2012/2013 College of Public Health Catalog – Degrees Offered
Health Policy & Management
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
2.3 Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(also see the USF Graduate School Catalog at http://www.grad.usf.edu/catalog.php)
The Master of Health Administration (MHA) prepares students for private and public sector leadership
positions. In addition to the five core areas of public health, the curriculum helps students develop skills
and knowledge in basic business disciplines with application to health services; a clinical and community
perspective and professional skills. Students develop an understanding of organizational models and
management principles applied to health settings; health care financial management and economics;
quality and performance improvement; health policy and policy analysis; strategic planning and
marketing; and health law and ethics.
The MHA requires a minimum of 56 semester credit hours plus field experience.
The core competencies for the Master of Health Administration program are stated below. The
competency model includes four domains:
A. Management Science and Technology
B. Leadership, Planning and Communication
C. Public Policies and Community Engagement
D. Concepts of Economic and Financial Management
See the MHA competencies document for detailed listing of the MHA competencies.
Required Application Documentation
Applicants to the MHA degree are required to complete both a SOPHAS application and a USF Graduate
School application. Required Documentation (all items are required regardless of GPA or GRE scores):
• Complete SOPHAS application (requires the following)
o Transcripts
o GRE taken within five years preceding application or equivalent scores (see section 6.2
Admissions Tests Information for more information)
o Minimum of two letters of recommendation..
o Statement of purpose and objectives
o Resume or curriculum vitae
o Applicants whose native language is not English or who have not earned a degree in the United
States must also submit TOEFL scores earned within two (2) years of the desired term of entry. A
minimum total score of 79 on the internet-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 550
on the paper-based test are required. Applications submitted with TOEFL scores that do not
meet the minimum requirements will be denied with no exceptions. (see section 6.2 Admissions
Tests Information for more information)
• Competed USF Graduate School application
Degree Admission Criteria
The admission committee reviews and considers all required application documentation (listed above).
To be admitted to an MHA degree, applicants must meet the following criteria.
University of South Florida, College of Public Health
http://publichealth.usf.edu/
Section 2.3 |1
2012/2013 College of Public Health Catalog – Degrees Offered
Health Policy & Management
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
1) USF Graduate School Admission Criteria
• MHA applicants must have one of the following (a, b or c):
a. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and satisfying at least one of the
following criteria:
 “B” average (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better in all work attempted while registered as an
undergraduate student working for a degree, OR
 “B” average (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better in all work attempted while registered as an
upper division undergraduate student working for a baccalaureate degree.
b. A bachelor’s degree with a “B” average or better from a regionally accredited institution and
a previous graduate degree with a “B” average or better from a regionally accredited
institution.
c. The equivalent bachelors and/or graduate degrees from a foreign institution.
• Applicants from countries where English is not the official language must also demonstrate
proficiency in English* in one of the following ways:
a. By providing a score of 79 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFLiBT)
b. By providing a score of 6.5 or higher on the International English Lang Testing System
(IELTS).
c. By Earning a score of 500 (or equivalent) on the GRE-Verbal exam
d. By earning a baccalaureate or higher degree at a regionally accredited institution in the US
e. By earning a degree at a foreign institution where English is the language of instruction
(must be documented on the transcript).
• Details of USF Graduate School admission information may be found at
http://www.grad.usf.edu/graduate-admissions.php
2) Additional College of Public Health Master of Health Administration Criteria
• MHA applicants must meet the minimum GRE scores for their program (defined in the GRE
Scores Table in section 6.2 Admissions Tests Information of this catalog) AND the minimum GPA
of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in upper division courses (GRE scores must be submitted regardless of
GPA and GRE scores).
• Undergraduate majors are diverse and include: Life sciences, social sciences, business, or health
professions.
• Prerequisite undergraduate courses: Micro economics.
• Applicants with insufficient background or training in public health or other health and biological
sciences may be required to take prerequisite courses. Check specific department web sites for
more information.
