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Master of Healthcare Administration Program

Your flexible UIU Healthcare Administration degree is your ticket to career opportunities in nursing home administration, hospitals, clinics, public health, insurance, and even human resources and human services. As a UIU graduate, you will have the knowledge, skills, and leadership traits employers demand in the people they hire.

Why Master of Healthcare Administration at UIU?

  • A flexible leadership degree that opens doors, not only in healthcare, but to a number of other industries as well.
  • No GRE/GMAT required for those with a bachelor’s degree and 2.75 cumulative GPA Admissions Requirements
  • Accelerated completion to fit your life – complete your MHA in a little over one year!
  • Employment in many healthcare sectors, not just hospitals.
  • A robust job market, where demand is high for healthcare administration majors.
  • Unique MHA Link program for undergraduates, allowing even faster completion and a seamless transition from a Health Services Administration major to the Master of Healthcare Administration.
  • All the advantages of Upper Iowa University’s flexible online program.

Areas of Emphasis

UIU MHA students can choose from the following areas of emphasis.

  • General Leadership
  • Population Health Management
  • Senior Living Services
  • Healthcare Data Analytics

Upcoming Start Dates

Session 4: March 10, 2025
Session 5: May 12, 2025
Session 6: July 7, 2025


Amanda Carr, MHA student

Amanda Carr

Current MHA Student & Licensed Long-Term Care Administrator

I selected Upper Iowa because of the online program and flexibility that it offers while operating two long-term care facilities and still enjoying life. Upper Iowa's advisors and professors have all been great to work with, answering questions, encouraging growth, and understanding that, as a non-traditional student, flexibility is a must.

Explore Your Program

Healthcare Administration Courses

See the full curriculum and course descriptions for the classes you need for your Healthcare Administration degree.

Academic Calendar

Keep up with your academic program’s registration deadlines, session dates, holiday breaks and exam schedules.

Careers in Healthcare Administration

As a UIU graduate, you will have the knowledge, skills, and leadership traits employers demand in the people they hire.

MHA Courses & Curriculum

Upper Iowa’s Master of Healthcare Administration degree consists of 42 credits of graduate-level coursework.

MHA Degree Requirements

The Upper Iowa University Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree requires a minimum of 42 semester credits of graduate level coursework with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for completion. At UIU, three-semester credit courses are scheduled in five eight-week sessions and one six-week session.

The students complete 33 semester credit hours in core requirements including a capstone course, and 9 semester credit hours in a chosen area of emphasis.

Students entering the MHA programs are required to hold a BS or BA degree.

Credits Needed:
MHA Core Classes = 33 credits
Emphasis Area = 9 credits
Total MHA Credits = 42 credits

Core MHA Program

The Master of Healthcare Administration degree requires 33 core credits.

Curriculum

  • Healthcare Organizational Behavior & Leadership
  • Human Resource Management in Healthcare Organizations
  • Marketing & Strategic Planning in Healthcare
  • Healthcare Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management
  • Population Health Management
  • Introduction to Healthcare Systems
  • Healthcare Quality Assessment and Improvement
  • Healthcare Financial Management
  • Healthcare Economics
  • Healthcare Law & Ethics

MHA Program Capstone

MHA students can choose between BA590, a thesis option, and PA590, a capstone experience.

  • HA 590 Healthcare Capstone
  • PA 590

MHA in Management and General Leadership Emphasis

This emphasis area is designed to help prepare students for director-level and leadership positions in a wide range of healthcare settings. Through the coursework, students will focus on best practices for directing and organizing healthcare resources and services within various environments. Focus is placed on building leadership skills that can help students effectively address organizational and community needs.

Curriculum

  • HSA 306 – Long-Term Care Administration
  • HSA 312 – Community and Public Health
  • ECON 455 – Economics of Health and Health Care

MHA in Healthcare Data Analytics Emphasis

Big data is transforming the healthcare industry relative to improving the quality of care and reducing costs. Healthcare providers are looking for professionals who can extract, analyze, and interpret data from patient health records, insurance claims, financial records, and more, to tell a compelling and actionable story using healthcare data analytics.

Curriculum

  • HA 539 – Healthcare Informatics Technology Management OR
    PA 539 – Healthcare Informatics Technology Management
  • HA 540 – Decision Analysis in Healthcare
  • HA 545 – Data Management and Visual Analytics

MHA in Population Health Management Emphasis

This emphasis area is designed to help prepare students to build core competencies to lead and manage complex, population-based healthcare initiatives and programs. Through the coursework, students will examine health determinants and outcomes using a population health framework. Focus is placed on preparing those in healthcare leadership roles to understand and analyze healthcare data that drives the creation of policies and interventions aimed at improving health outcomes, reducing disparities, and improving the healthcare system.

