Master of Science in Health Administration Online
Ascend higher into healthcare leadership roles with your MHA degree. Delivered through 100% online coursework, this master’s program prepares you with integrated business expertise through a healthcare lens, empowering you to address the unique challenges of this highly regulated industry.
Apply by
1/3/25
Program Overview
Learn more about the online health administration master’s program
Advance to leadership positions in healthcare with a Master of Science in Health Administration (MHA) degree from Northern Kentucky University. The integrated online curriculum prepares you for more senior roles by equipping you with advanced knowledge in strategy, finance, law, data analytics, and management from the unique perspective of a healthcare organization.
The MHA also offers you specialized business expertise comparable to an MBA. As part of our curriculum, you will study broad business administration topics and delve into content concentrated in the highly regulated healthcare industry. You will learn financial, legal, and management aspects of running a business that focuses on people’s health and well-being. By completing the NKU online health administration program, you will earn specialty degree qualifications in an accelerated program that will benefit you in your current job and lead to new career opportunities across a variety of healthcare settings.
In the online MHA program, you will learn to:
- Successfully lead in a variety of medical and health services settings, including hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, community health organizations, multispecialty services, insurance companies, biomedical research organizations, long-term care and acute facilities, and emergency preparedness organizations in both the public and private domains
- Write and execute strategic business plans
- Understand and apply health informatics in the care of patients
- Manage the budget and finances of a healthcare business
- Successfully lead in a variety of medical and health services settings, including hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, community health organizations, multispecialty services, insurance companies, biomedical research organizations, long-term care and acute facilities, and emergency preparedness organizations in both the public and private domains
- Write and execute strategic business plans
- Understand and apply health informatics in the care of patients
- Manage the budget and finances of a healthcare business
As a health administration graduate, you will be fully prepared to advance to higher-level roles, such as:
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Practice Manager
- Clinical Director
- Long-Term Care Administrator
- Corporate Healthcare Manager
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Practice Manager
- Clinical Director
- Long-Term Care Administrator
- Corporate Healthcare Manager
Also available:
Check out the other innovative online healthcare programs offered by Northern Kentucky University.
Total Tuition
$19,142
Program Duration
As few as 12 months
Credit Hours
34
Tuition
Benefit from the affordable tuition at NKU
The MHA online program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition to in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included in the total cost. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. For additional information, visit the Financial Aid section on our FAQ page.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Required Fees | Total Program with Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MHA | $547 | $544 | $19,142 |
Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time.
Tuition Breakdown:
Total Tuition
$19,142
Per Credit Hour
$547
“Top Public College”
Ranked among the “Top Public Colleges” by Forbes, 2022
Calendar
Take note of these important dates and deadlines
With six start dates a year, the M.S. in Health Administration online course schedule is flexible and convenient. View the calendar to find the best start date for you and note your corresponding deadlines.
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/13/25 | 1/3/25 | 1/7/25 | 1/10/25 | 1/13/25 |
| Spring 2 | 3/17/25 | 3/5/25 | 3/10/25 | 3/14/25 | 3/17/25 |
| Summer 1 | 5/12/25 | 4/30/25 | 5/5/25 | 5/9/25 | 5/12/25 |
| Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 6/18/25 | 6/23/25 | 6/27/25 | 6/30/25 |
Now enrolling:
Apply Date
1/3/25
Class Starts
1/13/25
Admissions
Find your fit for our online health administration master's program
We’ve streamlined the admission process for the M.S. in Health Administration online program so you can get started right away.
Admission Requirements:
- 2.5 GPA for overall undergraduate credit
- Official transcripts of all coursework from accredited institutions
- Professional resume including relevant experience
MHA Online Admission Requirements
- Complete application for admission
- Pay the $40 application fee
- If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework from regionally accredited institutions
- Minimum 2.5 GPA for overall undergraduate credit
- Applicants below a 2.5 GPA will be considered for provisional admissions after a holistic review of their application
- Professional resume, which includes relevant work experience, community service, leadership positions, and other professional activities
- International applicants must achieve a TOEFL iBT (or equivalent) score of at least 550 or an IELTS score of at least 6.5; score must be submitted to the NKU Office for International Students and Scholar Services
Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:
NKU Office of Graduate Education302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.
Courses
Take a look at the online M.S. in Health Administration courses
For the online health administration degree, the curriculum is comprised of 11 courses (34 credit hours), including 10 core courses (30 credit hours) and a capstone (4 credit hours).
