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Health Administration MHA

Jan. 13, 2025

Next Start Date

16

Courses Required

$894

Cost Per Credit Hour

35

Total Credit Hours

Online Asynchronous

Learning Format

Become a Healthcare Leader

The Master of Health Administration is the premier professional program for those seeking to lead the health services organizations and health systems of the future. Focused on the organization, delivery, management and financing of health services and public health systems, this program will equip you with the skills and insights needed to lead in a variety of health services and public health settings, including hospitals, medical group practices, long-term and rehabilitation care, behavioral health, managed care, healthcare consulting firms and health departments. With both full- and part-time options, as well as other flexible features – including the option to complete your internship experience with your current employer – the MHA program will take you beyond the business of healthcare.

Young female health professional sitting at a desk.


Maximum flexibility

  • With full- and part-time options, the ability to complete your internship with your current employer, the program will accommodate your needs.
  • Strong and diverse partnerships with health organizations and leaders.
  • Exceptional hands-on, real-world learning and networking opportunities.

Take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the School of Public Health’s MHA program, which grants you access to a wealth of local, state and national organizations.

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The MHA program is designed for those who want to build their careers specifically in the healthcare industry. From unparalleled partnerships and internship experiences to exclusive access to leading experts and industry-specific resources, this unique program will help you go further faster as a healthcare leader.

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Candidate status is an indication that a program in healthcare management has voluntarily committed to participate in a plan of self-improvement and is actively progressing toward the status of accreditation. Candidate status is not accredited status and does not guarantee eventual accredited status.

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Jessica Carr, Your Personal Online Admissions Coach

"As a graduate of WVU, I look forward to helping future students begin their own journeys to becoming a Mountaineer. At WVU Online, we are eager to guide you through the enrollment process with ease and want to provide you with the information and resources you need to be successful. Online degrees give everyone an opportunity to further their education and I can’t wait to help you do just that."

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MHA Program Mission, Vision and Values

Mission

The mission of the MHA program is to develop leaders who transform health systems and services in West Virginia and beyond.


Vision

The vision of the MHA program is to be a regionally dominant, nationally prominent professional program recognized for excellence in leadership development and innovation.


Values

The MHA program is guided by the following L.E.A.D. values:

  • Learning: We seek out opportunities to learn and grow individually and collectively.
  • Engagement: We engage and collaborate with the communities we impact.
  • Achievement: We give and expect excellence of each other.
  • Diversity: We value the mosaic of people, places and perspectives; and we commit to treating all with equity, inclusiveness and respect.

Admissions

  • Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a preferred overall GPA of 3.5, minimum of 3.0. Applicants without professional experience must have a minimum GPA of 3.2.
  • Applicants must apply via the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS).
    • Submit as soon as possible. Do not wait for SOPHAS to receive transcripts, recommendations, or test scores.
    • Allow up to four weeks for SOPHAS to verify and process your application.
    • Applications must be complete and verified by SOPHAS by the following deadlines:
      • June 15th for Fall admission (April 15th for international applicants)
      • October 15th for Spring admission
  • Upon acceptance from SOPHAS, students will receive correspondence from the WVU School of Public Health regarding their acceptance and instructions to complete the WVU Graduate application.
    • All application information submitted to SOPHAS will be transferred directly to WVU Admissions
    • Please note: There are both SOPHAS and WVU application fees.

For the SOPHAS application, applicants must submit:

  • A statement of purpose and objectives
  • Two letters of reference
  • A current resume/curriculum vitae
  • All university transcripts (SOPHAS requires original transcripts from ALL U.S. institutions attended, even study abroad)
  • WVU requires international students to submit TOEFL scores
  • Please note: The GRE requirement has been removed for the current application cycle. However, should you choose to submit your official GRE test scores, use WVU School of Public Health SOPHAS GRE code: 0157

Apply Now

Corey Edmonds profile image.

Corey Edmonds

Health Administration MHA
"WVU will ALWAYS be my home among the hills!"

Corey Edmonds chose WVU Online because he was a busy working professional and it allowed him to further his education without having to sacrifice the career progress that he had already made.

