Graduate

Healthcare Administration

Degree Type:
MS
Mode of Study:
On-campus
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The complex and evolving 21st century healthcare industry demands effective leaders, managers and policymakers who can guide change with careful and informed decision-making. Health leaders understand the structure, processes and outcomes of health services, and can provide solutions to the important issues of costs, financing, delivery and accessibility-of-care.

The nationally-recognized Master of Science in Healthcare Administration at Mount Saint Mary’s University is designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge to grow into a health industry leader or policymaker who can champion effective health policies and programs.

Why get a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from MSMU?

Mount Saint Mary’s University is committed to building leadership skills and fostering a spirit of service in our students. When you choose the Mount, you're embarking on a transformative journey that will empower you to make a meaningful impact on the healthcare industry and society as a whole.

Location
Classes are held at our centrally located, historic Doheny Campus near downtown Los Angeles, California.

Nationally recognized 
Our academically rigorous graduate healthcare administration program is led by faculty trained at top-tier institutions who bring real-world experience to your training.

 

Flexibility
Our program fits your work schedule. Healthcare admin students take classes two nights a week and finish in two years.

Tailored mentorship
Our program is tailored to fit your needs. The mentored practicum program and capstone project help you create a portfolio that will equip you to champion effective health policies and programs across the nation.

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Healthcare Administration program mission

Mount Saint Mary's University

Our mission is to prepare a diverse group of health leaders and administrators who: 

  • Promote successful systems of care
  • Champion effective health policies
  • Create and apply evidence-based knowledge 

All to serve and improve the health of people and communities in California and beyond.

 Apply now

Master of Science in Healthcare Administration program

The MHA degree at Mount Saint Mary’s University offers health administration career paths for industry leaders across public, private and nonprofit organizations.  

Our healthcare administration graduate program develops leaders who understand today’s healthcare complexities, promote effective care systems and health policies, and apply evidence-based knowledge to improve the health of people in their communities and beyond. 

This program isn't just for scientists, accountants and policy wonks. The Master of Science in Healthcare Administration program draws on the medical humanities and liberal arts, as well. You will understand how the needs of a population affect health; how to account for the concerns of family, significant others and communities in the provision of patient care; and how to value, support and advocate for an individual's decisions with his or her healthcare.

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Am I a healthcare provider ready to take the next step into management or leadership?
  • Am I passionate about vulnerable people and wonder how I can help them receive needed services from government agencies?
  • Am I interested in analyzing rules, laws or healthcare processes in the hopes of improving their quality while reducing unnecessary costs?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Mount’s Master of Science in Healthcare Administration may be a great fit for you.

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To learn more about our MHA degree and healthcare administration career paths, check out our free guide: How to Become a Healthcare Administrator. View the free guide

Healthcare administrator education requirements

Students must complete a total of 42 units with a 3.0 grade point average or better to receive the master’s in healthcare education degree. Additionally, students will need to complete a capstone master's project and professional portfolio.

MHA degree curriculum

For interested students, we have several schedules for completion that give you flexibility with respect to your personal and professional lives and career goals. These include:

2 nights a week, 7 units per trimester (Fall, Spring, and Summer trimester) for two years for a total of 42 units.

Semester Title and Credit Hours
Fall Year 1 (7 Units)
  HCA 210: Intro to Health Policy and Health Policy Analysis (3)
  HCA 230: Intro to Healthcare Management (3) 
  HCA 233A: Intro to Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Research (1)
Spring Year 1 (7 Units)
  HCA 220: Intro to Project Management (3)
  HCA 211: Change Management and Implementation Science (3)
  HCA 233E: Personal Leadership (1)
Summer Year 1 (7 Units)
  HCA 221: Decision-making in Healthcare Administration (3)
  HCA 231: Intro to Health Accounting & Finance (3)
  HCA 233B: Introduction to Health Economics (1)
Fall Year 2 (7 Units)
  HCA 213: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health (3)
  HCA 222: Comparative Effectiveness (3)
  HCA 233C: Cultural Competence (1)
Spring Year 2 (7 Units)
  HCA 223: Accounting and Financial in Health (3)
  HCA 232: Analytics for Quality Improvement (3)
  HCA 233D: Current Topics in Healthcare (1)
Summer Yr 2 (7 Units)
  HCA 212: Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation (3)
  HCA 234: The Future of Health and Your Future in Healthcare (3)
  HCA 233F: Capstone (1)

2 nights a week, 7 units per trimester (Fall, Spring, and Summer trimester) for one year and 1 night a week, 3 or 4 units per trimester (Fall, Spring, and Summer trimester) for two years for a total of 42 units.