Students must take the following courses:
HCA 510: Health Care Systems and Environments
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This foundation course identifies and explains the essential elements of current health care systems with primary focus given to emerging relationships among all the diverse components. The scope of study will include acute care populations as well as extended life-care facilities and specialized care for the physically and mentally challenged. Course emphasis will be on the role of the health manager in meeting the complex challenges resulting from the rapid changes in the delivery of health care. Ethical, legal, policy, and regulatory aspects of the health care environment will also be explored.
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HCA 600: Research Methods and Data Analysis for Health Care Managers
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focusing on both quantitative and qualitative research data, this course engages the students in the development of an original research study concerning an aspect of the practice of health care management, administration, policy, or leadership. This course provides the students the opportunity to consider scholarly research methods not only in the abstract, but also in terms of successfully applying this knowledge through engaging in the preparing of a proposal for an evidence-based health care management project. The students should use the knowledge they gain in this course to complete their capstone experience project.
Pre-Requisite: any undergraduate or graduate statistics course, any undergraduate or graduate research methods course, an approved internship/capstone project
HCA 601: Finance and Budgeting in Health Care
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an overview of the major financial management issues relevant to diverse health services delivery settings. Principles and application of practical and essential financial management strategies and techniques form the foundation of the course. Emphasis is on management, control, and interpretation of financial statements. Health management case studies focusing on budgeting, cash flow management, and financial statements are included.
HCA 602: Managerial Epidemiology
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on effective management of resources to maintain and promote the health of populations. This course provides an overview of the complex economic, environmental, social, and behavioral causes affecting the health of populations. Emphasis will be on the use of population health data to assess community health, determine community risk factors, evaluate community-based programs, and plan medical care operations.
HCA 630: Strategic Planning and Marketing for Health Services
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course explores the general philosophy and activities of marketing and strategic management in health services organizations. Topics include: assessing and understanding the needs of key customer groups; health consumer behavior; market segmentation and targeting; staff needs and relations; forecasting service demand; new product development; product pricing and distribution; advertising and public relations; analysis of collaborative and competitive environments, and strategy formulation.
HCA 640: Health Law, Policy, and Ethical Issues
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an overview of the diverse and complex policy, ethical, and legal issues relevant to health care management. The course primarily explores the legal and ethical frameworks that determine the components, and process of health policymaking, as well as the options and constrains of health policies in the United States. Ethical perspectives are threaded through all learning activities with the view of preparing students to develop appropriate policy development skills and to apply an understanding of legal and ethical issues to management in the health care environment.
HCA 650: Health Care Economics
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the application of the discipline of economics to the unique situation of the health care environment. No prior knowledge of economics is assumed. The study of economic concepts and the implications of market situations and competitive systems for health and health care decision making at the individual, firm, and societal level will be discussed. The tools of economics will be applied to both managerial issues such as pricing decisions and policy issues such as the medically uninsured. Topics covered also include the problems posed by the current roles of federal, state, and local governments on the demand and cost of health care delivery.
HCA 652: Organizational Behavior and Strategic Human Resource Management
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides for the application of concepts of organizational behavior and strategic human resource management in health care systems. Emphasis is given to human behavior at the individual, group, and organizational level and the integration of strategic management in human resources. The student will develop vision, problem-solving, and analytical skills for operational and strategic leadership.
HCA 653: Health Care Quality and Project Management
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Critically examines the concepts, strategies, and techniques related to the improvement of the quality of health services delivery and risk management. This includes control of quality and costs through market-oriented strategies, professional self-regulation, intra-organizational process improvement approaches, third-party strategies, and government regulation and system reform. The principles and techniques to plan and manage complex projects are emphasized.
MH1 601: Technical Foundations of Health Informatics
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This core course provides an introduction to concepts and trends in the health informatics field both locally and nationally. The course provides an overview of networks, software, and computers in healthcare with a particular focus on their use in interoperable systems. Applications include electronic health records, computerized physician order entry, and digital imaging.
Students must take the following course:
HCA 691: Health Care Capstone or Alternative Capstone/Portfolio
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
The health care capstone requires the equivalent of three credit hours of on-site experience under the supervision of a qualified preceptor and program faculty. At the end of the experience, there will be a written evaluation by the supervisor and submission of an integrative management paper by the student followed by a formal presentation of the student’s work.
The alternative capstone/portfolio option is only open to students with five or more years of health care management experience. A professional portfolio option for the capstone experience is a document that demonstrates the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attainment of professional goals that are demonstrated through the internship and report option. The student systematically assesses and evaluates his/her own professional development. The second segment of the professional portfolio option is the completion of a major systematic literature review paper followed by a formal presentation. Students will be required to complete 70 supervised hours.
