steven.szydlowski@scranton.edu
Dr. Rita DiLeo, Program Director
570-941-7598
rita.dileo@scranton.edu
Today’s healthcare managers and leaders need special knowledge, abilities, and perspectives to work in complex healthcare systems and organizations. Courses in the nationally accredited graduate health administration program prepare people for challenging, dynamic management careers in the healthcare sector. The MHA program enables full-time and part-time students to acquire academic knowledge and competencies, develop practical skills, examine professional points of view, and engage in personal growth. Students are encouraged to work in healthcare settings during their academic studies so that they can connect classroom learning with real-world work.
The MHA Program
The Graduate Program in Health Administration was established in 1987 and is framed by our Jesuit emphasis on ethics and education for justice. The program has grown steadily and has graduated alumni who work in a wide range of positions and organizations. The program is designed to: 1. Prepare individuals to enter healthcare management and leadership positions; 2. Enhance the performance of individuals employed in healthcare management and leadership positions but who lack academic training and credentials; 3. Prepare individuals to enter or advance in a variety of healthcare staff positions; and, 4. Prepare individuals to advance in senior healthcare management positions.
Healthcare managers, administrators, and executives work in a variety of health-related organizations and service delivery systems such as hospitals, long-term-care facilities, ambulatory care settings, physician group practices, social service agencies, rehabilitation centers, home health organizations, managed care organizations, insurance companies, and various planning and regulatory agencies. Depending on the position, they may be engaged in organizational management, strategic planning, community relations, education, finance, internal operations, corporate development, marketing, information systems, or other responsibilities. The MHA program can help people prepare for these and other healthcare administration jobs. Faculty mentors help students plan their careers and evaluate career and job opportunities. The MHA program employs the Healthcare Leadership Alliance competency model.
Admission Requirements
The Health Administration program may require a GRE or GMAT score, depending on the strength of other qualifications and information submitted by the applicant. Applicants for the campus-based MHA program are encouraged to apply by May 1 for fall semester entry; and October 1 for spring semester entry. Applications received after these dates will be considered for admission on a space-available basis. Applicants must be admitted before starting courses. International students whose native language is not English must demonstrate their proficiency by submitting TOEFL scores. Please refer to the International Student section for acceptable English proficiency tests, test score requirements and other information.
The Health Administration program accepts applicants with or without professional work experience. Students accepted into the Health Administration program with little to no work experience are required to enroll in HAD 581 - Administrative Residency to gain practical experience. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their career goals and employment possibilities with the program director during a personal interview, which is required prior to acceptance, and explain how they see the curriculum supporting their longer-term goals.
Clearances
Students participating in field work experience are required to comply with the criminal background check and specific clearance requirements of each facility to which he /she is assigned. Prior to beginning their fieldwork placement, students shall undergo a criminal background check and required clearances at their own expense.
The facility shall determine whether the results of the criminal background check and clearances meet facility requirements. As participation in field work experience is a required part of the curriculum and a requirement for graduation, denial of participation by any facility may result in delay of graduation or the inability to graduate from the program.
Fieldwork includes administrative residency, internships, externships, clinical observation, directed studies and in some cases course projects. These clearances may result in additional fees to the student and may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- FBI fingerprinting;
- State specific criminal background checks;
- Child abuse clearances;
- Two step TB testing;
- Hepatitis B vaccination;
- Flu vaccine;
- Covid 19 Vaccine
- History of immunizations and in some cases titer testing;
- Drug screen panels;
- Please note: Additional testing could be requested by an organization.
Admission Criteria
On-Campus Program
Bachelor’s Degree from an American College or University which is accredited, or equivalent from an International College or University;
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 on a grading scale of 4.00;
- Complete Graduate School Application;
- Official Transcripts;
- Two letters of reference from people capable of evaluating educational background and work experience or personal character;
- Resume and career statement with career goals;
- TOEFL exam for international students:
- 550 Written Score
- 210 Online Score
- Personal Interview with the Program Director
- Familiarity with Excel strongly recommended.
Online Program
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 3.00;
- International students should score at least 575 on the TOEFL;
- Students with 0-3 years of work experience may be admitted to the program and will be required to take HAD 581 - Administrative Residency to meet the Applied Professional Experience requirement; admitted students with 3 or more years of work experience will complete HAD 580 - Internship in Health Administration or HAD 582 - Directed Study as their Applied Professional Experience;
- The applicant will also submit two letters of recommendation. If the applicant has three years of management experience, at least one of the letters should come from a different senior executive within the applicant’s organization or prior organization of employment;
- Resumé;
- Background check disclosure form;
- Background check authorization form;
- Completed online application.
Additional Notes:
- Admitted students will complete a mandatory online tutorial on academic honesty and submit a signed statement agreeing to abide by the University’s academic honor code.
- Students will also complete non-credit professional requirements as specified in the Program Manual.
- Upon program completion, both on-campus and online MHA students are invited to participate in the University’s graduation ceremonies in Scranton.
Assessment:
- Both the on-campus and online MHA programs use a HLA Competency Model.
