Popular Accredited Healthcare Administration Programs and Schools in Virginia [2026]

In Virginia you can choose campus based healthcare administration programs at Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University, Old Dominion University, and Eastern Virginia Medical School, along with fully online options at Radford University and Liberty University.

Across these programs you study leadership, finance, quality improvement, analytics, and policy, combining classroom learning with residencies, internships, and applied projects that build your readiness for management and executive roles.

In this guide, we will dicuss in detail popular healthcare administration programs in Virginia, each of which offers unique benefits for you as a student.

Best Healthcare Administration Programs in Virginia

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering healthcare administration programs in Virginia:

• Virginia Commonwealth University – Master of Health Administration (MHA) – In person
• George Mason University – Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management (MHA)
• Old Dominion University – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
• Eastern Virginia Medical School – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
• Radford University – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) – Online
• Liberty University – Master of Science in Healthcare Administration – Online
• Mary Baldwin University – BA in Healthcare Administration and Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) – Online

To find out how we select colleges and universities, please click here.

Virginia Commonwealth University

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

The Virginia Commonwealth University Master of Health Administration (MHA) is a residential, cohort based graduate program in the College of Health Professions that prepares you for leadership roles in hospitals, integrated delivery systems, physician organizations, and other health services settings. The degree combines a strong management curriculum with intensive field experience so that you graduate ready to step into entry level administrative fellowships and early leadership roles.

The program requires a total of 59 credit hours of graduate study, including classroom coursework, electives, and an administrative residency. Most students complete the degree in about three years, with the first two years focused on campus based courses and the final year devoted to a full time residency in a health care organization. This structure allows you to build foundational skills before applying them in a supervised leadership environment.

Coursework introduces you to health system organization and performance, managerial accounting, finance, economics, analytics, information systems, policy, and human resources management. Each class emphasizes the decisions and responsibilities faced by health care leaders and shows you how to use financial and operational information to guide strategy and daily operations.

The curriculum also stresses leadership development through dedicated “executive skills” courses, structured feedback, and frequent team based assignments. You practice presenting to senior executives, writing professional reports, and working across disciplines with clinicians, analysts, and other administrators. These experiences are designed to mirror the collaborative work expected in modern health systems.

Because VCU is based in Richmond, a major health care hub, the program partners with hospitals, health systems, consulting firms, and public agencies for classroom projects, mentoring, and residency placements. You gain exposure to different organizational types, payer mixes, and service lines, helping you understand the variety of environments where MHA graduates build their careers.

Courses and Curriculum

The VCU MHA curriculum begins with courses that describe how health systems are organized, financed, and evaluated. In the first year you study health system organization and performance, data fundamentals, managerial accounting, and the clinical and organizational context of care delivery. These subjects help you understand how money, information, professionals, and patients flow through a complex health system.

As you move deeper into the program, courses in financial management, health care finance seminars, population health management, analytics and decision support, information systems, and health economics provide tools for quantitative and strategic decision making. You learn to interpret financial statements, build budgets, analyze service line performance, and use analytics to target improvement opportunities.

Advanced courses in marketing, politics and policy, organization and leadership, management of health care organizations, human resources, and strategic management tie the curriculum together. They show you how executives weigh tradeoffs, design strategies, and implement change in environments shaped by regulation, competition, technology, and community need. Throughout the curriculum you apply these concepts to real cases and projects drawn from partner organizations.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

• Health System Organization, Financing and Performance – Provides a detailed overview of how hospitals, health systems, and other providers are structured and paid. You study public and private payment models, key performance indicators, and the relationships among access, quality, cost, and equity.
• Health Care Managerial Accounting – Introduces internal accounting tools used by managers, including cost allocation, variance analysis, and budgeting. You practice using these methods to understand service line profitability and to support operational decisions.
• Financial Management in Health Organizations – Builds on accounting foundations to address capital structure, investment decisions, financial risk, and long term financial planning for hospitals and health systems.
• Health Care Politics and Policy – Examines the political institutions, stakeholders, and policy processes that shape health coverage, regulation, and payment. You consider how policy changes translate into strategic and operational choices for provider organizations.
• Health Economics – Applies economic theory to issues such as insurance design, provider competition, pricing, and resource allocation, helping you understand the economic forces that affect organizational strategy.
• Health Analytics and Decision Support – Focuses on using data to support managerial decisions. You work with real or simulated data sets, dashboards, and analytic tools to identify trends, benchmark performance, and evaluate options.
• Information Systems for Health Care Management – Surveys clinical and administrative information systems, data standards, interoperability, privacy, and cybersecurity. You explore how technology investments support quality, efficiency, and reporting.
• Strategic Management in Health Care Organizations – A capstone style course that integrates concepts from across the curriculum. You conduct environmental scans, analyze competitive positioning, and develop strategic plans that align mission, markets, and resources.