"The MHA online program is designed for working professionals and is very student-centric. Now that I have graduated from an online program, I recognize that there are so many benefits that you often don't experience in on-campus courses."
"Since graduating, I have continued to move up the career ladder within my organization with future growth opportunities aplenty."

Corey says the Master of Health Administration prepared him for his career by equipping him with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform confidently and efficiently as a healthcare administrator.

"In my professional life, the skill that I have found most useful is my ability to look at things through a very subjective lens," he says."
"The temptation to submit to your knee-jerk reactions and emotions is often too much to overcome. My education at WVU has taught me to be very subjective and to make sure I do my research so that I can make well-informed decisions."

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Stephanie Prescott

Health Administration MHA
"You are never left to struggle on your own."

Stephanie Prescott chose WVU Online because it gave her more flexibility to attend school, work, and care for her family at the same time.

"Completing schoolwork from home can be difficult, especially with other responsibilities such as work and family," she says. "Time spent on schoolwork should be used wisely and efficiently."

She recommends having a designated space for doing your WVU Online work that is comfortable and that also keeps distractions to a minimum.

Even though she has had to juggle many responsibilities, Stephanie says learning online has been better than she ever expected.

"The MHA program has a wonderful group of professors accustomed to teaching in virtual settings and courses designed for effective online delivery."

She says students should know that instructors and professors are always there to help you with course material and questions.

"You are never left to struggle on your own."

Steve Davis profile image.

Steve Davis

Health Administration MHA
"I promise all my students that I will see them successfully through my courses, provided they are determined to put in the work and effort."
"I originally thought I was going to run nonprofits, and thus pursued graduate degrees in social work and public administration."

His first job after graduate school involved establishing a research program for the WVU Department of Emergency Medicine, where many of the projects sought interventions to reduce suffering and increase the quality of care.

After 19 years conducting research in Emergency Medicine, Steve accepted a faculty position in the WVU School of Public Health in 2018. Since joining Public Health, he has developed a teaching style that is student-centered.

He believes learning does not take place in the context of anxiety and fear.

"My first teaching philosophy is related to this. No student should ever have any fear about failing if honest effort and engagement are put forth,” he says. “I encourage them to reach out to me at any time for assistance."

Another part of his teaching philosophy: Laughter is the best medicine.

"In my undergraduate classes, I have become somewhat known for my historically bad dad jokes," he laughs.
"Co-learning is a gift. As much as I am excited to have the opportunity to serve as your instructor, I am equally excited to learn from you."

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France Weaver, PhD

Health Administration MHA
"To succeed in my classes, students must be curious, eager to learn, and get their ‘hands dirty’ by practicing the concepts and utilizing their skills."

France Weaver decided to study Health Economics because it allows her to combine her two interests: the rigor of the field of economics and figuring out the complexity of human behaviors.

"The field of health services administration offers me the opportunity to do research in health economics and transfer my expertise to and mentor future health administrators," she says.

In her classes, she makes sure her students embrace the subject matter and she helps them take ownership of their learning.

"I am a strong believer in students sharing their understanding and building each other up," she says. "I make sure they stay on the right track and learn all that they need to learn, while encouraging them to work together and learn from each other."

France does not see much difference between teaching on campus versus online.

"In both modes, I emphasize the importance of developing skills through applications. I supply diverse avenues to learn and apply the materials, because some students are visual, while others are auditory, hands-on, or reading/writing learners," she says.

Her classes include hands-on activities, guest speakers, videos, exercises, real-world case analyses, articles, and slides.

"To succeed in my classes, students must be curious, eager to learn, and get their ‘hands dirty’ by practicing the concepts and utilizing their skills," she says.

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

WVU provides a comprehensive approach to helping you finance your education. Learn more by visiting the Student Financial Services website.

Students are encouraged to:

  • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by the June 30, 2024 deadline to determine their eligibility for federal and state funds as well as scholarships. WVU’s FAFSA Code is 003827; and
  • Check with your employer to see if they provide financial support for earning your graduate degree.

