Master of Health Administration (Traditional Track)
Health administration is where healthcare, business and public service come together. In USC’s Master of Health Administration program through the Department of Health Services Policy and Management, students prepare to manage health services organizations across hospitals, clinics, long-term care settings, health insurers, quality review organizations and other private and public healthcare sectors.
This program is built for students who want to lead healthcare organizations, improve systems and services, and make strategic decisions that support healthier communities. Unlike the MPH, which focuses primarily on public health agencies, programs, and community-based health initiatives, the MHA prepares leaders to improve population health through the effective management of healthcare organizations, healthcare delivery systems, quality improvement, and strategic decision-making
What You’ll Study
Students will build the management, leadership and analytical competencies needed to work in complex healthcare organizations. Coursework develops competencies in critical thinking, problem-solving, management, leadership, communication, professionalism, ethics and population health management, including social determinants of health.
Students study healthcare management, accounting, finance, information technology, quantitative methods, leadership, evaluation, planning, law, policy, quality management, physician practice management and the U.S. healthcare system.
About the Program
The MHA program’s mission is to prepare healthcare administrators and leaders to have the competencies required for effectively managing health systems and the proficiencies for strategically addressing the social and population health responsibilities of healthcare organizations. The MHA program will serve to prepare the healthcare leadership workforce in South Carolina, throughout the United States, and beyond (Adopted Fall 2021).
The MHA program will aspire to be an exemplar and will be a resource for excellence in graduate healthcare management education. The program will prepare well trained graduates ready to assume or progress to leadership positions in the healthcare arena. The MHA Program will serve as a networking/integrating resource for alumni, practitioners and leaders in health services in South Carolina and beyond (adopted Fall 2021).
Community: The MHA Program actively engages and collaborates with community partners and stakeholders through experiential learning, alumni and practitioner involvement, placements in high-impact graduate assistantships, fellowships and jobs.
Diversity and Inclusion: The MHA program attracts a diverse group of individuals, supports diverse students, alumni, health systems and organizations, and embraces respect for diversity and inclusion of all persons.
Impact: Through inquiry, discovery and workforce development, the MHA program will improve health and well-being of the serving communities, population, and health systems.
Integrity: The MHA Program adheres to the highest standards of honesty, fairness, stewardship, professional responsibility and scholarly ethics.
Learning: MHA Students are the center of the program. With its outstanding faculty and staff, strong practitioner complement, the MHA Program provides diverse and dynamic educational and experiential opportunities for all learners.
Leadership: The MHA Program equips leaders with the necessary skills to become change agents in health systems, their communities, and the field.
Student-Centric: Student bonding and cohesion is a priority for the MHA Program which provides support to ensure organic network growth among each cohort’s peers.
Professional Development: The MHA Program will drive strength of all partners, students, and alumni through continuous networking and connections and cultivate a learning environment where students thrive to be life-long learners rather than just a graduate.
The USC MHA program prepares healthcare managers with both the competencies required to manage effectively in a market–driven healthcare system and an understanding of the approaches needed to address the social and population health responsibilities of healthcare organizations. The goals are to prepare: (1) individuals without previous health services management experience for entry-level managerial positions and facilitate their advancement into senior management; and (2) experienced health service professionals for promotion and further career advancement.
Program Highlights
Curriculum
The MHA is offered in two formats: a full-time Traditional Track for students preparing for health administration careers and an Executive Track (link to MHA Executive Track page) for working professionals. The Traditional Track requires 58 credit hours, while the Executive Track requires 45 credit hours.
View the full curriculum in the Graduate Academic Bulletin.
Admissions
Applicants to the MHA Traditional Track may apply through SOPHAS or HAMPCAS but should select one application service rather than both. All international applicants should contact the MHA Program Director before applying.
Learn about the complete application requirements.
The Department of Health Services Policy and Management (HSPM) at the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health is pleased to offer a coupon code to eligible US citizens or permanent US residents applying to our MHA program. Codes are available on a first-come-first-serve basis to those who qualify.