Practical Experience

Applied experience is a central feature of the VCU MHA. After completing the on campus coursework you participate in a paid, full time administrative residency that typically lasts about twelve months. During this residency you work at a hospital, health system, or related organization where you rotate through departments, assist with projects, and receive mentoring from senior leaders.

The residency is supported by a structured curriculum that includes learning objectives, periodic evaluations, and integration with faculty oversight. Projects may involve service line planning, process improvement, financial analysis, implementation of new information systems, or development of community health initiatives. This experience allows you to apply classroom tools in real situations and to build a record of accomplishment before graduation.

In addition to the residency, earlier coursework includes team projects, presentations to executives, and exposure to guest speakers from local and national organizations. These experiences help you learn professional norms, broaden your understanding of organizational cultures, and refine the communication skills expected of future health care leaders.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe how health systems are organized, financed, and regulated, and explain how these factors affect access, quality, cost, and equity.
• Interpret financial statements, budgets, and other quantitative data to support decisions about services, staffing, and capital investments.
• Use analytics and information systems to monitor performance, identify improvement opportunities, and support strategic planning.
• Design and lead quality improvement and patient safety initiatives that rely on evidence, measurement, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Evaluate legal, ethical, and policy issues and incorporate compliance and ethical reasoning into managerial decisions.
• Demonstrate leadership and communication skills that support teamwork, change management, and effective relationships with clinicians, staff, and community partners.
• Develop strategic plans that align organizational mission, market dynamics, and community needs with financial and operational realities.
• Integrate classroom learning with field experience to solve real organizational problems and present actionable recommendations to senior leaders.

Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the Virginia Commonwealth University MHA often move into administrative fellowships, analyst and coordinator roles, and early management positions in hospitals, health systems, physician organizations, consulting firms, and payer or government agencies. The program’s long history in health administration education and its extensive residency network provide strong pathways into leadership development programs and early career roles across the United States.

VCU supports your career development through individualized advising, resume and interview workshops, alumni networking, and employer events that connect you with health systems seeking MHA graduates.

Virginia Commonwealth University reports a six year undergraduate graduation rate of about 65%, reflecting a university wide focus on student success that extends into its professional graduate programs.

Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Undergraduate GPA, at or above 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Completed online application submitted through the centralized HAMPCAS system and VCU’s supplemental application.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
• Current resume describing professional experience, leadership roles, and volunteer or community activities.
• Personal statement outlining your interest in health administration, your career goals, and reasons for selecting the VCU MHA.
• Tw letters of recommendation from academic and professional references who can comment on your readiness for graduate study and leadership roles.

Application Deadlines

The VCU MHA program uses a rolling admissions model. Applications typically open on September 1, with interview days beginning in November and continuing monthly until the cohort is filled for the following fall term. Because admission decisions are made as files are completed, you are encouraged to submit all application materials early in the cycle for full consideration.

George Mason University

Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management (MHA)

The George Mason University Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management (MHA) is a Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Educatio (CAHME) accredited graduate program offered through the College of Public Health. It prepares you to assume leadership and executive level roles in healthcare organizations, health systems, consulting firms, public agencies, and related entities by blending management, policy, analytic, and organizational strategy skills.

The program requires approximately 45 to 47 credit hours of coursework and typically takes about 18 to 24 months of full time study, though part time options are available and you may complete within a six year window if needed. Courses are offered in on campus and online formats with the same curriculum, allowing working professionals flexibility. The online track mirrors the CAHME accredited in person program and may include a short on site practicum or residency experience.

Curriculum content spans core health systems domains including health economics, human resource management, legal and policy frameworks, quality improvement, finance, analytics, and leadership. The program is driven by professional competencies that reflect current expectations of healthcare employers and is organized around five domains such as knowledge of the healthcare system, leadership effectiveness, critical thinking, management, and professionalism.

A hallmark of the program is the capstone practicum experience. In this culminating project you work with a healthcare organization, federal or state agency, consulting firm, or nonprofit where you apply skills learned in real organizational settings. Projects may include operational planning, quality improvement design, financial analysis, or strategic recommendations developed under the guidance of an industry preceptor and faculty mentor.

Online and in person students alike benefit from networking opportunities that include guest lectures, site visits, and an optional week long immersion in Washington D.C. where you interact with federal agencies, advocacy organizations, and policy makers. This exposure broadens your understanding of how policy and executive decisions shape health system operations at multiple levels.

By completing the MHA in Health Systems Management you will graduate with a portfolio of analytic work, quality and strategy projects, and practicum deliverables that demonstrate readiness for leadership roles such as operations manager, quality analyst, policy advisor, strategic planner, or executive fellow in health systems, hospitals, clinics, consulting firms, and government agencies.

