The MHA curriculum can provide you with a fundamental understanding of management and health services. The courses have been designed to prepare you for the requirements of increased accountability, organization, and management.
Inspired by the fields of health care and business management, Penn State's 49-credit online MHA program can help you gain a solid foundation of knowledge that combines both of these disciplines. The curriculum emphasizes competencies in ethical leadership, critical thought, and oral and written communication, as well as a broad understanding of the U.S. health care system. Areas of study include:
- financing health care
- clinical issues for health services management
- quality improvement in health care
- health care marketing
- health economics
- health law
- information systems in health services administration
Course List - Master of Health Administration in Health Policy and Administration
Penn State's online MHA program spans seven continuous semesters and is composed of 17 total courses, including an integrative online independent study, and two face-to-face management intensives, totaling 49 credits — designed to be completed within 28 months. An online orientation precedes the first semester of courses.
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financing Health Care | H P A 447 | Analysis of financial flows, third party payment programs, and reimbursement practices in the health services sector. | 3 credits |
| Introduction to Health Services Organizations and Delivery | H P A 520 | Introduction to health systems, health services organization, and health care delivery focused on trends, problems, and issues. | 3 credits |
| Leadership Ethics in Health Services Organizations | H P A 853 | Examination of building blocks that support the ethical framework that drives decision making. Face-to face intensive scheduled in August. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Services Organizational Behavior | H P A 503 | A systematic application of the principles of organizational behavior to understanding professional roles in health services organizations. | 3 credits |
| Financial Management in Health Institutions | H P A 835 | The financial environment of health institutions; financial aspects of management decision making; emphasis on revenue sources, budgeting, and cost control. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managing Health Care Operations | H P A 527 | This course is focused on understanding and overcoming the challenges associated with nurturing and managing effective health care operations. | 3 credits |
| Management of Health Services Organizations | H P A 524 | A systematic study of the roles of health services managers and the organizational and environmental context within which they work. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change Leadership in Health Services Organizations | H P A 805 | Exploration of diagnostic and intervention strategies employed in planned change in health services organizations and programs. | 3 credits |
| Individual Studies | H P A 896 | Creative projects, including nonthesis research, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses. | 1 credit |
| Population Health and Quality Management in Health Services Organizations | H P A 854 | This course is designed to provide students with the requisite knowledge and skills for leading quality improvement, population health management, and patient safety efforts to create high reliability health services organizations that improve the overall health of the communities they serve. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Health Economics | H P A 545 | Survey of the application of economics to the roles of markets and government in health care. | 3 credits |
| Information Systems in Health Services Administration | H P A 855 | Foundations of information systems for supporting clinical services, quality improvement, and administrative functions in health services management. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resource Management in Health Care Organizations | H P A 460 | Foundations of human resource management applied to health care organizations, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community health organizations. | 3 credits |
| Health Care Marketing | H P A 850 | Introduction to the theory, concepts, skills, and principles of marketing applied to health related organizations and networks. | 3 credits |
| Strategy Development and Project Management in Health Services Organizations | H P A 890 | The course will develop strategic level skills in a project management framework that allows students to advance previously attained competencies and acquire new skills while addressing ever-evolving challenges specific to the health care services industry. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy Development in Health Services Organizations (Capstone) | H P A 556 | Integration of prior course work in the program to develop a strategic plan for a health services organization. Face-to-face intensive in conjunction with graduation held in December. | 3 credits |
| Health Law | H P A 836 | The legal process as it applies to the health administrator, health organization, medical provider, and patient. | 3 credits |
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.