ( TOEFL)
• Video Interview
• Live Interview (by invitation only)

Students admitted to the dual degree program may pursue the MHA/ MBA according to this schedule:

To complete a MHA, you need to take 60 semester credit hours. For the MBA, you are expected to earn 60 semester credit hours. In a dual degree scenario, you will be able to leverage part of your MHA electives toward your MBA degree and vice versa.

The Fisher MBA program accepts 12 semester hours of MHA coursework towards the completion of MBA electives. The MHA program accepts 16.5 semester hours of MBA coursework towards the completion of MHA electives shortening the overall curriculum for both programs by 27 semester hours.

Career Placement

The career management offices of both Fisher College of Business and the  College of Public Health are available to our MHA/MBA graduates.

In addition to the more than 300 companies that recruit from Fisher's Office of Career Management, a wide array of firms, corporations, government agencies, and health care institutions work with the placement office of the College of Public Health, resulting in a nearly 100 percent placement rate at graduation.

The majority of graduates with the dual degree initially take initial positions in the health care industry that include consulting, clinical research, academic detailing, and product management. Companies that have hired from the College of Public Health in the past include:

• Ernst & Young
• Emory Healthcare
• Kaiser Permanente Northern California
• Kurt Salmon Associates
• Procter & Gamble
• Stanford Children's Hospital
• The Mayo Clinic Foundation
• United Health Care
• U.S. Airforce Medical Corps

Contact Information

For more information and an application for the MBA program contact: The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business MBA Admissions 100 Gerlach Hall 2108 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH 43210, USA +1 (614).292.8511 [email protected]

For more information about the MHA program, contact: The Ohio State University College of Public Health MHA Admissions 100 Cunz Hall 1841 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH 43210, USA Telephone: +1 (614).292.8350 [email protected]

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Home » Online Degrees » Online MHA

Online MHA Programs – Masters in Healthcare Administration

With the emergence of online masters in healthcare administration(MHA) and an increasing need for healthcare administrators, more and more public health and healthcare professionals are going back to get their MHA degree. The field is growing at a higher rate compared to other fields – especially with an  expected growth rate of 18%  between now and 2028 for medical and health services managers. This large of an expected growth increase may provide many opportunities for those looking to change careers or those looking to take on leadership roles within their healthcare organization. 

For those currently working in the field, online MHA programs are a great option for many reasons, such as having more flexibility and the opportunity to continue working while taking classes. 

George Washington University

Milken institute school of public health.

With GW’s online Master of Health Administration program, MHA@GW, you can earn your degree and become a health care leader in as few as 24 months. Bachelor’s degree required. No GRE/GMAT required.

•  Complete online in as few as 24 months
• Bachelor’s degree required
• No GRE/GMAT scores required

info SPONSORED

Read on to view some available online masters in health administration programs or click on the jump links to view more information about online MHA degrees.

• What to Expect from an MHA Degree Online – Courses and Outcomes ?

How Long Does It Take to Complete an MHA Degree Online?

Online masters in health administration requirements, why are there online mha programs that don’t require gre.

• Why Is CAHME Accreditation Important for MHA Programs?
• Is Healthcare Administration a Good Career Choice?

Online MHA Programs List

According to the  Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education  (CAHME), there are over 100 programs that meet their accrediting standards; however there are only a handful that are available online. The list below provides information about the eight online universities that offer  CAHME accredited MHA programs . All of the programs listed are offered 100% online or with the option of online format.

Concordia University Irvine

Master of healthcare administration, irvine, california.

Name of Degree: Master of Healthcare Administration

Enrollment Type: Full-Time

Length of Program: 2 years

Credits: 40

Admission Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
• Statement of intent
• One professional reference

Cornell University

College of human ecology, master of health administration, ithaca, new york.

Name of Degree: Master of Health Administration

Credits: 48

• Prerequisite courses required
• Statement of purpose 
• Transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• 3 short video responses

Des Moines University

College of health sciences, master of health care administration, des moines, iowa.

Name of Degree: Master of Health Care Administration

• Official transcripts
• Three references
• Statement of purpose

Ferris State University

College of health professions, master's of healthcare administration, big rapids, michigan.

Name of Degree: Master’s of Healthcare Administration

Credits: 46

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 
• GRE test scores
• Personal statement of interest in public health

George Mason University

Department of health administration and policy, health systems management, mha, fairfax, virginia.

Name of Degree: Health Systems Management, MHA

Length of Program: 2.5+ years

Credits: 47

• Three letters of recommendation
• Personal essay

Washington, D.C.

