Master of Healthcare Administration (Credit Hour)

The Healthcare Administration Program provides graduates with the knowledge, skills, and abilities, necessary to understand in depth the healthcare delivery systems. The curriculum is designed to prepare students to apply business skills in various areas of healthcare delivery to improve the efficiency of operations and patient care and prepare them for leadership roles in the healthcare field.

This program is pending WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and U.S. Department of Education approval.

Mission

The Master of Healthcare Administration program prepares current and emerging healthcare professionals with operational, innovative, and strategic business skills required to lead the health care industry into the 21st century.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Healthcare Delivery Management: Analyze the evolving issues in healthcare administration for effective patient care.
• Law and Ethics: Apply ethical frameworks and legal decision-making processes to patient-centered healthcare.
• Business System Performance: Design business systems to attain excellence in quality and operation performance.
• Critical Thinking and Analysis: Apply quantitative analyses to derive solutions for complex healthcare issues.
• Strategic Planning: Develop strategies to achieve a competitive edge in healthcare delivery.
• Communication: Demonstrate communication strategies to sustain and improve coordination of care.

Requirements for Admission

The prospective graduate student in the MHA program must demonstrate his or her readiness to succeed in graduate-level academic coursework by satisfactorily fulfilling one of the following admission options. All graduate admissions options listed below require an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Admission by GPA

A 2.75 grade point average (GPA) calculated over the most recent 30 graded semester (45 quarter) credits completed in either a baccalaureate or post baccalaureate program, including credits earned toward a credential. All credits used for GPA calculation must be from a regionally accredited institution. For graduates of regionally accredited institutions that do not conduct a GPA calculation, an official letter from the University determining grade equivalency will be accepted.

Admission by Prior Graduate Degree

An earned master's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution.

Admission by Portfolio

Submission of a portfolio of evidence that shows adequate preparation for graduate studies. The portfolio will contain: writing samples that show graduate level communications and analytical skills; a detailed resume showing professional development and achievements; awards; professional recognition; letters of reference from persons who can attest to the applicant’s ability to do graduate level work; and a letter of explanation detailing the reasons the student believes they are a good candidate for graduate study in the field they wish to pursue. If the portfolio meets substantive approval of the committee, the applicant may be invited for an interview. The decision of the School Graduate Admissions Committee will be final

Transfer of Coursework

A maximum of 9 semester credits may be accepted in transfer in the MHA degree program. (See the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedure section.)

In addition to university policies concerning transfer of coursework, the MHA program will accept transfer of military coursework which meet the following requirements:

1. Course requested for transfer must include an official transcript or copy of an ACE evaluation which verifies graduate-level work.
2.  Coursework must be letter graded or provide verification of completion with a grade of "B" or higher.
3. Coursework must be comparable to program requirements (if marginal comparability, a written statement of rationale must be provided); and
4. Transfer of nine elective credits to the MHA Degree to eligible Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, retired and prior military service members for completion of military coursework comparable to OLCU 614 Leadership & Team Development Leadership & Team Development, HRCU 618 Career Management Career Management, and HRCU 605 Talent Management Talent Management Qualifications and provisions of this nine credit transfer opportunity follow:

a. The service member must qualify for admission to the MHA degree program. (See Graduate Admission section of this catalog).

b. Active Duty, active reserve, retired and prior service military members in the following ranks are eligible: Commissioned Officer (any rank), Senior NCO (E7 or above) or CW2 or above.

c. Commissioned Officers must be graduates of a commissioning program (OCS or equivalent, ROTC, Military Academy) and an officer basic career course. Senior NCOs must be E7 or above and graduates of a career NCO Advanced Course. Warrant Officers must be CW2 or above and graduates of a Warrant Officer Candidate School and a Warrant Officer career course. 

d. The seven-year rule for completion of all coursework toward the MHA degree applies, including transfer credit for military schooling. (See Seven-Year Limitation in Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.)

e. Recipients of the nine credit transfer must complete all remaining coursework for the MHA degree at University of Massachusetts Global in accordance with academic policy.

Specific Requirements for the Degree

The Healthcare Administration program consists of two segments. The first segment is the 27-credit core; the second segment is the 9 credit elective area.