Master of Health Administration

Program Director: R. Bonar

George Washington University's master of health administration (MHA) program trains the next generation of leaders in the healthcare industry to improve health and health systems on a local, national, and global scale. The mission of the GW master of health administration (MHA) program is to train the next generation of leaders in the healthcare industry to improve health and health systems on a local, national, and global scale. Program graduates leave ready to contribute to the improved efficacy of healthcare. They will use research and evidence to inform decisions about policies that affect diverse populations. In addition, the MHA coursework prepares students to become skilled executives in healthcare delivery systems. Attending a school situated in Washington, DC, the nation’s health policy and management epicenter, ensures graduates will become transformational leaders in healthcare.

An MHA degree incorporates coursework in business and medical informatics training, knowledge of health care systems, management theory, finance, quality, law, policy, critical values in decision-making, and much more. GW students are committed to improving healthcare and health policy and engaging in and promoting improvements in programs and services. The program emphasizes these qualities as they are essential for future leaders in healthcare delivery.

Students who graduate from GW with an MHA degree are prepared to:

• Effectively manage organizational change and promote organizational and clinical excellence.
• Manage health services organizations under alternative financing mechanisms.
• Lead and manage human resources in diverse organizational environments.
• Manage information resources to assist in effective administrative decision-making and clinical management.
• Use statistical, quantitative, and economic analyses.
• Utilize leadership skills to improve both business and clinical outcomes of health services organizations.

The only two prerequisites for matriculation in the MHA program are an undergraduate course in introductory accounting and an introductory course in statistics. Students must have earned a grade of B or better in both subjects to be considered for admittance into the master of health administration degree program.

Visit the program website for additional information.

Visit the Milken Institute School of Public Health website for additional information about academic programs and information about GWSPH. Graduate admissions information, including application requirements and deadlines, can be found on the GWSPH Graduate Admissions website.

Prerequisites for admission into the MHA program include an undergraduate course in financial accounting and an introductory course in statistics earned with a minimum grade of B.

The following degree requirements must be fulfilled: 50 credits, including 31 credits in core courses, a 2-credit health policy selective course, 11 or 14 credits in elective courses, and 3 or 6 credits in a field experience. 

Students select one of five focus areas, which require either a fellowship or a residency. The following three focus areas require 6 credits in a fellowship to fulfill the field experience requirement: information systems and financial management; operations management; and strategic management and policy. The following two focus areas require 3 credits in a residency to fulfill the requirement: acute and ambulatory care management and post-acute care management (including long-term care).

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required
Core courses
HSML 6202	Introduction to Health Services Delivery
HSML 6203	Introduction to Health Management
HSML 6204	Quality and Performance Improvement
HSML 6206	Quanitative Methods and Epidemiology in Health Services
HSML 6207	Health Services Information Applications
HSML 6208	Medical Informatics
HSML 6209	Health Services Finance
HSML 6210	Health Services Financial Applications
HSML 6211	Health Economics
HSML 6212	Community Health Management and Advocacy
HSML 6213	Health Services, Marketing, and Planning
HSML 6215	Health Law for Managers
HSML 6216	Human Resources Management and Organizational Behavior
HSML 6218	Seminar: Health Services Management and Leadership
HSML 6254	Seminar: Ethics in Health Services Management
PUBH 6080	Pathways to Public Health
Health policy selective
One health policy course selected from the following:
PUBH 6012	Fundamentals of Health Policy
PUBH 6325	Federal Policymaking and Policy Advocacy
PUBH 6354	Substance Use Disorder Policy
PUBH 6356	State Health Policy
PUBH 6367	Population Health, Public Health, and Health Reform
PUBH 6370	Medicare/Medicaid Law and Policy
PUBH 6374	Pharmaceutical Policy
PUBH 6378	HIV Policy in the US
PUBH 6399	Topics in Health Policy (Cost-Benefit Analysis in Healthcare) *
PUBH 6399	Topics in Health Policy (Maternal and Child Health Policy Analysis) *
or PUBH 6561	Maternal and Child Health Policy Analysis
Electives
Students whose focus area requires a fellowship (information systems and financial management; operations management; and strategic management and policy) take 11 credits in elective courses, and students whose focus area requires a residency (acute and ambulatory care management and post-acute care management, including long-term care) take 14 credits in elective courses, all selected from the following:
HSML 6231	Management of Acute Care Hospitals
HSML 6236	Post-Acute Care Management and Leadership
HSML 6238	Ambulatory Care Management
HSML 6244	Supply Chain Management in Health Services
HSML 6246	Service Line and Project Management
HSML 6247	Consulting in Health Care
HSML 6263	Advanced Health Financial Applications
HSML 6270	Research in Health Services Administration (Independent Study)
HSML 6285 & HSML 6286	Readings in Health Services Management and Readings in Health Services Management
HSML 6299	Topics in HSML
Field experience
Completion of either a fellowship or residency, depending on the chosen focus area.
Fellowship—Students whose focus area requires a fellowship take the following two courses for a total of 6 credits:
HSML 6274	Fellowship
HSML 6275	Fellowship
Residency—Students whose focus area requires a residency take the following 3-credit course:
HSML 6271	Residency

*Only specific topics indicated for PUBH 6399 count toward this requirement.

Graduation Requirements

1. Graduate Credit Requirement: 50 graduate credits are required.
2. Grade Point Requirement: A 3.0 (B average) overall grade-point average is required.
3. Time Limit Requirement: The degree must be completed within five years.
4. Transfer Credit Policy: Up to 12 graduate credits that have not been applied to a previous graduate degree may be transferred to the MHA, upon approval. Credits must have been earned from a CAHME accredited institution in the last three years with a grade-point average of 3.0 or above. 
5. Transfer to Degree Program Policy: Up to 18 credits may be transferred to the MHA from the Health Administration Generalist Certificate. Students wishing to transfer to a degree program may apply to do so via the online change of concentration petition after completion of three or more courses and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. A grade of B or above is required for a course to be eligible for transfer. Students interested in applying to an MHA degree program should meet with the program director regarding program-specific admission requirements. Transfer credits must have been completed within the past three years.
6. Residency or Internship Requirement: Successful completion of a 6 credit residency or 3-credit internship.

Combined program

• Dual Master of Health Administration and Graduate Certificate in health care corporate compliance