- Student learning outcomes of the online MHA program will be similar to those of the on-campus MHA program. The programs will be assessed using an existing assessment plan and related techniques.
- Because of the delivery format and special needs of working professionals, students will be surveyed on an annual basis on how to improve convenience and effectiveness of course scheduling and delivery.
Curriculum
Online MHA Program
The online MHA program consists of 41 credits. MHA students will also participate and be evaluated in the Fit-for-the-Profession program.
Courses are offered in six 7-week terms each academic year in a web-based delivery format. In addition, courses may be offered during the five-week mini-term between the Fall and Spring terms. Computer applications are utilized throughout the curriculum; therefore, entering students are expected to have proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, and internet applications. While the vast majority of coursework can be completed according to your own schedule, some courses require synchronous elements in order to remain aligned with CAHME accreditation requirements. Some courses will require one to three hours of synchronous learning over seven weeks that may cover course overviews, lectures, faculty-student discussions, review of assigned case studies, etc. At these times, students and faculty must log into the course at a predetermined time as specified in individual course syllabi.
The capstone course, HAD 509 - Administrative Issues , is normally taken in the final semester prior to graduation, and draws upon the knowledge, skills, and abilities developed throughout the MHA program. HAD 506 - Health Care Economics and Policy can be taken contemporaneously with HAD 509 - Administrative Issues .
The Applied Practical Experience that is required will vary depending on the student’s prior work experience. Either HAD 580 - Internship in Health Administration (3 cr) or HAD 582 - Directed Study (3 cr) is required for students with three or more years of work experience. HAD 581 - Administrative Residency (8 cr) is required for students with less than 3 years of work experience.
On-Campus MHA Program
The MHA program requires 38 credits plus fieldwork for the degree. The curriculum consists of 35 core credits, 3 elective credits, and an Applied Practical Experience, which is typically 8 credits. Students entering the program take early foundation courses HAD 519 - Health Services and Systems , HAD 501 - Health Care Financial Management I , HAD 518 - Healthcare Research and Analytics , and HAD 530 - Leadership and Organization Behavior . These courses serve as prerequisites for more advanced courses in the curriculum and establish basic skills, competencies, and core knowledge. Healthcare management requires practical applied experience, so students do field work under the guidance of a preceptor as part of their graduate studies.
An 8-credit 6-month Applied Practical Experience HAD 581 - Administrative Residency (1,000 hours) is generally required for students with no prior applied healthcare management experience.
Other types of Applied Practical Experience include HAD 580 - Internship in Health Administration , HAD 583 - Externship in Health Administration or HAD 582 - Directed Study . These Applied Practical Experiences can be used as an elective. Prior to starting the fieldwork, students must meet specific requirements mandated by the host site. The specific fieldwork requirement for each student is discussed during the admission interview and during the student’s studies.
There are five non-credit requirements, which help prepare students for health care administration jobs and must be completed to graduate. First, all students are expected to join the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the Program’s Student Chapter, ACHE Higher Education Network, or join a comparable professional association. Second, students must have and interact regularly with an identified external mentor. Third, all students must perform 24 hours of community service with healthcare or related organizations. Fourth, students must complete the University’s online academic integrity tutorial. Fifth, students must show evidence of attendance at two professional meetings. Examples would include ACHE, MGMA, HFMA or local affiliates. These requirements are further explained in the separate Non-Curriculum Requirements Manual.
Fit-for-the-Profession
In order to provide increased non-classroom based competencies, the Department of Health Administration & Human Resources has developed a new program for our Masters in Health Administration students called Fit-for-the-Profession. The purpose of the program is to provide a faculty-based interdisciplinary approach to further developing and enhancing our students behavioral and “soft skills” through a select series of extracurricular activities and other professional interactions. It is expected that this additional professional exposure and redundancy of activities will better prepare our students to function in an active workplace environment and better meet the needs and expectations of their future employers.
At the onset of each students first year in the MHA program, each student will be assigned to a three-person faculty team to include their academic adviser, executive-in-residence career advisor and residency fieldwork advisor. In collaboration with the student, this interdisciplinary group will serve as professional advisory team for each student’s unique and ongoing needs in respect to coursework selection, career advising/monitoring and internship/ residency fieldwork placement. The interdisciplinary group will be the student’s individualized “Fit-for-the-Profession Advising Team.”
In addition to evaluation of academic competencies, the student will be continuously evaluated relative to his/her commitment to the program and the profession, and on personal and emotional characteristics and qualities related to successful professional performance. The program adheres to the American College of Healthcare Executive’s Code of Ethics, available at http://www.ache.org/ABT_ACHE/code.cfm. To quote from the Code’s Preamble, “The purpose of the Code of Ethics of the American College of Healthcare Executives is to serve as a standard of conduct for members. It contains standards of ethical behavior for healthcare executives in their professional relationships. These relationships include colleagues, patients or others served; members of the healthcare executive’s organization and other organizations; the community; and society as a whole.” Feedback on progress is provided by the student’s mentor on a regular basis.
