Master of Health Administration - Online

All of the coursework for this program is delivered through a flexible, online, asynchronous format designed for busy working professionals. 

The MHA program consists of 36 credit hours. You can complete the program in 12 or 24 months. The courses remain the same, you just enroll in a higher course amount per semester in the 12 month program.

Yes.

The application requirements for each program include standard information that may apply to international students, transcripts/credential evaluation, TOEFL, etc. However, because the program is online it would not qualify for a visa – as noted on the admissions page.  The IHP also has an international student page, for additional information. Some specifics on the MHA application requirements that would apply to international prospective students can be found in the Application Process tab above.

We welcome professionals who want to create an impact on the entire healthcare system and every individual it touches. You do not need a healthcare background to apply to this program.

Yes, you can maintain full or part-time employment while pursuing the MHA degree, the program is designed for working professionals. We provide flexible online asynchronous coursework and offer both full-time and part-time enrollment alternatives.

Leadership Skills and Behavior

• Articulate and communicate the mission, objectives and priorities of the organization to internal and external entities
• Incorporate management techniques and theories into leadership activities
• Analyze problems, promote solutions and encourage decision making

Engaging Culture and Environment

• Create an organizational climate built on mutual trust, transparency and a focus on service improvement that encourages teamwork and supports diversity
• Encourage a high level of commitment from employees by establishing and communicating a compelling organizational vision and goals
• Hold self and others accountable to surpass organizational goals

Leading Change

• Promote ongoing learning and improvement in the organization
• Respond to the need for change and lead the change process

Driving Innovation

• Encourage diversity of thought to support innovation, creativity and improvement

Relationship Management

• Demonstrate effective interpersonal relationships and the ability to develop and maintain positive stakeholder relationships
• Practice and value transparent shared decision making and understand its impacts on stakeholders (internal and external)
• Demonstrate collaborative techniques for engaging and working with stakeholders

Communication Skills and Engagement

• Exercise cultural sensitivity in internal and external communication
• Demonstrate strong listening and communication skills
• Present results of data analysis in a way that is factual, credible and understandable to the decision makers
• Prepare and deliver business communications such as meeting agendas, presentations, business reports and project communication plans
• Demonstrate understanding of the function of media and public relations

Facilitation and Negotiation

• Manage conflict through mediation, negotiation and other dispute resolution techniques
• Demonstrate problem solving and problem-solving skills
• Build and participate in effective multidisciplinary teams

Personal and Professional Accountability

• Advocate for and participate in healthcare policy initiatives
• Advocate for rights and responsibilities of patients and their families
• Demonstrate an ability to understand and manage conflict-of-interest situations as defined by organizational bylaws, policies and procedures
• Practice due diligence in carrying out fiduciary responsibilities
• Commit to competence, integrity, altruism and the promotion of the public good
• Promote quality, safety of care and social commitment, in the delivery of health services

Professional Development and Lifelong Learning

• Demonstrate commitment to self-development including continuing education, networking, reflection and personal improvement

Contributions to the Profession

• Contribute to advancing the profession of healthcare management by sharing knowledge and experience
• Develop others by mentoring, advising, coaching and serving as a role model
• Support and mentor high-potential talent within both one’s organization and the profession of healthcare management

Self‐Awareness

• Be aware of one’s own assumptions, values, strengths and limitations
• Demonstrate reflective leadership by using self- assessment and feedback from others in decision making

Ethical Conduct and Social Consciousness

• Demonstrate high ethical conduct, a commitment to transparency and accountability for one’s actions
• Use the established ethical structures to resolve ethical issues
• Maintain a balance between personal and professional accountability, recognizing that the central focus is the needs of the patient/community

Health Systems and Organizations

• Demonstrate an understanding of system structure, funding mechanisms and how healthcare services are organized
• Balance the interrelationships among access, quality, safety, cost, resource allocation, accountability, care setting, community need and professional roles
• Assess the performance of the organization as part of the health system/healthcare services
• Use monitoring systems to ensure legal, ethical, and quality/safety standards are met in clinical, corporate and administrative functions
• Promote the establishment of alliances and consolidation of networks to expand social and community participation in health networks, both nationally and globally

Health Workforce

• Demonstrate the ability to optimize the healthcare workforce around local critical workforce issues, such as shortages, scope of practice, skill mix, licensing and fluctuations in service

Person‐Centered Health

• Effectively recognize and promote patients and their family’s/caregiver’s perspectives in the delivery of care
• Include the perspective of individuals, families and the community as partners in healthcare decision- making processes, respecting cultural differences and expectations

Public Health

• Establish goals and objectives for improving health outcomes that incorporate an understanding of the social determinants of health and of the socioeconomic environment in which the organization functions
• Use vital statistics and core health indicators to guide decision making and analyze health trends of the population to guide the provision of health services
• Manage risks, threats, and damage to health during disasters and/or emergency situations
• Evaluate critical processes connected with the public health surveillance and controls systems and communicate relevant surveillance information to increase response to risks, threats, and damage to health
• Recognize the local implications of global health events to understand global interconnectivity and its impact on population health conditions

General Management

• Demonstrate knowledge of basic business practices, such as business plans, contracting, and project management
• Collate relevant data and information, and analyze and evaluate this information to support or make an effective decision or recommendation
• Seek information from a variety of sources to support organizational performance, conduct needs analysis and prioritize requirements

Laws and Regulations

• Abides by laws and regulations applicable to the work of the organization

Financial Management

• Effectively use key accounting principles and financial management tools, such as financial plans and measures of performance (e.g., performance indicators)
• Use principles of project, operating and capital budgeting
• Plan, organize, execute and monitor the resources of the organization to ensure optimal health outcomes and effective quality and cost controls

Human Resource Management

• Provide leadership in defining staff roles and responsibilities, developing appropriate job classification/grading systems and workforce planning
• Effectively manage departmental human resource processes, including scheduling; performance appraisals; incentives; staff recruitment; selection and retention; training and education; motivation, coaching and mentoring; and appropriate productivity measures

Organizational Dynamics and Governance

• Demonstrate knowledge of governmental, regulatory, professional and accreditation agencies
• Effectively apply knowledge of organizational systems theories and behaviors
• Interpret public policy, legislative and advocacy processes within the organization
• Manage within the governance structure of the organization
• Create and maintain a system of governance that ensures appropriate oversight of the organization
• Demonstrate knowledge of the role of leadership within governance structure

Strategic Planning and Marketing

• Lead the development of key planning documents, including strategic plans, business service plans and business cases for new services
• Plan for business continuity in the face of potential disasters that could disrupt service delivery
• Develop and monitor operating-unit strategic objectives that are aligned with the mission and strategic objectives
• Apply marketing principles and tools to develop appropriate marketing to the needs of the community
• Evaluate whether a proposed action aligns with the organizational business/strategic plan

Information Management

• Use data sets to assess performance, establish targets, monitor indicators and trends, and determine if deliverables are met
• Ensure that applicable privacy and security requirements are upheld
• Ensure optimal use of information and trend analysis within the organization through the use of business intelligence, information management, clinical, and business systems
• Promote the effective management, analysis and communication of health information

Risk Management

• Effectively use risk management principles and programs, such as risk assessment and analysis and risk mitigation

Quality Improvement

• Develop and implement quality assurance, satisfaction, and patient safety programs according to national initiatives on quality and patient safety
• Develop and track indicators to measure quality outcomes, satisfaction and patient safety, and plan continuous improvement

Systems Thinking

• Demonstrate an understanding of the interdependency, integration, and competition among healthcare sectors
• Connect the interrelationships among access, quality, cost, resource allocation, accountability and community need

Supply Chain Management

• Effectively manage the supply chain to achieve timelines and efficiency of inputs, materials, warehousing, and distribution so that supplies reach the end user in a cost-effective manner
• Adhere to procurement regulations in terms of contract management and tendering guidelines
• Effectively manage the interdependency and logistics of supply chain services within the organization