Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) Online MBA in Health Administration

Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) offers a 100 percent online MBA in health administration program that prepares professionals with the leadership and business management skills needed to promote organizational excellence. Business courses focus on key topics such as quantitative and qualitative research, organizational behavior, information systems, and strategic decision-making, marketing, and finance.

SEMO offers a wide range of concentration courses to meet the needs of various professionals who want to serve in executive and management positions in the healthcare industry. These range from healthcare economics, performance improvement and informatics to fundamentals of medical practice management and health administration policy. Students also have the option of completing an applied research project or an internship in a healthcare setting. At the end of their program, students must take a final comprehensive or oral examination.

Applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA must have at least five years of managerial work experience, have an active healthcare provider license, or hold a professional certification. As well, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an AACSB-accredited program or have completed comparable coursework. Applicants have the option of taking a prior learning assessment to get credit for existing real-world experience.

Graduates may earn positions in rural and urban healthcare settings in many types of healthcare organizations, including hospitals, clinic systems, and long-term care facilities. Job titles may include executive health director, chief operating officer (CEO), hospital chief financial officer (CFO), healthcare marketing manager, health information manager, or healthcare technology director.

Southeast Missouri State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The MBA in health administration is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). It is also accredited by the Network of International Business Schools (NIBS).

What to Expect from the SEMO Online MBA in Health Administration

Admission Requirements: Prospective applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an AACSB-accredited business program or have completed comparable coursework at an accredited institution. Additionally, students who hold the required bachelor’s degree with a GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 or who have a graduate degree do not need proof of work experience or other certification.

Those with a GPA of 2.5 to 2.99 must have at least five years of managerial work experience, have an active healthcare provider license that requires continuing education to maintain, or hold a professional certification such as PMI Project Management, Certified Financial Planner, or other recognized professional certification. Provisional admission may be an option for those who do not meet the regular criteria.

Application materials include an online application and official transcripts. Additional documentation may be requested by the admissions departments such as a resume, proof of healthcare licensure, proof of professional certification, or other documentation. No GMAT or GRE test scores are required. International applicants with a three-year degree must have a transcript evaluation from an approved agency.

Study Plan: The MBA in health administration begins five times per year and courses last eight weeks each during the fall, spring, and summer. The program may be completed in approximately 18 months to two years depending on the rate of course completion.

Curriculum: The online MBA in health administration requires the completion of 33 credits, including 12 health administration credits. MBA core requirements include organizational behavior in practice; integrated decision information systems; strategic marketing; quantitative and qualitative research methods; strategic decision-making; and strategic cost analysis and financial applications.

The health administration option includes a variety of courses to choose from. Student must choose 12 credit hours from the following courses: economics; healthcare quality and value; fundamentals of medical practice management; healthcare performance improvement; healthcare database systems; healthcare law and regulatory compliance; topics in healthcare administration; international healthcare administration; healthcare informatics; healthcare budgeting and reimbursement; health administration policy; healthcare strategy and marketing; independent study in healthcare; applied research project in health administration; and graduate internship in healthcare. Students also complete a master’s final comprehensive examination or oral examination.

Applicants who do not hold a business degree or have not completed comparable coursework may need to complete the business essentials course offered by SEMO. This course may count toward the 12 credits of electives needed.

Online Experience: The online experience consists of asynchronous courses and online discussion boards with faculty and peers. Materials presented may include video or audio files, PowerPoint slides, PDFs, word processing documents, web pages, and links to other resources and materials. SEMO uses Canvas as its online learning management system.

Each student is assigned to an academic advisor who is an online program specialist. This person guides students through enrollment and course sequencing as well as other needs the student may have. Student services include the Kent Library, IT support, a writing center, career services, online tutoring, and counseling and financial services.

On-Site Requirements: The online MBA in health administration program through Southeast Missouri State University does not require on-site visits. Students may choose to participate in a graduate internship in a healthcare setting.

Paying for the SEMO Online MBA in Health Administration

Southeast Missouri State University MBA in health administration tuition numbers are listed in the tables below. Applicants should verify current tuition and fees with the SEMO student financial services department.

SEMO may offer scholarships, grants, and other financial aid to graduate students. Prospective students may also submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Other ways to fund a graduate degree might be to secure public and private loans, participate in an employer reimbursement program, or apply for community or other grants and scholarships. Interested students should contact the SEMO student financial services department for more information.

Southeast Missouri State University MBA in Health Administration

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 different start dates each year
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete?
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GRE or GMAT Required? No GMAT or GRE Required
Work Experience Required? Yes, 5 years managerial work experience
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit $439.80
Estimated Program Tuition * $14,487.00

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.