University of Central Florida Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA)

The University of Central Florida’s College of Community Innovation and Education offers a fully online, CAHME-accredited executive master of health administration (EMHA) degree. This program is designed for experienced professionals in the health services industry such as clinicians, managers, and mid-level professionals who wish to advance their leadership skills.

This cohort-based program is limited to 30 students in order to enhance learning and course interactions. As such, it is a competitive program and requires students to maintain strong grades throughout the program. Healthcare topics covered include research, organizational behavior, risk management, financial management, quality of care, informatics, planning, and ethics. Courses must be taken in the prescribed sequence.

To apply, a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required, however some provisional slots are available to students who may not meet that requirement. Applicants must also have three years applicable professional healthcare management experience.

UCF requires completion of a capstone course in the second summer of the program with a grade of “A” or “B” to graduate from the program, with one exception for students who earn a “C” but have not earned any other “C”s in the program.

What to Expect from the Online Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA) Program

Admissions Requirements: Regular applicants must have three years of professional healthcare experience and hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0, however some provisional slots are available to those who may not meet all requirements. Additional application requirements include the submission of an application and fee, official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, an essay describing how the EMHA will meet the student’s career aspirations (one to two pages), and a resume (no more than two pages). GMAT/GRE scores are not required.

International students must provide a course credit evaluation through WES or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. with a calculated GPA and TOEFL test scores.

Time to Completion: The program is designed to be completed in two years in a prescribed sequence, including fall, spring, and summer terms.

Study Plan: This 11-course program consists of 44 credits. Courses take place on a semester schedule. EMHA applicants are accepted for a fall or spring start and follow a prescribed course sequence with their cohorts.

Coursework: Courses for the EMHA include healthcare statistics and research, financial accounting for healthcare managers, healthcare quality and risk management, healthcare informatics for healthcare leaders, healthcare organizational behavior and human resource management, financial management for healthcare managers, healthcare economics and policy, healthcare ethics and law, leadership for healthcare executives, and epidemiology and health planning. Students are also required to complete a capstone course in which they focus on strategic management.

Online Experience: To begin, UCF online students complete the Knights Online orientation to learn what it takes to be a successful online student, as well as how to use the Webcourses@UCF user interface. Due to the executive nature of the program, UCF-EMHA students may be required to be online at certain times for live webinars and online video conferences. Therefore, students will need the proper audio/visual equipment such as a webcam, microphone, and headset in order to participate. Live courses and conferences are recorded and made available to students for later review.

The rest of the course material is asynchronous and includes research projects, required papers, and a capstone experience. The cohort-based program provides ample opportunities for students and faculty to interact, develop relationships, network, and discuss issues deeply as a group.

Student services include a writing center, a dedicated program coordinator, the UCF library, accessibility services, the MYUCF platform, email, and admissions counseling. Students may also seek help from faculty through phone, email, and chat services.

On-Site Requirements: The executive master of health administration program is 100 percent online and requires no campus visits. Students are encouraged to visit campus and participate in graduation on campus.

Paying for the Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA) Program

UCF Online EMHA tuition numbers are listed in the tables below, and are the same for residents and non-residents of Florida, and for international students.

UCF Online offers financial aid in the form of academic merit fellowships to qualified students, as well as assistantships and loans. Students can also seek community and other outside resources to help pay for their EMHA degree. Additionally, prospective students may inquire with their employer about tuition reimbursement programs for employees seeking a master’s degree.

University of Central Florida Executive Master of Health Administration

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates Fall
Credits Needed to Graduate 44
Time to Complete? Complete in as little as 2 years
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation CAHME
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's degree or higher
GRE or GMAT Required? No
Work Experience Required? Yes, A minimum of 3 years experience in healthcare management required
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 44
Average Cost Per Credit $772.69
Estimated Program Tuition * $33,968.00

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.