Master of Healthcare Administration
Guided by a committee of active healthcare leaders and experienced educators, SMU’s Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) curriculum combines rigorous coursework, experiential learning opportunities and collaborative activities.
The M.H.A. primarily relies on asynchronous assignments that encourage self-paced, flexible learning, but students will be able to connect with their cohort, instructors and guest speakers in live evening classes held on Zoom.
Students can earn their degree on a part-time schedule in two years, or six terms, by taking two courses per term. Full-time students can complete their degree faster by taking more than two courses each term.
Amanda Taffy, M.H.A. faculty lead
Learning outcomes
The online M.H.A. program at SMU is designed to equip students with the leadership, policy, analytical and innovation skills essential for success in today’s healthcare landscape. Through a comprehensive and practical curriculum, students gain expertise in:
- Healthcare Systems & Operations
Lead and manage effectively within complex healthcare organizations. - Epidemiology & Biostatistics
Apply data-driven approaches to identify, mitigate and manage public health challenges. - Leadership & Management
Develop the skills needed for strategic governance that advances organizational mission, values and social responsibility. - Legal & Ethical Frameworks
Use ethical and legal principles to drive compliance, equity and accountability in decision-making. - Data Analytics
Evaluate and apply quantitative data to guide organizational strategy and performance. - Innovation & Resource Development
Identify and implement innovative solutions, services and funding strategies to enhance healthcare delivery and efficiency.
Student learning and program outcomes in the M.H.A. program are measured through applied course projects and a culminating capstone experience, ensuring graduates are prepared to lead with confidence in real-world healthcare settings.
Build your network. Strengthen your leadership.
Networking is a key pillar of SMU’s online M.H.A. program, providing students with valuable opportunities to connect with current and aspiring healthcare administration professionals.
All M.H.A. students participate in two required on-campus immersion experiences designed to deepen leadership competencies and expand professional connections.
- Immersion I: Setting the Foundation
Held at the beginning of the program, this experience features interactive lectures, workshops and discussions with faculty and healthcare professionals. It introduces students to the core principles of healthcare leadership and sets a strong, collaborative tone for their academic journey. - Immersion II: Capstone Presentation & Leadership in Practice
Occurring during the final term, students present their capstone projects to peers, faculty and industry leaders. This event culminates students’ learning while reinforcing professional communication, problem-solving and collaboration skills.
Throughout both immersions, students develop essential soft skills and gain a deeper understanding of strategic leadership and management in healthcare so they are prepared to engage effectively with current and future stakeholders.
Coursework and format
Students must complete 36 credit hours to earn their online Master of Healthcare Administration. Your coursework will vary depending on instructor and course, but each course will include a blend of rigorous writing components and collaborative activities. Expect less of the traditional fill-in-the-blank tests or history-style content, as we emphasize writing, analysis and project-based assessments. Coursework may include:
- Live evening classes
- Self-assessments
- Written assignments
- Individual and group projects
- Simulations
- On-campus immersions
Request information
To download a program brochure and learn more about the Master of Healthcare Administration offered by SMU, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 469-871-6018.
Course descriptions
This course analyzes the U.S. healthcare ecosystem, underscoring its historical development, structure, stakeholders, function, financial landscape, policies and challenges. The forces and policies that converge to shape or drive healthcare delivery, operation and impact will be examined. Students will also discuss the challenges and barriers to obtaining and delivering healthcare.
In this course, students will apply and evaluate leadership and strategic decision-making skills in various healthcare settings. Case studies will examine how to build, manage and incentivize diverse healthcare teams. Students will also examine various leadership models, strategies for leading teams and organizations and the unique challenges healthcare leaders face in dynamic and complex environments and innovate effective responses to lead.
This course examines and evaluates the application of economic principles, methods, policies and challenges to healthcare and health policy issues. Students will analyze and assess how economic principles, policies, concepts and challenges shape healthcare resources, including products and services.
This course gives healthcare leaders the skills to apply epidemiological and biostatistical principles and methods (including tracking population health and the etiology of diseases) in decision-making processes. Students will analyze and interpret data (qualitative and quantitative) to improve public health and communicate results effectively.
This course examines a broad range of operations management within healthcare organizations. Students will evaluate process improvement, quality control, supply chain management and patient flow.
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the legal issues that healthcare leaders must understand to manage and lead within the healthcare industry effectively. This includes strategizing and planning to mitigate risks and ensure compliance to protect organizational values and stakeholders, including patients. Students will examine the intersection of law and healthcare, focusing on legal principles, ethical concerns and the regulatory environment to protect organizational value and stakeholders, including patients.
This course identifies the benefits of negotiating, with a focus on practical skills and strategies to resolve conflicts and create agreements to improve healthcare policy, management and patient care.
Students will understand the theories, principles and strategies for evaluating and strengthening bilateral communications with internal and external stakeholders. They will also learn to communicate strategically, concisely and clearly to diverse targeted audiences. The course will focus on theoretical foundations and practical applications in various health communication contexts, including health campaigns, media, patient-provider communication and public health.
In this course, students will apply and evaluate various frameworks to measure and analyze the performance of a healthcare setting or intervention from qualitative and quantitative perspectives. Students will also select a research topic, collect and analyze data and select framework(s) to implement and monitor changes/recommendations for a Capstone Project.
In this course, students will build and incentivize a culture of innovation or novel ideas, products and services and the critical factors necessary for success within a health organization. They will evaluate innovative or novel ideas, products and services and how they converge to shape and transform the healthcare system and identify potential funding partners and sources.
In this course, students will apply and evaluate organizational behavioral science (at the micro and macro-level) to understand healthcare settings and improve patient care.
In this course, students will analyze clinical and research ethics within the U.S. healthcare system.
In this course, students will understand and apply financial tools and strategies and decision-making processes in hospitals, healthcare systems and insurance companies. They will analyze financial statements and assess financial performance to develop and plan strategically for the sustainability and growth of healthcare organizations.
In this course, students will evaluate and create best methods to select, manage and protect systems, data and information. They will learn best practices to protect patients and organizations. Students will also write an article (for a journal) and present their findings.