Master in Health Administration

Zahi Jurdi, D.H.A., Division Director

Healthcare facilities are increasingly complex to manage due to a number of factors: increased governmental regulation, demand for accountability, advances in healthcare technology, the changing demographics of the country, and the variety of reimbursement systems. There is a pressing need for qualified healthcare administrators to plan, organize, direct, and control their organization's resources. Career opportunities abound for capable, highly skilled individuals. To help meet this need, the Master in Health Administration program in the College of Health Professions offers the MHA degree in two formats: one is a full-time traditional day program (residential format) and one is an executive format, which includes blended courses which have on-campus classes over an extended weekend three times per year, with online delivery of remaining course content.

Residential MHA

The Residential MHA Program prepares students who have limited knowledge of Health care with the required knowledge and skills to enter and ultimately advance in health care management positions. Concepts presented in class are reinforced and applied in practice settings throughout the students’ program of study. Students take classes during the day as full-time students. Upon completion of program requirements, they are prepared to compete for administrative fellowships or employment.

Executive MHA

The Executive MHA program develops working health care professionals by providing the needed knowledge and skills for advancement in the health care industry. Classes are delivered online with on-campus visits one weekend each semester. Students may attend part-time, full-time, or in a part-time/full-time hybrid format. Each format is year-round and requires 54 credit hours.

Part-Time Format

The part-time program begins in the summer semester each year. Students complete two classes each semester for nine semesters. Applications close on April 15 and classes start in May.

Full-Time Format

The full-time program begins in the summer semester year. Students complete three classes each semester for six semesters. Applications close on April 15 and classes start in May.

Flex Format

The flex format begins in the fall semester each year. The schedule varies between a part-time and full-time format for the duration of the program. Students take two classes per semester in the fall and spring, and three classes in the summer, for eight semesters. Applications close July 15 and classes start in August.

Accelerated Tracks Physician/Doctoral-Prepared Clinician Advanced Standing Track

This accelerated track is for physicians or individuals who have earned a clinical doctorate or a terminal degree in their field. In recognition of the training they have completed, the program is reduced to 45 credit hours instead of the traditional 54. The program begins in the fall semester, and students may attend part-time or full-time. Applications close on July 15, and classes start in August.

BS in Healthcare Studies Accelerated Track

This accelerated track is available only to individuals who have completed the online BS in Healthcare Studies Accelerated EMHA Pathway program. Students are eligible to have those courses waived in the EMHA program by completing five graduate-level classes during their course of study in the bachelor's program. The program is offered full-time and begins in the spring semester each year. Students complete three classes each semester for four semesters for a total of 45 credit hours. Applications close on December 1, and classes start in January.

Accreditation

The Master in Health Administration program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).

Admissions

Learn more about the admission steps and requirements for the program.

Curriculum

Year 1, Fall

HAP 737 Organization Theory and 3
HAP 721 Health Care Delivery Systems 3
HAP 725 Statistical Analysis in Health 3
HAP 726 Financial Mgmt for HC Org I 3
HAP 756 Executive Skills I 1
Semester Total 13

Year 1, Spring

HAP 705 Health Economics 3
HAP 729 Financial Mgmt for HC Org II 3
HAP 730 Healthcare Project Management 3
HAP 738 Management & Health 3
HAP 632 Quality Management of Health Care Services 3
Semester Total 15

Year 1, Summer

HAP 735 Health Law & Risk Management 3
HAP 754 Summer Internship 10
Semester Total 13

Year 2, Fall

HAP 620 Healthcare Reimbursement Systems 3
HAP 704 Health Policy 3
HAP 740 Human Resource Management 3
HAP 753 Seminar in Ethical Leadership 3
IP 711 IP Foundations & Teamstepps 1
IP ### IP Concentration Course of Choice 1
Semester Total 14

Year 2, Spring

HAP 722 Health Behavior and Epidemiology 3
HAP 744 Decision Analytics 3
HAP 746 Strategic Management & Marketing 3
ELEC 1 Elective is Required 3
Semester Total 12
Curriculum Total 67

Executive

Year 1, Summer

HAP 726 Financial Mgmt for HC Org I 3
HAP 721 Health Care Delivery Systems 3
HAP 737 Organization Theory and 3
Semester Total 9

Year 1, Fall

HAP 725 Statistical Analysis in Health 3
HAP 738 Management & Health 3
HAP 729 Financial Mgmt for HC Org II 3
Semester Total 9

Year 1, Spring

HAP 744 Decision Analytics 3
HAP 735 Health Law & Risk Management 3
HAP 705 Health Economics 3
Semester Total 9

Year 2, Summer

HAP 620 Healthcare Reimbursement Systems 3
HAP 632 Quality Management of Health Care Services 3
HAP 730 Healthcare Project Management 3
Semester Total 9

Year 2, Fall

HAP 753 Seminar in Ethical Leadership 3
HAP 704 Health Policy 3
HAP 740 Human Resource Management 3
Semester Total 9

Year 2, Spring

HAP 722 Health Behavior & Epidemiology 3
HAP 746 Strategic Management & Marketing 3
ELEC 1 Elective is Required 3
Semester Total 9
Curriculum Total 54

Year 1, Summer

HAP 721 Health Care Delivery Systems 3
HAP 737 Organization Theory and 3
Semester Total 6

Year 1, Fall

HAP 725 Statistical Analysis in Health 3
HAP 740 Human Resource Management 3
Semester Total 6

Year 1, Spring

HAP 744 Decision Analytics 3
HAP 735 Health Law and Risk Management 3
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Summer

