Graduate Programs

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

School of Public Health student with a clipboard consulting with medical professional in a clinical environment.
School of Public Health student consulting with medical professional.

Shaping Our Future Health Leaders

Bring together a passion for healthcare and interest in business for a promising career.

A Master of Health Administration is a professional degree focused on the organization, delivery, management and financing of health services and public health systems. We prepare students for promising careers leading innovative health organizations and health systems of the future.

Students in the Master of Health Administration program are provided both a breadth and depth of knowledge in areas critical to success as an administrative leader in the health sector, including leadership and management; project management; quality improvement; healthcare finance; health policy, law and ethics; and more.

Beyond coursework, robust practice-based internships, professional development activities and other experiential learning opportunities allow students to put the competencies and skills learned in the classroom in to action.

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

AUPHA Membership

As the only program in West Virginia to be granted membership in the Association for University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), West Virginia University students and faculty have exclusive access to a resource-rich network, maintaining the program's delivery of cutting-edge health administration and policy education and training.

CAHME Candidacy

Candidate status is an indication that a program in healthcare management has voluntarily committed to participate in a plan of self-improvement and is actively progressing toward the status of accreditation. Candidate status is not accredited status and does not guarantee eventual accredited status.

Who We Are

From coordinating patient services to streamlining operations and improving access to care, health administration is at the heart of delivering effective health services.

We are strategic leaders who blend business insight with a passion for helping others. We thrive on planning, organizing and managing systems that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives—ensuring quality care, supporting healthcare teams and shaping the future of health delivery systems.

Facts

  • First
    First and only school of public health in West Virginia accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
  • $110,680
    Median annual wage for a medical and health services manager with an advanced degree according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023.

What You’ll Do

You’ll get to choose a career that aligns with your interests and professional goals that can be in a variety of workplace settings, such as hospitals, group medical practices, nursing and residential care facilities, outpatient care centers, insurance companies, physicians’ offices and other health-related organizations. Careers may include: 

Careers are wide-ranging and may include:

  • Department director or administrator
  • Program or service line manager
  • Project manager
  • Human resources manager
  • Quality, safety and/or patient experience specialist or manager
  • Health data analyst
  • Financial analyst
  • Consultant
  • Organization or agency director
  • Health policy expert
Megan Townsend
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
“I chose to study at the WVU School of Public Health, because it is the place I felt like I could make the biggest impact.”
Meet Megan