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College of Management and Human Potential - Master's Programs:
Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

The healthcare system is experiencing a rapid transformation. Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 28 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Today’s healthcare industry employers require effective, visionary leaders who can help them respond to the needs of their communities while optimizing organizational performance and outcomes. Our fully online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree program can put you at the forefront of the field and help you improve the experience of healthcare providers as well as patients.

As a leader in healthcare education, Walden is dedicated to meeting the needs of our students, the healthcare industry, and employers. The coursework in this online healthcare administration degree program explores the latest trends and allows you to develop the professional competencies expected by top healthcare organizations:

  • Analytical thinking and problem-solving
  • Business and interpersonal communication
  • Strategic and financial orientation
  • Initiative and collaboration
  • Change and team leadership
  • Relationship and network development

Taught by doctoral level faculty, our MHA degree program features curriculum with multimedia that lends a real-world perspective to your online learning experience.

With a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from Walden, you can gain the skills and credentials that allow you to pursue healthcare leadership roles and make a difference in your organization and community.

 

Note: The Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program is offered in two different learning modalities: the course-based modality and the competency-based modality, Tempo Learning®.

MHA Mission

The Walden MHA program mission is to provide a diverse array of mid-career professionals with the ability and opportunity to successfully navigate education as well as to advance careers, skills, and knowledge to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of healthcare leadership. This is accomplished by the dedication and commitment to the students’ professional success and progressive online education by the MHA program leadership.

MHA Leadership Skills Model

Note on Licensure

The Master of Healthcare Administration is not a licensure leading program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed professional in healthcare administration, healthcare leadership, nursing home administration, or other similar positions.

Learning Outcomes

All graduates will be prepared to:

  1. Utilize effective oral and written communication strategies as productive healthcare administrators
  2.  Analyze the components of effective health care delivery for diverse populations in the United States
  3. Assess the effect of delivery of care on patient outcomes and equity for healthcare organizations
  4. Analyze the impact of environmental factors on healthcare operations management
  5.  Assess the impact of emerging trends and innovation on healthcare organization’s performance
  6.  Apply critical thinking to solve healthcare administration challenges in considering the social determinants of health framework
  7.  Appraise strategic practices on achieving sustainable competitive advantage for healthcare organizations 
  8. Evaluate the role of healthcare administrators in improving health outcomes through facilitating social change  

Course-Based Program

Degree Requirements

  • 53–68 total quarter credits (depending on whether a student chooses to complete an optional specialization) 
  • Core courses (53 credits)
  • Optional specialization (15 credits)

Curriculum

General Program

In the general Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program, you prepare to help your organization address the challenges of today’s changing healthcare landscape. Through coursework, you will explore the regulations, laws, court decisions, and health policies that impact health service providers. You also examine and analyze the latest theories, technologies, and strategies in the field, focusing on developing the advanced business skills that today’s healthcare employers need. Multimedia and case studies are integrated into the relevant curriculum to help you gain the knowledge and credentials to pursue healthcare leadership roles.

Core Courses (53 credits)

  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Student may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Student may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Student may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.

Optional Specializations

Course Sequence

The recommended course sequence is as follows:

Quarter

Course

Credits

Quarter 1

MMHA 6000 -- Foundations of Healthcare Administration* 

3 credits

MMHA 6200 -- Creating Healthy Communities

5 credits

Quarter 2

MMHA 6050 -- Delivery of Healthcare

5 credits

MMHA 6501 – Leadership Within the Healthcare Sector

5 credits

Quarter 3

MMHA 6400 - Healthcare Finance

5 credits

MMHA 6601 – Technology and Innovation in Healthcare

5 credits

Quarter 4

MMHA 6300 – Law and Ethics in Healthcare

5 credits

MMHA 6700 - Healthcare Operations

5 credits

Quarter 5

MMHA 6801 – Building Healthcare Brand and Alliances

5 credits

MMHA 6900 - Healthcare Quality Management

5 credits

Quarter 6

MMHA 6999 - Strategic Leadership and Management

5 credits

Optional Specialization – Course 1

5 credits

Quarter 7

Optional Specialization – Course 2

5 credits

Optional Specialization – Course 3

5 credits

*Students enrolling in a midterm start date will take MMHA 6000A, a 6-week version of this course by itself in their first term.

Tempo Learning® Program

Tempo Learning® is Walden’s competency-based education modality, an alternative way of earning a Walden degree offered for some Walden programs. Instead of courses, the Walden Tempo Learning® program is comprised of competencies and rigorous assessments. Students progress through the Tempo Learning® model by successfully passing competency assessments. A student must successfully achieve or master all competency assessments to graduate from the program.

Students earn the same Walden degree whether they choose the course-based or the competency-based modality.

Note on Licensure

The Master of Healthcare Administration is not a licensure leading program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed professional in healthcare administration, healthcare leadership, nursing home administration, or other similar positions.

