Degree Programs
Master of Health Administration
The Master of Health Administration (MHA) program has a long and distinguished history of preparing students for leadership positions in healthcare organizations. Recognized for its exceptional faculty, groundbreaking research, study abroad opportunities, amazing network of alumni and mentors, and networking opportunities with visiting experts, the program is located minutes from the top five health systems in Indiana.
The IU MHA program prepares students for success in management and leadership positions in many different types of healthcare organizations. IU MHA graduates hold leadership roles, positions in health systems, hospitals, physician practices, health maintenance organizations, long term care facilities, health insurance organizations, and other health-related companies.
Our graduates are also leaders in governmental agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. In addition, they work as consultants, university faculty, and entrepreneurs. Many chief executive officers and other senior leaders of health organizations in Indiana are graduates of the Fairbanks School of Public Health MHA program.
MHA students will have opportunities to apply new knowledge and develop business skills and competencies as they prepare for leadership careers in the dynamic health care environment. Advanced courses include project work with health care organizations where you will acquire practical experience through a variety of experiential learning opportunities, including paid summer internships, a robust mentoring program matching individual students with health care executives, and health-related part-time positions.
The programmatic competencies integrated into the program include an understanding of the American health care system, leadership and professionalism in the workplace, human resources management, health law/ethics, quantitative skills, financial skills, information skills, decision making, implementing change, strategic thinking, healthcare operations for many different types of health care organizations, and personal development.
These advanced health care management programs offer exciting learning, growth, and development opportunities to students and early-to mid-career professionals interested in a variety of leadership roles in hospitals, managed care, ambulatory care, and voluntary health agencies. Opportunities also exist in consulting firms, corporate health programs, insurance, government, and other regulatory agencies.
Accreditation
The IU MHA programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and is a member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA)
Degree requirements (42 credit hours)
Students are considered full-time when taking at least nine graduate credits per semester. Part-time students must complete at least six credit hours each semester to remain in good standing. All students must complete the program's academic requirements within five calendar years of program initiation.
Master of Health Administration required courses
Take all 14 courses for a total of 42 credits
- PBHL-H 507 Human Resources and Organizational Behavior in Health Administration (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 508 Managing Healthcare Accounting Information for Decision-Making (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 509 Financial Management Principles of Healthcare (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 514 Health Economics (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 516 Health Services Delivery and the Law (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 521 Management Science for Health Services Administration (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 612 Marketing Health Services Delivery (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 624 Developing Strategic Capability (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 628 Healthcare Information Systems (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 645 Leadership in Healthcare Administration (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 531 Population Health Management and Value-Based Care (3 credits)
- PBHL-P 506 Public Health and Community-Focused Leadership (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 702 Internship in Health Administration (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 623 Capstone in Health Administration (3 credits)
For students who started the MHA spring 2024 or earlier (51 credits)
- PBHL-H 507 Management of Individual and Group Behavior (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 508 Managing Healthcare Accounting Information for Decision-Making (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 509 Financial Management Principles of Healthcare (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 514 Health Economics (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 516 Health Services Delivery and the Law (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 521 Management Science for Health Services Administration (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 612 Marketing Health Services Delivery (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 624 Developing Strategic Capability (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 628 Healthcare Information Systems (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 645 Leadership in Healthcare Administration (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 646 Operations Management for Healthcare Organizations (3 credits)
- PBHL-P 506 Population and Public Health (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 702 Internship in Health Services Management (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 623 Healthcare Applications of Strategic Management (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 518 Statistical Methods for Health Services (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 523 Health Services Human Resources Management (3 credits)
- PBHL-H 610 Lean Principles for Healthcare (3 credits)
Master of Health Administration competencies
Leadership
MHA 1. Develop leadership approaches that are effective for communicating a vision, motivating stakeholders, building consensus, and leading organizational change.
MHA 2. Work cooperatively with others; create, contribute to, and lead teams.
Professional and Social Responsibility
MHA 3. Demonstrate professional values and ethics including sensitivity to the importance of workforce diversity and cultural competency in the delivery of healthcare.
MHA 4. Establish a commitment to continuous learning, self-assessment, and self-improvement.
MHA 5. Contribute to the profession through coaching, advising, and mentoring.
