Health Administration, MHA

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The Master of Health Administration program is designed to prepare students for effective organizational management based on competencies and evidence based practices needed to become exceptional managers and leaders. The program is also committed to the improvement of health services through health services research and community engagement within complex health related organizations. The 60 credit hour program is designed for aspiring and committed professionals who are interested in careers in health services administration in such settings as hospitals; managed care organizations; medical group practices; ambulatory, long-term care, insurance and pharmaceutical companies; consulting firms; government agencies; for-profit and nonprofit sector organizations.

The curriculum is guided by the NCHL Health Leadership Competency Model which addresses the complexity and dynamic qualities of the health leader’s role and reflects the dynamic realities in health leadership today. Through an internship and a final integrative experience, students are asked to incorporate, synthesize, and apply their knowledge within both an operational and a community context. The result is an organizational perspective that encourages students to integrate knowledge from a range of management disciplines while emphasizing accountability for effective performance.

By the conclusion of the MHA program, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills in:

Accountability
Achievement Orientation
Communication Skills
Financial Skills
Impact & Influence
Information Technology Management
Performance Measurement
Process Management & Organizational Design
Project Management
Human Resource Management
Change Leadership
Strategic Orientation
Organizational Awareness
Analytical thinking
Information Seeking
Initiative
Professionalism
Self Confidence

The School of Public Health is a member of SOPHAS (Schools of Public Health Application Service) and HAMPCAS (Healthcare Administration, Management & Policy Centralized Application Services). The School of Public Health admits MHA students during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The priority deadlines are as follows:

Semester	Admission Deadline
Fall 2015	March 15, 2015
Spring 2016	June 1, 2016
Summer 2016	February 1, 2016
Fall 2016	March 15, 2016

It is recommended that non-U.S. citizens apply well in advance of these deadlines to allow for the preparation of immigration documents.

MHA Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution,
Submit an application through either to HAMPCAS (Healthcare Administration, Management & Policy Centralized Application Services) at www.hampcas.org, or SOPHAS (Schools of Public Health Application Service at www.sophas.org ,
Submit complete, official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
Submit official scores from one of the following graduate admissions examinations: Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT), Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or Pharmacy School Admissions Test (PCAT). The examination requirement is waived for applicants possessing a professional doctoral degree with a license to practice in the United States.
Applicants with foreign transcripts must also include an official WES or ECE transcript evaluation report listing course-by-course U.S. grade point equivalencies.
International applicants must demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in oral and written English before being granted admission. Minimum TOEFL exam requirements: written=550; computer-based= 213; internet-based=79. The TOEFL is waived if the applicant has earned a high school diploma or a bachelor or master degree from an accredited institution within the United States or Canada.
Three (3) letters of recommendation
Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages)
Current resume or curriculum vita
If invited for an interview, applicants are expected to participate in either an on-campus interview or a technology-assisted interview.

Once an offer of admission has been extended to a student, official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended must be re-submitted directly to the SPH Office of Admission and Academic Services (3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699) if the student applied through SOPHAS.

Once an offer of admission has been extended to an international applicant, the Health Science Center will not issue immigration papers for student visas until the following documents have been received and approved by the Health Science Center:

Proof of financial resources
Official transcripts from each college or university attended should be re-submitted both in English and the student’s native language if the student applied through SOPHAS.

Admissions Decisions and Deferments for MHA Applicants

Applicants will be furnished written notification regarding their admission status by the SPH Office of Admission and Academic Services. Statements by other Health Science Center personnel concerning the applicant’s admissibility are not valid until confirmed in writing by the Office of Admission and Academic Services.

Applicants who are admitted to a degree program and plan to enroll are required to submit an Admissions Decision Form along with a non-refundable $200 assurance fee that will be used toward their tuition upon arrival. Applicants admitted to a degree program that do not intend to enroll in the semester for which they applied must contact the Office of Admission and Academic Services to request a deferment. Deferments must be made in writing and cannot exceed one year from the original acceptance date. There is a non-refundable deferment fee of $300; the deferment fee is due at the time the request is made.

Information submitted in the application materials must be complete and correct. Prospective and current students must notify the proper institution officials regarding any changes in the information provided on their application. Falsification or omission of any information on the application documents will void a student’s admission, cancel their enrollment, and/or result in appropriate disciplinary action.

All materials submitted during the application process become the property of the Health Science Center and cannot be returned.

