Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

The healthcare system is experiencing a rapid transformation. With the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, an aging population, and emerging new technologies, employment of medical and health services administrators and managers is projected to grow 23% from 2012 to 2022.

Today’s healthcare industry employers require effective, visionary leaders who can help them respond to the needs of their communities while optimizing organizational performance and outcomes. Our fully online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree program can put you at the forefront of the field and help you improve the experience of healthcare providers as well as patients.

As a leader in healthcare education, Walden is dedicated to meeting the needs of our students, the healthcare industry, and employers. The coursework in this online healthcare administration degree program explores the latest trends and allows you to develop the professional competencies expected by top healthcare organizations:

Critical and creative thinking and problem solving
Business and interpersonal communication
Strategic planning
Adaptability and collaboration
Change management

Taught by doctoral level faculty, our MHA degree program features curriculum with multimedia that lends a real-world perspective to your online learning experience.

With a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from Walden, you can gain the skills and credentials that allow you to pursue healthcare leadership roles and make a difference in your organization and community.

Note: The Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program is offered in two different learning modalities: the course-based modality and the competency-based modality, Tempo Learning®.

Learning Outcomes

All graduates will be prepared to:

1.   Utilize effective oral and written communication strategies as productive healthcare administrators
2.   Analyze the components of effective health care delivery for diverse populations in the United States
3.   Assess the effect of delivery of care on patient outcomes and equity for healthcare organizations
4.   Analyze the impact of environmental factors on healthcare operations management
5.   Assess the impact of emerging trends and innovation on healthcare organization’s performance
6.   Apply critical thinking to solve healthcare administration challenges in considering the social determinants of health framework
7.   Appraise strategic practices on achieving sustainable competitive advantage for healthcare organizations
8.   Evaluate the role of healthcare administrators in improving health outcomes through facilitating social change

Competency-Based Education

In addition to the course-based option described below, students can choose to earn their Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) through the competency-based education modality. Upon successful completion of program requirements, students will earn the same Walden degree in either modality. See the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) (Competency Based) page for program details.

Course-Based Program

Degree Requirements

53–68 total quarter credits (depending on whether a student chooses to complete an optional specialization)
Core courses (53 cr.)
Optional specialization (15 cr.)

Optional Specializations

Curriculum

General Program

In the general Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program, you prepare to help your organization address the challenges of today’s changing healthcare landscape. Through coursework, you will explore the regulations, laws, court decisions, and health policies that impact health service providers. You also examine and analyze the latest theories, technologies, and strategies in the field, focusing on developing the advanced business skills that today’s healthcare employers need. Multimedia and case studies are integrated into the relevant curriculum to help you gain the knowledge and credentials to pursue healthcare leadership roles.

Core Courses (53 cr.)

Course Sequence

The recommended course sequence is as follows:

Quarter	Course	Credits
1	MMHA 6000 - Foundations of Healthcare Administration *	3 cr.
1	MMHA 6050 - Contemporary Topics in the U.S. Healthcare Delivery System♦	5 cr.
2	MMHA 6200 - Principles of Population Health in Healthcare Administration♦	5 cr.
2	MMHA 6300 - Law, Ethics, and Policy in Healthcare Administration♦	5 cr.
3	MMHA 6400 - Healthcare Financial Management and Economics♦	5 cr.
3	MMHA 6500 - Human Resource Management and Organizational Development and Leadership for Healthcare Administrators♦	5 cr.
4	MMHA 6600 - Healthcare Informatics and Technology Management♦	5 cr.
4	MMHA 6700 - Healthcare Operations Management♦	5 cr.
5	MMHA 6800 - Marketing Management and Business Communication for Healthcare Administrators♦	5 cr.
5	MMHA 6900 - Healthcare Quality Management♦	5 cr.
6	MMHA 6999 - Strategic Planning in Healthcare Administration♦	5 cr.

*Students enrolling in a midterm start date will take MMHA 6000A, a 6-week version of this course by itself in their first term.

Note on Licensure

The Master of Healthcare Administration is not a licensure leading program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed professional in healthcare administration, healthcare leadership, nursing home administration, or other similar positions.