Option A:

Semester Title and Credit Hours
Fall Year 1 (7 Units)
  HCA 210: Intro to Health Policy and Health Policy Analysis (3) 
  HCA 230: Intro to Healthcare Management (3)
  HCA 233A: Intro to Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Research (1)
Spring Year 1 (7 Units)
  HCA 220: Intro to Project Management (3)
  HCA 211: Change Management and Implementation Science (3)
  HCA 233E: Personal Leadership (1)
Summer Year 1 (7 Units)
  HCA 221: Decision-making in Healthcare Administration (3)
  HCA 231: Intro to Health Accounting & Finance (3)
  HCA 233B: Introduction to Health Economics (1)
Fall Year 2 (Flexible)
  HCA 222: Comparative Effectiveness (3)
Spring Year 2 (Flexible)
  HCA 223: Accounting & Financial in Health (3)
  HCA 233C: Cultural Competence (1)
Summer Year 2 (Flexible)
  HCA 234: The Future of Health and Your Future in Healthcare (Project Management) (3)
Fall Year 3 (Flexible)
  HCA 213: Legal & Ethical Aspects of Health (3)
Spring Year 3 (Flexible)
  HCA 220: Analytics for Quality Improvement (3)
  HCA 233D: Current Topics in Healthcare (1)
Summer Year 3 (Flexible)
  HCA 212: Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation (3)
  HCA 233F: Capstone Project (1)

2 nights a week, 7 units per trimester (Fall, Spring, and Summer trimester) for one year and 1 night a week, 3 or 4 units per trimester (Fall, Spring, and Summer trimester) for two years for a total of 42 units.

Option B:

Semester Title and Credit Hours
Fall Year 1 (Flexible)
  HCA 210: Intro to Health Policy and Health Policy Analysis (3)  
  HCA 233A: Intro to Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Research (1)
Spring Year 1 (Flexible)
  HCA 211: Change Management and Implementation Science (3)
Summer Year 1 (Flexible)
  HCA 231: Intro to Health Accounting & Finance (3)
Fall Year 2 (Flexible)
  HCA 230: Intro to Healthcare Management (3)
Spring Year 2 (Flexible)
  HCA 232: Project Management (3)
  HCA 233E: Personal Leadership (1)
Summer Year 2 (Flexible)
  HCA 221: Decision-making in Healthcare Administration (3)
  HCA 233B: Introduction to Health Economics (1)
Fall Year 3 (7 Units)
  HCA 213: Legal & Ethical Aspects of Health (3)
  HCA 222: Comparative Effectiveness (3)
  HCA 233C: Cultural Competence (1)
Spring Year 3 (7 Units)
  HCA 223: Accounting & Financial in Health (3)
  HCA 232: Analytics for Quality Improvement (3)
  HCA 233D: Current Topics in Healthcare (1)
Summer Year 3 (7 Units)
  HCA 212: Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation (3)
  HCA 234: The Future of Health and Your Future in Healthcare (3)
  HCA 233F: Capstone Project (1)

One night a week, 3 or 4 units per trimester (Fall, Spring, and Summer trimester) for two years for a total of 42 units.

