Health Administration, M.H.A.

General Program Information

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Amal J. Khoury, Ph.D., MPH, Professor and Chair
College of Public Health
Lamb Hall 167
Box 70264
(423) 439-4937
e-mail: khoury@etsu.edu

Ryan Youngblood, MHA, NHA MHA Program Director
Lamb Hall 142
(423) 439-4115
email: youngbloodr@etsu.edu

Faculty: Manik Ahuja; Casey Balio; Kate Beatty; Nathan Hale; Jennifer Hunt; Amal Khoury; Hadii Mamudu; Wondi Manalew; Sylvester Orimaye; Michael Smith; Ryan Youngblood.

The Master of Health Administration (MHA) is a professional degree preparing graduates for leadership positions in health care administration. The MHA equips students with the management, analytic, and strategic thinking skills necessary to lead health services organizations and improve population health. The health care industry is rapidly growing and changing, and demand for graduate training in health administration is at an all-time high. MHA students gain business and management skills specific to the health services industry, giving them a competitive employment advantage across the full spectrum of health services organizations. The MHA is a rigorous program accredited through the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH).

This program allows the student to follow one of two tracks:

1. An Executive MHA track designed for working health services professionals seeking to advance to executive leadership positions. Students complete 42-45 credits of coursework including an applied capstone project. Students utilize past managerial experience to accelerate their degree progress while enriching the learning experience of their classmates.
2. A Standard MHA track for students who do not have workplace experience but who have completed an undergraduate degree from any field of study. Students complete 48-51 credits of coursework including studies in health administration careers, an applied capstone project, and an administrative internship.

Both tracks are available on-ground and 100% online, on a full-time or part-time basis, allowing students the flexibility to balance school, work and family.

Competencies

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ETSU’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) program prepares innovative leaders by developing student competency in four pillars of health administration: Finance, Quality, Policy & Regulation, and People & Partnerships. Each of these pillars incorporates methods of Leadership and Communication into the core of their coursework to ensure that these leaders are resilient and are fully capable of driving Population Health Improvement.

Finance

• Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
• Apply key principles of accounting and financial management in health services organizations.
• Discuss main components and issues of the organization, financing and delivery of health services in the U.S.
• Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decisions.
• Apply principles of strategic planning and marketing in health services organizations.

Quality

• Select methods to evaluate health programs.
• Analyze data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as appropriate.
• Select data collection methods appropriate for a given health context.
• Interpret results of data analysis for health research, policy or practice.
• Apply quality and performance improvement concepts and tools to address organizational performance.
• Apply systems thinking tools to a health issue.
• Utilize analytical methods and informatics resources to investigate health and health services.
• Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.

Policy & Regulation

• Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
• Demonstrate written and oral skills for communicating health policy and management issues with different audiences.
• Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
• Apply legal and ethical principles to issues of health services management and policy analysis.
• Apply principles of human resources management in health services organizations.
• Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ health.

People & Partnerships

• Perform effectively on interprofessional teams (teams and teamwork, values and ethics).
• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
• Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
• Leverage health data and leadership skills to facilitate/inform organizational or community change.
• Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing health outcomes.
• Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of health policies or programs.

Program Admission Requirements

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Applicants to this program are required to use the online Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) which can be accessed at http://www.sophas.org. Please check the SOPHAS web site for the application deadlines for your desired start term.

The priority application deadline for Fall admission is February 1st (for early admissions decision and early consideration for Graduate Assistantships and Tuition Scholarships).

Admission to the graduate program in health administration is based upon scholarship, letters of recommendation, and evidence of potential for success in a graduate program, including a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 for domestic applicants and 3.0 for international applicants.  Application materials include transcripts, three letters of recommendation from academic or professional references, a Statement of Purpose, and a resume/CV.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission. Applicants with a GPA of less than 3.20 are encouraged to submit the GRE or GMAT scores with their application. 

For additional information, please contact the MHA Program Director, publichealth@etsu.edu.

Graduation Policy

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Candidates for the MHA degree must complete all the requirements pertaining to the degree and the University as stipulated in the Graduate Catalog. Students must maintain a GPA at 3.0 or above in order to qualify for graduation.

Articulation Agreement

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Students who have completed the Health Care Management Graduate Certificate and subsequently are admitted into the Master of Health Administration may have up to thirteen (13) of the certificate credits applied toward the degree program of study as long as the courses fall within the matriculation limits and a grade of B (3.0) or better was earned for the course.