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.

MHA Competencies

The MHA Competencies outline the competencies and skills that you are supposed to attain by the time you complete this masters’ program.  The MHA program competencies are adapted from American College of Health Executives designated competency areas (2020).  Because this is an educational program, a taxonomy verb was added to each of the MHA Competencies so students are aware of the level they are supposed to attain in the program.  These taxonomy verbs are from Bloom’s Taxonomy which is the same taxonomy system that is used to develop course objectives. These levels range from 1-6 with one being the lowest level of performance desired and 6 being the highest level. The level to which you are to attain each one of these MHA competencies is indicated behind the MHA competency below.

1. Utilize effective interpersonal communication (Bloom’s Level 3 Apply)
2. Creates effective, professional documents as evidenced through advanced writing skills. (Bloom’s Level 6 Synthesize)
3. Demonstrate effective presentation skills (Bloom’s Level 3 Apply)
4. Cultivate advanced competencies in management and leadership theory and practices. (CAHME III A.5) (Bloom’s Level 6 Synthesize)
5. Manage change effectively. (Bloom’s Level 4 Analyze)
6. Appraise personal strengths and weaknesses. (Bloom’s Level 5 Evaluate)
7. Demonstrate systems thinking. (Bloom’s Level 3 Apply)
8. Model critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills and competencies. (Bloom’s Level 6 Synthesize)
9. Model competencies in personal and professional ethics, professionalism and transparency (Bloom’s Level 6 Synthesize)
10. Contribute professionally and in the community. (Bloom’s Level 3 Apply–Affective)
11. Illustrate effective collaboration and teamwork. (Bloom’s Level 3 Apply)
12. Appraise health care issues and trends. (Bloom’s Level 5 Evaluate)
13. Interpret health care law and policy. (Bloom’s Level 4 Analysis)
14. Assess legal and practical aspects of managing healthcare finance. (Bloom’s Level 5 Evaluate)
15. Formulate strategies for managing human resources in a healthcare setting. (Bloom’s Level 6 Synthesize)
16. Evaluate organizational dynamics and governance.  (Bloom’s Level 5 Evaluate)
17. Create a complete strategic plan for a health organization. (Bloom’s Level 6 Synthesize)
18. Assess health care information management and computer productivity programs and systems. (Bloom’s Level 5 Evaluate)
19. Develop quality improvement and performance improvement strategies. (Bloom’s Level 6 Synthesize)
20. Demonstrate quantitative skills. (Bloom’s Level 6 Synthesize)
21. Design and manage projects. (Bloom’s Level 6 Synthesize)
22. Analyze health economics principles.  (Bloom’s Level 4 Analyze)

You will be assessed at the culminating level (highest performance level after you have had significant practice on assessments that were written at lower taxonomy levels to prepare you for these culminating assessments at the highest levels you are expected to attain in the program. The culminating assessment for many of the MHA competencies are in the final Capstone course(s).  However, some competencies may not necessarily apply to your Capstone project, so they are assessed throughout the curriculum.

Each MHA competency is targeted for development at one of five performance levels:

• Level 1: No Mastery; Students can perform or accomplish this competency in limited situations with significant support or practice. (Bloom’s Taxonomy Level 1 Knowledge)
• Level 2: Some Mastery; Students can recognize what is required to carry out this competency, and could perform or accomplish it consistently in familiar situations with minimal support or practice. (Bloom’s Taxonomy Level 2 Comprehension)
• Level 3: Novice; Students can articulate the steps for implementing the competency and know how to get information for a better understanding of it; students can apply the competency consistently to address unfamiliar problems or in new situations. (Bloom’s Taxonomy Level 3 Application)
• Level 4: Intermediate; Students are able to integrate knowledge and skills of this competency in a variety of situations and do so consistently and independently at the analysis level. (Bloom’s Taxonomy Level 5 Analysis)
• Level 5: Advanced; Students are able to integrate knowledge and skills of this competency in complex situations and do so consistently and independently at the evaluation and/or synthesis level. Depending on the competency and your prior experience, mastery may not be achieved for many years. (Bloom’s Taxonomy Level 5 Evaluation and 6 Synthesis)

At the masters’ level, the goal of the program is for most students in the program to attain intermediate or advanced mastery in the MHA competencies.  It is not expected that every student will reach the intermediate and advanced level in every MHA program competency.  If students are rated at lower mastery this does not necessarily mean it is the fault of the students.  In fact, it could mean that the concept needs to be addressed more in the associated course.

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.