Mar 28, 2024  
2018 - 2019 Saint Joseph’s College Online Catalog 
    
2018 - 2019 Saint Joseph’s College Online Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Master of Health Administration


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Graduate Programs

The Master of Health Administration program equips graduates with the professional competencies needed to serve effectively as leaders and managers in the field of health administration. This program prepares students to:

  • Utilize effective Interpersonal Communication
  • Exhibit Effective Writing Skills
  • Demonstrate Effective Presentation Skills
  • Effectively Lead and Manage Others
  • Manage Change Effectively
  • Able to Honestly Assess Self
  • Demonstrate Systems Thinking
  • Effectively Solve Problems and Make Decisions
  • Exhibit Personal and Professional Ethics
  • Contribute Professionally and in Community
  • Work Effectively in Teams
  • Explain Health Care Issues and Trends
  • Analyze Population Health and Status Assessments
  • Explain Health Policy
  • Apply Health Care Legal Principles
  • Manage Healthcare Finance
  • Effectively Manage Human Resources
  • Organizational Dynamics and Governance
  • Apply Strategic Planning
  • Utilize Effective Marketing Principles
  • Understand and Effectively Management Information and Use Technical Skills
  • Employ Quality Improvement/Performance Improvement Strategies
  • Demonstrate Quantitative Skills
  • Planning and Managing Projects
  • Analyze and apply Economic Principles

The Master of Health Administration Program at Saint Joseph’s College has adopted a modified version of the Healthcare Leadership Alliance Competency Model as the basis for the program. Students completing the program are expected to have achieved at least intermediate mastery of each of these competencies.

Graduates possess the skills needed to perform effectively as managers and are prepared to contribute skills, values, and leadership to the larger health care system.

Note: Students who have already completed their MSHA or MHA with Saint Joseph’s College are not eligible for admittance into the MSN/MHA dual degree program.

 

 

Curriculum


The Master of Health Administration program integrates learning and experience. It emphasizes the key areas of organizational and financial management, human resources, ethical behavior, and leadership skills so important to developing effective health care managers for today and tomorrow. Courses are designed to build upon the foundation of experience students bring to the program. Students have flexibility in tailoring their programs by supplementing core curriculum courses with a selection of relevant elective courses that reflect their own needs and interests.

Candidates must satisfactorily complete 42 graduate credits, with an overall GPA of Saint Joseph’s College courses of 3.0 or higher.  The program consists of a core curriculum of ten courses, three elective courses, and a capstone course. For the capstone, students may choose an Applied Research Paper or Project or an Applied Management Project.

Electives


(9 semester-hour credits)

Select three courses from the following:

Capstone


(3 semester-hour credits, select one)   The capstone course must be successfully passed before a student can complete the degree.

Total Required Credits: 42


Additional Admission Requirements effective 1/1/2017


Effective 1/1/2017, applicants must have at least two years of experience working in a healthcare  setting and must also submit the following to be considered for the MHA Program:

  • Letter of Intent (including goals and career interests and a discussion of two of the identified competencies for this program, including why the competence is important to the healthcare industry and where you are in terms of your development in this area)
  • Professional Resume, showing two-years of experience in healthcare
  • Two letters of reference from a supervisor or other professional reference (indicating the applicant possesses the aptitude and ambition to complete this course of study)
  • Interview with Program Director or designee

Prerequisites


Students pursuing the Master of Health Administration degree must complete a three-credit undergraduate level accounting course prior to enrollment in HA 525 Health Care Financial Management, and a three-credit undergraduate level statistics course prior to enrollment in HA 545 Research Methods.  Most students with undergraduate business degrees will already have had such courses or their equivalents, as will some others. All pre-requisite courses must be completed with the minimum grade of C.  Prerequisites can be waived based on previous work experience in health administration if a resume is provided AND prior approval from the Program Director is obtained.

Fast Track to MHA


The Fast Track program allows students in specific Saint Joseph’s College undergraduate health administration programs (Health Administration Major, Radiologic Science Administration Major, Long-Term Care Administration Major, and Health Information Management Major) to substitute certain courses from the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program in lieu of comparable undergraduate courses. Students will then be allowed to count these graduate courses toward their graduate degree requirements.

Qualified students in those undergraduate programs will be allowed to take up to 12 MHA credit hours (4 courses), which will apply toward an MHA degree and will also meet corresponding undergraduate degree course requirements. Certain restrictions apply. Students interested in taking advantage of the Fast Track Option should contact their Academic Advisor.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Graduate Programs