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STEVEN A. PETERSON, Interim Graduate Program Coordinator
School of Public Affairs, Penn State Harrisburg
W-153 Olmsted Building; 717-948-6042
M.H.A.
Recognizing that the national health care system is in a period of reform and redesign, the program emphasis involves design/redesign in a 36-credit curriculum. Based on eight core courses defined as the foundation of administration in health care, the degree is designed for part-time professional students already engaged in health administration careers. The mission of the program is to further student knowledge and skills in a continuous learning cycle. Students are expected not only to know the existing health system, but are to develop a capability for design consistent with demands of access to care, management, and control of costs and quality of care delivery.
Part-time students may start the program at the beginning of any semester. They usually take one or two 3-credit courses each semester. Students may also take one or two courses during the summer session to maintain steady progress toward the degree. All Health Administration courses are available during the evening for the convenience of part-time students. A student may complete the M.H.A. on a part-time basis in about two to four years.
Applicants must have received their baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to starting the graduate program. Applicants who are still completing their baccalaureate requirements at the time of the application may be admitted to the Graduate School conditional on the awarding of the baccalaureate degree.
Admission to the MHA program is based on clear suitability for the MHA program as demonstrated by the application as a whole, to include: a completed application, evidence of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college; a statement of career and educational goals; a successful undergraduate record with a grade-point average of 3.00 (with particular attention given to the last two years of undergraduate work); satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) are required if the GPA is less than 3.00; three years of work experience; and names of three references willing to provide recommendations.
The GPA requirement may be relaxed if the student has professional experience or other strong evidence suggesting likely success in the MHA program. Some applicants may be accepted on a non-matriculated probationary basis, pending performance at the B (3.00) level over 15 hours of approved credit.
All undergraduate degrees are acceptable for admission. All students are expected to have had at least an introductory course in statistics and statistical software.
If these introductory knowledge and skill areas have not been completed prior to admission they must be satisfied prior to completion of 12 graduate credits. Reading and introductory courses--for which not graduate credit is given--are available at Penn State Harrisburg. The computer area may be satisfied by completing a 1-credit computer course: P ADM 486 Applied Statistical Package.
The degree requires a minimum of 36 graduate credits, including a 3-credit, faculty-supervised paper. Three credits of 400-level work may be included in the electives. An overall 3.00 (B) grade-point average must be earned in all 400- and 500-level work.
REQUIRED COURSES: 24 credits
H ADM 539, H ADM 540, H ADM 541, H ADM 542, H ADM 545, P ADM 503, P ADM 506, P ADM 510
ELECTIVE CONCENTRATION: 9 credits
H ADM 543, H ADM 546, H ADM 548, H ADM 551, H ADM 552, H ADM 597, P ADM 505, P ADM 511, P ADM 512, P ADM 514, P ADM 515, P ADM 516, P ADM 520
CAPSTONE COURSE: 3 credits
H ADM 594
Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (H ADM) course list
DATE LAST REVIEWED BY GRADUATE SCHOOL: 5/26/04
Faculty updated: 6/5/12