Bachelor’s holders with at least two years of experience in the healthcare sector can earn their Master from GW’s CAHME-accredited online Master of Health Administration program. With no GRE scores required to apply, you can become an effective leader in health care systems in as few as 24 months with a degree from Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time

Length of Program: As few as 24 months

Credits: 50

• At least two years of experience in the healthcare sector

Hofstra University

School of health professions and human services, hempstead, new york.

Length of Program: 2+ years

Indiana University

Richard m. fairbanks school of public health, master of health administration (mha) executive track, bloomington, indiana.

Name of Degree: Master of Health Administration (MHA) Executive Track

Credits: 51

• Three to five years of health care related work experience and currently working full-time in health care
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• Official GRE scores
• Personal statement
• Resume or CV

The Pennsylvania State University

College of health and human development, state college, pennsylvania.

Credits: 52

• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Letters of reference
• GMAT/GRE not required

Robert Morris University

School of nursing, education and human studies, health services administration m.s., moon township, pennsylvania.

Name of Degree: Health Services Administration M.S.

Credits: 42

• Undergraduate degree

Saint Joseph's College

Standish, maine.

Length of Program: 1.5+ years

• Two years of experience working in health care
• Bachelor’s degree 
• GPA of 2.5 or better
• Professional resume
• Letter of intent
• Two letters of reference 

University of Central Florida

College of community innovation and education, executive master of health administration, orlando, florida.

Name of Degree: Executive Master of Health Administration

Credits: 44

• An official transcript 
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• A one-to-two page goal statement 
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation
• At least three years of administrative or clinical experience in healthcare

The University of Memphis

School of public health, memphis, tennessee.

Length of Program: 4+ years

Credits: 45

• Minimum five years of relevant health care management or clinical experience

University of New Haven

School of health sciences, new haven, connecticut.

Length of Program: 1.5 years

Credits: 36

• Bachelor’s degree
• Undergraduate 3.0 GPA
• Resume and CV
• Current TOEFL or other language exam score (if international student)

University of Scranton

College of professional studies, health administration, mha, scranton, pennsylvania.

Name of Degree: Health Administration, MHA

Health Informatics Specialization, Population Health Specialization, Executive Certificate in Health Administration

• Minimum of three years work experience
• Affidavit from a senior executive confirming applicant’s professional experience
• TOEFL scores (international applicants)

What to Expect from an MHA Degree Online – Courses and Outcomes?

The curriculum and requirements will be very similar to that of a traditional MHA degree. Depending on the online MHA program, courses will either be asynchronous, self-paced learning with pre-recorded lectures, or synchronous, set days and times with live lectures and class discussions. However, no matter the format of courses, the outcomes across online MHA programs should be extremely similar to each other.

Students and working professionals who attend receive an online MHA degree will be prepared to take on larger responsibilities in healthcare management, make informed decisions about policies that affect diverse populations and healthcare organizations, and lead human resources among many other things.

A student’s commitment to the program can greatly influence how long it takes to complete the MHA degree online. If a student has the availability to attend full-time, a student can complete their MHA degree between 18 and 24 months, compared to part-time programs that may take up to 3 years to complete. 

The admissions requirements for an online MHA degree are usually consistent with on-campus  MHA program  requirements. This includes having a bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA, a resume/CV, personal statement, transcripts and letters of recommendation. Some programs may require GRE scores, but most programs require previous work experience.

Having work experience is slowly overtaking the requirement of GRE submissions when looking at online mha programs. Many programs are now requiring a minimum of three years of relevant work experience in either healthcare or management. However, it is also important to look closely at admission requirements because some schools require the applicant to be  currently working  in the health sector to be admitted into the online MHA degree program.

Depending on the school, some programs don’t require GRE scores to be submitted when applying, for example, all the eight  online MHA programs  listed above do not require GRE scores. There are multiple reasons for this, including the possibility of stricter requirements, such as having a higher cumulative GPA requirement or needing to have multiple letters of recommendation. Another reason why online MHA programs may not require GRE scores is because the program requires the applicant to have a specified number of years of work experience in the healthcare field, which proves their commitment to the program and the field.

The benefits of attending a program that does not require GRE scores include saving money on the exam and exam prep, saving time on preparations, and having more time to focus on other documents or the personal statement because there is less workload before applying.

Why is CAHME Accreditation Important for MHA Programs?

CAHME Accreditation is an important factor when reviewing MHA programs and should be taken into consideration when applying for multiple reasons. 

