Health Services Management Curriculum
The Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) degree core curriculum integrates fundamental management concepts and health care applications. Specific competency areas include: quantitative analysis; health economics; financial management; health policy; planning and marketing; and health system organization and development. All candidates must complete 54 hours of coursework as described below. (Note: Students with a previously-earned MBA, MPA, MSIE, JD, DO, DDS, OD or MD may be permitted to complete the MHA program with a minimum of 45 credit hours, if prerequisite courses have been completed or waived and if approved by the HSM faculty.)
Prerequisite courses: HSM candidates must complete or waive prerequisite courses in accounting, finance, and microeconomics. These prerequisites may be met with course work taken during the candidate's undergraduate program equivalent to:
- Accountancy 2010 or other approved 2000, 3000, 4000, or 7000-level accounting course
- Finance 2000, 3000, or other approved 2000, 3000, 4000, or 7000-level finance course
- Economics 1014 (Principles of Microeconomics) or approved college-level microeconomics course.
If not met prior to entering the MHA degree program, students will meet the prerequisites by taking Accountancy 7310 (Managerial Accounting), Finance 7410 and 7420 (Managerial Finance I and II) and Economics 1014 (Principles of Microeconomics) concurrently with first and second semester MHA courses.
Oral Comprehensives. All health services management students are required to complete successfully an oral examination that enables the faculty to evaluate the student's competency in health services management. The evaluation takes place during the student's final semester.
Emphasis Areas. By carefully choosing courses as professional electives, students can create an emphasis area. For instance, a student who wishes to create an emphasis area in Long-Term Care might elect to take Aging in Contemporary Society and Sociology of Aging. A student who wishes to create an emphasis area in Managed Health Care might elect to take Advanced Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy. Students do not have to choose an emphasis area, however, two professional electives are required regardless of whether an emphasis area is chosen. All professional electives must be approved in advance by the Director of the HSM Program.
| Example Plan of Study (*assumes the need for foundation courses) |
| 1st Fall Semester Accounting prerequisite* |
| 1st Spring Semester Finance prerequisite* |
| Summer HMI 8689 - Field Experience (Internship) |
| 2nd Fall Semester HMI 8450 - Methods of Health Services Research |
| 2nd Spring Semester HMI 8450 - Methods of Health Services Research (EMS project) |
