Program Description
SMU offers a healthcare administration program for those interested in healthcare management and leadership. The Healthcare Administration program requires 37 hours of graduate coursework for completion. This program is designed to help the healthcare leader grow within key leadership roles in the health-associated environment. This master’s degree will help to expand existing knowledge and expertise in critical areas such as healthcare regulations and law, patient care, and finances. Learning activities are designed to promote the transference of learned management skills into practice in the healthcare environment. Graduates will possess the skills to focus on culturally relevant care, technology, and ethical practices.v
Why Choose a Master’s Education in Nursing?
The MSN program at Shenandoah Medical University is designed to meet the following nine essentials, guided by The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing:
- Background for Practice from Sciences and Humanities
- Organizational and Systems Leadership
- Quality Improvement and Safety
- Translating and Integrating Scholarship into Practice
- Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
- Health Policy and Advocacy
- Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
- Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving Health
- Master’s-Level Nursing Practice
Program Objectives
The objectives of the MHA program are to prepare graduates who can:
- Exhibit advanced proficiency in communication with public stakeholders, staff, and diverse constituencies.
- Integrate healthcare law into the development of policies and procedures.
- Demonstrate expertise in human resource management within healthcare organizations.
- Apply financial management models to support informed financial decision-making in healthcare settings.
- Leverage innovative information systems to optimize healthcare environments.
- Assume advanced leadership roles to initiate, guide, and sustain organizational change.
- Utilize critical and reflective thinking to enhance leadership effectiveness.
- Advocate for equitable healthcare access, quality, and cost-efficiency across populations.
- Communicate healthcare practices and knowledge effectively in both oral and written forms.
- Evaluate the impact of organizational structures, processes, finances, marketing, and policies on healthcare quality and outcomes.
Tuition and Fees
- Tuition: $20,400.00
- Administration/Registration Fee: $100.00
- Books/Supplies: $6,365.00
- Total Program Costs: $26,865.00
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree Applicants must have earned a BS/BA degree from an accredited institution.
- GPA: An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Undergraduate Statistics Course: A grade of “C” or better in an undergraduate statistics course.
- Graduate Course Eligibility: Not eligible for admission if an applicant has earned a grade of “C,” “D,” “F,” or “WF” in two or more graduate courses.
Admission Documents:
- Official transcripts from all previous institutions attended.
- Resume.
- Statement of personal and professional goals.
- Three letters of recommendation from supervisors or faculty members attesting to the applicant’s aptitude for graduate study.
- Essay discussing the role of a master-prepared healthcare administrator in influencing organizational leadership and healthcare outcomes.
Financial Assistance
Currently, Shenandoah Medical University does not participate in Title IV programs or offer financial aid. Payment in full is expected on or before the first day of class. Students have the following payment options:
- Private Loans: Offered through private lenders for those who qualify, often based on the student’s credit score. Students are responsible for obtaining all necessary information regarding eligibility and financial responsibility directly from the lender. SMU is not affiliated with any private lender and does not offer in-house loans.
- Installment Agreement Plans: SMU allows students to pay for their education through installment agreements set up with the university. These plans are based on the student’s ability to make monthly or quarterly payments over the length of the program. Students must contact SMU’s Financial Service department upon enrollment to arrange their payment plan.
- Employer Reimbursement Programs: Some employers offer tuition reimbursement to qualifying employees. Students must check with their employers for eligibility criteria. SMU requires students to pay tuition upfront and seek reimbursement based on the employer’s established policies.
- Tuition Program Discounts: SMU plans to offer a 20% discount to eligible alumni and community partners. The Community Partners list is pending final approval.
Students should carefully consider the financial implications of dropping courses, incomplete course completion, or taking a leave of absence, as these situations may directly impact payment obligations and financial aid eligibility.
Course Numbering System
Our course numbering system is designed to provide clarity and structure, with each course code reflecting its academic discipline and level of study
- Alpha Prefix: The letter prefix represents the academic discipline of the course.
- Numeric Code: The first digit indicates the course level (upper or lower division), while the remaining digits specify the program sequence.
Example:
- Course Code: MHA 500
- Alpha Prefix: “MHA” – Represents the Master in Healthcare Administration
- Digits: “500” – Indicates the level and sequence within the program.