Financial Assistance

The SPH Dean offers a limited number of competitive scholarships & graduate assistantship positions to new incoming students each fall semester. To be considered, applicants must have completed and submitted their fall admission application through either HAMPCAS or SOPHAS by the March 15th priority application deadline. Please note that all application materials must be received by the application service well enough in advance for the service to complete the coursework verification process to meet the March 15th deadline. Other financial assistance may be available through the Office of Financial Aid.

MHA Academic Procedures

Each student is responsible for the completion of the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program according to the procedures that follow. Each item must be completed in the sequence and time period indicated. Forms are subject to revision at any time and should be obtained from the School of Public Health Office of Admission and Academic Services. Students may e-mail the Office of Admission and Academic Services at sph@unthsc.edu with questions, concerns or clarification on any of the following procedures.

Upon acceptance to the School of Public Health, an advisor is assigned from the Department of Health Management Policy.
Students are strongly encouraged to follow a 2-year or 3-year curriculum plan to ensure the most appropriate sequence of courses and the availability of classes.
Students must complete a full-time, 12-13 week internship, which requires 500 contact hours. Students are eligible to enroll for the Master of Health Administration Internship after the completion of a minimum of 27 required SCH, and other requirements as assigned by Program Director. Students must confer with the MHA Program Director prior to registration. For details regarding the internship, review the MHA Internship Manual on the School of Public Health website.
All MHA students must complete the MHA Capstone course. The capstone is designed to allow students the opportunity to apply methods and techniques learned in the MHA program to a practical health administration problem. This course is designed to partially meet the culminating experience requirement for students in the MHA program.

Elective Courses (7.5 SCH)

BACH 5310 Participatory Approaches to Improving Community Health
BACH 5324 Introduction to Health Disparities
BIOS 5310 Intermediate Biostatistics
BIOS 5314 Introduction to Data Management and Statistical Computing
EPID 5310 Intermediate Epidemiology
EPID 5318 Chronic Disease Epidemiology
HMAP 5394 Master of Health Administration Internship
HMAP 6320 Leadership for Public Health
HMAP 6322 Organizational Management
HMAP 6360 Ethical Issues in Public Health
ACCT 60010* Financial Reporting 1.5 SCH.
ACCT 60020* Managerial Reporting 1.5 SCH.
MANA 60330* Engaging & Empowering People 1.5 SCH.
MANA 60430* Leading & Guiding Organizations 1.5 SCH.
MARK 60010* Marketing Management 1.5 SCH.
MARK 70010* Marketing Issues & Problems 1.5 SCH.
MGMT 5140** Organizational Behavior and Analysis (UNT DENTON) 3 SCH.
MGMT 5210** Human Resource Management Seminar (UNT DENTON) 3 SCH.
MGMT 5530** Operation & Management of Physician Practice Organizations (UNT DENTON) 3 SCH.

Note(s):

*Texas Christian University Neeley School of Business approved courses through a partnership agreement with the UNT Health Science Center School of Public Health.

**UNT Denton College of Business approved courses.

Culminating Experience (6 SCH.)

Total SCH: 60

Master of Health Administration Internship Program

All students pursuing a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree at the UNT Health Science Center School of Public Health are required to complete a professional internship prior to graduation. The MHA internship program is managed under the direction of the MHA Program Director in cooperation with program faculty, students and preceptors in the field.

Internship Purpose and Objectives

Each student in the UNTHSC School of Public Health’s Master of Health Administration Program is required to complete a 500 contact hour, 12-13-week, full-time internship in an approved health services organization under the guidance of a qualified preceptor. The purpose of this internship is to provide the student with a “real world” experience against which to compare the concepts and models learned in the classroom; enable an appreciation of the complexity of organizations and the individuals that comprise them; and to provide insights for further development of skills and knowledge during the student’s remaining time in the program.

The MHA internship experience is intended to provide students with “hands on” training in health care administration. The final decision regarding which type of internship would be most appropriate for individual students is made by the MHA Program Director in consultation with each student’s faculty advisor.

All internships are designed to enable students to accomplish the following objectives:

To observe and understand the leadership and managerial style of the preceptor;
To understand the overall design and interrelationships of the individual parts of the organization’s structure;
To contribute to the “real output” of the organization by participating in relevant projects;
To practice serving as a “real healthcare manager” within the organization; and
To understand the internal and external environment in which the organization functions.

Additional information can be found on the MHA Internship website.