Courses and Curriculum

The George Mason University MHA curriculum is driven by professional competencies and organized into clusters that cover foundational knowledge, analytic skills, management practice, leadership, and professional ethics. Early courses introduce you to the structure and performance of the U.S. healthcare delivery system and the context in which health services are financed, regulated, and organized. These classes provide a broad frame of reference for later work in strategy, policy, and operational decision making.

Mid program coursework emphasizes leadership and organizational behavior, human resource management, quantitative skills including statistics in health services management, and introduction to health informatics. You also study health economics and legal issues that affect executive decision making and shape organizational strategy. These topics give you tools to interpret data, allocate resources, and guide teams across complex situations.

In later terms you take courses focused on financial management, quality improvement, strategic management, and marketing in healthcare contexts. The curriculum culminates in a capstone practicum where you demonstrate your ability to apply analytic and managerial frameworks to address problems within a host organization. Group projects, case studies, and collaboration with industry partners are integrated throughout so you can connect academic concepts to real organizational challenges.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

• Organizational Behavior and Healthcare Leadership – Teaches leadership theory, communication strategies, team dynamics, and organizational culture within healthcare contexts.
• Health Economics – Applies economic principles to healthcare markets, insurance design, supply and demand considerations, and cost structures that guide managerial choices.
• Human Resource Management in Healthcare – Focuses on workforce planning, recruitment, retention, performance evaluation, and labor relations in health organizations.
• Statistics in Health Services Management – Introduces quantitative methods, data interpretation, trend analysis, and evidence based decision making using real or simulated data.
• Health Policy Leadership – Examines the roles of federal, state, and local policy frameworks in shaping healthcare access, quality, payment, and regulatory environments.
• Financial Management in Health Systems – Covers budgeting, financial reporting, reimbursement mechanisms, and capital planning in complex provider environments.
• Quality Improvement in Health Services – Presents tools and frameworks for measuring and enhancing performance, patient safety, and operational excellence.
• Capstone Practicum in Health Systems Management – A culminating experience in which you partner with a healthcare organization to address a real problem and deliver applied recommendations under faculty and preceptor supervision.

Practical Experience

Practical experience is integrated through the capstone practicum, which is a required component of the MHA curriculum. You work with a healthcare organization, public agency, consulting firm, or nonprofit on a project that applies analytic, managerial, and strategic tools from your coursework. Typical practicum projects involve quality improvement design, operational planning, financial forecasting, or policy analysis tailored to the host organization’s needs.

The practicum often includes periodic meetings with a faculty advisor and an industry preceptor who help you refine your project scope, interpret data, and produce deliverables that reflect professional standards. These experiences help you build a portfolio of real world work and extend your professional network. Optional immersion experiences, guest lectures, and executive mentoring events further support your transition into administrative roles.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain how healthcare systems are structured, financed, and regulated in the United States and how these features influence organizational decisions.
• Apply leadership and organizational behavior concepts to manage teams, resolve conflict, and foster effective communication in health systems.
• Use quantitative methods, statistics, and data analysis to support evidence informed managerial and strategic decisions.
• Interpret financial information, analyze budgets, and recommend resource allocation strategies that align with organizational goals.
• Assess legal, ethical, and policy issues and integrate compliance and ethical reasoning into health management practice.
• Design and evaluate quality improvement initiatives that enhance performance and patient outcomes in diverse settings.
• Develop strategic plans that align mission, community needs, and financial realities with long term organizational objectives.
• Produce professional level deliverables, including capstone practicum work, that demonstrate effective problem solving and decision making in health administration.

Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the George Mason University MHA in Health Systems Management are prepared for leadership roles such as health services manager, operations director, quality improvement coordinator, strategic planner, policy analyst, consultant, and executive fellow in hospitals, health systems, physician organizations, government agencies, and consulting firms.

The combination of competency based coursework, a capstone practicum, and connections to industry partners helps you transition into these roles with applied experience.

George Mason University supports your career development with advising, networking events, employer panels, and access to professional contacts across the Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia health markets.

George Mason University reports an overall undergraduate graduation rate of about 79%, reflecting a strong record of student progression and completion that underpins graduate outcomes.

Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or international equivalent.
• Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Online graduate application submitted through George Mason University Graduate Admissions.
• Unofficial transcripts may be used for initial review; official transcripts required upon admission.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae outlining professional experience and leadership potential.
• Goal or personal statement describing your career objectives, interest in healthcare management, and fit with the MHA program.
• Two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references.
• Work experience in the healthcare industry is preferred but not required; professional evidence enhances competitiveness.

Application Deadlines

George Mason University accepts applications for fall, spring, and summer entry into the MHA in Health Systems Management. Priority deadlines, especially for fall admission and funding opportunities, typically fall several months before term start dates, with final deadlines closer to the start of classes.

