Master of Science in Healthcare Administration

The Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MHA) program provides students the knowledge and experience to pursue a wide range of healthcare-related careers. The versatile program complements various fields of study from nursing to science to business. As an interdisciplinary course of study, the program draws upon the expertise of full-time faculty members from the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies and Charles F. Dolan School of Business. The MHA program allows students flexibility with a fully online format of course work and both full-time or part-time enrollment options. The fully online cohorts can start in the summer, fall, or spring semesters for full flexibility. Our example plan of study shows the summer start cohort option. 

Healthcare Administration Courses
HCAD 6100Introduction to the United States Healthcare System3
HCAD 6200Healthcare Reimbursement and Organizational Performance3
HCAD 6951Healthcare Administration Practicum3
HCAD 6999Healthcare Administration Capstone4
Nursing Courses
NURS 6521Healthcare Leadership Roles for Systems Improvement3
NURS 7602Healthcare Economics and Marketing3
NURS 7605Advanced Health Policy3
NURS 7608Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice3
NURS 7614Information Technology for Healthcare Improvement3
Business Courses
ACCT 5400Introduction to Accounting3
FNCE 5400Principles of Finance3
MGMT 6503Legal and Ethical Environment of Business3
OR take PUAD 5425 Administrative Leadership and Ethics
MGMT 6504Managing People for Competitive Advantage3
MGMT 6525Employee Performance Management and Rewards for Competitive Advantage3
Total Credits43

Please note that the below plan of study is a sample of the Online summer semester cohort start. There are also plan of study grids available from the Program Director for the online program with Fall or Spring semester starts as well. 

Full Time - Summer Start

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
SummerCredits
ACCT 5400 Introduction to Accounting 3
HCAD 6100 Introduction to the United States Healthcare System 3
NURS 7605 Advanced Health Policy 3
 Credits9
Fall
FNCE 5400 Principles of Finance 3
MGMT 6503 Legal and Ethical Environment of Business 3
OR take PUAD 5425 Administrative Leadership and Ethics  
MGMT 6504 Managing People for Competitive Advantage 3
MGMT 6525 Employee Performance Management and Rewards for Competitive Advantage 3
 Credits12
Spring
HCAD 6200 Healthcare Reimbursement and Organizational Performance 3
HCAD 6951 Healthcare Administration Practicum 3
NURS 6521 Healthcare Leadership Roles for Systems Improvement 3
NURS 7608 Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice 3
 Credits12
Second Year
Summer
HCAD 6999 Healthcare Administration Capstone 4
NURS 7602 Healthcare Economics and Marketing 3
NURS 7614 Information Technology for Healthcare Improvement 3
 Credits10
 Total Credits43

Part Time - Summer Start

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
SummerCredits
HCAD 6100 Introduction to the United States Healthcare System 3
NURS 7614 Information Technology for Healthcare Improvement 3
 Credits6
Fall
FNCE 5400 Principles of Finance 3
MGMT 6503 Legal and Ethical Environment of Business 3
OR take PUAD 5425 Administrative Leadership and Ethics  
 Credits6
Spring
HCAD 6200 Healthcare Reimbursement and Organizational Performance 3
NURS 7608 Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice 3
 Credits6
Second Year
Summer
ACCT 5400 Introduction to Accounting 3
NURS 7605 Advanced Health Policy 3
 Credits6
Fall
MGMT 6504 Managing People for Competitive Advantage 3
MGMT 6525 Employee Performance Management and Rewards for Competitive Advantage 3
 Credits6
Spring
HCAD 6951 Healthcare Administration Practicum 3
NURS 6521 Healthcare Leadership Roles for Systems Improvement 3
 Credits6
Third Year
Summer
HCAD 6999 Healthcare Administration Capstone 4
NURS 7602 Healthcare Economics and Marketing 3
 Credits7
 Total Credits43

HCAD 6100 Introduction to the United States Healthcare System    3 Credits

This course provides an overview of the evolving structure of the US healthcare delivery system. Since the US healthcare system has been periodically changed in diverse aspects over the decades, its dynamic mechanism should be understood. Particularly the healthcare system encompasses organizations, management, finance, policy, and technology. This course introduces students to the complexity of healthcare, challenges of leadership, the key stakeholders, and the current state of healthcare in the US. As the introductory course for the MHA program, this hybrid course will allow student to acclimate to the program through multiple learning modalities and activities. Collaboration and team building, critical success factors in healthcare, will be a focus of the on-site portion of the course. The cohort will be introduced to many key aspects of healthcare administration as well as acclimating to the rich learning environment of Fairfield University.

HCAD 6200 Healthcare Reimbursement and Organizational Performance    3 Credits

This course is focused on the complex topic of healthcare reimbursement as the primary income sources for healthcare organizations. Additionally, the course will explore the dynamic concepts of payer sources with the emphasis on reimbursement through government, commercial and private payers. Healthcare administrators and leaders in must possess a firm grasp of sources of revenue and the rapidly changing environment. Decision-making related to organizational goals will be explored in the context of revenue. The course supports students to understand how to apply financial decision-making, strategic, and operational decisions.

HCAD 6951 Healthcare Administration Practicum    3 Credits

Prerequisite: HCAD 6100.

In the MHA Practicum, the student will identify a healthcare environment for a 150-hour immersion learning opportunity. Paired with community partners, students will observe and participate in learning how the theoretical concepts and skills of healthcare leadership are implemented in practice. The student will focus on the competencies of the program such as organizational behavior, management, human resources, project management, systems improvement, financial strategies, information technology and performance management as appropriate to the clinical site. Students will identify one practice partner or divide time in multiple areas to achieve the objectives of the practicum. The student will incorporate reflections about social justice, diversity and inclusion, and caring for communities and individuals into their overall reflections on the Practicum experience. Students with current or recent experience in healthcare leadership may apply to have this course waived in consultation with the Program Director and approval of the Associate Dean.

HCAD 6999 Healthcare Administration Capstone    4 Credits

Prerequisite: HCAD 6100 or Program Director Approval.

The Healthcare Administration Capstone is an integrative learning experience drawing on all the disciplines and subject matter presented in the MHA Program that results in a comprehensive and relevant plan to address a current health care problem impacting a specific health care organization, institution, provider group and directed toward an at-risk community or population. The Capstone Project is a representation of the student’s theoretical and applied skills developed during their course of study in the program. The capstone will be customized to the student’s experiences, goals and expertise. The course will consist of 200 hours of time dedicated to the various components of project development for a healthcare organization as well as clinical conference sessions with a faculty advisor.