HAP 726 Financial Mgmt for HC Org I 3
HAP 730 Healthcare Project Management 3
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Fall

HAP 738 Management and Health 3
HAP 729 Financial Mgmt for HC Org II 3
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Spring

HAP 705 Health Economics 3
ELEC 1 Elective is Required 3
Semester Total 6

Year 3, Summer

HAP 620 Healthcare Reimbursement Syste 3
HAP 632 Quality Management of Health Care Services 3
Semester Total 6

Year 3, Fall

HAP 753 Seminar in Ethical Leadership 3
HAP 704 Health Policy 3
Semester Total 6

Year 3, Spring

HAP 722 Health Behavior and Epidemiology 3
HAP 746 Strategic Management & Marketing 3
Semester Total 6
Curriculum Total 54

Year 1, Fall

HAP 740 Human Resource Management 3
HAP 725 Statistical Analysis in Health 3
Semester Total 6

Year 1, Spring

HAP 744 Decision Analytics 3
HAP 735 Health Law and Risk Management 3
Semester Total 6

Year 1, Summer

HAP 726 Financial Mgmt for HC Org I 3
HAP 721 Health Care Delivery Systems 3
HAP 737 Organization Theory 3
Semester Total 9

Year 2, Fall

HAP 753 Seminar in Ethical Leadership 3
HAP 729 Financial Mgmt for HC Org II 3
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Spring

HAP 705 Health Economics 3
ELEC 1 Elective is required 3
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Summer

HAP 620 Healthcare Reimbursement Systems 3
HAP 632 Quality Management of Health Care Services 3
HAP 730 Healthcare Project Management 3
Semester Total 9

Year 3, Fall

HAP 738 Management and Health 3
HAP 704 Health Policy 3
Semester Total 6

Year 3, Spring

HAP 722 Health Behavior and Epidemiology 3
HAP 746 Strategic Management & Marketing 3
Semester Total 6
Curriculum Total 54

The Accelerated Pathway EMHA track is for qualified graduates of the MUSC Bachelor of Healthcare Studies.

Year 1, Spring

HAP 735 Health Law and Risk Management 3
HAP 705 Health Economics 3
HAP 730 Healthcare Project Management 3
Semester Total 9

Year 1, Summer

HAP 726 Financial Mgmt for HC Org I 3
HAP 632 Quality Management of Health Care Services 3
HAP 620 Healthcare Reimbursement Systems 3
Semester Total 9

Year 1 Fall

HAP 729 Financial Mgmt for HC Org II 3
HAP 738 Management and Health 3
HAP 740 Human Resource Management 3
HAP 753 Seminar in Ethical Leadership 3
Semester Total 12

Year 2, Spring

HAP 746 Strategic Management & Marketing 3
HAP 704 Health Policy 3
HAP 744 Decision Analytics 3
Semester Total 9
Curriculum Total 39

The Physician/Clinical Advanced standing track allows physicians, or clinicians with doctoral degrees to be admitted to the EMHA program with advanced standing eligible to complete the degree in 45 credit hours.

Year 1, Fall

HAP 740 Human Resource Management 3
HAP 738 Management and Health 3
DHA 802 Healthcare Leadership 3
Semester Total 9

Year 1, Spring

HAP 705 Health Economics 3
HAP 735 Health Law and Risk Management 3
HAP 744 Decision Analytics 3
Semester Total 9

Year 1, Summer

HAP 726 Financial Mgmt for HC Org I 3
HAP 620 Healthcare Reimbursement Systems 3
HAP 632,
HAP 730,
HAP 721
Quality Management of Health Care Services,
Healthcare Project Management, or
Health Care Delivery Systems
3
Semester Total 9

Year 2, Fall

HAP 729 Financial Mgmt for HC Org II 3
DHA 812
Evidence Based Decision Making  3
HAP 753 Seminar in Ethical Leadership 3
Semester Total 9

Year 2, Spring

HAP 746 Strategic Management & Marketing 3
HAP 704
Health Policy
3
ELEC 1 Elective is required 3
Semester Total 9
Curriculum Total 45

The Physician/Clinical Advanced standing track allows physicians, or clinicians with doctoral degrees to be admitted to the EMHA program with advanced standing eligible to complete the degree in 45 credit hours.

Year 1, Fall

HAP 740 Human Resource Management 3
DHA 802 Healthcare Leadership 3
Semester Total 6

Year 1, Spring

HAP 705 Health Economics 3
HAP 744 Decision Analytics 3
Semester Total 6

Year 1, Summer

HAP 726 Financial Mgmt for HC Org I 3
HAP 632,
HAP 730,
HAP 721
Quality Management of Health Care Services,
HAP*730 Healthcare Project Management, or
HAP*721 Health Care Delivery Systems
3
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Fall

HAP 729 Financial Mgmt for HC Org II 3
HAP 704 Health Policy 3
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Spring

DHA 812 Evidence Based Decision Making 3
ELEC 1 Elective is required 3
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Summer

HAP 620 Healthcare Reimbursement Systems 3
Semester Total 3

Year 3, Fall

HAP 738 Management and Health 3
HAP 753 Seminar in Ethical Leadership 3
Semester Total 6

Year 3, Spring

HAP 735 Health Law and Risk Management 3
HAP 746 Strategic Management & Marketing 3
Semester Total 6
Curriculum Total 45

Approved Electives

Students are eligible to take these courses as electives in the semesters in which they are available:

  • HAP 635. The Language of Medicine, 1 credit hour
  • HAP 743. Managing Across Continuum Care, 3 credit hours
  • HIN 706. Systems Analysis and Design, 3 credit hours