Old Dominion University

Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.)

The Old Dominion University Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) is offered through the Joint School of Public Health and the Department of Health Behavior, Policy, and Management. The program is designed to prepare early and mid career professionals to lead hospitals, health systems, ambulatory and long term care organizations, and public or nonprofit health agencies serving Hampton Roads and the broader Mid Atlantic region. It emphasizes competency based education, scholarship, and service learning that connect classroom knowledge with regional health needs.

The M.H.A. curriculum is a structured 42 to 43 credit hour program, depending on the track you follow. Track I (43 credits) is intended for students with little or no prior healthcare experience and includes an introductory administrative experience. Track II (42 credits) is designed for students who already have substantive healthcare exposure. Full time students can typically complete the degree in about five semesters, while part time students have up to six years to finish.

Courses are delivered in a hybrid format that combines in person sessions with online assignments. This structure allows you to benefit from direct faculty interaction and cohort learning while still maintaining work and family responsibilities. You move through sequenced coursework in health systems, policy, organizational management, law and ethics, economics, information technology, finance, operations, leadership, supply chain, marketing, negotiations, and strategy.

The program is aligned with the core competencies of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). The curriculum is intentionally organized so you build from an understanding of health system structures and policies toward more advanced competencies in leadership, strategic management, and performance improvement. Throughout the program, faculty emphasize the use of data, evidence, and systems thinking to guide decisions.

Old Dominion’s M.H.A. leverages partnerships with health systems and organizations across Hampton Roads. These connections support course projects, administrative residencies, and service learning experiences that expose you to real management challenges such as access, quality, workforce, and financial pressures in diverse settings. You also benefit from mentors and guest speakers drawn from regional leadership roles.

By the time you complete all required credits, you will have gained a grounded understanding of how healthcare organizations function and hands on experience applying management, finance, quality, and leadership skills.

Courses and Curriculum

The Old Dominion University M.H.A. curriculum follows a defined sequence that starts with core perspectives on health systems and then moves into specialized management and leadership courses. In the first year you complete foundational classes such as Introduction to Health Care Systems, Policy and Politics of Health, and Organizational Management. These courses explain how delivery systems are structured and governed, how public and private policies shape financing and access, and how leaders design organizations to coordinate people, information, and services.

Subsequent coursework introduces law and ethics, health economics, and effective information technology for healthcare organizations. Through these classes you learn to interpret the legal and ethical environment, understand the economic forces that shape decision making, and evaluate how information systems support clinical and administrative work. Summer courses in Financing Healthcare and Operations Management and Performance Improvement deepen your ability to interpret financial data, manage budgets, streamline processes, and apply performance improvement methods.

In the second year you concentrate on advanced leadership and strategy topics. Courses in Leadership, Supply Chain Management, Healthcare Marketing, Conflict Analysis and Negotiations, and Healthcare Strategy help you integrate knowledge about people, processes, markets, and community needs into coherent plans for organizational performance. The program culminates in an Administrative Residency that provides extended on site experience, allowing you to apply what you have learned to real projects and initiatives within a health care organization.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

• HADM 600 – Introduction to Health Care Systems: Provides a broad overview of U.S. health care delivery, including major provider types, payers, and regulatory bodies. You examine how hospitals, physician groups, community organizations, and public agencies interact, and you begin to analyze how payment, policy, and community demographics affect organizational roles and responsibilities.
• HADM 601 – Policy and Politics of Health: Focuses on how health policy is formulated and implemented at federal, state, and local levels. You study key legislation, regulatory agencies, and political stakeholders, and you learn to assess how policy decisions influence access, quality, and cost as well as strategic choices made by administrators.
• HADM 602 – Organizational Management: Examines organizational theory, structure, and behavior in healthcare settings. Topics include motivation, communication, culture, change management, and team dynamics. You apply these concepts to case examples of hospitals and health systems facing growth, mergers, and performance challenges.
• HADM 605 – Health Law and Ethics: Introduces major legal and ethical issues affecting healthcare organizations, such as informed consent, privacy, malpractice, regulatory compliance, and corporate responsibility. Through case analyses you practice identifying legal risks and ethical dilemmas and explore how administrators design policies and procedures that reflect both compliance and professional values.
• HADM 606 – Health Economics: Applies economic principles to health care markets, insurance, and resource allocation. You examine supply and demand for services, pricing, market structures, and incentives embedded in payment systems, and you consider how economic thinking can inform service line planning and evaluation.
• HADM 607 – Effective Information Technology for Healthcare Organizations: Reviews information systems used in clinical and administrative functions, including electronic health records, data warehouses, and decision support tools. You explore topics such as data quality, interoperability, privacy, and the alignment of technology investments with organizational goals in quality and efficiency.
• HADM 610 – Financing Healthcare: Focuses on revenue streams, reimbursement methods, payer mix, and budgeting in provider organizations. You practice interpreting financial statements, modeling cash flow, and assessing how changes in volume, payer contracts, and service mix affect financial performance and strategic choices.
• HADM 611 – Operations Management and Performance Improvement: Introduces tools for analyzing and redesigning processes, such as flow mapping, capacity analysis, and basic Lean and quality improvement methods. You learn how to identify bottlenecks, reduce waste, and use performance metrics to guide continuous improvement in clinical and support services.