Credit for Life Experience
Online MHA Degree students may be eligible for up to six (6) credits by applying for and receiving academic credit for documented life and/or work experience. The total number of credits awarded will count towards and not exceed the total transfer credits allowed by the program. This credit for prior learning will be evaluated via the review of a portfolio submitted to the Department Chair and/or Program Director which documents the experience and the learning outcomes and/ or competencies for the elective or required course for which the student is seeking credit. The portfolio should demonstrate the college-level learning gained through the work or life experience as it applies to the elective course for which the credit is being sought. At a minimum, the portfolio must consist of a cover letter, up to date resume, pertinent job descriptions, and at least one letter of attestation from an appropriate individual(s). The recommendation to grant Life/Work Experience credits for credit in lieu of a program elective or required course will be made by the Program Director and/or Department Chairperson. Final approval is made by the Dean.
In making this determination, faculty will consider and document the course learning outcomes and/or competencies met as evidenced by this portfolio of work. In addition to a completed Approval for Credit for Prior Learning Form, a written evaluation clearly indicating how the experience meets these outcomes will be prepared by the program director and/or chair and submitted to the Dean for approval. The information recorded on the evaluation will be maintained as part of the student’s permanent academic record.
Specializations
The University of Scranton MHA degree provides the opportunity for several specializations: Global Health, Health Informatics, Population Health Management and Post-Acute Care Administration. Each of these specializations requires 3 courses but only adds 6 required credits to the MHA curriculum.
Curriculum
Students in the Global Health Specialization will achieve six program level outcomes/competencies beyond the 25 covered by the regular MHA program:
1. Explain the ethical, social, and environmental consequences of local and national decisions on global health systems;
2. Analyze major elements of global health systems to derive solutions to complex problems;
3. Apply cultural, historical, and scientific perspectives using applied research techniques to plan and evaluate solutions to global health challenges;
4. Articulate personal values in the context of personal identities to recognize and contemplate diverse positions on social, civic, and population health problems;
5. Comprehend multiple worldviews, experiences, histories, and power structures on important issues; and
6. Initiate and engage in meaningful interaction with people from other cultures in the context of health problems and solutions.
This specialization is available to both on-campus and online students. It requires 3 specific courses (9 credits) but a minimum of 6 credits in addition to the regular MHA curriculum (a total of 44 or 47 credits plus fieldwork). Students in this specialization are required to take HAD 517 - Global Health Management - in place of the current 3-credit elective in the MHA program and two additional travel courses HAD 595 - South American Health Systems and HAD 596 - European Health Systems .
In addition to tuition, students will be required to pay program/travel expenses associated with HAD 595 - South American Health Systems and HAD 596 - European Health Systems , which historically ranged from $3300 - $3500 per travel course.
This specialization provides students the opportunity to learn about and experience the growing field of Health Informatics. It provides students with additional skills and competencies beyond HAD 523 - Health Care IT Management .
The Health Informatics Specialization requires 3 specific courses (9 credits) but a minimum of 6 in addition to the regular MHA curriculum. One of the 3 of the required courses can be taken to satisfy the 3-credit elective in the MHA program. Students in this specialization are required to take HINF 520 - Introduction to Health Informatics , HINF 550 - Population Health for Health Informatics and HINF 570 - Health Information Policy and Governance .
Population Health Specialization
This specialization will provide students additional skills (beyond the traditional graduate program structure) that are necessary to address the growing demand for individuals that are able to improve the overall health of populations and engage patients in a plan to improve their individual health. This specialization supports select competencies from the 27 specific competencies covered by the MHA program.
The Population Health Specialization requires 3 specific courses (9 credits) but a minimum of 6 credits in addition to the regular MHA curriculum. One of the 3 required courses can be taken to satisfy the current 3-credit elective in the MHA program. Students in this specialization are required to take HAD 540 - Epidemiology and Population Health Management , HAD 541 - Population Health and Systems Science , and HAD 542 - Population Health Science: An Interdisciplinary Approach .
This specialization will prepare MHA students for a meaningful career in Post-Acute Care Administration and meet some licensing requirements in Pennsylvania. The content of courses is based on federal guidelines and regulations, accepted principles, and practices in important domains of Post-Acute Care Administration identified by The National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB).
It is available to residential and online MHA students. It requires 3 specific courses (9 credits) but a minimum of 6 credits in addition to the regular MHA curriculum. One of the 3 required courses can be taken to satisfy the current 3-credit elective in the MHA program. Students in this specialization are required to take HAD 513 - Long Term Care Administration , HAD 528 - Nursing Home Administration and HAD 529 - Assisted Living Administration .
A 15-credit-hour certificate is available for people who want advanced education in healthcare management but who do not wish to pursue a full graduate degree. Students complete three required courses and select two electives after completion of the first three required courses.
Applicants should have prior professional experience in the healthcare field and may begin in any semester during the year. Anyone interested in the certificate should arrange an interview with the Graduate Health Administration Program Director. Regular admission requirements and graduate procedures must be met. Once admitted, the established tuition and three-year tuition guarantee becomes effective for campus based students only. Once accepted, the student must complete the agreed upon program of study within three years. No courses from other institutions may be transferred for the certificate.
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