Semester Title and Credit Hours
Fall Year 1 (Flexible)
  HCA 210: Intro to Health Policy and Health Policy Analysis (3) 
  HCA 233A: Intro to Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Research (1)
Spring Year 1 (Flexible)
  HCA 211: Change Management and Implementation Science (3)
Summer Year 1 (Flexible)
  HCA 231: Intro to Health Accounting & Finance (3)
Fall Year 2 (Flexible)
  HCA 230: Intro to Healthcare Management (3)
Spring Year 2 (Flexible)
  HCA 232: Project Management (3)
  HCA 233E: Personal Leadership (1)
Summer Year 2 (Flexible)
  HCA 221: Decision-making in Healthcare Administration (3)
  HCA 233B: Introduction to Health Economics (1)
Fall Year 3 (Flexible)
  HCA 222: Comparative Effectiveness (3)
Spring Year 3 (Flexible)
  HCA 223: Accounting & Financial in Health (3)
  HCA 233C: Cultural Competence (1)
Summer Year 3 (Flexible)
  HCA 234: The Future of Health and Your Future in Healthcare (3)
Fall Year 4 (Flexible)
  HCA 213: Legal & Ethical Aspects of Health (3)
Spring Year 4 (Flexible)
  HCA 220: Analytics for Quality Improvement (3)
  HCA 233D: Current Topics in Healthcare (1)
Summer Year 4 (Flexible)
  HCA 212: Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation (3)
  HCA 233F: Capstone Project (1)

On a case-by-case basis, we allow students to start their program in the spring semester.  They can choose any of the aforementioned plans with the recognition they will not finish at the same time as the rest of their cohort of students. For more information, contact Luis Flores (LAFlores@msmu.edu) or Dr. Stephen Inrig (sinrig@msmu.edu).

An example of what a Springtime start might look like is:

Semester Title and Credit Hours
Spring Year 1 (7 Units)
  HCA 220: Project Management (3)
  HCA 211: Change Management and Implementation Science (3)
  HCA 233E: Personal Leadership (1)
Summer Year 1 (7 Units)
  HCA 221: Decision-making in Healthcare Administration (3)
  HCA 231: Intro to Health Accounting & Finance (3)
  HCA 233B: Introduction to Health Economics (1)
Fall Year 2 (7 Units)
  HCA 210: Intro to Health Policy and Health Policy Analysis (3)
  HCA 230: Intro to Healthcare Management (3)
  HCA 233A: Intro to Evidence-Base Medicine and Health Research (1)
Spring Year 2 (7 Units)
  HCA 223: Accounting and Financial in Health (3)
  HCA 232: Analytics for Quality Improvement (3)
  HCA 233D: Current Topics in Healthcare (1)
Summer Year 2 (7 Units)
  HCA 212: Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation (3)
  HCA 234: The Future of Health and Your Future in Healthcare (3)
  HCA 233F: Capstone (1)
Fall Year 3 (7 Units)
  HCA 213: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health (3)
  HCA 222: Comparative Effectiveness (3)
  HCA 233C: Cultural Competence (1)

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BA/MS program for MSMU students and alums

The goal of this program is to provide a path to an accelerated MS in Healthcare Administration (HCA) from our B.A. in Healthcare Policy (HCP). Students who are accepted into this advanced program will be set up to complete a B.A. in HCP and an M.S. in HCA in about 5 years (plus summers).

At the end of this bridge program, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of healthcare institutions and be able to construct and evaluate arguments concerning healthcare
    policy issues.
  2. Have the ability to explore and examine leadership qualities and characteristics in a global and diverse healthcare industry.
  3. Utilize the major methodological tools in healthcare policy to effectively describe, explain and predict healthcare trends and policy outcomes.

Advance your research and leadership skills in diverse coursework to become Unstoppable changemakers.

Requirements: A 3.3 in the Healthcare Policy major, plus application and approval of Healthcare Policy advisor and the HCA director.

Prerequisites:

  • HCP 10: Intro to HCP (HCP 10 may be waived for transfer undergraduate students)
  • HCP 112: Healthcare Policy
  • POL 101: Research Methods

In their senior year, students will take 4 courses/12 units in our M.S. in Healthcare Administration (HCA) program. These courses cover 12 of the 14 units required during the HCA first year. They will be double counted for 12 units of upper division work in the Healthcare Policy major in the undergraduate program.

  • HCA 230: Healthcare Management
  • HCA 211: Healthcare Leadership in an Age of Diversity
  • HCA 220: Project Management