• Basic computer competency is expected.
• Students in all online public health courses are expected to meet certain technology
requirements in order to successfully participate in their courses. It is the student's
responsibility to ensure all requirements are met prior to the start of the semester. For more
information, visit:http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/eta/students_tech_requirements.htm
• Meeting of these criteria shall not be the only basis for admission
To start the application process, see section 6.1 Application Procedures.
Additional Program Information
University of South Florida, College of Public Health
http://publichealth.usf.edu/
Section 2.3 |2
2012/2013 College of Public Health Catalog – Degrees Offered
•
Health Policy & Management
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
SUPERVISED FIELD EXPERIENCE: Students with substantial work experience can negotiate a reduced
number of hours with their advisor (e.g., 1 or 2 hours) if the student has meaningful experience
(involving decision-making) in a health care or related organization.
Additional Links
•
•
•
•
Department Specific Guidelines for Special Project, Field Experience, Comprehensive Exam
Tuition and Financial Aid
College Admission Requirements
Course Descriptions
University of South Florida, College of Public Health
http://publichealth.usf.edu/
Section 2.3 |3
2012/2013 College of Public Health Catalog – Degrees Offered
Health Policy & Management
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
College of Public Health - Program Curriculum Check Sheet
Name (print/sign):
Advisor (print/sign):
Semester/Year Accepted:
Concentration:
-
Any grade below a C (C- to F) is required to be retaken. The grade will be included in the student's GPA.
College Core Courses
Total Needed
15
PHC
6000
Epidemiology
3
PHC
6050
Biostatistics I (recommend: QMB 6305)
3
PHC
6102
Principles of Health Policy and Management
3
PHC
6357
Environmental and Occupational Health
3
PHC
6410
Social and Behavioral Sciences Applied to Health
3
Management and Policy
Total Needed
PHC
6114
Health Insurance & Managed Care
PHC
6147
Managing Quality in Health Care
PHC
6148
(PR: PHC 6102)
PHC
6151
Health Policy and Politics
PHC
6180
Health Services Management
PHC
6181
Organizational Behavior in Health Services
PHC
6420
Health Care Law, Regulation and Ethics
(PR: PHC 6102)
QMB
6305
Managerial Decision Making
Managerial Health Care Finance and Costing
6025)
PHC
6161
PHC
6191
PHC
6196
PHC
6430
3
(PR: PHC 6102)
3
3
Finance, Economics and Decision Making Skills
Financial Accounting for Managers
3
3
(PR: PHC 6102)
6025
19
2
(PR: PHC 6102)
ACG
Total Needed
17
2
2
(PR: PHC 6102, ACG
4
Quantitative Analysis in Health Services (PR: PHC 6050, QMB 6305)
Information Systems in Health Care Management (PR: PHC 6102,
PHC 6050)
3
Health Economics
3
(PR: PHC 6102, UG Micro)
Culminating Experiences
Total Needed
PHC
6945
Supervised Field Experience ( 1-2 credits)
PHC
6977
PHC
6166
Special Project
Advanced Seminar in Health Care Management (Case-based capstone
course that included the final comprehensive exam)*
Minimum 56 credit hours (not including field experience)
Sem/Yr
Taken
2
(PR: PHC 6102)
Strategic Planning and Health Care Marketing
Grade
3
6-7
3
2
Total GPA Hours
GPA
Total Hours Attempted
Rev Fall2009
The College Reserves All Rights to Repeal And/or Modify
*Prerequisites: PHC 6148; 6180; 6191; & 6161 (co-requisite); min of 36 hours completed
PR = Pre-requisite
University of South Florida, College of Public Health
http://publichealth.usf.edu/
Section 2.3 |4
2011/2012 College Catalog – Degrees Offered
University of South Florida, College of Public Health
http://publichealth.usf.edu/
Doctor of Public Health
Section 2.3 |5