The Indiana University School of Medicine's Department of Public Health and the School of Law-Indianapolis have established a four-year, full-time program for the combined study of law and health administration. This course of study addresses the need for professionals who understand the legal and administrative frameworks necessary to function successfully as a health lawyer or a health services administrator.
The Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) and the Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) are awarded when the student meets the degree requirements of both schools. All courses are offered on the Indianapolis campus. Successful completion of this rigorous 127-credit-hour program provides the graduate sufficient depth and breadth in each discipline to be able to function effectively in the swiftly changing health field.
The delivery of health care and health services is the second largest industry in the United States, accounting for almost 14 percent of the gross national product. The importance of health care to our citizens has long been obvious.
What has become more apparent recently, however, is the growing impact of case law, statutes, and regulations on access to and availability of care; on the delivery of health care services; and, increasingly, on decisions relating to the appropriateness of individual treatment. For this reason, the Schools of Law and Indiana University School of Medicine's Department of Public Health have sought jointly to develop a strong academic curriculum to address the educational needs of health lawyers and health service administration executives as they seek to serve the public's needs.
Application and Admission
Applicants must apply for admission to each school and must meet the admission criteria published in each school's bulletin. Normally, applicants should apply to both the School of Law-Indianapolis and the Indiana University School of Medicine's Department of Public Health at the same time. However, a person enrolled in the School of Law may apply for admission to the Graduate Program in Health Administration up to the end of the second year of law study (approximately 57 credit hours). A student formally enrolled in the study of health administration may seek admission to the School of Law-Indianapolis up to the end of the first year of full-time study leading to the award of the Master of Health Administration (approximately 30 hours of graduate credit).
Academic Standing Grade point averages in the School of Law-Indianapolis and the Indiana University School of Medicine's Department of Public Health are computed separately. To continue in the joint program, the student must meet the academic standards in each school. A student failing in one school but meeting academic standards in the other may complete course work for the degree in the school in which the student is able to meet the academic standards. Such completion must be according to the same conditions (credit hours, internship, etc.) required of regular (noncombination) degree candidates. Students are eligible for honors in each school based on the criteria of each school.
Residency The student customarily completes the first 34 credit hours in the School of Law-Indianapolis. Thereafter, the student divides the remaining course work between the two schools, taking health administration courses and law courses concurrently. Thus, the student has a continuing educational experience in both schools.
Program Requirements (127 credit hours)
M.H.A. Requirements (45 credit hours)
Students must complete 43.5 credit hours distributed among the M.H.A. required core, electives, and a joint research paper.
Required Courses (34.5 credit hours):
- PBHL-H 501 U.S. Health Care: Systems, Policies, and Ethical Challenges (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 502 Developing Strategic Capability (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 507 Management of Individual and Group Behavior (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 508 Managing Health Care Accounting Information for Decision Making (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 509 Financial Management Principles of Health Care (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 514 Health Economics (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 518 Statistical Methods for Health Services (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 521 Management Science for Health Services Administration (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 612 Marketing for Health Services Delivery (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 623 Health Care Applications of Strategic Management (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 626 Health Services Human Resources Management (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 628 Health Care Information Systems (3 cr.)
Elective Courses (6 credit hours):
Six credit hours of elective courses, chosen from the following:
- PBHL-H 510 Health Services Financial Management (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 515 Seminar in Health Policy: Special Topics (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 517 Managerial Epidemiology (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 615Health Care Outcomes and Decision Making (3 cr.)
- PBHL-H 630 Readings in Health Services Administration (1-3 cr.)
Joint Research Paper (6 credit hours):
PBHL-H 735 Research in Health Administration is to be completed in the last year of the combined program and jointly supervised by advisors from both schools.
J.D. Requirements (82 credit hours)
Students are required to complete 82 credit hours of law courses and to satisfy all requirements for the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree.