Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) Graduate Degree

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 30 semester credit hours in core requirements including a capstone course, and then complete requirements in their chosen emphasis area.

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

Credits Needed:
MHA Core Classes = 30 credits
Emphasis Area = 9-30 credits
Total MHA Credits = 42-54 credits

Required Courses

• HA 505 – Healthcare Organizational Behavior and Leadership
• HA 510 – Human Resource Management in Healthcare Organizations
• HA 515 – Marketing and Strategic Planning in Healthcare
• HA 520 – Healthcare Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management
• HA 525 – Population Health Management
• HA 531 – Introduction to Healthcare Systems
• HA 534 – Healthcare Economics
• HA 536 – Healthcare Law and Ethics
• HA 537 – Healthcare Quality Assessment and Improvement
• HA 538 – Healthcare Financial Management

Total Credits: 30

As the senior population grows, so does the need for skilled, compassionate leaders in long-term care. The Senior Living Services emphasis prepares you to meet licensure requirements and qualifies you to sit for Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) board exams.

Through the focused coursework and required 1,000-hour internship of the Senior Living Services emphasis, you’ll gain experience, leadership and regulatory knowledge to make a real impact in nursing homes, assisted living, rehabilitation, and hospice care.

Requirements

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

Internship

Internship requirement consists of four sessions; each involving 250 in person hours and awarding 3 credits. In total, students complete 1,000 hours of in-person internship experience, earning 12 credits.

• HA 503 – Internship

Note: Internship must be completed in a SNF/ICF licensed nursing home facility with a licensed nursing home administrator in good standing and approved by program director to meet NAB requirements.

Total Credits: 21

The General Leadership emphasis 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.

Requirements

• BA 509 – Theories of Leadership
• HA 535 – Healthcare Operation
• HA 540 – Decision Analysis in Healthcare
• HA 590 – Healthcare Capstone
  • Note: MHA students who take HA 590 will be assessed a course fee for Peregrine.

Total Credits: 12

UIU’s HA 503 internship only option allows an approved student to complete their 1,000-hour supervised field experience required by LNHA board exams.

The HA 503 internship requirement consists of four sessions; each involving 250 in person hours and awarding 3 credits. Typically the internship takes place at multiple SNF/ICF licensed nursing home facilities with a licensed nursing home administrator in good standing and approved by the program director to meet NAB requirements.

Curriculum

• HA 503 Internship.

Total Credits: 12

Internship Only Option Note

Before applying for the internship-only option, we recommend you reach out to UIU’s MHA program director, Melissa Reed for a consultation!

Contact MHA Program Director

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

• Have a baccalaureate degree from an 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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

For those who want to lead or manage a healthcare setting.

• Healthcare professionals: Those looking to transition into healthcare administration or seek leadership roles within the industry.
• Business and IT professionals: Individuals with a background in business, IT, or finance who wish to apply their skills in healthcare management.
• Public health professionals: Those with a focus on public health who want to advance their careers in healthcare administration.
• Nurses and clinicians: Professionals in the clinical field who wish to move into supervisory or executive roles within healthcare.
• Medical technologists: Technologists looking to take on leadership responsibilities in healthcare settings.

The MHA degree is a versatile credential that can lead to a variety of health care management jobs, providing the tools to manage teams, drive system improvements, and influence policy. It is particularly beneficial for those who have a strong interest in the healthcare industry and wish to contribute to improving healthcare systems and patient outcomes.

Ideal for candidates wanting to change careers, transition into the health care industry, seeking to transition from clinical job duties into management, supervisory or executive roles.

The Senior Living Services area of emphasis includes a 1,000-hour practicum which qualifies you to apply for NAB licensure in any state.

The Senior Living Services emphasis is selected by students who are wanting to pursue a nursing home administrator license in any state and/or manage a senior housing organization (assisted living, residential living).

Students who choose General Leadership emphasis complete a capstone project, and is typically a great fit for healthcare business leaders prepare for leadership roles across a variety of healthcare settings.

A degree in healthcare administration prepares a student to work in healthcare management or leadership in a variety of settings.

Examples include healthcare clinic manager (home healthcare, laboratory, doctors’ office), hospital administration, assisted living director, hospice administrator, compliance director, regulatory officer and more.