The master of health administration (MHA), health systems management program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). The United States Department of Education and Council on Higher Education Accreditation have granted formal recognition to CAHME as the only organization to accredit master's level health care management programs in the United States and Canada. This master's program prepares future executives to assume leadership positions in health care organizations. We prepare health care professionals with strategic, business, analytic, and decision-making skills needed to successfully navigate the evolving health care industry.
This program prepares students to work as leaders and executive-level managers in evolving health systems, or as consultants and managers of health-related organizations. The curriculum was developed in response to the demand for advanced health management preparation for a variety of health care and allied health professionals to be employed in both the public and private sectors of health care.
Admissions
Applications are accepted for Fall, Spring and Summer admissions.
Requirements
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency or international equivalent and have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to be considered. Admission to the program is competitive, and a variety of criteria are evaluated in the admission decision. For application deadlines and detailed application requirements, refer to the College of Public Health Admissions website. Applicants are evaluated based on past academic performance (including prior academic degrees and courses taken), letters of recommendation, personal professional goal statement and professional experience. Work experience in the healthcare industry is preferred, but not required for admission. Applicants who are deemed to meet the above criteria are required to have a brief personal interview with faculty. Applicants who are unable to attend a personal interview will be interviewed through video conferencing technology.
Policies
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Transfer of Credit
Students may transfer a maximum of 12 credits from graduate courses taken at other institutions or taken at Mason in non-degree status. Transfer credit is subject to university and college policies and must be approved by the program director and the dean. Students who enroll initially through non-degree studies should seek course advising through the department and should submit their application to the MHA program in their first semester of study.
Program Format
The MHA in Health Systems Management is offered in both on-campus and online delivery formats. The curriculum is the same whether you are studying online or on campus, but students must apply to and matriculate through only one pathway.
Most courses in the on-campus program are taught in the evening at Mason’s Fairfax Campus. Additionally, some courses are offered on Saturdays, a few are offered at the Arlington Campus, and a small percentage can be taken online. Students can complete their degree at their own pace provided that they do so within six years of starting the program.
The online premium priced program is offered in a flexible, online format, which mirrors the CAHME-accredited on-campus program. Courses are taken one at a time in an accelerated 8 week format.
English Language Test Score Thresholds
International students whose scores on the English Language Tests are below the thresholds required by the program must take EAP 508 Graduate Communication in the Disciplines III (4 credits) in their first semester of study and earn a grade of B (3.0) or higher. This will add 4 credits to the 45 credit hour program.
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL IBT | 100 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 23 |
| TOEFL PBT | 610 | 59 | 60 | 62 | |
| TOEFL CBT | 253 | 24 | 25 | 26 | N/A |
| PTE | 65+ | Subsections: 68+ | |||
| IELTS | 7 | 7 | 6.5 | 7 | 6.5 |
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 45
Required Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GCH 500 | Foundations of Public Health | 3 |
| HAP 602 | Statistics in Health Services Management | 3 |
| HAP 621 | Leadership and Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| HAP 635 | Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health | 3 |
| HAP 698 | Quality Measurement and Evaluation | 3 |
| HAP 715 | Health Economics | 3 |
| HAP 740 | Management of Health Information Systems | 3 |
| HAP 750 | Legal Issues in Health Administration | 3 |
| HAP 789 | Pre-Capstone Professional Development Seminar | 0 |
| HAP 790 | Capstone Practicum in Health Systems Management | 3 |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Concentrations
Students must select one concentration from the following:
Concentration in Healthcare Quality (HLTQ)
The Healthcare Quality Concentration addresses the growth of the healthcare industry in the 21st century to understand and evaluate the quality of care being delivered. Value-based Care models are the future of healthcare delivery and students enrolled in this concentration will develop skills in quality methodologies, techniques, and patient safety law.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HAP 697 | The Healthcare Quality Environment | 3 |
| HAP 699 | Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety | 3 |
| HAP 704 | Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management | 3 |
| HAP 705 | Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care | 3 |
| HAP 764 | Health Policy and Government Payment Systems for Health Care Services | 3 |
| or HAP 652 | Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care | |
| General Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
- 1
General electives should be chosen in consultation with their academic advisor.
Executive Concentration (EXEC)
The Executive Concentration is dedicated to preparing future executives for leadership positions in health care organizations and gain strategic business, analytic, and decision-making skills. This contemporary program provides the industry and operational knowledge needed to navigate evolving Value Based Care models.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HAP 652 | Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care | 3 |
| or HAP 764 | Health Policy and Government Payment Systems for Health Care Services | |
| HAP 702 | Managerial Accounting in Health Care | 3 |
| HAP 703 | Financial Management in Health Systems | 3 |
| HAP 704 | Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management | 3 |
| HAP 705 | Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care | 3 |
| HAP 707 | Human Resource Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Health Administration, BS/Health Systems Management, Accelerated MHA
Overview
Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BS in Health Administration (Health System’s Management Concentration and Assisted Living/Seniors Housing Concentration) and an MHA in Health Systems Management in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 155 credits.
See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree for policies related to this program.
Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
BAM Pathway Admission Requirements
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies. For information specific to this accelerated master's program, see department website.
Students must submit two professional letters of recommendation and a personal statement, have a 3.25 GPA, and a 3.50 GPA in all major coursework.
Students who are accepted into the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate level courses after successful completion of a minimum of 15 HAP undergraduate credits and course-specific pre-requisites.
Accelerated Master’s Admission Requirements
Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MA/MS program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form:
- 3.25 overall GPA
- 3.50 GPA in major coursework
- Successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.
Accelerated Pathway Requirements
To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses may choose from the following:
Advanced Standing Courses: (substitutes for these major-specific BS degree required courses, or as a required College of Public Health elective)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HAP 702 | Managerial Accounting in Health Care 1 | 3 |
| HAP 703 | Financial Management in Health Systems 2 | 3 |
| HAP 707 | Human Resource Management in Healthcare 3 | 3 |
| HAP 715 | Health Economics 4 | 3 |
- 1
Can count as College of Public Health elective in BS Health Administration degree.
- 2
Substitutes for HAP 395 Healthcare Finance.
- 3
Substitutes for HAP 392 Human Resources Management in Healthcare.
- 4
Substitutes for HAP 425 Health Economics and Policy.
Please consult the undergraduate program coordinator and graduate program director regarding further questions about course substitutions.
Reserve Credit Courses: (Graduate courses that undergraduate students can take, up to 6 credits, that will only count for the graduate degree requirements).
For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees policies.