Degree Requirements

  • 53 total quarter credits
  • Core competencies (53 credits)

Curriculum

Core Competencies (53 credits)

  • HE001 Trends in Healthcare Administration
    Explain the implications of current trends for healthcare administrators, managers, and leaders.
  • HE006 Commitment to Professional Development and Lifelong Learning
    Create a professional development plan that demonstrates a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.
  • HE002 History of the U.S. Healthcare System
    Explain how historic forces have shaped the present-day healthcare system.
  • HE003 Delivery of Services
    Explain the healthcare delivery system in the United States.
  • HE004 Healthcare Funding in the United States
    Explain how healthcare in the United States is financed.
  • HE005 Key Drivers of Change
    Analyze the impact of societal, business, and global trends on the healthcare industry.
  • HE007 Disease Distribution and Management
    Evaluate community health needs and data about disease distribution to make decisions regarding disease management.
  • HE008 Global Health Issues
    Analyze the impact of global health issues on healthcare management.
  • HE009 Population Health Management
    Develop initiatives in collaboration with public health and community-based organizations to improve the health of the population.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • LE001 Legal Requirements and Ethics
    Summarize legal mandates and ethical principles to address complex challenges, manage risk, and advance organizational integrity.
  • LE002 Healthcare Policy
    Analyze the healthcare policy-making process for improving the health status of populations.
  • LE003 Adapting Internal Policies and Practices
    Adapt internal policies and practices to align with changes to healthcare laws and regulations.
  • LE004 Analyzing Policies from Diverse Perspectives
    Analyze a policy from diverse perspectives held by policymakers, interest groups, healthcare administrators, and other stakeholders to assess impact on an organization.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • FM004 Economic Concepts in the Healthcare Industry
    Apply key economic concepts and theories in the healthcare context.
  • FM005 Economic Characteristics of the Healthcare Industry
    Apply economic concepts to make recommendations for organizational decisions.
  • FM006 Conduct an Operational Analysis
    Conduct operational analyses to ensure operational efficiency and financial viability.
  • FM007 Analyze Financial Data
    Make recommendations for organizational decisions based on analyses of financial data.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • HR001 Aligning Workforce Capacity
    Evaluate organizational values and goals in order to align the workforce and deliver cost-effective, high-quality care.
  • HR002 Recruitment and Selection
    Evaluate recruitment, selection, and dismissal practices for healthcare professionals.
  • HR003 Professional Development and Retention
    Evaluate a healthcare organization’s practices for retaining talent and providing professional development and recommend strategies for improvement.
  • HR004 Organizational Structure, Dynamics, and Culture
    Assess the effectiveness of organizational structures in furthering an organization’s ability to achieve its vision and goals.
  • HR005 Team Building and Conflict Management
    Evaluate collaborative, team-building, and conflict-management strategies when leading inter-professional teams.
  • HR006 Leadership, Systems Thinking, and Change Management
    Evaluate principles of effective leadership, systems thinking, and change management to address healthcare transformation, innovation, and accountability.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • OM008 Health Information Technology
    Explain the uses of administrative and clinical health information technology and integrated community networks and their role in the delivery of care.
  • OM009 Data-Driven Decision Making
    Evaluate clinical and administrative data to support evidence-based decisions that affect healthcare organizations and patient care.
  • OM0010 Health Information Systems
    Recommend the acquisition, implementation, and evaluation of clinical and administrative health information systems.
  • OM0011 Protecting Patient Data
    Recommend strategies to ensure that policies and processes protect the privacy, confidentiality, security, and integrity of patient data.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • OM005 Operational Resources and Productivity
    Evaluate productivity against established benchmarks and recommend changes to improve patient safety metrics.
  • OM006 Process Improvement and Quality
    Make recommendations to improve quality in healthcare organizations based on analyses of current processes.
  • OM007 Project Management
    Plan complex projects using project management tools and techniques to achieve resource optimization and sustainability.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • FM001 Marketing Principles
    Identify the basic principles of marketing and their unique application in healthcare organizations.
  • FM002 Marketing Strategies
    Evaluate marketing strategies to ensure they enhance the organization’s competitive position and align with its mission and social responsibility.
  • FM003 Marketing Opportunities and Challenges
    Analyze healthcare marketing and management environment and identify the primary marketing opportunities and challenges facing the organization.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • OM001 Patient Safety and Quality of Services
    Explain the history and current state of patient safety and quality of services in healthcare.
  • OM002 Organizational Compliance and Regulatory Mandates
    Evaluate organizational compliance with regulatory mandates for healthcare quality and safety.
  • OM003 Patient Experience and Culturally Sensitive, Patient-Centered Care
    Apply best practices to provide an outstanding patient experience, including customer-service focused, culturally sensitive, and patient-centered care.
  • OM004 Improving Patient Safety and Quality of Services
    Evaluate compliance with best practices and industry standards for patient safety and quality of healthcare services and provide recommendations for improvement.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.
  • FM008 Strategic Planning Process
    Explain the strategic planning process and the roles of internal stakeholders.
  • FM009 SWOT Analysis
    Evaluate the Strengths, Weakness, Threats, and Opportunities of a healthcare organization.
  • FM010 Strategic Planning
    Develop an integrated strategic plan to address a challenge or opportunity faced by a healthcare organization.
  • Students may take this as a non-degree course.