Master of Health Administration
Our healthcare system is undergoing profound change unlike any experienced before. Access, quality, and cost of healthcare are critical issues that affect all citizens, residents, and communities. Healthcare and the healthcare industry – which account for more than 16 percent of the entire U.S. economy – involve complex and fast-moving developments in technology, economics, ethics, finance, policy, and management.
As an issue and as a sector, healthcare requires an understanding of public, private, and nonprofit interactions. Visionary and effective leadership is needed to improve management structures in a highly competitive, market-driven environment and to find place-based solutions to the unique challenges facing each community. Tomorrow’s healthcare leaders must address such pressing issues as:
- How will we control healthcare costs as baby boomers become senior citizens and medical technology continues to advance?
- How will healthcare dollars be allocated across generations?
- How can we measure quality of care?
- How can we assure that all U.S. residents have access to healthcare?
As the delivery system changes, career opportunities abound. The field needs leaders and managers – in hospitals, health plans, medical practices, health-related enterprises, and community health organizations – who have the passion, knowledge, and skills to shape the future of healthcare.
What makes the MHA program so unique?
SPPD's Health Management and Policy programs have established strong ties to the healthcare community — successfully bridging sound academics to the field of practice. The school's Board of Councilors is comprised of top executives in healthcare, government, and business organizations throughout California, and the Health Advisory Board includes senior-level leaders of healthcare organizations from across the state. Consequently, students studying health management and policy have direct access to those who are shaping healthcare and healthcare policy throughout the region, state, nation, and the world.
In addition, one of the strengths of the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program is the unique multicultural diversity among its students and faculty. There is an appreciation for the differences that make a difference. The program’s diversity greatly enriches the learning experience and also better prepares students as they enter into a profession that crosses all cultures.
The MHA degree draws on the university's 30 years of leadership in post-graduate education in health management and policy. The 44-unit MHA is designed to be completed in two years of full-time study; however, students often elect to continue to work full time and complete their degrees as they advance in their careers.