Popular Elective Courses

• Advanced Topics in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
• Population Health and Community Partnerships
• Health Care Human Resources and Workforce Strategy
• Data Analytics and Visualization for Health Managers
• Project Management in Healthcare Organizations
• Contemporary Issues in Healthcare Leadership

Practical Experience

Practical learning is built into the Old Dominion M.H.A. through both structured coursework and formal experiential components. Students in Track I complete an Administrative Introduction course that provides supervised exposure to a local healthcare organization. This experience allows those with limited background in the field to observe operations, participate in defined tasks, and begin connecting classroom concepts with day to day administrative work.

All students participate in an Administrative Residency, which serves as a culminating field experience toward the end of the program. The residency places you in a health system, hospital, ambulatory network, or related organization where you work on projects such as process improvement, service line planning, financial analysis, or community engagement. You are mentored by a site preceptor and supported by faculty to ensure your work addresses both organizational needs and program competencies.

Throughout the curriculum you also complete case studies and group projects that draw on real data and scenarios from regional health systems. These assignments, combined with residency work, help you develop a portfolio of applied projects and presentations that you can share with prospective employers as evidence of your analytic and leadership skills.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain how healthcare delivery systems are organized, financed, and regulated, and describe how these structures influence access, quality, and cost.
• Apply concepts from organizational behavior and management to lead teams, manage change, and build effective workplace cultures in healthcare organizations.
• Interpret financial and economic information to support budgeting, resource allocation, and long term planning in hospitals and health systems.
• Use health information technology and data analytics tools to monitor performance, support decision making, and guide quality improvement initiatives.
• Identify legal and ethical issues in healthcare management and incorporate compliance, accountability, and professional values into policies and practices.
• Design and evaluate operations and performance improvement efforts that enhance patient experiences, outcomes, and efficiency.
• Develop strategic and marketing plans that align organizational mission, market conditions, and community health needs.
• Demonstrate professional communication, collaboration, and leadership behaviors in classroom, project, and residency settings.

Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the Old Dominion University M.H.A. move into roles such as department manager, service line coordinator, operations or practice manager, quality improvement specialist, population health project manager, and administrative fellow in hospitals, health systems, and community based organizations.

Some work in consulting, insurance, or public agencies that focus on planning and policy for regional health services. The program’s hybrid format and emphasis on competency based education help you build skills that can be applied immediately in current roles while preparing you for advancement.

You have access to advising, networking events, and connections with healthcare leaders across Hampton Roads that can support your job search and career development.

Old Dominion University reports an undergraduate graduation rate of about 44%, reflecting a university wide focus on student success that supports professional programs like the M.H.A.

Admissions Requirements

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to enrollment.
• Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; in some cases a stronger GPA in the most recent coursework may be considered.
• Submission of an application through the Health Administration, Management & Policy Centralized Application Service (HAMPCAS).
• No GRE or GMAT requirement under current catalog policies.
• Three letters of reference from academic or workplace contacts who can address your character, leadership potential, and readiness for graduate study.
• Personal essay describing your professional goals and explaining how the M.H.A. will support your development as a healthcare leader.
• Current CV or résumé that details education, employment history, volunteer experience, and any prior healthcare exposure.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, submitted according to HAMPCAS transcript procedures.
• Participation in an admissions interview for selected applicants to assess communication skills, professionalism, and fit with healthcare administration career paths.

Application Deadlines

Applications for the Old Dominion University M.H.A. are submitted for fall entry. According to the current catalog, applications open in late August for the following fall term and are reviewed until the cohort is filled. Priority consideration is typically given to applications received by March 1, and international applicants who require an F 1 student visa are generally expected to apply by mid April so that visa processing can be completed on time.

Eastern Virginia Medical School

Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.)

The Eastern Virginia Medical School Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) is a graduate program delivered in a hybrid format that combines online learning with periodic in person sessions. It is designed to prepare you for leadership roles in hospitals, health systems, clinics, and public and nonprofit health organizations. The curriculum aligns with the core competencies outlined by CAHME and focuses on management, policy, finance, quality, and strategic leadership within complex health care environments.