Authority of CAHME and Rigorous Process of Accreditation

While there is more than one accrediting authority, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) is the only organization recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation to grant accreditation to individual graduate-level academic programs in healthcare management. Because of this recognition, CAHME has a rigorous process when it comes to granting accreditation for a program and can take years before the program becomes accredited due to the lengthy process. 

In order for the program to become accredited, they must meet all 10 eligibility requirements. These requirements can be broken down into four different types of criteria that are then evaluated: 

• The mission, vision, goals, and values of the program
• Student and graduate resources
• Curriculum  
• Faculty, scholarships, and services

This ensures there is a set standard and quality among MHA programs.

High Quality Education for Students

CAHME accredited mha programs guarantee students high quality education through appropriate and up-to-date content focusing the competencies and current industry standards. This allows students to know prior to beginning the program that they are receiving the best education possible. 

In addition to the quality of education, students benefit from attending a CAHME accredited program by having access to post graduate fellowship programs that accept students only from CAHME accredited programs, access to scholarships that are only available to students attending an accredited program, access to select case competitions, and the option to apply to jobs where employers only interview students who have graduated from a CAHME accredited program.

Competent Candidates for Employers

With many health administrative programs available, and the field becoming increasingly popular, it has become difficult for employers to know who the best candidate for the job may be. 

CAHME accreditation allows employers to know that graduates from these select programs have been trained on industry based competencies and are skilled, competent and ready to be leaders in the field. Plus, CAHME accredited mha programs promote continuous quality improvement in the preparation of future healthcare leaders meaning employees have a greater likelihood of success and employers who hire these graduates create the best return on their investment.

In the end, attending a CAHME accredited program will help students set themselves apart from others in the industry. 

Is Healthcare Administration a Good Career?

Similar to  online MPH programs , online masters in health administration degrees provide an opportunity to work for a wide range of healthcare organizations since the field is extremely diverse in nature. Professionals in the healthcare administration field have the potential to work in management, financial planning, or even federal regulatory compliance and be top-level managers, analysts, and planners to contribute to better operating facilities.

Example job titles are:

• Clinical Director
• Health and Social Service Manager
• Program Manager
• Medical Records Manager

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( BLS ), the job outlook for Medical and Health Services Manager positions (positions often requiring an MHA or similar degree) are expected to grow 18% between 2018-2028. Additionally, it states that in 2018 the median annual wage for these positions was about $99,730 in the US, which makes this role one of the  highest paid public health jobs .

Frequently Asked Questions about Online MHA Programs

Employed executives, physicians and healthcare professionals who want to advance their management and leadership capabilities, but can’t commit to a full-time on-campus program because of work.

It depends on the school. As you can see in the  online MHA programs list  we compiled, while many schools don’t specify the required areas of bachelor’s degrees, some schools have work experience requirements, such as up to three years of work experience in management positions and/or currently employed.

If the program you choose is 100% fully online, campus visits are usually not required. Some schools offer online hybrid options to students and some may require students to join in-person immersion sessions.

Immersion sessions provide opportunities for students to network and interact with other accomplished healthcare professionals. Some immersion sessions may be required and they can take place on campus, in the United States or abroad depending on the school.

Information last updated August 2020

GET AN IMPRESSIVE MHA PERSONAL STATEMENT TO STAND YOU OUT

Mha personal statement: general aspects, ins & outs.

While most of the US population is located in the South, most Southerners tend not to have insurance, which is directly translated into a need for free healthcare. It demands more and more professionals in healthcare administration, so more people can enjoy an efficient public health service. Yet, someone who wants to graduate from an MHA program needs to have a previous undergraduate program, enough professional achievements and experience, and finally be able to pass the MHA personal statement. The personal statement for masters in healthcare administration is a personal statement like any other, where the applicant needs to portray their enrollment aims and what makes them stand out from other MHA program candidates. And as said before, studying in such a program helps the student achieve a higher level of education that can eventually help both take care of and save millions of people’s lives who don’t have insurance.

Some of the MHA Programs in the US Where Students Can Apply

Having a well-composed personal statement for healthcare administration gives everyone a great chance to strengthen their application and be accepted successfully. Among numerous educational options, there are some top ones that consider candidates based on this application document.

