Master of Public Health
(MPH) in Healthcare
Administration
4-week
COURSES
Year-round
enrollment
220K+ Alumni Worldwide
Overview
The Master of Public Health (MPH) program prepares professionals for leadership positions in health promotion, disease prevention, community mental health, or public healthcare administration. Public health involves multidisciplinary and collaborative strategies for solving health-related problems and promoting social justice, including programs that serve the public sector at all levels—local, state, federal, and global.
Accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the MPH program emphasizes broad-based, state-of-the-art quantitative and qualitative skills needed for public health problem-solving. Coursework is designed to help professionals advance their careers within public health, or transition into the field from other health professions. Strategic internships and a comprehensive capstone experience will further enhance your opportunities for professional growth and job placement.
The Healthcare Administration specialization prepares you for leadership positions in public and private healthcare by demonstrating the knowledge and skills to organize, finance, and deliver services that prevent and treat illness and disease.
Admission Requirements
In addition to completing an application, the Master of Public Health program requires the following:
- Completion of a college introductory statistics course such as BST 322 or MTH 210
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree with a 2.85 cumulative GPA from a regionally accredited institution
- Proficiency in operating a personal computer, including applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet browsers, and standard email systems
Course Details
Foundation Courses
For the Master of Public Health with a specialization in Healthcare Administration, you must complete eight foundation courses, seven specialization courses, one health experience course, and a capstone course.
Course Name
An orientation to the Master of Public Health program, including history, philosophy, values, core functions, and the importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge. Coursework introduces you to the available options for attaining competencies in public health in your chosen MPH specialization. This course can be taken concurrently with HCA 600. Grading is S/U only.
An overview of the US healthcare system, this course explores terminology, delivery system components, financing, personnel, regulation, delivery, consumers, and the effects of public policy on services.
This analysis of global public health defines and evaluates preventive efforts to affect the quantitative, biological, economic, social, political, and behavioral determinants of health. You’ll investigate burden of disease, social justice, and equitable health care, giving special emphasis to reproductive health, population dynamics, humanitarian emergencies, globalization, and global cooperation.
An introduction to the use of statistical analysis in public health. This course provides an understanding of the basic methods and underlying concepts of statistics used in public health decision-making. Topics of focus include descriptive statistics, probability, sampling, hypothesis testing, and non-parametric statistics.
This course examines the theoretical basis of individual health behavior. Coursework will apply cognitive, psychosocial, and environmental theories of health behavior, as well as theories of self-directed and professionally-facilitated health behavior change. Special emphasis is given to behavior modification, the health belief model (HBM), the theory of planned behavior (TPB), social cognitive theory (SCT), stress and coping, social support, and the transtheoretical model (TTM).
A study of determinants and distribution of disease and disability in human populations. This course applies empirical analysis to population data related to morbidity and mortality. You’ll investigate disease outbreaks, risk factors, outcomes, and causal relationships. In addition, you’ll learn to critically evaluate public health literature and the design of studies.
This course explores the fundamentals of research methods and statistical analysis used with public health data. You’ll study the principles of research investigation, research design, sampling, measurements, and the use of descriptive and inferential statistics for data analysis and hypothesis testing. Other topics of focus include health survey design, sampling methodologies, questionnaire construction and administration, interviewing, and coding procedures.
This course examines the roles of health advocates and how public health workers might participate in advocacy strategies to affect policy. You’ll focus on frameworks for promoting the right to health and strategies that give consumers more power in making decisions, defining issues, designing programs, and developing policies.
Specialization Courses
Course Name
An analysis of healthcare organization theories and structure, including managerial functions, relationships, and delivery system development and operations. This course will explore external influences, including community, financial institutions, socioeconomic environment, and regulatory agencies. You’ll also gain an understanding of organizational goals and priorities, as well as professional roles, responsibilities, and accountability.
In this course, you’ll study the use of data and information technology to improve performance in healthcare organizations. Topics of focus include information systems, databases and analytical tools, and legal and ethical issues affecting the management of healthcare information.
An exploration of theoretical and practical frameworks to facilitate the continuous improvement of quality in healthcare organizations. This course introduces multiple approaches to quality evaluation, including strategy and outcome measurement, team development, analytical statistics, process knowledge, and culture transformation. Instruction will also emphasize data collection, data planning, and evaluation.
A study of healthcare training, motivation, organization, and employee direction while maintaining high-level productivity and morale. This course examines employee selection and compensation, financial incentives, work standards, and leadership principles in healthcare organizations.
This course applies healthcare accounting and finance theories to decisions in healthcare environments. Instruction will focus on management problems and policy issues related to allocation of resources, payment systems, capital investments, and budgeting.
An examination of strategic planning for healthcare organizations based on analyses of secondary quantitative and qualitative data. This course will assess the technological, social, political, regulatory, and competitive aspects of the healthcare market. Additionally, you’ll look at the marketing principles and tools used to develop a healthcare organization marketing plan.
This course explores concepts of leadership related to modern healthcare organizations. Among many leadership topics, you’ll study strategic vision and mission, team building, communications, negotiations, managing uncertainty, and conflict resolution.
Health Experience Courses
Select one of the following two courses:
Course Name
In this faculty-led, study-abroad program, you’ll attain public health foundational competencies and specialization competencies through applied practice in a global setting. You’ll tour and explore the health system and public health issues facing a host country by experiencing their healthcare, economic, political, legal, and cultural environments. This course helps you develop a thorough knowledge of global public health through a combination of pre-departure study, service learning, on-site lectures and presentations, and post-tour analysis and reflection.
In this course, you’ll demonstrate foundational public health competencies and healthcare administration capabilities through applied practice. Coursework includes either working in a healthcare agency applying leadership and management skills, or providing a portfolio that demonstrates your program competencies through volunteer work. Grading is H/S/U only.
*It’s recommended that you complete all foundation and specialization courses prior to enrolling in COH 693B.
Capstone Course Requirement
Course Name
In this two-month capstone project, you’ll research the contemporary practice of public health promotion. Your project will involve the planning and completion of either a data-based analysis, an evaluation of a health promotion program, or primary research related to public health promotion. Projects may require Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, and will culminate with a high-quality written product. Grading is H/S/U only.
*It’s recommended that you complete all foundation and specialization courses prior to enrolling in COH 694C.
Learning Outcomes
Students earning the Master in Public Health degree with a Healthcare Administration specialization will learn to:
- Conduct financial analysis, explain financial and accounting information, and make long-term investment decisions for healthcare organizations.
- Apply healthcare management methods to healthcare organizations.
- Use administrative and health information technology to develop process and performance improvement plans.
- Incorporate the principles of quality management for improving outcomes in healthcare organizations.
- Synthesize best practices in healthcare leadership.
Program Disclosure
Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.
Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.
NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.
All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.
National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.