The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) program helps prepare healthcare professionals to lead, direct and work within diverse healthcare settings by emphasizing empirical evidence with a focus on applied and experiential learning. From recent graduates looking to make a difference in healthcare, to healthcare professionals and clinicians looking to advance in their careers, this multidisciplinary degree can prepare you to respond to the dynamic, ever changing healthcare profession. The program curriculum is 41 credit hours and is designed to be completed in around two years. We provide a competency-based, higher order learning environment, so that graduates will attain knowledge and skills in the following areas: Leadership, Communication, Relationship Management, Professionalism, Critical Thinking, Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment, and Business and Analytical Skills. The MHA program also includes an integrative/applied capstone and internship experiences in which students engage in hands-on, real-world application of skills in healthcare settings. The program is 100% online.
Admission Requirements
- There are two application tools available to apply for UNMC’s MHA program. Please complete only one MHA application from the options below:
- Applicants who are applying for multiple College of Public Health programs, please complete the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) application.
- Applicants who are applying to only the Master of Health Administration program, please compete the Health Administration, Management, and Policy Application Service (HAMPCAS) application.
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Official transcripts reflecting an earned bachelor’s degree, with a 3.0 or higher grade point average.
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All non-US transcripts must be evaluated by the World Education Service (WES) using their ICAP Course-by-course evaluation service.
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- 3 letters of recommendation
- A personal statement
- Resume or CV
- TOEFL or IELTS Scores are required of all applicants whose primary language is not English or whose undergraduate degree is from a college or university outside of the United States.
MHA Competencies
| Communication and Relationship Management | |
| MHA1A | Communication - Identify, use, and recommend appropriate situational communication channels using professional and interpersonal communication skills to build collaborative and managerial relationships. |
| MHA1B | Writing Skills - Summarize, evaluate and prepare effective business communication using clear, concise and appropriate writing styles. |
| MHA1C | Presentation Skills - Identify, demonstrate and critique presentation and oral communication skills in interprofessional and business settings. |
| Leadership | |
| MHA2A | Leading and Managing Others - Summarize, demonstrate and build management and leadership skills for organizational goal attainment. |
| MHA2B | Change Management - Explain, evaluate and integrate change management to enhance and promote leadership. |
| MHA2C | Ability for Honest Self-assessment - Evaluate leadership skills, knowledge and abilities utilizing feedback and self-reflection. |
| MHA2D | Systems Thinking - Summarize and determine potential impacts and consequences of decisions in a broad variety of contexts. |
| MHA2E | Problem-solving and Decision-making - Explain and apply evidence-based decision making and problem-solving techniques to healthcare dilemmas, negotiations, and questions. |
| Professionalism | |
| MHA3A | Personal and Professional Ethics - Identify and appraise ethical business principles while exhibiting ethical and transparent personal and professional behaviors |
| MHA3B | Working in Teams - Collaborate, communicate effectively and build interprofessional, professional and strategic teams. |
| Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment | |
| MHA4A | Healthcare Issues and Trends - Understand, examine and evaluate issues and trends in healthcare, including circumstances causing major changes and reform in US health care delivery environment. |
| MHA4B | Healthcare Legal Principles - 4.b Healthcare Legal Principles Summarize, apply and evaluate health-related legal principles including standards, regulation and risk management. |
| MHA4C | Health Policy - Demonstrate, analyze and evaluate the impact of health policies on the delivery of health services and formulate policy recommendations |
| MHA4D | Population Health and Status Assessment - Explain, compare and appraise factors influencing population health. |
| Business and Analytical Skills | |
| MHA5A | Financial Management - 5.a Financial Management Interpret, analyze and compile financial data using appropriate business and analytical skills. |
| MHA5B | Human Resources - Suggest, apply and assemble appropriate methods and techniques related to the management of health care employees. |
| MHA5C | Organizational Dynamics and Governance - Summarize and evaluate the roles, responsibilities, structures, and influence governing bodies hold in healthcare organizations. |
| MHA5D | Strategic Planning - Research and generate an environmental analysis to propose strategic alternatives utilizing evidence-based competitive strategies |
| MHA5E | Marketing - Explain, analyze and evaluate markets to include market segmentation, messaging strategy, change and innovation |
| MHA5F | Information Management/ Understanding and Using Technology Skills - Apply information management techniques and utilize technology skills and methods to plan, design, implement, and assess health information management and communications |
| MHA5G | Quality Improvement/Performance Improvement - 5.g Quality Improvement/Performance Improvement Identify quality or performance improvement problems and generate process and patient safety protocols |
| MHA5H | Quantitative Skills - Analyze business and financial data using quantitative methods to include interpreting data and compiling results. |
| MHA5I | Planning and Managing Projects - Research and assemble planning and management projects utilizing appropriate techniques related to performance, structure and outcomes. |
| MHA5J | Economic Analysis and Application - Summarize, apply and analyze economic concepts and decision making in business and healthcare settings. |
The courses in the MHA program are competency based and are offered in alternating sequence. It is important to work with your advisor or the MHA director regarding a plan of study. Electives in the program can be selected from a variety of other online graduate programs at UNMC, UNO, UNL and UNK.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 30 | |
| CPH 500 | FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH | 3 |
| CPH 502 | HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION | 3 |
| CPH 560 | U.S. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM: AN OVERVIEW | 3 |
| CPH 563 | STRATEGIC PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION | 3 |
| CPH 565 | HEALTH CARE FINANCE | 3 |
| CPH 566 | HEALTH POLICY | 3 |
| CPH 569 | HEALTH ADMINISTRATION LEADERSHIP | 3 |
| CPH 570 | HEALTH ADMINISTRATION LAW | 3 |
| CPH 580 | HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY AND BEHAVIOR | 3 |
| MGT840 Healthcare Management I: Managing People (UNK) | 3 | |
| Elective Courses | 6 | |
| Electives will be determine in consultation with the student’s advisor. | ||
| Capstone | 2 | |
| CPH 586 | MASTERS OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION CAPSTONE | 2 |
| Internship | 3 | |
| CPH 585 | MASTERS OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION INTERNSHIP | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 41 | |
CPH 586 - MASTERS OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION CAPSTONE
The capstone is a culminating experience for students in the MHA program. The capstone course requires completion of a comprehensive, competency-based project or research initiative. Students investigate a health administration topic or issue or process and then, under supervision by a capstone committee, develop an approach to analyze, synthesize, and integrate previously learned knowledge into the capstone. This could be a research activity or the development of an applied project. Students will be required to demonstrate an ability to work independently, develop an original work, demonstrate rigor and demonstrate how the capstone advances the health administration profession. This course must be taken in the final semester of the MHA program.
CPH 585 - MASTERS OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION INTERNSHIP:
The internship course provides the opportunity for significant experiential learning. Students are typically placed within a health system or healthcare organization where day-to-day work opportunities arise that offer direct participation and observation. Skills and knowledge learned during the internship and the completion of the course helps prepare the student for career placement within the healthcare industry.