Online Executive MHA Programs (5 Years of Professional Experience Required)
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Experienced healthcare professionals looking to advance into leadership, management, or executive positions may want to consider enrolling in an executive master of healthcare administration (EMHA) program online. These programs are designed for senior managers, directors, and executives with five or more years of experience and help prepare graduates to lead better healthcare organizations from executive positions in the clinical, public, and corporate sectors.
These programs offer advanced, cross-disciplinary instruction in leadership, marketing, epidemiology, operations management, economics, and quality control, among other areas. In addition, by providing courses online, on-campus requirements are minimized, enabling busy working professionals to advance their knowledge and skills during times of their choosing and without having to relocate.
That said, some executive MHA programs schedule periodic symposiums where classmates in a specific cohort get together either in person or in a real-time (synchronous) online meeting area to interact and learn, leveraging one another’s experience.
Discover what to expect from an online EHMA program, including typical admissions requirements, duration, curricula, tuition, exceptional faculty members, and other features.
Featured Online EMHA Programs
The University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Community Innovation and Education provides an online executive master of health administration (EMHA) degree, which is open to applicants with at least three years of qualifying healthcare experience. Coursework is designed for professionals looking to deepen their knowledge of the healthcare industry and includes classes such as financial management for healthcare managers, healthcare ethics and law, epidemiology and health planning, and leadership for healthcare executives, among others. The degree also includes a capstone course to expand students’ skills in strategic management.
This 44-credit fully online program requires no campus visits and, through the MYUCF platform, can enjoy several auxiliary services. Notably, cohorts comprise 30 students or less and allow ample networking and other opportunities to connect with peers. To qualify for admission, applicants must have three years of healthcare experience and hold a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Location: Orlando, FL
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $773 per credit
The executive master of health administration at The George Washington University ([email protected]) is offered through the Milken Institute of Public Health. The executive MHA program consists of eight learning modules, each focusing on a different core skill set. The executive MHA program can take between two and four years to complete depending on the chosen module.
Students in this online program take courses in business and healthcare disciplines. Sample courses include leadership and ethics, management and strategy, information technology and decision science, and community health and quantitative methods.
In addition to the online learning modules, four on-campus immersion experiences (two 40-hour experiences and two 20-hour experiences) are required. Immersion experiences for [email protected] may take place on the GWU campus in Washington, DC, or at another healthcare organization, either in the U.S. or abroad. The immersion experiences include leadership and ethics, health system analysis, and the research project presentation.
To be considered for admission at [email protected], applicants must have at least three years of professional experience in the healthcare sector or be currently employed in a healthcare organization. In addition, applicants are encouraged to have undergraduate courses in financial accounting and statistics. Other requirements include a statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation, official transcripts, a current resume or CV, and a live interview (online or in-person).
- Location: Washington D.C.
- Duration: Two to four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Tuition: $1,825 per credit
The University of Southern California (USC) designed its online executive MHA degree program for management and mid-career clinical professionals. Over six semesters, students take classes in healthcare economics, operational efficiency processes in healthcare organizations, and quality of care.
Coursework is all online, although students must attend two five-day residencies on the college’s main campus in Los Angeles, California. The first residency is scheduled midway through the program. The final residency takes place on-campus in the last semester of the program to help students with their final capstone project.
The 36-credit degree program is ideal for those seeking a career as an executive director, health service or medical manager, senior manager, or vice president of a healthcare facility. In addition to a grade point average of 3.0 or better in previous college coursework, students need to submit a transcript from each school attended, three letters of recommendation, a professional resume, a personal statement of purpose, and proof of a minimum of five years of professional work experience.
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Duration: Six semesters
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
- Tuition: $1,995 per credit
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) offers an executive master of science in health administration (MSHA) degree. Students can complete this hybrid program in two years. Coursework for the program includes foundational courses such as introduction to healthcare systems and more advanced courses directly applicable to healthcare leadership, such as health policy, healthcare entrepreneurship, and strategic planning and management. In addition, students in the executive MSHA program can opt to enroll in a dual degree program and concurrently earn a master of science in healthcare quality and safety (MSHQS) or a graduate certificate in healthcare quality and safety.
In addition to completing rigorous online courses, students are expected to attend three seven-day on-campus sessions in Birmingham. During the second year of the program, UAB students meet for intensive three to four-day capstone experience. The experience challenges students to apply the knowledge acquired through the program in a real healthcare environment.
