Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree?
An MHA degree is a professional degree focused on the organization, delivery and management of healthcare and public health systems and services. It is the premier program for those seeking to lead the health systems of the future, especially those looking to be involved in operational leadership roles.
What types of careers can I pursue with an MHA degree?
Program graduates are prepared to advance into leadership positions throughout the broader health system, including hospitals, medical practice management, long-term care, behavioral health services and public health.
Individuals with an MHA degree can often be found working in various settings, including: hospitals; medical group practices; insurance and managed care organizations; long-term care and rehabilitation services; behavioral health systems and addiction services; consulting firms; and local and state health departments. Review a more comprehensive list of potential careers and employers.
What is the job outlook?
Incredibly strong. Highly-trained healthcare leadership professionals are needed to meet the demands of the growing and ever-evolving health sector. Labor data for West Virginia, alone, indicates just over 1,000 new health services administration jobs will become available over the next seven years.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists health administration among the fastest growing occupations, at 20% growth by 2026, and indicates that those with a master’s degree in health administration will be best positioned for obtaining new and better job positions within this growth period.
As of 2017, the median pay for health administrators was $98,350, nearly three-times higher than the median salary for all workers.
Program Structure
How will the program be offered?
The program offers both residential and online tracks. The residential track is for the more traditional student coming right out of undergraduate programs or with one to two years of post-bachelor's work experience.
The online track is comparable to an executive/professional program and ideal for students with an existing master's or professional degree, as well as for those with five or more years of professional work experience, especially in healthcare and/or clinical settings.
Also available are full- and part-time tracks.
What is the difference in course load between full-time and part-time students?
Full-time students will take approximately four courses per semester, with some variance to overall credit load. Doing so allows the full-time student to graduate in two years.
Part-time students can take anywhere from one to three courses per semester. Those who take three courses per semester can complete the degree in three years; two courses per semester leads to a four-year degree completion.
When will classes be held?
Residential classes will generally be held late afternoons to accommodate work schedules and allow students to fulfill internship and administrative residency placements.
How many students are expected per course?
The MHA residential and online cohorts will each generally be capped at 25 students, with an expected 20-30 students per course.
Will the online courses be held at a certain time?
Online courses will primarily be offered asynchronously (at your own time/pace). Some electives offered in conjunction with other colleges/academic units may adhere to a different schedule, but those courses will be an exception. The Online MHA is designed to be completed entirely online.
What courses will be included in the program?
A full list of the courses can be found here, under "required courses."
Is an accelerated program track available?
While the program can be completed part-time, due to highly-intentional course sequencing and timing of course offerings, it is not possible to complete the degree in less than the full-time, two-year (four semester) plan of study.
WVU MHA Program Features
What distinguishes an MHA degree program from other programs that sound similar? Which one should I choose?
There are a variety of programs that, initially, seem very similar to an MHA program. But, in many respects, there are integral differences between those programs and the WVU MHA program. Following are a few distinguishing factors about the WVU MHA program and some guidance on how to choose the best program for you.
- The WVU MHA is a highly-specialized, tailored degree that addresses the unique challenges, opportunities, needs and contexts of the healthcare industry throughout the curriculum.
- Students in an MHA program are given comprehensive examples, case studies, projects, presentations, exams and instructional material that are specific to the health industry.
- The MHA program is taught entirely through the lens of healthcare and population health by leading healthcare and health systems experts in a way that other degree programs simply don’t offer; for example, Healthcare MBA programs generally add two to three health-related courses, but generally lack the breadth, depth and overall professional context and application of the MHA.
- As the only program in West Virginia to be granted membership in the Association for University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), West Virginia University MHA 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.
If you are interested in becoming an administrative leader in the health sector, you should consider the unique benefit of an MHA degree -- one that is not offered by any other professional credential.
How do I find a good program?
The most important consideration is finding an accredited program. The gold standard for accreditation in healthcare management education is provided by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). The WVU MHA program will be entering into candidacy with CAHME, and has been designed to adhere to CAHME’s rigorous standards of excellence. As a new program, the WVU MHA program will be eligible to apply for accreditation after the CAHME-designated time period.
There are programs at other reputable institutions that are accredited through agencies such as the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), but CAHME is the only organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education to specifically accredit programs in healthcare management education. The WVU School of Public Health is the only accredited public health program in the state, fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
"Fit" is also key.
In addition to accreditation, it is most important to find a program where you feel that you fit. National rankings are alluring, but can be deceptive. Often the culture in the program or larger class sizes are not as conducive to student development or collegiality as you might want. As you explore potential programs, consider the following:
- Where you will be living and working;
- The school's partnerships with local and regional healthcare organizations - which are are key to successful practice-based experiences (i.e., internships and/or residencies); and
- The faculty and current students - take advantage of opportunities to talk with them and ask questions.