Health Administration, Master of Health Administration (153)
Department website: https://www.wku.edu/publichealth
Program Coordinator
Gregory E. Ellis-Griffith, gregory.ellis-griffith@wku.edu, (270) 745-3076
The Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree program prepares graduates for administrative and managerial positions in different types of healthcare facilities and agencies including acute care, long-term care, group medical practices, managed care organizations, public health agencies, clinics, and health-related organizations such as pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment providers, and health care consulting firms.
The 36 credit-hour MHA program emphasizes applied and integrative learning based on professional competencies with the option of choosing a defined program focus area using electives.
MHA students will choose one 3-credit hour culminating experience and two 3-credit hour electives. A comprehensive exam assessment is required for all MHA seeking students.
Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP)
The Master of Health Administration (MHA) program’s Joint Undergraduate-Master’s Degree Program (JUMP) at WKU allows academically outstanding students to start working toward a MHA (REF: 153) while completing either the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (REF: 564) or the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration (REF: 559). Up to 12 credit hours can be double-counted toward both degrees, and up to 15 hours of graduate courses can be taken while a student is completing the undergraduate degree. The key benefit of the JUMP program is that it allows students to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in an accelerated timeframe. For more information, see the MHA program admission requirements or contact the MHA Program Coordinator.
Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP)
This degree offers a Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) which provides academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in an accelerated timeframe. Contact the graduate program coordinator for additional information.
Applicants to the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program may receive full admission if they hold a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher is required on their baccalaureate degree, along with a statement of intent (minimum of 1 page, and no more than 2 pages) sent to the graduate program coordinator (Dr. Gregory Ellis-Griffith: gregory.ellis-griffith@wku.edu). Applicants with two or more years of work experience require a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher on their baccalaureate degree.
Conditional Admission: If a student does not meet all university and program admission requirements but the academic program’s review of the student’s record indicates the likelihood of success, the student may be granted conditional admission by the Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Education upon the recommendation of the program.
• Application and Graduate Studies Fees. Apply through: Graduate Admissions
Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP)
The Master of Health Administration (MHA) program’s Joint Undergraduate-Master’s Degree Program (JUMP) at WKU allows academically outstanding students to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees in an accelerated timeline by permitting a limited number of graduate credit hours to be double-counted toward both degrees. MHA JUMP students may complete up to twelve (12) graduate hours to be counted on both the undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
To be considered for admission to the MHA JUMP program, a student must meet the following requirements:
- Be an undergraduate student in one of the following majors: Health Sciences (564), Health Care Administration (559).
- A minimum of 60 credit hours earned and 15 or more credit hours remaining to complete the undergraduate degree.
- A minimum of 24 undergraduate hours earned at WKU.
- A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25 for individuals earning their first baccalaureate degree.
- A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 for individuals earning their second baccalaureate degree.
- A letter of support from the applicant's undergraduate academic advisor or undergraduate program coordinator submitted to the MHA graduate program coordinator.
- Approval of MHA Program Coordinator.
For questions or more information, contact the MHA Program Coordinator (Dr. Gregory Ellis-Griffith: gregory.ellis-griffith@wku.edu).
Graduate Studies Admission
Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate Studies admission requirements.
Degree Requirements (36 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (30 hours) | ||
| HCA 540 | Health Care Organization and Management | 3 |
| HCA 541 | Strategic Management & Marketing of Health Services | 3 |
| HCA 545 | Managerial Finance for Health Services | 3 |
| HCA 547 | Global and Comparative Health Systems | 3 |
| HCA 551 | Healthcare Jurisprudence and Quality | 3 |
| HCA 555 | Healthcare Leadership and Change Management | 3 |
| HCA 564 | Health Systems Informatics | 3 |
| HCA 574 | Decision Making in Health Care | 3 |
| HCA 586 | Health Economics & Policy | 3 |
| Culminating Experience (3 hours, select one) | 3 | |
| Independent Investigation in Health Care Administration | ||
| Graduate Internship | ||
| Global Health Service-Learning Practicum | ||
| Thesis Research/Writing (Thesis Option ) | ||
| Electives (6 hours, select two) | 6 | |
| Health Care Human Resources Administration | ||
| Health Care Quality and Accountability | ||
| Health Systems Design for Sustainable Practices | ||
| Ambulatory and Long-Term Care Management | ||
| Managed Care | ||
| Special Topics in Health Services | ||
| Principles of Occupational Safety and Health | ||
| Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology | ||
| Biostatistics for Public Health | ||
| Public Health Foundations and Practice | ||
| Epidemiology | ||
| Public Health Administration | ||
| Principles of Environmental Health | ||
| Global Health | ||
| Health Behavior Theory | ||
| Effective Leadership Studies | ||
| Leading an Adaptive Organization | ||
| Collaborative Team Leadership | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
*Other elective courses may be chosen with advisor approval. 1 | ||