The Master of Health Administration (MHA-Online) is a 45-credit rigorous and multi-disciplinary
professional graduate program at the University of Maryland, College Park designed to prepare graduates
to manage the many complex health-related organizations including hospitals, health care systems,
insurance companies, long term care facilities, managed care organizations, rehabilitation agencies, public
health clinics, and state agencies among others.

Public health and health services now comprise the largest industry in the United States, producing nearly
one seventh of the United States' gross national product. According to a World Health Organization, the
health care system should be conceptualized as including not only health services, but also public health
and social welfare activities. The Department of Health Policy and Management in the School of Public
Health at the University of Maryland, adopts this integrated approach to address current health needs,
provide leadership in a rapidly evolving health care industry, and anticipate future health challenges in an
expanding global economy.

The MHA-Online curriculum includes courses in public health services administration and health care
systems, program planning and management to promote health, policy in public health, inter-professional
practice and systems thinking, health law and ethics, strategic management of human resources, financial
management of health organizations, marketing for competitive health service, quality assessment and
evaluation, and health care leadership and communications. The curriculum also includes an internship
and a capstone project that integrates all course learning and experiences. The program may be completed
in 24 months of full-time study and part-time study is welcomed.
The MHA-Online features the convenience and flexibility of online instruction provided by School of
Public Health faculty and experts from prominent public health organizations in the Greater Washington
DC area. Online content is delivered through UMD’s online learning environment. Online instruction is
supplemented through the program’s residency course, HLSA772—the only course with required face to
face elements. Students meet for a total of four to five weekend days at the UMD College Park campus.
The program uses the semester academic calendar: fall and spring semester (16 weeks each) and Summer
Session (two 6-week sessions).

The MHA-Online program is considered to be equivalent to the MPH and is accredited by the Council on
Education for Public Health (CEPH).

All MHA-Online students will complete the following three modules:

Module  Description Courses
Module 1 Integrated Core Courses 6 courses
Module 2 Health Administration 8 courses
Module 3 Internship and Capstone 2 courses
  • Module 1: Integrated Core Courses: Evidence-based approaches to public health that includes public health and health care systems, planning and management to promote health, policy in public health, leadership, communication, and inter-professional practice and systems thinking.
  • Module 2: Health Administration cognate courses.
  • Module 3: Internship credits may be spread over multiple semesters. Capstone Project is one course.

​Module Description and Course Details

Module Semester Course# Course Name Credit
Module 1: Integrated Core Courses
 Fall - year 1 SPHL601 Foundations of Public Health 1
Fall - year 1 SPHL602 Applied Data: Epidemiology & Biostatistics  4
Fall - year 1 SPHL603 Public Health Data Laboratory 1
Spring - year 1 SPHL610 Program Planning, Development and Evaluation 5
Spring - year 1 SPHL611 Public Health Ethics  1
Fall - year 2 SPHL620 Leadership and Policy Analysis 2
Total Integrated Core  14
Module 2: Health Administration 

 

 Fall HLSA601 Introduction to Health Systems (Required) 3
Spring HLSA710 Foundations of Healthcare Management  3
Spring HLSA720 Health Law and Ethics  3
Spring HLSA740 Healthcare Strategic Planning and Evaluation 3
Summer HLSA760 Financial Management  3
Fall HLSA770 Continuous Quality Improvement 3
Fall HLSA772 Healthcare Leadership and Communication 3
Summer HLSA775 Public Health Research Methods  3
Total Health Administration Module 24
Module 3: Internship and Capstone
 Fall, Spring, Summer HLSA778 Internship 4
Fall, Spring, Summer HLSA786 Capstone 3
Total Internship, Capstone Module 7
Total Credits Required for MHA Online  45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Program competencies: Student learning outcomes will be evaluated with specific assessments mapped to specific courses, as mandated by the CEPH accreditation requirements. The following list represents the competencies for the MHA-Online degree:
 
online MHA Competencies Courses
Apply systems thinking and organizational theory to address public health and health care management issues. HLSA 601, HLSA710 or HLSA740, SPHL610, SPHL620
Evaluate the main components of the organization and delivery of healthcare in the US and other nations and impact on population health. HLSA 601, HLSA710, HLSA740, HLSA770, SPHL601
Apply the principles of strategic planning, development, marketing, budgeting, management and evaluation in organizational and community initiatives. HLSA710, HLSA740, SPHL610, SPHL620, HLSA760
Apply analytical methods for analysis of health management problems and potential solutions. HLSA775, HLSA770, SPHL602, SPHL603, SPHL610, SPHL620, HLSA760
Demonstrate leadership and management skills for building partnership through collaborative efforts and communication of health policy and management issues. SPHL610, SPHL620, HLSA772, HLSA710, HLSA740

How to Apply: 

Admission Criteria:

MHA applications are reviewed with consideration to the following criteria:

  • Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
  • Undergraduate and any graduate transcripts
  • 3 letters of recommendation that address your academic capabilities
  • Statement of goals and interests
  • Relevant academic/work experience
    ​Note: International applicants requiring an I-20 are not eligible to apply as this mostly online program has a mandatory face-to-face element. The University cannot issue an I-20 for this program. Otherwise, international applicants already in the U.S. who are permitted to enroll in such studies must follow The Graduate School International Admissions.

For more information, please contact the program director Dr. Negin Fouladi fouladi@umd.edu

For detailed program information, including plans of study, course descriptions, tuition and fees, FAQ’s please visit the program home at The Office of Extended Studies.

Advancing a Better State of Health Through Leadership and Health Administration: Online Format with Limited Residency.