The Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) degree prepares students to assume leadership and management positions in the healthcare industry.  The M.H.A. is accredited by CAHME, the Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, and emphasizes the application of ethical healthcare leadership within the broader societal and economic environments.  Our program delivers business skills in leadership, operations analysis, human resources management, accounting and finance focused on the complex healthcare industry, from hospital administration to managing clinics and other healthcare entities.  Students have an opportunity to work on comprehensive client-based projects, and also may apply to participate in an internship.  While an internship or fieldwork is not required, it is strongly recommended for all individuals who lack healthcare experience or whose experience is primarily technical or clinical.  Students make the decision whether or not to include an internship as one of the M.H.A. electives in conjunction with their advisor.  In addition to the basic M.H.A. degree, students may also choose an optional emphasis area.  Currently, this degree track offers two emphases: Business Analytics and Global Health. 

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

1. Appropriately use information, data, and sound judgment to make informed management decisions. Students will be able to apply critical thinking and analysis to solve healthcare problems.  They will apply effective information gathering and analytical thinking to healthcare financial management, performance measurement, and process management issues.
2. ​Successfully pursue organizational goals that involve getting things done through, and in collaboration with others. Students gain these skills with a focus on governance, change leadership, human resource management, initiative, IT management, organizational awareness, project management, and strategic orientation.
3. ​Act with integrity, upholding high professional and ethical standards. Emphasizing ethical decision-making, professionalism, life-long learning, and self-confidence, graduates will approach their profession with an achievement orientation. 

Admissions

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

This academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours Required

45-54 semester credit hours (SCH).

Additional Grading Requirements

In addition to the general University grading requirements, the HCA Program limits the number of courses in which a grade of C is made in HCA Program specific courses to two. If a grade of C is made in a third HCA-specific course, then regardless of the cumulative grade point average, the student will be dropped from the HCA Program. Since this is an HCA grading requirement and not a University requirement, the student may choose to apply to another TWU program.

The two C Rule applies even if the student retakes a course in which the initial grade was a C.

Foundation courses

Foundation courses are the first level of preparation for specialized study in Health Care Administration. Applicants may request a waiver of any foundation course by presenting evidence of having completed at least 2 undergraduate or one graduate course in the content area with a grade of B or better. These courses must be completed prior to enrolling in required courses.

Electives

Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, will select at least 6 semester credit hours of approved elective courses in order to obtain additional breadth or depth in a particular field of Health Care Administration study. A study abroad elective is also available. Electives from other TWU departments or other Universities may be approved with permission from the faculty advisor if they meet the criteria as related to the study of health care administration and the student’s career goals. However, transfer credits from other Universities or Departments are subject to limits established by the graduate school.

Internship/Fieldwork Opportunities

Internships and field experiences are available with health care organizations. They are designed to provide students with the opportunity to integrate and apply knowledge and skills from their course experiences. While an internship or fieldwork is not required, it is strongly recommended for all individuals who lack health care experience or whose experience is primarily technical or clinical. The decision regarding whether the internship or fieldwork should be included as one of the elective courses is made jointly by the faculty advisor and student at the completion of 12 semester credit hours of study. In addition, many courses include fieldwork projects, tours and assessments of local health care organizations. A maximum of 3 semester credit hours may be earned in internship or fieldwork and applied toward the degree. In order to receive academic credit for an internship or fieldwork the student must contact his/her faculty advisor and complete the necessary documentation with the HCA internship/fieldwork coordinator prior to applying or accepting an internship or fieldwork assignment.

Portfolio

Each student is required to develop and maintain a professional portfolio documenting the attainment of goals and skills acquired in the course of their graduate study. This portfolio and student goals are developed jointly by the student and faculty advisor. The portfolio is to be reviewed periodically with the advisor. Students must enroll in HCA 5883 during their final semester to complete their portfolios.

Some courses in the program may be delivered in a non-traditional distance learning format. As a result, student involvement on campus will vary depending on the method of delivery.