To qualify for admission, applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution and have a minimum of five years of healthcare-related work experience (clinical or managerial). Other documents include an updated resume, personal essays, three letters of reference, and official transcripts demonstrating a competitive undergraduate GPA. In addition, a live interview is required online or in person.
- Location: Birmingham, AL
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $9,933 per semester
The Dumke College of Health Professions at Weber State University (WSU), located in Ogden, Utah, offers a CAHME-accredited executive MHA (EMHA) program that students can complete in just four semesters with summers off. Coursework for the WSU program is a blend of foundational coursework and electives.
Foundational MHA courses include health systems and the healthcare economy, human resources management in healthcare, and executive decision-making for healthcare leaders. To help students specialize in their expertise, electives include long-term care administration, medical group management, healthcare entrepreneurship, and executive leadership seminars in healthcare.
Admission requirements for the EMHA program at WSU include an undergraduate degree in health administration (students admitted without this degree may have to complete leveling coursework) and GRE/GMAT Scores (for professionals with less than five years of work experience).
While applicants with two years of supervisory experience are preferred, applicants with no professional experience will be considered for admission. Other documents include official college transcripts, a resume, two letters of recommendation, and college transcripts reflecting a minimum GPA of at least 3.0 (lower GPA applicants may still be considered).
One of the draws of the WSU EMHA program is its relative affordability. As of November 2021, the flat-rate tuition for the EMHA program was $35,000. Even factoring in travel to Utah, the total cost of the WSU program is competitive with other university EMHA programs.
While most coursework for the WSU program is completed online, students are required to spend one-and-a-half days on campus each semester, for a total of seven-and-a-half days. In addition, to complete the program, students are expected to present final projects on campus.
- Location: Ogden, UT
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Tuition: $35,000 for four semesters
Students who are eager to earn the prestige that comes with an Ivy League degree may consider enrolling in the Brown University executive master of healthcare leadership (EMHL) program. Students can complete this hybrid program in 16 months, including online courses and five “in residence” sessions on the Brown University campus in Providence, Rhode Island. On-campus sessions run for five weeks, and a detailed schedule of on-campus sessions is available online.
According to the EMHL applicant profile, the average student has 15 or more years of work experience. New cohorts begin every January and last for 16 months. In addition to proof of professional and academic experience as described above, applicants to the Brown EMHL program should be prepared to submit a personal statement, updated resume or CV, transcripts demonstrating GPA, three letters of recommendation, and a synopsis of a proposed Critical Challenge Project (CCP)
With no electives, all enrolled students will follow the same course of study. Brown’s EMHL program courses include healthcare policy: yesterday, today, and tomorrow; management and marketing for healthcare transformation; navigating the regulatory maze; and financial decisions in the changing healthcare landscape. In addition, students in this program complete a capstone project that addresses a real issue in healthcare with applied learning gleaned from coursework and work experiences in the program.
- Location: Providence, RI
- Duration: 16 months
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Tuition: $92,000
The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) offers a 40-credit executive master of healthcare administration (EMHA) program. Students can complete the credits for the EMHA over 22 months or five consecutive semesters, including a summer session. Students are expected to complete two classes per semester and two to three classes during the summer session. In addition to online courses, students must attend two immersion sessions on campus in Las Vegas for a total of four days and must present their final capstone project on campus at the end of the program.
Applicants to the EMHA program at UNLV must meet one of the experiential work requirements: have at least three years of management or administrative healthcare experience; five years of clinical experience; a terminal clinical degree in healthcare (MD or PharmD); or a JD degree. Additional application requirements include three to five letters of recommendation (including one from a current employer), official transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, and possibly an interview.
The curriculum includes 37 credits of required courses, including a survey of the U.S. healthcare system: programs, policies, and politics; epidemiology in health services management; public health fundamentals for health care leaders; and information systems in health services management. The final required course is a three-credit capstone project, in which students must demonstrate proficient knowledge of their chosen healthcare administration topic.
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Tuition: $3,375 per semester (residents); $11,421 per semester (non-residents)
The Department of Public Health at Western Kentucky University (WKU) offers an executive master of health administration (EMHA) that requires three campus visits per year throughout the two-year program. The executive MHA program does not require a thesis or capstone project, but students must take two courses in a concentration area.
