USC Online Executive Master of Health Administration (MHA)
The University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy, located in Los Angeles, offers an online executive master of health administration (MHA) program. This program prepares students with practical skills in planning, decision-making, analysis, leadership, and interpersonal communication. Students gain advanced knowledge of healthcare regulation, operations, economics and finance, business development, healthcare management, strategic analysis, information management, organizational design, and quality assessment. The faculty leading this program are highly experienced educators, healthcare experts, and nationally renowned academic specialists, and online students have the opportunity to interact with these leading practitioners and policymakers.
Executive MHA students learn through an outcome-oriented approach to healthcare management and focus on population management, risk assessment to populations, healthcare innovation, and quality healthcare access for patients. Executive MHA graduates may be prepared to take on roles in public or private healthcare organizations such as director, vice president, senior manager, executive director, and medical and health services manager.
The Executive MHA program is designed for busy working professionals such as executives, experienced healthcare managers, and clinical managers. The program fosters creativity and innovation for professionals facing current healthcare challenges. Specifically, it aims to empower graduates to promote advancements in methodology and technology, understand the future of healthcare, develop high-level healthcare policy, and advance quality healthcare outcomes. Some of the values the program imparts include excellence, innovation, integration, collaboration, caring, excellence, and professionalism.
The Executive MHA through USC Sole Price Public School of Policy is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).
What to Expect from the USC Online Executive MHA
Admission Requirements: Applicants to the online executive MHA must hold a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Statistics and accounting proficiency are prerequisites for the program. Applicants must have at least five years of professional work experience in healthcare or a related field to apply and must submit an online graduate application, a non-refundable application fee, three letters of recommendation, a current resume, official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate schooling, and official GMAT/GRE test scores. In addition, students must write a statement of purpose addressing specific questions found online regarding expectations of the program, past experiences in preparation for success at USC, and how the program can prepare the student for success in their field.
International students must provide proof of English language proficiency through TOEFL or IELTS test scores from within the previous two years. In addition, all transcripts submitted must be translated into English, and applicants must provide proof of ability to pay tuition.
Study Plan: The executive MHA can be completed in six semesters (two years). Students can start in the fall, spring, or summer. There are two five-day residencies required on campus. The first residency is completed before the midpoint of the program and the second is a capstone experience in the last semester of the program. Semesters consist of 14 to 15 weeks and take place in fall, spring, and summer. There is a four-credit applied learning cumulative capstone at the end of the program. The executive MHA degree does not require a supervised residency in a healthcare organization.
Curriculum: The USC executive MHA program consists of 36 credits. Coursework includes two foundation classes: leading people and health care organizations and healthcare economics, financing, and reimbursement.
The following core courses are included: managing an organization’s financial health; managing and improving health; operations management accountability; health information systems; quality of care concepts; and information technology management systems in healthcare.
The following capstone courses are included: strategic management; development and monitoring of quality and patient safety and outcomes; managing risk; operational efficiency processes in healthcare organizations; and frontline issues in health services administration and policy.
Online Experience: Most of the USC Price executive online MHA program is delivered online through Moodle and Adobe Connect. Moodle stands for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. It is an open-source learning management system that can be a more cost-effective alternative to Blackboard. It provides a way to store and access course content, assignments, and discussion boards.
Adobe Connect is used for synchronous live online classes and is a web conferencing platform used for eLearning, webinars, and web meetings. It is optimized for browsers, iOS, and Android applications. With Adobe Connect, students can meet through video conferencing, share screens and documents, conduct live chat and polls, and share a whiteboard. Students must first set up an email address through USC and then contact the Price Online Learning office to gain access to Moodle and Adobe Connect.
On-Site Requirements: As mentioned, two five-day residencies are built into the executive online MHA program at USC. The first residency is completed before the midpoint of the program and the second is a capstone experience in the last semester of the program.
Paying for the USC Online Executive MHA
USC online EMHA tuition numbers are listed in the tables below, and do not include fees. Prospective online students should contact the admissions department of the Sol Price School of Public Policy online executive MHA program for cost clarifications and updates.
USC has one of the largest financial aid programs in the U.S. and offers a variety of scholarships and fellowship programs. In addition, graduate students can apply for federal financial aid in the form of grants and loans through FAFSA. Students are also encouraged to seek financial aid from outside resources to help pay for their MHA degree, and some businesses even offer tuition reimbursement programs for employees seeking an MHA.
University of Southern California (USC) Executive Master of Health Administration (MHA)
| Degree Level | Master's Degree |
| Program Start Dates | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| Credits Needed to Graduate | 36 |
| Time to Complete? | Graduate in as little as 2 years |
| 100% Online? | No, On-campus residency required (two 5-day sessions) |
| Program Accreditation | CAHME |
| Level of Education Required? | |
| GRE or GMAT Required? | Yes (GRE) |
| Work Experience Required? | Yes, 5 years experience at mid to senior level |
| Credit Hours | 36 |
| Average Cost Per Credit | $2,354 |
| Estimated Program Tuition * | $84,744.00 |
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees, unless otherwise specified. Please check here for any tuition updates.
