The Master of Health Services Administration (M.H.S.A.) degree program is designed to prepare qualified individuals for management careers in hospitals, group practices, health maintenance organizations, consulting firms, long-term care facilities, associations, government agencies, and other health services organizations. This preparation is carried out by providing the students with selected theories, tools, and techniques, which are the understanding, analysis, and application essential for effective health services administration.
Admission. See the general requirements for admission to the Graduate College. Applicants are required to submit evidence of their ability to pursue a graduate degree program in health services administration successfully. All students must take the GMAT. For more information, call 609/771–7330 or write
Students applying to the M.H.S.A. degree program should submit an application for admission and two copies of all transcripts directly to the Graduate Admissions Office. Three recommendations commenting on the student’s motivation, commitment, achievements, work experience, and opportunity for success in the program should be addressed directly to the School of Health Administration and Policy. In addition, applicants are required to submit a statement of personal objectives for the degree program addressing commitment, goals, qualifications, and reasons for interest in the program. Application deadlines are December 15, February 15, March 15, and April 15. Preference for financial assistance will be given to applicants applying by the March 15 deadline. It is required that students visit the campus for a personal interview. In cases where this creates a hardship, a student may ask for a telephone interview with an M.H.S.A. faculty member when the application file is complete. Brochures describing the Master of Health Services Administration are available by calling 602/965–7778 or writing
Questions may also be directed by e-mail to asuhap@asu.edu.
Program of Study. The program of study consists of a minimum of 48 semester hours: 15 hours of business administration, 27 hours of health services administration, and six hours of electives. Additional semester hours (prerequisites) may be required to strengthen preparation in a given specialty. Subject to availability, students may complete an optional residency/fellowship for a period of up to one year (following completion of the degree program). While each student’s program of study is individually tailored, a typical program is as follows:
Business Administration Component
| ACC 502 | Financial Accounting (3) |
| ACC 503 | Managerial Accounting (3) |
| FIN 502 | Managerial Finance (3) |
| MGT 502 | Organization Theory and Behavior (3) |
| QBA 502 | Managerial Decision Analysis (3) |
| Total: 15 |
Health Services Administration Component
| HSA 502 | Health Care Organization (3) |
| HSA 505 | Community Health Care Perspectives (3) |
| HSA 512 | Health Care Economics (3) |
| HSA 520 | Health Care Organizational Structure and Policy (3) |
| HSA 522 | Health Care Management Systems (3) |
| HSA 532 | Financial Management of Health Services (3) |
| HSA 542 | Health Care Jurisprudence (3) |
| HSA 589 | Integrative Seminar (3) |
| HSA 591 | S: Health Care Economics (3) |
| Total: 27 |
Electives Component. Six semester hours of electives intended to provide interdisciplinary breadth or specialization are taken in consultation with the student’s supervisory committee. These six hours must be earned in graduate courses offered in health care administration, business administration, economics, nursing, political science, social work, sociology, or other appropriate disciplines.
Prerequisites. Students lacking sufficient background in business fundamentals are encouraged to take a basic financial accounting course. Those without a basic course in computer skills are required to complete CIS 200. Students must demonstrate strong quantitative ability. This may be accomplished by taking either a calculus course (MAT 210) or quantitative business statistics (QBA 221).
Course Load. Normal full-time course load is 12 hours per semester. Students may petition to take up to 15 hours per semester.
Foreign Language Requirements. None.
Comprehensive Examinations. All students must successfully complete the comprehensive requirement established by the College of Business and Graduate College for the M.H.S.A. degree.
Thesis Requirements. None.
Concurrent Degree Programs
A Master of Health Services Administration/Master of Business Administration concurrent degree program is offered through cooperative arrangement between the faculty of the College of Business and the School of Health Administration and Policy. Students must be admitted to both programs and may complete the course work for both degrees in two years of full-time study by meeting the requirements of each degree program. Separate applications are required and admission requirements of both programs must be met. Once admitted, in consultation with their respective faculty advisors, students develop programs of study that meet degree requirements.
The College of Law and the School of Health Administration and Policy offer graduate students a program in Law and Health Services Administration that leads concurrently to the degrees of Juris Doctor/Master of Health Services Administration. Students in the concurrent degree program must be regularly admitted to both the J.D. and the M.H.S.A. degree programs. It is recommended that application to the concurrent degree program be made no later than the end of the first year of law school or first year of enrollment in the M.H.S.A. program. All applicants must comply with the minimum requirements and admission procedures of the Graduate College. Full-time students can expect to complete the concurrent J.D./M.H.S.A. program in four years.
The College of Nursing and the School of Health Administration and Policy offer a concurrent M.H.S.A/M.S. in Nursing (with a concentration in nursing administration) degree program enabling students to pursue concurrent work in health services administration and nursing administration. The concurrent program is designed for nurses whose career goals are focused on management in complex health care delivery systems and offers nurses the opportunity to develop advanced skills in both financial resource management as well as nursing management. Graduates assume leadership positions in hospitals, group practices, HMOs, consulting firms, long-term care facilities, and other health services organizations. Students must be admitted to both programs and may complete the course work for both degrees in three years of full-time study by meeting the requirements of each degree program. Separate applications are required and admission requirements of both programs must be met.
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