The degree requires 42 to 43 credit hours depending on your track. Track I is intended for students with little or no previous health care experience and includes an introductory administrative exposure component, while Track II is for those with prior experience and omits that introductory requirement. Full time students typically complete the program in about five semesters, while part time students may take up to six years to finish. This flexible pacing accommodates working professionals and career switchers alike.

The hybrid delivery combines online modules with scheduled on campus experiences, allowing you to gain management and analytic skills while maintaining professional responsibilities. Courses cover topics such as health systems organization, policy, financial management, law and ethics, economics, and data driven decision making, and emphasize the application of these subjects to real world administrative scenarios.

The program also integrates community service and research opportunities that connect you with regional health systems and public health agencies. Faculty bring practical experience from the field into the classroom, helping you translate theoretical frameworks into actionable strategies that improve performance, efficiency, and patient outcomes.

Through partnerships with hospitals and clinics in the Hampton Roads region, including Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and related institutions, you can work on projects that reflect current management challenges such as population health, quality improvement, and organizational transformation.

Courses and Curriculum

The Eastern Virginia Medical School M.H.A. curriculum begins with foundational courses that describe the structure and performance of health care systems in the United States, how providers are financed and regulated, and the economic and policy contexts in which decisions are made. These introductory subjects ensure you understand the broader system within which organizations compete, collaborate, and serve their communities.

As you progress, coursework explores organizational management, law and ethics, health economics, information technology, and strategic finance. This part of the curriculum is designed to build your ability to interpret financial statements, evaluate economic incentives, and understand the legal frameworks that affect daily and strategic decisions in hospitals, clinics, and public health settings. Assignments often include case studies, data analysis tasks, and simulations to reinforce analytic thinking.

In later terms you take advanced courses in performance improvement, operations, marketing, leadership, and strategy. These classes teach you how to lead teams, design quality improvement initiatives, develop marketing and communication plans, and integrate performance data into continuous improvement cycles. The sequence culminates in applied components such as a practicum or field experience that allows you to address real organizational challenges in collaboration with a health care partner.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

• Introduction to Health Care Systems and Administration – Provides a broad overview of how health care organizations are structured, financed, and regulated, with emphasis on system performance and managerial responsibilities.
• Health Policy, Law, and Ethics – Explores the legal and ethical frameworks that influence health care delivery and organizational practice, including policy development, liability, and compliance issues.
• Health Economics and Financial Management – Combines economic theory and financial analysis to help you interpret financial statements, budget effectively, and assess the economic forces that shape organizational strategy.
• Healthcare Information Technology and Analytics – Covers information systems and analytic tools that support administrative decision making, quality measurement, data governance, and performance reporting.
• Organizational Behavior and Leadership – Teaches leadership theory, communication skills, team dynamics, and change management practices in the context of health care organizations.
• Operations and Performance Improvement – Focuses on process analysis, quality improvement methods, workflow redesign, and performance metrics that help health care organizations optimize efficiency and patient outcomes.
• Healthcare Marketing and Strategic Planning – Examines marketing principles, consumer engagement strategies, competitive analysis, and strategic planning processes relevant to health care organizations.
• Applied Practicum or Field Experience – A culminating applied experience where you work with a health care organization to address a real operational or strategic challenge, producing deliverables that demonstrate integrated competencies.

Practical Experience

Experiential learning is embedded in the Eastern Virginia Medical School M.H.A. through practicum or field experiences that connect you directly with health care organizations in the Hampton Roads region or beyond.

These experiences allow you to apply classroom learning to questions such as operational redesign, quality improvement initiatives, financial analysis, or strategic planning. You typically work under the supervision of an organizational preceptor and faculty mentor to address problems of real consequence to the host institution.

In addition to formal fieldwork, many courses include applied projects, case studies, data analyses, and group assignments that simulate real world leadership challenges. These applied components help you build a professional portfolio that showcases your analytic, managerial, and strategic skills when engaging employers or moving into higher responsibility roles.

Networking opportunities with faculty, alumni, and regional health leaders also offer practical insights into career pathways and organizational cultures, supporting your transition into administrative and executive roles.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the structure, financing, and regulation of health care systems and explain how these factors affect organizational strategy and performance.
• Apply economic and financial principles to interpret financial information and support sustainable decision making in health care organizations.
• Lead teams and manage organizational change using effective communication, motivation, and leadership strategies tailored to health care settings.
• Use information systems and analytic tools to monitor performance, guide operational improvements, and support evidence informed decisions.
• Evaluate legal and ethical issues and integrate compliance and accountability into organizational policies and practices.
• Design and evaluate quality improvement initiatives that enhance patient experiences and organizational outcomes.
• Develop strategic plans that align mission, market conditions, and community needs with organizational goals and resources.
• Demonstrate professionalism, cultural competence, and ethical leadership in administrative and policy roles within health care organizations.

Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the Eastern Virginia Medical School Master of Healthcare Administration are prepared for career pathways such as hospital administrator, operations manager, quality improvement specialist, health systems analyst, policy advisor, strategic planner, and department director in hospitals, integrated delivery systems, clinics, insurance, consulting firms, and government or nonprofit agencies.

Career development support includes advising, employer networking events, alumni engagement, and opportunities to connect with regional health systems in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and broader Mid Atlantic health markets. Eastern Virginia Medical School is part of the Virginia Health Sciences consortium with Old Dominion University, enhancing access to clinical partners and organizational insights.

Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to enrollment, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Completed online application for the M.H.A. program with payment of the required fee.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
• Resume or curriculum vitae detailing professional and volunteer experience, leadership activities, and academic background.
• Personal statement outlining your career goals, reasons for pursuing the M.H.A., and how the program aligns with your aspirations.
• Two letters of recommendation, from academic or professional sources who can address your readiness for graduate study.
• Interview with the admissions committee may be requested to assess fit and communication skills.

Application Deadlines

The Eastern Virginia Medical School M.H.A. is typically offered for fall start dates, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis until cohorts are full. Priority deadlines may include early spring dates to support advising and practicum planning for preferred start terms.

Radford University

Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) – Online

The Radford University Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) is a fully online graduate degree housed in the Waldron College of Health and Human Services within the Department of Public Health and Healthcare Leadership. The program is designed for current and aspiring healthcare leaders who want a structured, business oriented curriculum that focuses on the skills needed to manage people, performance, information, and finances in a rapidly changing health sector.

The degree requires 36 credit hours of graduate coursework. Courses are delivered in synchronous online formats using full term and 7 week blocks, allowing full time students to finish in as few as four semesters and motivated learners to complete the program in approximately 15 months. Part time students work with a faculty advisor to design a sequence that fits professional and personal commitments.

From the start of the program you study health information systems, professional communication, strategic leadership, and marketing as they apply to hospitals, health systems, ambulatory networks, and community based organizations. You build practical skills in writing professional reports, delivering presentations, and using digital tools to coordinate work in virtual and hybrid environments. Courses are taught by faculty and experienced practitioners associated with major regional partners such as Carilion Clinic and other nationally recognized health centers.

As you move through the curriculum you engage in research methods, organizational theory, healthcare economics and policy, human resources, finance, ethics, law, quality, and operations. These subjects give you a comprehensive view of how decisions are shaped by payment models, regulatory requirements, population health needs, technology, and workforce dynamics. The program is built around a competency model adapted from the Healthcare Leadership Alliance so that each course is tied to clear leadership and management capabilities.

Students enter the M.H.A. with a variety of backgrounds. Applicants with at least one year of healthcare experience can complete the program with a capstone course that integrates learning around a major project. Those with limited experience gain structured exposure through a practicum requirement that places them in a health organization under the guidance of a preceptor and faculty mentor. In both paths you apply classroom tools to practical questions such as process redesign, financial planning, or quality improvement.

Courses and Curriculum

The Radford M.H.A. curriculum is organized in a recommended four semester sequence that blends health sciences core courses with specialized health administration content. In the first semester you focus on professional communication, information systems, and strategic leadership and marketing. These courses help you develop the writing, speaking, and technology skills needed to work effectively with executives, clinicians, and community partners in virtual and in person settings.

The second semester emphasizes research methods and analysis, organizational theories and leadership, and healthcare economics and policy. You learn how to read and produce applied research, interpret evidence for management decisions, assess organizational culture, and understand the economic and policy context that shapes coverage, reimbursement, and regulation. This prepares you to use data and evidence when evaluating programs, planning new services, or advising senior leaders.

Summer coursework includes human resource administration, financial management, and healthcare ethics and law. These subjects strengthen your ability to recruit, develop, and support staff, manage budgets, analyze financial performance, and navigate the legal and ethical issues that arise in clinical and administrative work. In the final semester you complete operations and performance management, quality assessment and improvement, and either a practicum or capstone course, pulling together your skills in strategy, measurement, and leadership through applied projects.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