Curriculum

  • PA 503 – Research Methods for Public Administration
  • PA 528 – Politics of Poverty, Inequality, and Health Policy
  • HA 530 – Population Health Informatics 3 Credit(s)

MHA in Senior Living Services Emphasis

The senior population is growing at a rapid rate, driving an increased demand for diverse senior living services. This emphasis area will prepare students to work and make a meaningful impact in the rapidly expanding senior living industry. Strong leaders will be needed across various sectors, including nursing home administration, assisted living, retirement communities, home health services, rehabilitation services, and hospice care. Nursing home administrators, in particular, play a crucial role in ensuring quality care and efficient management, making this a rewarding and essential career path within senior living.

Curriculum

  • BA 509 – Theories of Leadership OR PA 509 – Theories of Leadership
  • HA 551 – Introduction to Gerontology
  • HA 555 – Senior Services Administration

Master of Health Care Administration Admissions Requirements

MHA Admissions Requirements

To be eligible for our MHA degree program, students must:

  • Have a baccalaureate degree from a institution accredited by an agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Post-secondary Education (USDE-OPE) or by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). If your degree is from a non-U.S. institution, you’ll need an English translation or evaluation of your transcript.
  • Have at least a 2.75 GPA in their undergraduate coursework or a 3.0 on the most recent 60 semester credits of undergraduate work. Minimum GPA may vary by program.
    • Many factors go into an admissions decision. Earning the minimum GPA does not guarantee admission to Upper Iowa, and students with a lower GPA may still be considered.
  • Provide official transcripts from the college/university where the baccalaureate degree was conferred. If you have earned graduate-level credit at another institution, provide those transcripts for transfer opportunities. Transcripts must be submitted directly from the granting institution—they cannot pass through your hands.
  • Submit documentation of English proficiency, if an international student.

Graduate students may also submit GRE or GMAT scores.

Send all required documents to:
Upper Iowa University
PO Box 1857
Fayette, IA 52142

Admissions Process

When you’re ready to apply for your Master of Healthcare Administration, we’re ready to help you every step of the way.

Health Services Administration

A bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration is a perfect lead-in to the Master of Healthcare Administration. Learn more about your options!

UIU Student on computer

Convenient, Focused Scheduling

UIU Healthcare Administration students have the advantage of focusing on fewer classes at once with the Two-at-a-Time schedule. Plus, convenient online courses ensure your education fits your unique lifestyle.

Woman studying with her laptop

Careers in Healthcare Administration

By earning your Master’s in Healthcare Administration online with Upper Iowa, you will gain the knowledge and skills for careers in nursing home administration, medical and health services management, health informatics management, and hospital administration, to name a few.

Master’s in Health Administration Salary and Job Outlook 

Healthcare became the largest private-sector employer in the United States (US) in 2018 and continues to experience growth (US Census Bureau, 2018). According to US Labor Statistics (2021), growth in healthcare management positions is expected to grow at a rate of 32% between now and 2030. This is much faster than the average growth rate for other occupations. The median income for healthcare managers was $104,280 as of May 2020.

Dr. Melissa Reed

MHA Faculty Spotlight

Melissa Reed, DHA, MSW, MBA
Director, Health Administration Program

I am the Director and an educator of the Healthcare Administration program for undergraduate and graduate students. The healthcare administration program at Upper Iowa is built on the principles of preparing students to be leaders in the healthcare industry in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and/or medical facilities. I am excited to bring over 20 years of experience into the classroom to illustrate real-life examples and practicability.

Find the answers to students’ most frequently asked questions about UIU’s MHA program. If you don’t see the answer you need, contact us for help.

How long does it take to complete the MHA program?

Most people complete their Master’s in Healthcare Administration in a little over one year.

What can I do with a Master’s in Healthcare Administration?

With a Master’s in Healthcare Administration (MHA), you can pursue leadership roles in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and healthcare consulting firms. Graduates often take on positions like healthcare administrator, clinical director, operations manager, or healthcare consultant.

Can I earn my Master’s in Healthcare Administration online?

Yes, you can earn your Master’s in Healthcare Administration (MHA) online at UIU. Our program is designed to offer flexible online courses that allow you to balance your studies with your professional and personal commitments, making it possible to advance your career in healthcare administration from anywhere.

What’s the difference between a Master’s in Healthcare Administration vs Healthcare Management?

The main difference between a Master’s in Healthcare Administration (MHA) and Healthcare Management lies in their focus areas. An MHA typically concentrates on the day-to-day operations of healthcare organizations, such as hospitals and clinics, covering areas like healthcare policy, finance, and quality management. It prepares students for roles in leadership and administration within healthcare facilities.

Healthcare Management, on the other hand, focuses on the broader business aspects of running healthcare organizations, including strategic planning, marketing, and organizational leadership. It’s more about managing the business side of healthcare, often aimed at roles like practice management or healthcare consulting.

What’s the difference between MPH vs MHA degree programs?

The difference between a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) is their focus and career outcomes. MPH programs emphasize public health principles, such as epidemiology, health promotion, and disease prevention, preparing students to address community health issues and develop public health policies, while MHA programs concentrate on the management and administration of healthcare organizations, covering areas like healthcare finance, operations, and policy to equip students for leadership roles in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.