Health Administration M.S.

Louis D. Horvath, MA, FACHE
Graduate Director Campus and Online Programs
Department of Health Services

The M.S. in Health Administration curriculum is designed to enhance knowledge, technical skills and professional competencies for those seeking advancement or entry into management of health care organizations. Program goals and objectives reflect the professional competencies defined by the American College of Healthcare Executives. The M.S. Health Administration also offers concentrations in Health Informatics, and Organizational Development and Leadership.

Mission statement

The graduate program in health services has been conceived, developed, and implemented to prepare adult students for positions of management requiring disciplined leadership and emotional intelligence in all administrative arenas such as acute care, ambulatory care, long term care, rehabilitation services, health promotion and community health industries.

Vision statement

The graduate program in health services offers a competency-driven educational experience reflecting and rooted in recognized quality standards of performance and achievement as benchmarked by these leading professional organizations in the health care field: American College of Healthcare Executives, Commission on the Accreditation of Health Management Education, and the National Commission for Health Education Accreditation.

Values statement

The values of the graduate health services program are based in the University’s rich Jesuit history and tradition. They reflect the core human principles espoused by St. Ignatius.

1. Practice the Magis in all endeavors that asks the question how and in what way can I do better and live greater in mind, body and spirit?
2. Practice Cura Personalis meaning the commitment for caring for all aspects of your person: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.
3. Practice service to and for others that asks individuals to always seek opportunities to help and assist others in ways that enhance the lives of those around you.
4. Practice a commitment to social justice in all public and social environments that supports fair and equitable treatment and engagement of all.

Area 1: HLA/ACHE Competency Component (Health Leadership Alliance/American College of Healthcare Executives)

HLA/ACHE 1:  Leadership - Ability to inspire individual and organizational excellence that demonstrate mature, ethical conduct and decision making. 

Students will demonstrate the ability to develop and apply key leadership skills and behaviors that respect the values of others, follow legal principles and practices, and take responsibility for actions.

HLA/ACHE 2: Communications/relationship management - Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in maintaining relationships that support and serve others.

Students will demonstrate the ability to apply and practice effective communication skills for complex interpersonal relationships which recognize the needs of individuals and groups in their service to them.

HLA/ACHE 3: Professionalism - Ability to align conduct with ethical and professional standards of best practices in all business and management operations.

Students will be able to evaluate and critique both personal and professional accountability in terms of accepted ethical conduct and values.

HLA/ACHE 4: Knowledge of Healthcare environment – Has an understanding of the healthcare system, its operations and environment both as a specific industry and as it relates to the larger U.S. society.

Students will be able to analyze the organization and operations of healthcare companies in terms of their service to communities and individuals.

HLA/ACHE 5:  Business skills and knowledge - Ability to apply ethical and legal business  practices in healthcare organizations and operations.

Students will apply significant business principles in any of the following disciplines depending on its relevance to the course: general management, financial management, strategic planning, information management or risk management.

Area 2: CAHME Competency Component (Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education)

CAHME 1: Knowledge of the healthcare sector and its management understanding mission defined healthcare.

 Students will analyze and evaluate healthcare operations based on a mission defined focus and execution that stresses equitable treatment of all within a framework of social justice.

CAHME 2: Giving and receiving verbal/non-verbal information that develops effective working relationships.

Students will develop and analyze communication for its effectiveness in conveying information and meaning that enhances service to others for greater benefit and value.

CAHME 3: Applying critical thinking, analysis and problem solving.

Students will apply behaviors and practices that demonstrate responsible critical thinking, results-driven problem analysis and resolution that supports the values of social justice and service.

CAHME 4: Pursing goals through and in collaboration with others.

Students will apply management and interpersonal leadership skills that demonstrate a commitment of shared values, respect for all, and a desire to improve the lives of those being served.  

CAHME 5: Applying high ethical and professional standards that reflect accountability, integrity, achievement orientation, self-confidence, and life-long learning.

Students will apply professional standards of behavior that demonstrate the commitment to enhance their performance in all endeavors and their personal goals for mind, body, and spirit.

(For Health Education - please refer to respective Learning Objectives)

The M.S. in Health Administration consists of three tracks:

1. General track of 12 courses (36 credits-including two electives);

2. Informatics track of 14 courses (42 credits);

3. Organizational Development and Leadership track of 14 courses (42 credits).

General Health Administration Curricular Requirements

Health Informatics Concentration

The Informatics Concentration trains health care professionals in the strategic use of information technology (IT) so they may lead planning, design, integration, implementation, and evaluation of clinical, financial and administrative information systems in various healthcare organizations. The Informatics concentration consists of 14 courses (42 credits):

the required courses from the HAD curriculum (10 courses) plus Health Informatics courses (4 courses). 

Organization Development and Leadership Concentration

The concentration in Organization Development and Leadership (ODL) is designed to enhance skills in managing and developing healthy organizational culture. The Organization Development and Leadership Concentration requires completion of 14 courses (42 credits):

the required courses from the HAD curriculum (10 courses) plus ODL courses (4 courses). .