- SOPHAS charges $150 for the first program and $60 for each additional program you apply to. The coupon code fully covers the $60 cost of applying to the MHA program as an additional program.
- HAMPCAS charges $115 for the first program and $40 for each additional program you apply to. The coupon code fully covers the $40 cost of applying to the MHA Program as an additional program.
Note: Coupon codes must be requested after you have designated USC HSPM’s MHA Program and before you submit your application. We cannot reimburse application fees. Applicants who receive a coupon code must submit their MHA application for the Traditional Track by February 15, 20276.
Where our Grads Work
Graduates are prepared for leadership and management roles across health systems, insurance companies, governmental and non-governmental organizations, hospitals, primary care practices, long-term care facilities and allied health services.
Graduates from our MHA program are Chief Executive Officers (CEOs)/Presidents, Chief Operating Officers (COOs), Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Directors and Administrators of health systems, insurance companies, and governmental /non-governmental organizations around the world. Our graduates are active, visible, and valuable members of their communities working hard to improve healthcare systems.
MHA Program Outcomes
Additional program data may be found at https://programs.cahme.org/?uscedu.
Year
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
Traditional track
100%
70%
100%
Executive track
N/A
100%
100%
Year
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
Traditional track
80%
100%
100%
Executive track
N/A
100%
100%
Year
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
Traditional track
24
24
24
Executive track
N/A
34
34
Year
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
Traditional track
90%
100%
100%
Executive track
N/A
100%
100%
Year
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
Traditional track
90%
100%
100%
Executive track
N/A
67%
100%
Each year our students obtain nationally competitive administrative fellowships at major healthcare systems or centers throughout the United States. These fellowships are designed to train new graduates across the hospital system for rapid advancement to leadership positions. In recent years the fellowship locations included UNC Hospitals, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, McLeod Health, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, Lexington Medical Center, MUSC Health, Prisma Health, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Bon Secours Health System in South Carolina and Virginia, Atrium Health, Duke University, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Kaiser Permanente, and Wake Forest Medical Center, to name a few.
Flexible Learning Options
Study full-time in the Traditional Track or enroll in our Executive Track MHAto take classes once a month on weekends in Columbia, perfect for working professionals.
Tuition
Tuition and fees are subject to change and vary based on enrollment status and program format. Students are encouraged to explore financial aid options and graduate assistantships. Students who receive a graduate assistantship also receive in-state tuition for the same semester. Learn more from the Office of Graduate Student Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
The MHA is business and organization-management oriented. It prepares leaders to improve population health through the effective management of healthcare organizations, healthcare delivery systems, quality improvement, and strategic decision-making, while the MPH focuses primarily on public health agencies, programs and community-based health initiatives.
Applicants should consider their preferences and aptitudes for leadership and managerial roles in organizations when choosing between the MHA and MPH programs – they are not the same degree. Volunteering at a local hospital or large physician practice (or other care setting) or interviewing healthcare executives/managers at a local hospital can help applicants understand the roles of healthcare managers. This will help you to know which degree is best for your career.Given the many career opportunities the field offers, individuals from a wide range of undergraduate majors and minors can expect to succeed in health administration. Healthcare institutions include primary care practices, hospitals and allied services, long-term care facilities and health insurance companies. Within a health organization, MHA graduates can be employed in finance and business development, operations management, information technology management, quality of care management, including Lean and Six Sigma applications, human resources, community relations and field programs, social responsibility, and many other roles.
The Traditional Track requires 58 credit hours. The Executive Track requires 45 credit hours.
No. The GRE is not required, though applicants may choose to submit GRE or GMAT scores under the program’s optional policy.
Yes. We offer the Executive Track which has been designed for professionals working in healthcare organizations.
Yes. The MHA program at the University of South Carolina is a dually accredited program - by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH).
Traditional Track MHA applicants may apply either through SOPHAS or HAMPCAS.
Request Information
Learn more about the Master of Health Administration at USC.
Handbook
The Graduate Student Handbook includes detailed degree requirements, including admissions requirements, pre-requisites, and course information.