• University of Minnesota MHA: Focusing on the development of each health professional, the program offers a more practical curriculum to graduate more efficient and productive professionals.
• George Washington University MHA: Located in the Milken Institute of Public Health, the program which can be taken both physically or online, requires students to have a minimum of 3 years of experience.
• John Hopkins MHA: Bloomberg School of Public Health offers a professional, rigorous, and top-notch program that also allows students to receive accreditations and memberships to CAHME and AUPHA.
• Harvard T.H Chan HPM: Harvard’s Healthcare Policy and Management program is an incredibly efficient and professional experience students are able to obtain in theory, practice, and applied skills.
• Georgetown University MHSA: A full-time learning program that focuses on practice and competency as well as offering accreditation to the CAHME.
• University of Michigan MHSA: Focuses on the financing, management, marketing, and organization of healthcare services and providers – a top-notch program to gain more professional qualifications.

Get Started With Good Healthcare Personal Statement Examples

Before starting with your personal statement MHA, we highly recommend stocking up on a couple of good examples. This will not only illustrate writing guidelines well, but it will also give you an idea of what the winning document should look like.

Each of the healthcare personal statement examples presented here is a genuine MHA document that we have been kindly allowed to use by past clients. They have achieved their goals with these samples, so feel free to use them to get inspired and know more about proper structure & context.

However, we do not recommend directly using the text from the sample statement of purpose for healthcare administration. Your own must be a unique piece of writing, well-personalized and adapted to the specifics of a particular MHA program.

How to Write a Personal Statement MHA

Due to the high responsibility related to the importance of this document, creating an MHA personal statement may be challenging. If you don’t take care while writing one of these, you may as well fail and make yourself a less-than-average applicant for the admission committee. That’s why we recommend you follow these steps:

• Read the personal statement instructions carefully: Every university has a set of instructions for each personal statement MHA. Take a good look at your desired career and ensure it goes according to what’s needed.
• Create a good structure: A good personal statement structure should be based on an introduction, a body & a conclusion. Tell your life as a doctor and your previous experience in the introduction and body, then talk about your future goals, expectations from the MHA program & hopes in conclusion.
• Start and conclude strongly: An efficient way to create an MHA personal statement is by starting and concluding strongly. Make good remarks and statements about your passion and personal motivations while starting, and then conclude with your goals and the belief that you are the best fit.
• Ask help from other people: People with previous knowledge of MHA personal statements can help you create a better one. They will allow you to know where you are less efficient and where you are good enough. Improve accordingly.
• Avoid silly remarks and generalizations: Silly comments like putting yourself like a good doctor, a strong worker, someone with grit, and such can make you look less engaging. Avoid this in an MHA personal statement and focus better on your experience, practical cases, motivations & goals.

Alan Bullock, a Career Advisor from Which? University also recommends showcasing your skills as a professional, “But don’t simply list off the skills you think you have – think about which ones relate most readily to the course you’re applying to. Then demonstrate how you’ve developed, used and continued to strengthen these.”

Mistakes in Sample Statement of Purpose for Healthcare Administration

Writing your MHA application document may seem like an easy job, but it can be extremely difficult and sometimes make the applicant nervous and anxious. But if you take a look at the following common mistakes in the sample statement of purpose for healthcare administration, you may avoid this anxiety and nervousness:

NOT KNOWING WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT

Sometimes applicants forget what a personal statement MHA is and how it can help them be admitted into a nursing program like this. Simply, a personal statement for masters in public administration consists of explaining the reasons and motivations to apply. Additionally, you can explain briefly your interest in the field, your love for the career, and something you must do no matter what – talk about personal experience and how it may help you advance professionally. As simple as this, but it usually makes students feel confused, like in this MHA personal statement example:

As you see in the example, the applicant forgot about the purpose of his MHA personal statement and started to write about his experience in a specific way – something that is not recommended, especially when you talk about getting sick…

BEING UNORGANIZED

Even though the previous example could also be used here, we have an even better example of how an unorganized personal statement MHA with a wrong format and null writing skills can harm your admission. Take a look:

“I started working as a doctor in 2010 and from then I’ve taken care of more than 1000 patients in the course of 6 years. I graduate in 2009 but my studies weren’t enough so I took a course on nursing for 1 year. My experience has been vastly helpful but I still think I need more studies to become better. Not a single life has been lost thanks to my skills and patients are always satisfied with my treatments.

From here I want to keep going in my career and professional knowledge. My family has been greatly honored and supportive from and for me. As a doctor, I’m accomplished and happy but keep my studies is a must now. Hope I can get into this program. Thanks!”

By simply skimming through this fragment of a sample statement of purpose for healthcare administration, you can see how the applicant didn’t work on the format, text polishing, and content organization. Thus, his writing has no flow and is a little tricky to read. Avoid this and try to be more engaging for better MHA admission opportunities.

Get Expert Help With Personal Statement for Healthcare Administration

When considering the need for professional help, would you risk your maybe only opportunity to be admitted? If not, hiring a proficient expert who is able to assist with an MHA personal statement creation will be a wise decision. And our specialists can be the best choice to make because of their:

• Qualifications and expertise – due to the harsh screening, there are only top specialists with checked backgrounds, genuine writing talent, and deep knowledge of MHA admission process nuances & pitfalls.
• Dedication to #1 results – we don’t aim to simply create an MHA personal statement but develop a well-personalized one targeted to your win.
• Ability to create masterpieces – we produce each text from scratch based on your materials and particular program features we gain after meticulous research.
• Reliability and responsibility – which are strengthened by strict deadline adherence, 24/7 support, and an opportunity to revise your personal statement MHA until you’re totally satisfied with it.

Hire a professional to do their best with your Masters in Health Administration application, creating the document that impresses the MHA admission committee and proves your excellence. With our experienced writing service and good MHA personal statement examples, you will leave your competitors no chance and be able to get admission effortlessly.

Contact us today and receive the best help with your personal statement!

Cornell Brooks School MPA Application Tips: The Personal Statement

Tom O’Toole, Executive Director of the MPA Program, offers his perspective on making the personal statement section of your graduate school application truly stand out.

When it comes to graduate school admission, the personal statement/essay represents your chance to truly shine.  In addition to providing a tremendous opportunity to convey the quality of your writing to admissions committees, the personal statement allows you to highlight your purpose for pursuing graduate studies.  Here are a few tips for making sure your essay reaches its full potential:

1)  The Personal Statement is a Writing Sample : Some graduate schools require writing samples as part of their applications, and some do not.  For those that do not, the personal statement is the only sample of your writing that the admissions committee will see.   For this reason, it is important (particularly for a professional program where writing skills are essential), to tell your story in a clear, coherent manner, and to  proofread carefully .  Grammatical errors, typos, and colloquial language will severely diminish the professionalism and credibility of your statement.  These errors will also indicate that you do not invest much effort into representing yourself well.

3)  Graduate Admissions Committees are Immune to Guilt : Although admissions committees do look for evidence of resilience and perseverance in applicants, many applicants spend their entire statement conveying difficult personal circumstances they have had to overcome, and explaining why, because of these circumstances, they are deserving of admission.  This tells the committee very little about whether an applicant has the drive to succeed in graduate school, and many reviewers find being “guilted” into approving an application off-putting.  Focus instead on experiences that are directly relevant to your motivation for pursuing a specific graduate degree.

4)  Are you Ready for This?  Another common error in personal statements is conveying that graduate school is the “logical next step” in an applicant’s career.  Graduate schools want to admit bright, capable individuals who have a genuine interest in making intellectual contributions to their field.  They are not keen on admitting applicants who are pursuing graduate studies because they cannot figure out what to do with their lives, or are avoiding a difficult job market.  Graduate school is a rigorous, challenging commitment, and conveying that it is the “logical next step” in an applicant’s career doesn’t convey a strong clarity of purpose behind the application.

5)  Tailor:  One of the many problems associated with the “revolution” in electronic applications is that electronic submission encourages applicants to be generic.  The “point, click, apply” mentality that yields poor results on the internship/job market also yields poor results for many graduate school applicants.  Each statement should be tailored for the strengths of the individual program in question, (convincingly) citing faculty, courses, and specific initiatives that the applicant intends to leverage as a student.  Part of what admissions committees are looking for in applicants is intellectual capability, but they are also looking for “fit.”  As an exercise, if the applicant can replace the name of our program with any other MPA/MPP program in their statement, and the statement still makes sense, the statement isn’t well-tailored to a specific program.

6)  Tell us a New “Story”:  After reviewing several hundred applications, admissions officers find that each statement tends to run together because applicants rely on many of the same strategies to tell their story.  The trick is to balance professionalism and maturity with creativity.  Give us an example of how you resolved a problem using an interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial approach.  Discuss a public policy space that you feel would benefit from a new infusion of energy or ideas.  However you decide to tell your story, make it innovative.

If you have questions about attending the MPA Program at Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, we encourage you to request more information  today!

Subscribe to our graduate education blog —  Public Policy in Action  —  for tips and tools related to pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree!

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