Wake Forest University Online Master of Health Administration

The Wake Forest University (WFU) School of Professional Studies offers an online master of health administration (MHA) program that students typically complete in two years. The program includes 11 required online courses, including a capstone. Additionally, students will take one elective of their choosing. Students can take courses in any order culminating with the capstone in health administration, and no campus visits are required. This allows for added flexibility for working professionals.

Students in the MHA program gain the skills necessary to take on leadership positions in healthcare organizations and navigate the challenges facing healthcare leaders. WFU partners with Atrium Health to offer students an experiential learning experience centered on research and innovation. Additionally, the WFU School of Professional Studies is an Academic Organization Affiliate with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). As such, all students receive a free HIMSS membership and the opportunity to attend the annual HIMSS conference.

Wake Forest University MHA graduates may go on to leadership and management positions in healthcare organizations such as hospital administrator, long-term care administrator, corporate healthcare manager, admissions director, health services manager, health practice manager, or healthcare consultant.

Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

What to Expect from the Wake Forest University Online Master of Health Administration

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the online Wake Forest MHA must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. There is no minimum GPA requirement, no GMAT or GRE test scores requirement, and no letters of recommendation are required. Applicants must submit a resume and transcripts. As well, students either complete a virtual interview with a Student Success Manager or answer the interview questions electronically.

Study Plan: The online WFU MHA consists of nine core courses, one elective, and one capstone. Students take courses in whatever order suits them, with the exception of the capstone in health administration, and typically complete the degree in two years. Start dates land in January, May, and August. Online MHA students can expect to spend 15 to 25 hours on each course per week. A capstone course culminates the program.

Curriculum: The Wake Forest University MHA comprises 36 credits, including a capstone course. Courses include principles of health system management; population health and the American healthcare system; human resource management and organizational development; financial management for today’s leaders; health information management systems; healthcare policy, law, and ethics; quality and patient safety management in healthcare; strategic planning and decision-making for healthcare leaders; healthcare leadership and impact; strategic communications; and capstone in health administration.

Elective courses include strategic digital marketing, decision-making & risk management, and artificial intelligence for health informatics.

Online Experience: Wake Forest University delivers courses through the Canvas online Learning Management System (LMS). Courses may include synchronous and asynchronous elements, discussion boards, recorded lectures, videos, case studies, research, assignments, and assessments. Students and faculty communicate via phone, email, and chat. The capstone project requires students to identify a healthcare issue, opportunity, or problem and address it through a comprehensive health informatics project, business case, or case study. The project must positively impact and improve patient outcomes using the learned principles of health informatics and applying its concepts.

Online students can access Student Success Managers, academic advising, library and bookstore services, technical support, and career counseling. As well, faculty keep online office hours.

On-Site Requirements: The WFU online master of health administration program is 100 percent online and does not require any campus visits.

Paying for the Wake Forest University Online MHA

The WFU School of Professional Studies Online MHA tuition numbers are listed in the tables below. There are no additional student fees or costs. Prospective students should contact the WFU School of Professional Studies for cost clarifications and updates.

Graduate MHA students may be eligible for unsubsidized graduate Stafford and PLUS loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additionally, employers may offer tuition reimbursement programs, and students may be eligible for external scholarships, grants, or private loans. Prospective students can learn more about financial aid from the WFU School of Continuing Studies admissions department.

Wake Forest University Master of Health Administration (MHA)

  • Prepare for leadership and management positions in healthcare organizations
  • Learn about health informatics, strategic planning and decision-making, healthcare leadership, healthcare quality and patient safety management, and healthcare policy, law, and ethics
  • Complete a capstone project, identifying a current healthcare issue and utilizing the health services management process, a case study, a business case, or a project to address the issue; a certain number of shadowing and internship hours with healthcare leaders are included
Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates January, May, August
Credits Needed to Graduate 36
Time to Complete? Graduate in about 2 years.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation None
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelors degree or higher
GRE or GMAT Required? No GMAT/GRE required
Work Experience Required? No work experience required, however a resume is required for admission
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 36
Average Cost Per Credit $1,254
Estimated Program Tuition * $45,144.00

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.

Sara Navratil
Sara Navratil
Writer

Sara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She's the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online MHA programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.