Saint Joseph's University - Online Master of Science in Health Administration (General, Informatics, and Leadership Tracks)

The College of Arts and Sciences at Saint Joseph’s University (SJU) offers an online Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA) with a general track or one of two specializations: Informatics, or Organizational Development and Leadership. This degree prepares students for ethical decision-making in health care administrative roles. The core courses focus on a broad range of subjects from health care law and ethics to informatics and financial principles in health care administration.

The Informatics specialization specifically focuses on the management of electronic medical records, the IT infrastructure, and data management. Topics covered include computer-based patient records, how data management affects patient care, and how to use IT applications and implement change in health care records management.

The Organizational Development and Leadership specialization specifically focuses on developing effective leaders in the healthcare industry through developing the internal culture of organizations, working in teams, and fostering employee relationships. Topics covered include how to use systems thinking to manage change in organizations, foster effective individual and team relationships, and further develop health care organizations.

The MS in Health Administration can be completed part-time or full-time. Most working professionals take one course every eight weeks. The program is 100% online with a culminating capstone course. The general track consists of 12 courses and 36 credits. The Informatics and Organizational Development and Leadership specializations consist of 14 courses and 42 credits. Each can be completed in one to two years. Courses run six times per year beginning in January, March, May, June, August, and October. Although work experience in health care is preferred, it is not required.

Saint Joseph’s University utilizes Canvas as its Learning Management System (LMS). Courses are both synchronous and asynchronous with live, face-to-face meetings or recorded lectures respectively. Assignments have set deadlines and students should expect to interact online several times per week, no matter the format. Canvas offers multimedia tools for interactive coursework, including online discussion boards and virtual classrooms. All students are assigned an advisor and a student services coordinator, as well as having access to 24/7 technical support.

Courses for the MS in Health Administration include core and specialization or elective courses. Core courses for all tracks include: Health Administration; Health Care Law; Financial Management of Health Care Organizations; Accounting for Health Care Organizations; Health Care Organization; Ethics of Health Care; Health Care Informatics; Health Services Research; and Managed Health Care. The final capstone course Integrative Course in Health Services allows students to demonstrate their competence in health care administration through the study of complex health care cases and individual development of their own case.

The general track includes the choice of two electives from the following: Health Policy; Health Care and the Internet; Epidemiology and Community Health; and Computer-Based Patient Record (CPR).

The Informatics specialization includes: Health Care and the Internet; Health Information Management Systems Applications; Health Information Management Systems Data and Infrastructure; Computer-Based Patient Record (CPR).

The Organizational Development and Leadership specialization includes: Organizational Leadership; Leading Teams; Organizational Change and Culture; Organizational Development: Theory & Application.

Saint Joseph’s University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS). SJU is currently pursuing accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) for the Master’s of Health Administration program.