The tuition rate per credit hour listed above is for the 2024-2025 academic year. Tuition and fees increase beginning in the fall term of each academic year.

Tuition and fees are usually not the only educational expenses you may have while pursuing a degree. You may have other costs such as books, supplies and living expenses. Please see the Estimate Costs and Aid webpage for how to estimate and plan for other potential expenses.

Your future in Healthcare Administration

Some of the reasons to pursue a career in healthcare administration include:

Making a difference in healthcare: Healthcare administration is a critical component of the healthcare industry, responsible for managing healthcare organizations and ensuring that patients receive high-quality care. By working in healthcare administration, you can make a difference in people's lives by improving the quality of care and the efficiency of healthcare services.

Job security and growth opportunities: The healthcare industry is growing rapidly, and there is a high demand for qualified healthcare administrators. This means that job opportunities in this field are plentiful and that there is room for career growth and advancement.

Competitive salary: Healthcare administration is a well-compensated field, with many opportunities for high salaries and bonuses.

Varied career paths: Healthcare administration is a broad field that offers a wide range of career paths, from managing hospitals and clinics to working in public health, health insurance, or government agencies.

Interdisciplinary work: Healthcare administration requires knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines, including business, law, healthcare policy, and healthcare delivery. This interdisciplinary nature of the field can be intellectually stimulating and challenging.

The Benefits to Choosing Our Program

The MHA program at WVU focuses on providing students with both a breadth and depth of knowledge in areas critical to success as an administrative leader in the health sector.

The program requires 35 credits of courses in leadership and management; project management; quality improvement; healthcare finance; health policy, law and ethics; among others. Importantly, robust practice-based internships, professional development activities and other experiential opportunities allow students to apply the competencies and skills learned in the classroom and provide opportunities to network with health services leaders.

Student Achievement and Employment

Graduates of the WVU MHA program secure promising careers in innovative population health-oriented organizations. Individuals leave our program with the necessary skills to work in a variety of health services and public health settings, including post-graduate administrative fellowships.

Student Achievement

  • 2023 Graduation rate: 89%
  • 2023 Placement rate: 100%

Post-graduate Employment

  • Data to be provided.

Career Outlook for Healthcare Administration

Healthcare administration is a rapidly growing field, and there are many exciting career opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career in this area. Some of the potential futures in health administration include:

  • Department director or administrator
  • Program or service line manager
  • Project manager
  • Human resources manager
  • Quality, safety and/or patient experience specialist or manager
  • Health data analyst
  • Consultant
  • Organization or agency director
  • Health policy expert

Minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.

Course Title Credit Hours
PUBH 540 Leading and Managing Health Organizations 3
HPML 510 Health Economics 3
HPML 522 Introduction to Data Analytics for Health 3
HPML 523 Healthcare Finance 3
HPML 555 Health Services Project Management 3
HPML 556 Managerial Epidemiology & Strategy 3
HPML 575 Health Insurance & Revenue Cycle 3
HPML 582 Managing Quality Improvement in Healthcare 3
HPML 601 Health Policy, Law, and Ethics 3
HPML 626 Internship 1
HPML 659 Comprehensive Experience in Healthcare Management 3

Graduate Seminar

Course Title Credit Hours
HPML 596 Graduate Seminar 2
HPML 696 Graduate Seminar 2

Total Hours: 35

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some potential employers for the Healthcare Administration MHA degree?

  • Hospitals
  • Health systems
  • Medical group practices
  • Insurance and managed care organizations
  • Long-term care and rehabilitation services
  • Behavioral health systems
  • Consulting firms
  • Local and state health departments
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Biotechnology and medical device companies
  • Health research organizations

How long will it take me to complete a Master of Health Administration degree?

This degree is a two-year full-time MHA program. Part-time and residential options are also available.

Can you tell me more about the faculty and curriculum of the Health Administration MHA degree?

Top-tier faculty deliver a cutting-edge, competency-driven curriculum focused on health system leadership, innovation, and change. Faculty consist of professors, associate professors, and assistant professors.

What should I know about class sizes for the Health Administration MHA?

Small cohort sizes assure personalized professional development.

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