General Approach

The MHA curriculum prepares students for career advancement by providing in-depth application of contemporary health policy and health management issues and situations.  Online MHA students and graduates apply their newly acquired knowledge immediately.

Coursework

The MHA program provides a challenging and unique curriculum, delivered online sequentially, and is completed over 42 credit hours (six semesters).  It embraces theoretical, as well as contemporary practical applications of dynamic healthcare leadership in each of the following areas:

Foundational Courses

		Credits
PSMA 6002	Research Methods and Statistical Analysis	3
PSMA 6005	Financial Management and Control	3
PSMA 7513	Healthcare Management	3
PSMA 7521	Healthcare Systems	2
PSMA 8518	Human Resources and Legal Aspects of Healthcare Organizations	3
PSMA 8523	Ethics in Healthcare Administration	2

Technology and Community Enhancing Courses

		Credits
PSMA 7518	Managing Community Health Systems	3
PSMA 8521	Quality and Information Management Systems	3
PSMA 8531	Managing Emergency Preparedness and Health Security	3

Theory-to-Practice Courses

		Credits
PSMA 7514	Healthcare Financial Management and Accounting	3
PSMA 7522	Healthcare Policy	2
PSMA 8514	Healthcare Economics	3
PSMA 8517	Strategic Planning and Marketing in Healthcare Organizations	3
PSMA 8711	Topics in Management and Policy Science:  Leadership Institute	3
PSMA 7997	Capstone	3

Concentration Specialty:
Students customize their online Master of Healthcare Administration degree by completing a final literature project devoted to a specialty interest. Designating an area of interest and building upon that interest through specialized study, students complete a three credit course culminating in a final paper presented at the final residency experience. The completed project affords students an opportunity to make a substantial contribution to their organization and their profession.

Residencies
The MHA program is completely online, with exception of three weekend residencies - program orientation, mid-degree and final project. Students are required to attend three weekend residencies at the University's main campus in South Orange, New Jersey. The Program begins with the orientation residency, followed by a second residency approximately one year later (mid-degree) and the third and final residency.

Course Descriptions

PSMA 6002 Research Methods and Statistical Analysis uses analytical and statistical methods for planning, evaluating, and decision-making and the application of quantitative tools in understanding and managing data.

PSMA 6005 Financial Management and Control explores basic financial, budgetary, and accounting concepts, processes, and techniques relevant to healthcare managers; how and why financial decisions are made; how they affect healthcare operations, use of financial documents, and financial analysis.

PSMA 7513 Healthcare Management explores the role of the contemporary healthcare manager, emphasizing basic managerial skills and knowledge that contributes to effective healthcare management.

PSMA 7521 Healthcare Systems systematic introduction to the healthcare delivery system with emphasis on interactions of governmental authorities, delivery systems, financing of health care, regulation, competition, organizational innovations in healthcare services and alternate strategies.

PSMA 7514 Healthcare Financial Management and Accounting studies principles of accounting, as applied to healthcare organizations and accounting as a healthcare management tool. The financial realities in health-services, emphasizing healthcare financial management concepts, terms, management techniques; and the interpretation and analysis of financial data in healthcare organizations are also covered.

PSMA 7518 Managing Community Health Services emphasizes the manager's role, responsibilities and involvement in developing, implementing and evaluating strategies for community health initiatives, while focusing on geographically related individuals, groups and organizations sharing health resources.

PSMA 7997 Project Completion is an independent study of some aspect of healthcare delivery, administration or policy. With the assistance of the instructor, the topic is of the student's own choosing.  The course provides an excellent opportunity for the student to delve deeper into an area of healthcare in which he or she has not previously studied.  The intended result of the project is for the student to make a contribution to their organization and profession.

PSMA 8512 Ethics in Healthcare Administration provides an examination of specific medical and healthcare ethics, including clinical practice, legal dimensions, public policy, and professional practice and decision-making. 

PSMA 8514 Healthcare Economics applies economic theory toward understanding problems of organization, delivery, and financing of healthcare services. This important course emphasizes the shift toward a market economy and the application of economic principles and tools of economic analysis for healthcare managers.

PSMA 8517 Strategic Planning and Marketing in Healthcare Organizations explores the role, functions, and application of strategic planning and marketing in healthcare organizations, emphasizing the process of strategy assessment, development and implementation.

PSMA 8518 Human Resources and Legal Aspects of Healthcare Administration provides an overview of legal issues associated with delivery of healthcare and the legal pitfalls surrounding everyday healthcare practice and administration. This course also explores legal aspects of human resources administration in healthcare and issues of liability and corporate responsibility

PSMA 8521 Quality and Information Management Systems provides an overview of quality and information management systems for health care leaders.  Quality management models, approaches, tools and techniques are presented in the context of organizational culture and leadership

PSMA 8523 Ethics in Healthcare Administration emphasis on medical  and  healthcare ethics involving clinical practice, legal dimensions, public policy, and professional responsibilities and decision making

PSMA 8531 Managing Emergency Preparedness and Health Security as health professionals at all levels – local, regional, national and global – seek to understand the impact of natural and man-made disasters on health status, best practices for management strategies are emerging. This course provides an overview of emergency preparedness and its application to all aspects of a population’s health.

PSMA 8711 Topics in Management and Policy Science: Leadership Institute
provides an opportunity for intensive interdisciplinary graduate study with professors and students from departments in the Stillman School of Business, the College of Education and Human Services, the Master of Public Administration program and the Master of Healthcare Administration program. Focuses on topical leadership issues and strategies. Addresses ways of managing career decisions under conditions of accelerated change.