Executive MHA Curriculum
The Executive MHA offers a customized educational experience that is unique among executive health degree programs. The 34 units of study include 26 required units offered in a conveniently structured executive intensive format. The learner-centered program design also provides students with an opportunity to choose a variety of elective courses. The combination of required coursework and customized electives enables participants to develop competencies, focus or expertise in areas of particular interest, as well as to deepen existing management capabilities.
» Course Descriptions
» Recommended EMHA Course Sequence
» Other Scheduling Information
» Executive MHA Degree Requirements
The core Executive MHA curriculum will equip students with a mastery of:
- Leading and managing organizations, and the people who comprise them
- Managed care structures and operations
- Healthcare financial analysis and management
- Government policies, economic forces, and other factors shaping the future of healthcare
- Strategy development and business planning
- Customer-focused organizations and their management
- Quality and outcomes management
- Legal, ethical, and regulatory considerations in healthcare
- Information systems and technology management
- Teamwork, communications, and change management
A working knowledge of financial accounting is required. Participants who have not had coursework or experience in these areas prior to starting the Executive MHA are strongly encouraged to enroll in a self-study program and may be required to take the no-credit summer semester intensive accounting workshop offered by the program. To determine whether additional preparatory work is needed, participants will need to pass a competency assessment test in accounting before enrolling in core healthcare finance courses.
All core curricula and a significant number of electives will be offered in an executive intensive weekend format, which involves:
- Preparatory reading
- Eight full days of class per four units of credit (four days for 2-unit courses). To minimize time away from work, core classes and many electives meet on alternating weekends from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Fridays, and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
- Scheduled completion of assignments, including team and individual projects.
Some electives may be scheduled as a full weekday or weekly format classes for additional flexibility. Weekly format classes typically are afternoon or evening courses that meet once each week. The regular time for afternoon classes is 2:00-5:20 p.m. and for evening classes, 6:00-9:20 p.m. Occasionally a class may be offered in a four-day intensive format that meets twice during the semester with approximately a month interval between the two sessions. Core courses offered in Sacramento are scheduled in the two, four-day intensive format.
Among areas of study offered are:
- Clinical issues for non-clinician managers (1unit)
- Leadership symposium in health management and policy (1 unit; may be repeated three times as speakers and emphasis changes each semester)
- Cultural proficiency in health management and policy (2 units)
- Frontline issues in healthcare (2 units; may be repeated three times as topic changes each semester)
- Best practices in healthcare financial management (2 units)
- Customer-focused healthcare (2 units, approval pending)
- Health care venture development (2 units)
- Managed care contracting (2 units)
- Physician practice management (2 units)
- Communicating public policy (4 units)
- Six Sigma in healthcare (3 units)
- Healthcare operations improvement (3 units)
- Health economics (4 units)
- Hospital administration (4 units)
- Management of long-term care organizations—online only (4 units)
- Marketing and business development ( 2 or 4 units)
- Problems and issues in the health field (4 units)
- Public health policy (4 units)
- Quantitative analysis (4 units)
- Strategic management and change (4 units)
- Strategic and operational planning for health services (4 units)
- Urban health policy (4 units)
Recommended EMHA Course Sequence
All Executive MHA candidates are encouraged to follow a recommended course sequence as closely as possible. While sequencing of courses is strongly recommended, deviations are likely to occur since participants must plan classes around the schedule of courses offered each semester, as well as their own personal or professional circumstances. Students who wish to take courses at the State Capital Center in Sacramento will adjust this course sequence to accommodate.
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Other Scheduling Information
The Executive MHA course of study is sequenced to begin in late summer with a required two-day off-site orientation. Regular classes begin after Labor Day and continue on alternating weekends, adjusting for holidays and other scheduling considerations.
Our professional development advisors and faculty will assist in developing an academic plan for each incoming executive. All participants are encouraged to follow a recommended sequence as closely as possible. Prior to registration each semester, Executive MHA candidates may review their planned courses of study with an advisor.
Executive MHA Degree Requirements
Degree candidates will be required to complete a total of 34 units to be eligible for the executive MHA degree.
A high level of attendance is expected and program participants are required to maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average to fulfill degree requirements. Failure to do so, or to make appropriate compensatory arrangements with course faculty, may jeopardize successful completion of the degree. If it becomes necessary to discontinue or extend the course of study, it is possible to make arrangements to do so. However, administrative fees and/or higher program costs may apply.
We continually review the Executive Master of Health Administration program to ensure the best possible educational experience. As a result, we reserve the right to alter at any time the curriculum, class schedule, fees, faculty, location or other program components for the purpose of achieving our educational mission.