About the Master in Health Administration Program

The College of Health Professions welcomes career-oriented individuals who want to help shape the direction of health care organizations. Students are sought who bring both a business mind and a commitment to caring for the enterprise, its patients and families, and its employees. Our students gain employment in hospitals, physician practices, long term care settings, and consulting organizations. Our Master in Health Administration (MHA) program is offered in two formats.

The MHA program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health care Management Education (CAHME).

MHA: Residential Track

Residential MHA students require little or no health care experience and are full-time students. Classes are conducted face-to-face and with many opportunities for real-world learning. Residential MHA students fulfill a 10-credit hour internship between their first and second years. Students complete 64 credit hours, including the internship and an interprofessional course. Learn more about the Residential Track.

MHA: Executive Track

Executive MHA students are working health care professionals who balance their studies with their careers. Instruction is delivered primarily online, allowing students to continue working while completing two to three years of coursework. Students report to campus for a long weekend of study and collaboration once every semester. Graduates complete 54 credit hours; no internship is required. Learn more about the Executive Track.

Program Mission

The MHA program within the Department of Healthcare Leadership and Management strives to improve the management of the health care delivery system by educating current and future health care leaders in an interprofessional environment, engaging in excellence in scholarly activities, and providing service to the university, the region, and the professional community. The MHA program serves the citizens of South Carolina and beyond in meeting health care management needs by preparing students for careers in health care management and leadership positions in health services organizations.

Program Objectives

The following program objectives are crucial to ensure quality and alignment with industry-standard best practices and serve as a strong foundation in providing our students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to excel in health care leadership roles while maintaining the highest standards of ethics and quality.

  • Develop impactful and emotionally intelligent leaders to assume a variety of roles in the quickly evolving healthcare space.
  • Leverage data to apply innovative solutions to real-world complex healthcare issues needed to achieve tangible and sustainable results related to costs, quality, and access.
  • Prepare healthcare professionals who can effectively apply classroom learning to real-world industry scenarios.
  • Support students in their professional growth through the provision of internship opportunities, networking events, and other career development occasions.