Master of Health Administration

Program Overview

The mission of the rigorous, comprehensive, and fully online master of health administration (MHA) program is to prepare innovative, knowledgeable, and skilled leaders who strive to improve the U.S. health care system while continuing to advance their careers. Oriented exclusively to students who are experienced, mid-career, health professionals, the MHA online program extends Ohio University’s quality and tradition beyond its walls. It focuses on content essential to leadership in the health care industry and on the development of skills to solve complex problems, identify and communicate with various stakeholders, maximize teamwork, and meet organizational goals.

The MHA online degree program prepares mid-career, experienced professionals for leadership positions in a variety of U.S. health organizations. The MHA program prepares strategic leaders who can offer solutions to health care challenges – today and into the future. The program is delivered entirely online.

Students taking a normal load of two courses per term will complete the program in two years.

Student Achievement Measures

2021-2022 Graduating Class

  • 86% retention rate
  • 98% employed or pursuing additional education within 90 days of graduation
CAHME logo
OHIO's Master of Health Administration Program is a candidate for accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)

Candidate status is an indication that a program in healthcare management has voluntarily committed to participate in a plan of self-improvement and is actively progressing toward the status of accreditation. Candidate status is not accredited status and does not guarantee eventual accredited status.
 

About the MHA Program

There are two options for students interested in completing their MHA at Ohio University:

  • Fully online part-time option – two years (MH8157)
  • Fully online full-time option – one year

Admission Schedule

Fully online part-time option – two years (MH8157)

  • Admission in Fall, Spring, and Summer
  • Application deadlines throughout the year, generally at the end of the semester
  • Students complete 1 three-credit hour course per term, 2 courses per semester
  • Students can complete the MHA in 2 years (6 semesters)

Fully online full-time option – one year

  • Fall admission only (start date of Fall 2022)
  • Application deadline – July 31
  • Students complete 2 three-credit hour courses per term, 4 courses per semester
  • Students can complete the MHA in 1 year (3 semesters - Fall, Spring, Summer)

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to apply financial management concepts and tools to sustain organizational viability while protecting the quality of care.
  • Students will be able to analyze legal, ethical and public policy challenges in the leadership of health care organizations.
  • Students will be able to recommend resources based on research, epidemiological, and evaluation concepts and tools.
  • Students will be able to apply principles of organizational behavior and development to optimize workforce performance and aid problem identification, solution proposal, and change and conflict management.
  • Students will be able to execute strategic planning and market analysis to lead stakeholders to a common vision that manages the quality of care and supports strategic goals.

Admission Requirements

  • Entrance Examinations Required/Recommended: English Language Testing when English is not a first language (1. IELTS 8.0 minimum across all bands; 2. TOEFL 100 (iBT) minimum, 26 minimum on Writing Section)
  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent
  • Minimum GPA: 3.00
  • Resume or Vitae
  • A letter of reference
  • Professional Statement - Statement should detail purpose and goals (250-500 words) identifying skills, career and educational accomplishments, and professional plans and why the Ohio University MHA online program is the right educational path.
  • Preferred: at least two years of recent, professional, full-time experience in the US health care system.
International Students

This program does not permit full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 cannot be issued based on admission to the program.

 

Program Options

The MHA is a 36-credit hour program that offers a traditional track and five specializations described below. All students complete nine 3-credit hour courses. Depending upon their chosen track or specialization, students complete an additional three 3-credit hour courses. See Specialization Coursework section for specific courses.

Required Courses

HLTH 6010 - Introduction to the U.S. Health Care Delivery System

HLTH 6030 - Leadership of Health Organizations

HLTH 6080 - Health Policy

HLTH 6100 - Evaluation and Quality Improvement in Health Care

HLTH 6210 - Health Care Finance

HLTH 6280 - Health Law

HLTH 6350 - Human Resources Leadership in Health Care

HLTH 6380 - Strategic Planning and Marketing in Health Care

HLTH 6480 - Ethical Issues in Health Care

Traditional MHA

The traditional MHA offers a breath of course related to the healthcare industry including epidemiology, health information systems, and an elective option so students can explore a new area or course that is of interest to them.

MHA with a specialization in Leadership

This option is designed to offer high-quality educational opportunities to assist health professionals in leading people more effectively, improving quality and safety, enhancing the patient experience, stimulating financial growth, and further developing a robust organizational culture for staff. Given the current complexity of the healthcare delivery system and its related programs and services, effective leadership is a critical success factor.

MHA with a specialization in Business Analytics

Students gain specialized training in the use of advanced analytical techniques for managerial decision-making. Focus will be placed on managing, processing, and analyzing data in order to address a multitude of business challenges and opportunities. Draws upon a portfolio of methods that include data mining, optimization, and database management so that data can be transformed into information and insights in order for organizations to meet their strategic goals.

MHA with a specialization in Project Management

The Project Management concentration focuses on the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®), as identified by the Project Management Institute (PMI). This concentration serves as a graduate-level option for working professionals to pursue a graduate educational experience and can augment other graduate experiences at Ohio University.

MHA with a specialization in Aging Studies

This specialization addresses the educational needs of graduate students and professionals not only in healthcare but a variety of disciplines who work with the aging or elderly population. Students gain knowledge and skills related to working with the elderly.

MHA with a specialization in Quality Improvement

Students take a deep dive into the concepts associated with the delivery of quality in the U.S. healthcare system, trends in quality improvement, and Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. This specialization creates a strong foundation in the concepts and interactions of cost, quality, and access to care within the U.S. healthcare system, the theoretical models and transformation of quality improvement over time, the structure, function, and goals of healthcare teams, the fundamental principles of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. These courses cover the body of knowledge for the Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) exam by American Society for Quality (ASQ).

Specialization Coursework

For each specialization (except the traditional MHA), students earn a graduate certificate after completing the required 9 credit hours of the specialization.

Traditional MHA

HLTH 6020 - Information Systems for Health Services
HLTH 6300 - Epidemiology for Health Administration
Elective course*

*Students choose from the other certificate courses listed below.

Healthcare Leadership

IHS 5200 – Foundations of Leadership in Healthcare
IHS 5201 - Quality, Safety, and Service in Healthcare Leadership
IHS 5202 - Financial Innovation and Growth Strategies in Healthcare

Business Analytics

MBA 6320 – Descriptive Analytics
MBA 6325 – Prescriptive Analytics
MBA 6390 - Predictive Analytics

Project Management

PM 6100 - Project Management I
PM 6200 - Project Management II
PM 6500 - Change and Risk Management

Aging Studies

CFS 6890 – Self, Aging, and Society
HLTH 6060 - Gerotechnology OR CFS 5660 – Transitions in Development: Middle and Later Life
CFS 5700 – The Business of Aging

Quality Improvement

HLTH 5850 - Quality Improvement in Healthcare Organizations
PM 6600 - Lean Six Sigma
Elective*

*HLTH 6100 is already a core course in the MHA curriculum, so students complete an elective course to reach the required 36 credit hours.
 

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