Master of Health Administration (MHA)

A Master of Health Administration is a professional degree focused on the organization, delivery, management and financing of health services and public health systems. It is the premier program for those seeking to lead the health organizations and health systems of the future.

The School of Public Health MHA program prepares students for promising careers leading innovative population health-oriented organizations. Graduates leave our program with the skills necessary to work in a variety of health services and public health settings, such as hospitals, medical group practices, long-term and rehabilitation care, behavioral health, healthcare consulting, managed care, health insurance and health departments. Students will also be well-prepared for post-graduate administrative fellowships.

The program offers full flexibility with full-time, part-time, residential and online options available. 

As the only program in West Virginia to be part of a Council on Education for Public Health-accredited School of Public Health and be granted a graduate membership in the Association for University Programs in Health Administration, our MHA students and faculty have exclusive access to resource-rich networks, maintaining the program's delivery of cutting-edge health administration and training.

Program Overview

The MHA program at WVU focuses on providing students with both a breadth and depth of knowledge in areas critical to success as an administrative leader in the health sector.

The program requires 35 credits of courses in leadership and management; project management; quality improvement; healthcare finance; health policy, law and ethics; among others. Importantly, robust practice-based internships, professional development activities and other experiential opportunities allow students to apply the competencies and skills learned in the classroom and provide opportunities to network with health services leaders.

Internship Experience 

All MHA students complete a health administration internship as a required component to the MHA program. Internships provide opportunities to apply the skills our students are learning in the classroom in practical ways that make an impact. A variety of placements are available through the program’s local, state, regional and national partners in health services and public health systems. Students working full-time can complete the internship with their current organization.

Professional Development and Career Readiness

The MHA program incorporates four semesters of professional development seminars to assure our students are equipped with the essential skills and professionalism required of today’s health leaders. This begins with extensive orientation sessions that offer team-building activities and meet-and-greets of MHA alumni and friends of the program. The professional development seminars include guest speakers who are leaders in the health sector and address topics such as networking, resume writing, job interview skills, etiquette, conflict resolution, negotiation, emotional intelligence and other essential leadership skills.

Learning Goals

The MHA competency model is the basis on which our curriculum is developed. As students go through the MHA program, they develop 21 competencies across five domains:

1. Communication and Relationship Management
2. Leadership Skills
3. Professionalism
4. Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment
5. Business and Analytical Skills

By the end of the MHA program, each student will be competent on most of the 21 competencies listed below, and therefore be ready for entry- and mid-career positions in the health sector.

Communication and Relationship Management

• Build collaborative and productive communication and relationships.
• Apply negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Prepare effective business communications.
• Demonstrate professional oral communication and presentation skills.

Leadership Skills

• Apply methods and techniques related to the leadership and management of health services organizations, employees and professional staff.
• Generate self-awareness through self-assessment and reflection to lead others effectively.
• Assess the potential impacts and consequences of decisions in a broad variety of situations.
• Apply problem-solving and evidence-based techniques to health services decisions.

Professionalism

• Apply ethical decision-making principles in analyzing clinical/business situations and making decisions.
• Fulfill one’s professional commitment.
• Practice community engagement and service.
• Operate as a team member and team leader to meet the goals of a project.

Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment

• Examine issues in health services, including circumstances causing major changes in health systems and services.
• Analyze the legal principles and policies' impacts, such as compliance or conflict of interest, risk management and governing bodies relevant to health services organizations.
• Comprehend the determinants of health disparities and inequities in health status, health services access and use in various communities.

Business and Analytic Skills

• Formulate an evidence-based strategy, change and/or innovation based on environmental analysis, development of alternatives and discernment of a competitive advantage.
• Apply principles and concepts of quality and performance improvement to address relevant problems.
• Analyze health data using data processing tools and methods.
• Interpret quantitative information to inform decision making.
• Manage projects, organizational challenges or objectives through the complete process from planning to implementation and assessment.
• Apply economic principles to evaluate the impacts of decisions on individuals and health services organizations. 

Required Courses

The MHA curriculum requires 35 credit hours. Most students complete the curriculum over two academic years. We offer the flexibility needed to students who may want to take less classes each semester and therefore take longer to graduate.

The two-year plan of study with an August start is the following:

Fall Semester of Year 1 (10 credits total)

• HPML 522: Introduction to Data Analytics for Health Administration (3 credits)
• HPML 575: Health Insurance and Revenue Cycle (3 credits)
• HPML 582: Managing Quality Improvement in Healthcare (3 credits)
• HPML 596: Graduate Seminar (1 credit)

Spring Semester of Year 1 (10 credits total)

• HPML 523: Healthcare Finance (3 credits)
• HPML 555: Health Services Project Management (3 credits)
• PUBH 540: Leading and Managing Health Organizations (3 credits)
• HPML 596: Graduate Seminar (1 credit)

Summer of Year 1 (1 credit)

• HPML 626: Internship (1 credit)

Fall Semester of Year 2 (7 credits)

• HPML 556: Managerial Epidemiology and Strategy (3 credits)
• HPML 510: Health Economics (3 credits)
• HPML 696: Graduate Seminar (1 credit)

Spring Semester of Year 2 (7 credits)

• HPML 601: Health Policy, Law, and Ethics (3 credits)
• HPML 659: Comprehensive Experience in Healthcare Management
• HPML 696: Graduate Seminar (1 credit)

Students who join the MHA program without any knowledge of the U.S. health sector are required to take a pre-requisite course during their first semester in the program--HPML 502: U.S. Healthcare Organization and Delivery (3 credits). Students with no background in accounting, finance or healthcare data are asked to take a pre-requisite in accounting during their first semester in the program--ACCT 201: Principle of Accounting (3 credits).      

Teaching and Learning Methods

Our curriculum focuses on an active and real-world learning experience. Faculty and students are highly engaged with practitioners inside and outside of the classroom. Students learn by actively engaging with the materials through case studies, teamwork, healthcare data, consulting projects, presentations, discussions, reflective learning, case competition participation and interactions with guest speakers. Our program offers diverse and impactful external field experiences, such as site visits, internships, conference attendances, being paired with a mentor who is a health executive or administrator, and participation in networking events.

Admissions Guidelines

Residential Admission Guidelines

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
• GPA requirements:
  • Preferred overall GPA of 3.5, minimum 3.0.
  • Applicants with a GPA less than 3.0 will be considered based on professional experience.
• International applicants must submit English language proficiency test score(s). Minimum score requirements are as follows: 
  • Academic IELTS: 6.5 
  • TOEFL iBT: 79
  • PTE Academic: 53
  • Duolingo: 105

Online Admission Guidelines

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
• GPA requirements:
  • Minimum 3.2 GPA if you have no professional experience.
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA if you have three or more years of professional experience.
  • Applicants with a GPA less than 3.0 will be considered based on professional experience.
• International applicants must submit English language proficiency test score(s). Minimum score requirements are as follows: 
  • Academic IELTS: 6.5 
  • TOEFL iBT: 79
  • PTE Academic: 53
  • Duolingo: 105

Application Requirements

• Resume/CV
• Statement of purpose
• Two letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended (foreign transcripts must be evaluated by WES)