Coursework for this program includes 33 credits of core courses, six electives, and six credits in the chosen concentration area. Core courses include biostatistics for public health; epidemiology; public health administration; healthcare organization and management, and strategic management and marketing of health services. Elective courses include healthcare preparedness and leadership; ambulatory care/rural health; special topics in health services; and principles of environmental health.
To qualify for this 42-credit executive program, applicants should have five or more years of healthcare experience or submit GRE scores and complete an interview before admission. In addition, applicants must apply to the EHMA program and the WKU graduate school. Other required documents include a resume, a prerequisite course worksheet, a personal statement, two letters of reference from immediate supervisors in the two most recent positions held, and copies of official undergraduate transcripts. WKU offers tuition discounts for border state teachers and licensed educators in the state of Kentucky.
- Location: Bowling Green, KY
- Duration: two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $607 per credit (residents); $917 per credit (non-residents)
The College of Business at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), in Boca Raton, Florida, has an executive MHA program designed to be completed in 15 months. While online and on-campus options are available at FAU, the online program is offered with no on-campus requirements.
To be eligible for the FAU executive MHA program, applicants must submit proof of bachelor’s degree in any discipline; transcripts demonstrating a 3.0 GPA for the latest 60 undergraduate credits, evidence of a minimum of four years of work experience, a current resume, three professional references, and two letters of recommendation. The FAU application committee determines GMAT or GRE scores, but admissions committees may waive this requirement due to work experience or a graduate degree.
The EMHA program at FAU includes courses in global issues in healthcare delivery; organizational behavior in healthcare; health policy; and health law. Students in this program can earn a Six Sigma Green Belt Certification by completing the current topics in the healthcare management course.
- Location: Boca Raton, LA
- Duration: 15 months
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $900 per credit
The University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill offers an executive track for its master of healthcare administration that has an expected duration of two years. Throughout the 49-credit program, students must attend three on-campus sessions in Chapel Hill each year, including 14 whole days: eight workdays and six weekend days.
Qualifications and application requirements for admission into UNC’s executive MHA program include a minimum of three years of managerial experience in healthcare, GRE/GMAT scores for those with less than a doctoral degree, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts, updated resume, and a personal statement. In addition, preference is given to those with a working knowledge of financial accounting, statistics, microeconomics, and calculus.
The UNC program requires 14 courses taken in the EMP Distance Learning format, plus two case camps that cover basic core skills, including Six Sigma/LEAN, effective writing and presentations, library research, and Excel functions. Executive MHA students also complete two leadership practicums and a capstone project which includes working in a team in coordination with a healthcare organization.
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $586.23 per credit (residents); $1,602.45 per credit (non-residents)
Professors to Know in Schools with Online EHMA Programs
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Judith Bentkover, PhD
Dr. Judith Bentkover is a Critical Challenge Project Adviser for the executive master of healthcare leadership program at Brown University. She’s also a professor of health services, policy, and practice in the School of Public Health. Notably, she was the first executive and academic director of the executive master of healthcare leadership program.
As the former President and CEO of Innovative Health Solutions, a consulting firm providing research and strategic analysis to healthcare manufacturers, providers, and payers, Dr. Bentkover has worked throughout Europe and Asia, earning considerable experience and knowledge of various healthcare systems.
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Leonard H. Friedman, PhD
Dr. Leonard Friedman is a lecturer and program director at [email protected] Prior to joining the faculty at GWU, Dr. Friedman was a professor in the Department of Public Health and coordinator of health management and policy programs at the University of Oregon.
During a long career in academia, Dr. Friedman explored organizational responses to cataclysmic events, system approaches to reducing medical errors, and the roots of organizational excellence in healthcare. Over the years, Professor Friedman has taught classes in healthcare management, organizational theory and behavior in healthcare, healthcare law and regulation, strategic management, and leadership in healthcare organizations.
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Margaret S. Thomas, MHA
Margaret S. Thomas is an assistant professor in health policy and management at UNC, where she has taught for more than 16 years. Ms. Thomas teaches financial management, leadership, governance, and strategy for the executive MHA and the DrPH programs at UNC.
An alumnus of UNC, Thomas earned her MHA in 2000. In addition to her work at UNC, Thomas serves on the board of a Georgia public health advisory non-profit and provides consulting services to the boards of professional services firms, healthcare entities, and other nonprofits.
