The Master’s degree in Health Administration (MHA) is a 39-credit interdisciplinary program of study designed to prepare graduate students and practicing professionals for innovative careers and advancement in health administration. The MHA program at Valparaiso University is grounded in the Lutheran Church’s longstanding history of active engagement in health issues-through hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, other health care facilities, and indemnity programs. The practitioner-teacher model used in the program, provides faculty with the most current practice applications for courses. Graduates of the MHA program will be prepared with health administration leadership competencies to accept management and administrative roles in the rapidly evolving and changing enterprise of health care. The program is offered in a face-to-face and online format through synchronous and asynchronous coursework.
The curriculum is designed so that graduates achieve proficiency in the following areas:
- Demonstrate proficiency in collecting, managing, and interpreting data/information relevant to the delivery of efficient and effective health care services.
- Evaluate the relationship between health care administration and broader issues related to research, inquiry, information management, health care services, finance, and business.
- Analyze legal and ethical issues related to the delivery of health care services.
- Promote the health of persons in dynamic health care environments.
- Apply principles of health care administration in health care practices.
The program is open to both professionals in health care and new entrants to the field. Furthermore, the flexibility in delivery format of the program enables completion as either a part-time or full-time student.
Students may be eligible for admission to this program as an Early Entry student. See here for more information.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are required to meet the standard admission criteria for graduate students (see here ), including:
- A GPA of 3.000. If below, may be admitted on a conditional basis for the first nine credits of the program.
- Two letters of reference, at least one of which needs to be from an employer or academic advisor.
- A basic course in statistics.
- An essay indicating reasons for studying health administration.
- A non-native English speaker is required to have a minimum TOEFL (IBT version) 82 or IELTS 6.5.
- Allowance of six graduate credits, with grades of B or higher, may be transferred in credit. For international graduate credit transfer, a professional transcript agency evaluation is required, with the cost for the external evaluation borne by the student.
Curriculum
The curriculum has both online and on-site components, and is designed so that full-time students can complete the degree in 18 - 24 months. Part-time students will typically require about 30-36 months. The curriculum establishes a basic foundation in business principles, followed by specific applications to the field of health care. Students already having a business foundation may, upon approval of the academic advisor, substitute with other coursework.
An important component of the program is the experiential learning coursework, namely the internship, totaling 3 credits.
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