The University of Scranton - Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Executive Certificate

The Panuska College of Professional Studies at The University of Scranton offers an online Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree program with a general track or one of two specializations: Health Informatics or Global Health. In addition, the University of Scranton offers an Executive Certificate in Health Administration. Applicants must have at least three years of professional work experience to apply for the MHA or Executive Certificate.

The MHA degree covers topics such as financial management of healthcare organizations, healthcare quality, ethics in healthcare, healthcare leadership, healthcare law and policies, and administrative issues in healthcare. Uniquely, the Jesuit mission of the University of Scranton focuses on global justice, social responsibility, and ethical behavior and decision-making.

The Executive Certificate in Health Administration includes some courses from the MHA degree and focuses on ethical decision-making and leadership skills. It is designed for those seeking to advance their business and administrative skills in the healthcare sector in a focused program.

The curriculum for the two MHA specializations aligns with competencies of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Healthcare Leadership Alliance. The Health Informatics specialization places a specific focus on the impact of health informatics on healthcare policy, quality of care, costs, care access, resources, and accountability. Students learn to use data to guide decision-making, analyze healthcare systems, and manage financial aspects of healthcare.

The Global Health specialization includes two 10-day global immersions as part of the European Health Systems and South American Health Systems courses. These immersions take place in Europe and South America. Students in this specialization focus on ethics, social implications, challenges, cultural norms, societal values, and how local decisions affect global healthcare.

The online MHA can be completed in 2.5 years on a part-time basis, but students have up to six years to complete the degree. All tracks include a capstone course and a 3-credit internship. The general MHA track consists of 47 credits, while the Health Informatics specialization consists of 53 credits. The Global Health specialization consists of 53 credits plus two 10-day global immersions. Finally, the Executive Certificate in Health Administration comprises 15 credits and can be completed in just 10 months. It does not include an internship. The courses for the MHA and Executive Certificate are completely online and do not require campus visits.

The online MHA program and Executive Certificate offer a combination of synchronous and asynchronous courses and activities. Students should expect to spend one to three hours in synchronous learning activities per 8-week course. Synchronous activities are a requirement of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), through which the MHA program is accredited. Courses include lectures, peer/faculty discussions, case studies, assignments, and assessments.

The University of Scranton online Master of Health Administration degree includes four foundation courses: Health Care Organization and Administration; Health Care Financial Management I; Health Care Statistics and Research Methods; and Health Services and Systems. Other required courses may include Healthcare Law; Human Resource Management; Leadership in Health Administration; Administrative Issues; Healthcare Operations and Quality; and Healthcare IT Management.

Electives for the general MHA track include: Hospital Administration; Medical Practice Administration; Long Term Care Administration; Global Health Management; and Grants Writing and Management. Students also complete a capstone course and a 150-hour internship experience.

The Health Informatics specialization includes: Introduction to Health Informatics; Community Health for Health Informatics; and Public Policy for Health Informatics.

The Global Health specialization includes: Global Health Systems; European Health Systems; and South American Health Systems.

Courses for the Executive Certificate in Health Administration include three required courses: Health Care Organization and Administration; Health Care Financial Management; and Health Services and Systems. In addition students complete two electives from the MHA degree such as Hospital Administration; Long Term Care Administration; Global Health Management; Medical Practice Administration; and Grants Writing and Management.

The University of Scranton is accredited by The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The MHA program and Executive Certificate in Health Administration are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).