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)
About the programs
The traditional MHA program track includes a mix of students with varying backgrounds. Approximately, one-third of the students in the program have some limited professional background working in healthcare; the remaining two-thirds come directly from undergraduate programs. In the classroom, this mix creates a dynamic environment of fresh perspectives, practical experience, and discovery. The versatile faculty teach a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum interwoven with current research, current events, and emerging healthcare trends.
The Executive MHA program track is designed for individuals who have three to five years of experience in health care management and work full-time. For this group of working health care professionals, the Executive MHA prepares them with the skills and education to take the next step in their career.
The MHA program requires successful completion of 51 graduate semester credit hours.
As a part of the traditional MHA sequence, a summer internship between the first and second year of study is an excellent opportunity to learn from a health industry leader, who will serve as preceptor for the student’s experience. The internship offers students valuable experience in the health care field and is an excellent opportunity to blend academic preparation with hands-on experience. Placements are available throughout the United States.
Also, the mentorship program links local alumni and friends of the MHA program with individual students and provides the opportunity to learn from practicing health care professionals. Mentors are available in all segments of the health care field and range from recent graduates to corporate officers and senior public officials.
Many students choose to avail themselves of an administrative fellowship opportunity after graduation. IU MHA students successfully compete for national administrative fellowships with prestigious health care organizations. Fellowships have been awarded to MHA program graduates from well-known organizations, including Good Samaritan Health System in Nebraska; Winston Fellowship and Washington Hospital Group in Washington, D.C.; Baylor Medical Center in Houston; Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland; and the American College of Healthcare Executives in Chicago. Most fellowships provide a two-year paid administrative experience.
Application, admission, and degree-granting requirements and regulations shall be applied equitably to all individuals, applicants and students regardless of age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or national origin.
Degree requirements (51 credit hours)
Fifty-one credit hours are required to complete the MHA degree. A combination of required health administration courses and practical experience courses that together comprise 51 credits required content. The specific distribution of courses is shown below.
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 16 courses for a total of 48 credits
- H507 Management of Individual and Group Behavior (3 credits)
- H508 Managing Healthcare Accounting Information for Decision-Making (3 credits)
- H509 Financial Management Principles of Healthcare (3 credits)
- H514 Health Economics (3 credits)
- H516 Health Services Delivery and the Law (3 credits)
- H518 Statistical Methods for Health Services (3 credits)
- H521 Management Science for Health Services Administration (3 credits)
- H523 Health Services Human Resources Management (3 credits)
- H610 Lean Principles for Healthcare (3 credits)
- H612 Marketing Health Services Delivery (3 credits)
- H623 Healthcare Applications of Strategic Management (3 credits)
- H624 Developing Strategic Capability (3 credits)
- H628 Healthcare Information Systems (3 credits)
- H645 Leadership in Healthcare Administration (3 credits)
- H646 Operations Management for Healthcare Organizations (3 credits)
- P506 Population and Public Health (3 credits)
Health Administration practical experience
- H702 Internship in Health Services Management (3 credits)
Master of Health Administration competencies
The MHA programs (both traditional and executive tracks) integrate various skills, abilities, tools, and competencies into each course. By the end of the program students will have developed and/or improved their level of acumen in the areas of leadership, professional and social responsibility, communications and relationship management, health and health care environment, and business and analytical skills. Listed below are the key components of each competency.
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.
Executive Master of Health Administration
The Executive MHA is intended for working health care professionals who want the skills and education to take the next step in their career. This degree prepares you for greater organizational responsibilities and leadership roles.
While the course content is the same in this track, you will have the opportunity to learn alongside other working professionals while building your network and applying what you learn to your current work environment.
Executive MHA curriculum
Fifty-one credit hours are required to complete the MHA degree. A combination of required health administration courses and practical experience courses that together comprise the 51 credits of required content. The specific distribution of courses is as follows:
Executive Master of Health Administration required courses
There are 16 required courses plus one internship experience required to complete the MHA degree program. A full listing of all required courses appears below.
- H507 Management of Individual and Group Behavior (3 credits)
- H508 Managing Healthcare Accounting Information for Decision-Making (3 credits)
- H509 Financial Management Principles of Healthcare (3 credits)
- H514 Health Economics (3 credits)
- H516 Health Services Delivery and the Law (3 credits)
- H518 Statistical Methods for Health Services (3 credits)
- H521 Management Science for Health Services Administration (3 credits)
- H523 Health Services Human Resources Management (3 credits)
- H531 Population Health Management and Value-Based Health Insurance (3 credits
- H610 Lean Principles for Healthcare (3 credits)
- H612 Marketing Health Services Delivery (3 credits)
- H623 Healthcare Applications of Strategic Management (3 credits)
- H624 Developing Strategic Capability (3 credits)
- H628 Healthcare Information Systems (3 credits)
- H646 Operations Management for Healthcare Organizations (3 credits)
- H670 Leadership in Healthcare (3 credits) *three one-credit courses
Health Administration practical experience
- H702 Internship (3 credits)
Candidates in the executive track may receive up to nine credit hours for their experience. Please contact the MHA program director, Dr. Antionette Smith Epps, at antsepps@iu.edu for more information.
Each executive MHA candidate receives an individual course map which outlines their degree path and includes any content area(s) that is(are) eligible for life/practical/professional experience up to a maximum of nine (9) credit hours.
Executive 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.
Executive MHA admission criteria
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. In order to be considered for scholarships, applicants should submit their application by February 15.
- International application deadline: February 1
- Priority deadline: February 15
- Final deadline: May 31
- At least three to five years of health care related work experience (in a clinical or non-clinical position)
- Must be currently working full-time in health care
- Résumé
- Three letters of recommendation – one from immediate supervisor or senior leader
- 3.0 or better GPA in undergraduate or other master's level program
- Most recent transcript
- No GRE is required for admission consideration to the Executive MHA program
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. See more information.
DO NOT mail any other documents to SOPHAS, including thesis, dissertations, or pre-secondary or secondary transcripts.
International applicants will be required to submit official transcripts, marksheets and diplomas from all colleges and universities attended to the IUPUI Office of International Affairs (OIA). OIA will evaluate your transcripts to determine if eligibility requirements for graduate study have been met.
Please mail transcripts, marksheets and diploma to:
Office of International Affairs
IUPUI
902 W. New York Street, ES2126
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Updated: April 2023