Communications and Relationship Management
MHA 6. Write in a clear logical manner for effective business communications.
MHA 7. Demonstrate effective oral communication and presentation skills.
MHA 8. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and maintain positive professional relationships.
Health and Healthcare Environment
MHA 9. Understand how decisions are made within the private, nonprofit, and government sectors.
MHA 10. Explain important issues in healthcare including the need for reform, major changes that have occurred, and proposals being considered for the U.S. healthcare delivery system.
Business and Analytical Skills
MHA 11. Use quantitative information for effective organizational decision-making.
MHA 12. Use financial skills for effective stewardship of resources.
MHA 13. Understand and appropriately use information technology to support business and clinical functions.
MHA 14. Apply appropriate business strategies in the development of business plans and effective project management.
Admissions
Admitted MHA students begin the program in the fall of each year. The MHA program does not accept applications for admission in the spring or summer terms. You may apply to the Master of Health Administration program online using either HAMPCAS or SOPHAS. HAMPCAS is the Healthcare Administration, Management and Policy Centralized Application Service. SOPHAS is the centralized Schools of Public Health Application Service. Preference is not given to one system over the other. The application deadlines are:
- International application deadline: February 1
- Priority deadline: February 15
- Final deadline: May 31
Application reviews begin the first week of October. In order to be considered for first round interviews in November, applications must be completed by mid-September. Beginning in January, interviews are held monthly, until the class is filled. All students who apply to the MHA program by the priority deadline, February 15, will be automatically considered for scholarships.
MHA program admission criteria
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college with an expected grade point average of 3.0 (official transcript).
- Official GRE scores.
- Personal statement
- Résumé or CV
- Three letters of reference
- Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in required prerequisite courses prior to enrolling. Required undergraduate prerequisite courses include:
- An undergraduate microeconomics course (e.g., ECON-E 201: Microeconomics or pre-approved equivalent) must be completed before you will be permitted to enroll in PBHL-H 514: Health Economics.
- An undergraduate accounting course (e.g., PBHL-H 200: Health Care Accounting or pre-approved equivalent) must be completed before you will be permitted to enroll in PBHL-H 508: Managing Healthcare Accounting Information for Decision Making.
- An undergraduate statistics course (e.g., PBHL-B 300: Introduction to Biostatistics or pre-approved equivalent) must be completed before you will be permitted to enroll in PBHL-H 518: Statistical Methods for Health Service.
- Competent written and oral communication skills
Students meeting these requirements are not guaranteed admission.
Eligible applicants may be invited to an on-campus interview day. Due to limited interview spots, it is important that you submit your application early, in order to secure an interview spot.
Please note that all applications must be verified by HAMPCAS or SOPHAS prior to the May 31 deadline. Applications generally take four to five weeks to be verified by HAMPCAS and SOPHAS. It would be to your benefit to have your application fully complete and submitted by April 30. Applications that are not fully completed, including verification by HAMPCAS or SOPHAS, by May 31 are not guaranteed full consideration by the MHA Admission Committee.
MHA program admission requirements
- Personal Statement
- Résumé
- Transcripts
- Recommendations
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Submission of GRE scores is optional for applicants with a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale.
Applicants with less than an expected 3.0 GPA may submit official GRE scores earned within the past five years—since the GRE score may benefit them in the application review process.
- A minimum total score (verbal and quantitative scores combined) of 301 is expected
- A minimum of score 3.5 is expected on the analytical writing section of the exam.
It is preferred that applicants score at or above the 50th percentile in each section of the exam.
- When applying via HAMPCAS use GRE code: 0416.
- When applying via SOPHAS use GRE code: 0167.
The following exams can be substituted in place of the GRE: LSAT, GMAT, or MCAT.
International applicants
All applicants with foreign academic credentials must provide a World Education Services (WES) ICAP course-by-course evaluation of those credentials. Because this process can take some time, applicants should submit their transcripts to WES at least one month in advance of the application deadline (January 1). Through special arrangements with SOPHAS, WES will deliver its credential evaluation report directly to SOPHAS by secure, electronic transmission. This expedites the delivery of the evaluation report as well as images of the applicant's verified transcripts to SOPHAS and allows SOPHAS to process the report most efficiently.
Updated: April 2024