Program Breakdown
Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MHA)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MHA 500 | Introduction to Healthcare Systems | 3 |
| MHA 505 | Health Sector Policy and Governance | 3 |
| MHA 510 | Financial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| MHA 515 | Healthcare Planning and Marketing | 1 |
| MHA 520 | Marketing Functions/Processes | 3 |
| MHA 525 | Human Resources Management | 3 |
| MHA 530 | Financial Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| MHA 535 | Healthcare Law | 3 |
| MHA 540 | Healthcare Research | 3 |
| MHA 545 | Healthcare Administration Internship | 4 |
| Elective Courses (Choose One) | ||
| FGH 550 | Foundations of Gerontology for Health Administrators | 3 |
| LIH 555 | Leveraging Informatics in the Healthcare Sector | 3 |
| BUS 560 | Business Communication | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 37 |
Course Description
MHA 500 Introduction to Healthcare Systems – 3 Credits
Under the university’s adult learning model, this course introduces new graduate students to strategies for success. Points incorporate program guidelines and targets; oral and written communication at the graduate level; identifying, assessing, and citing academic resources; and how portfolios are used and their purposes.
To solve problems in the healthcare industry, the student will apply the systems thinking theoretical
framework. Some topics covered are design thinking, creativity, complexity science, and flow.
MHA 505 Health Sector Policy and Governance – 3 Credits
Students will examine how health policy and organizational governance inform systems and care delivery and identify the policies that should be adopted to implement industry trends. Students will also explore the health sector’s diverse and expanding regulatory environment. Topics include the influence of policy, interest groups, and stakeholders on the health status of a society, as well as how to cultivate effective governance systems with in organizations and the importance of risk-based policy and governance models in the health sector, the specific laws that dictate privacy and compliance, as well as auditing, monitoring, and corrective action.
MHA 510 Financial Accounting Concepts – 3 Credits
In this course, students examine managerial accounting as part of the business’s accounting information system and legal aspects of the business enterprise. Topics include managerial accounting and capital budgeting, cost analysis, management planning and control, negotiable instruments, secured transactions, debtor‐creditor relationships, property and insurance, and legal aspects of employment and the environment.
MHA 515 Healthcare Planning and Marketing – 3 Credits
Students will respond to developing trends and insights across the health sector that inform workforce development and hiring. Topics include recruitment and retention strategies, succession planning, leadership strategies for a multigenerational workplace, embracing diversity, and positive morale and engagement considerations.
MHA 520 Marketing Functions/Processes – 3 Credits
The student will explore the emerging intersection of marketing and economics in the health sector.Students will learn to develop marketing strategies, consider how to communicate value to target markets, learn the importance of branding, and look at marketing through digital and social media lenses and the relevance of legacy marketing approaches. You will practice and apply these concepts by creating your strategic marketing plan. Your strategic marketing plan is an important preparation for your capstone course, where you will assemble a complete business plan.
MHA 525 Human Resources Management – 3 Credits
This course provides students with the interpersonal skills needed to motivate people in the workplace and the human resources skills necessary to manage group dynamics and create synergy among group members. Also, the skills and techniques managers need to provide leadership and direction within a changing organizational environment. The course will help to develop high commitment and productivity from people and groups through awareness of one’s values, behaviors, and decision‐making tendencies.Students will examine evolving demographics and emerging technologies related to innovative talent management, including effective leadership responses to organizational challenges
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Graduation Requirements
To be eligible for graduation, students must meet the following criteria:
- Program Requirements:Fulfill the minimum required credits and clinical clock hours for the specialty.
- Credits & Clinical Hours:Earn the minimum required credits and clinical clock hours for the chosen specialty program.
- Grade Point Average (GPA):Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Financial Standing:Ensure there is no outstanding debt (tuition/fees).
Technology in Healthcare Education
Technology is integral to enhancing clinical practice and patient care. At SMU, we incorporate cutting-edge tools to support knowledge development and interventions. These include:
- Computers
- Web-based applications
- Decision support systems
- Monitors and data-gathering devices
Mastery of information and patient care technologies is crucial for preparing nursing graduates to deliver high-quality care in a variety of healthcare settings.
Distance Learning
Our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN Education, and Master of Science in Healthcare Administration programs are 100% online through asynchronous learning.
Program Features:
- PlatformCourses are delivered via Canvas, offering flexibility and consistency in the learning experience.
- Adherence to Policies Students must follow all university policies regarding academic integrity. Only enrolled students may complete coursework, and violations may result in dismissal.
- PlatformCourses are delivered via Canvas, offering flexibility and consistency in the learning experience.
- Support & Training:The Online Learning Department provides training for faculty and students, including self-guided tutorials to ensure smooth learning experiences.
- Quality Assurance:SMU conducts regular class observations to monitor the quality of online education, ensuring compliance with distance learning standards and program objectives.
- Verification:Students’ identities are verified through secure IDs and passwords for all online courses.
Credit for Courses
Course credit is awarded based on U.S. Department of Education guidelines. All courses are evaluated in semester credit hours.
- Theory Courses: 1 contact hour = 50 minutes of instruction.
- Laboratory/Practicum: 60 clock hours = 1 credit hour.
Clinical Practice Hours:
Healthcare Administration: 120 clinical practice hours.