• HSCI 600 – Professional Communication in the Health Sciences
  This course develops the written, oral, and digital communication skills required of healthcare leaders. You practice preparing professional emails, reports, policy briefs, and presentations for diverse audiences including executives, clinicians, staff, and community partners. Emphasis is placed on clarity, audience awareness, use of evidence, and the ability to communicate complex ideas in accessible language.
• HSCI 610 – Health Information Systems
  Health Information Systems introduces you to the technologies that support clinical and administrative work, including electronic health records, decision support systems, data warehouses, and analytic tools. You examine interoperability, data quality, privacy, cybersecurity, and governance, and you learn how leaders evaluate technology investments and use information systems to improve performance and patient outcomes.
• HADM 660 – Strategic Leadership and Marketing
  This course integrates leadership theory with marketing concepts specific to healthcare. You explore how mission, vision, and values guide strategy, how organizations analyze markets and community needs, and how marketing campaigns support service line growth and patient engagement. Through case studies and projects you design strategies that align brand, operations, and community expectations.
• HADM 651 – Research Methods and Analysis
  Research Methods and Analysis provides tools for designing and interpreting studies that answer management and policy questions. You learn about quantitative and qualitative approaches, sampling, measurement, and basic statistical techniques, and you apply these methods to evaluate programs, compare interventions, and support evidence informed decisions in healthcare organizations.
• HADM 740 – Organizational Theories and Leadership
  In this course you examine classic and contemporary organizational theories and their application to healthcare settings. Topics include structure, culture, power, motivation, change, and governance. You analyze how leaders shape organizational climate, manage conflict, build teams, and guide change efforts in hospitals, health systems, and community agencies.
• HADM 730 – Healthcare Economics and Policy
  Healthcare Economics and Policy explores how economic principles and policy decisions affect health systems. You study insurance design, payment mechanisms, supply and demand for services, and the impact of federal and state legislation on coverage and reimbursement. Assignments ask you to interpret how these forces influence organizational strategy, service mix, and financial sustainability.
• HADM 760 – Financial Management
  This course focuses on financial concepts and tools used by healthcare administrators. You work with financial statements, operating and capital budgets, cost analysis, and cash flow projections. You also examine payer mix, contract structures, and key performance indicators that influence decisions about staffing, service lines, and capital projects.
• HADM 640 – Operations and Performance Management
  Operations and Performance Management introduces methods for analyzing and improving processes in clinical and support services. You learn to map workflows, assess capacity, identify bottlenecks, and select measures that track access, quality, and efficiency. The course highlights how leaders use operations data to guide resource allocation and continuous improvement.

Practical Experience

Practical learning in the Radford M.H.A. is anchored by the practicum and capstone options that appear in the final semester of the curriculum. Students who enter the program with less than one year of healthcare experience complete HADM 770 – Practicum, which involves supervised work in a healthcare organization. Under the guidance of a preceptor and faculty mentor you contribute to defined projects that may include quality improvement initiatives, operational analyses, or planning activities.

Students with at least one year of healthcare experience can choose between the practicum and HADM 780 – Capstone. The capstone emphasizes an integrated project that addresses a complex management or strategic question. You synthesize coursework in analytics, finance, quality, leadership, and policy to develop recommendations supported by data and best practices. Many students design capstone projects around needs in their current workplace so that the work has immediate organizational value.

Throughout the program you also engage in applied learning through case studies, simulations, group presentations, and collaboration with external organizations. The teaching and learning model uses interactive discussions, guest speakers, and team based assignments so you practice the communication, collaboration, and problem solving skills expected of healthcare leaders while building a portfolio of work products for future employers.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain how healthcare systems are structured, financed, and regulated, and describe how these factors influence organizational performance, access, and equity.
• Use written, oral, and digital communication skills to convey complex information clearly to executives, clinicians, staff, and community partners.
• Analyze financial statements, budgets, and economic data to support resource allocation, service planning, and long term sustainability in healthcare organizations.
• Apply leadership and organizational theories to build effective teams, manage change, and foster inclusive, ethical, and high performing workplace cultures.
• Leverage health information systems and analytic tools to monitor performance, interpret trends, and guide evidence informed decisions about quality, safety, and operations.
• Identify legal and ethical issues in healthcare administration and integrate compliance, risk management, and professional values into policies and procedures.
• Design and evaluate quality improvement and performance management initiatives that enhance patient outcomes, efficiency, and patient and family experiences.
• Develop strategic and marketing plans that align mission, community needs, competitive conditions, and available resources with organizational goals.

Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the Radford University M.H.A. program pursue roles such as department manager, service line coordinator, practice administrator, operations manager, quality improvement specialist, project manager, and health services analyst in hospitals, integrated health systems, ambulatory care organizations, long term care providers, community agencies, and consulting firms.

The competency based curriculum, online format, and practicum or capstone options support advancement for working professionals and new entrants to the field.

Students benefit from mentorship opportunities, networking with faculty and advisory board members, and engagement with professional associations such as the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Radford University reports an undergraduate graduation rate of about 49%, and the M.H.A. program tracks its own graduate outcomes, including employment rates and median salaries, as part of its ongoing commitment to student success and continuous improvement.

Admissions Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, with a recommended cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Completion of at least one college level statistics course with a grade of C or better, taken prior to or during the first semester in the M.H.A. program.
• Online graduate application to Radford University for the M.H.A. program and payment of the required application fee.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended.
• Current professional resume summarizing education, employment history, leadership experience, certifications, and any prior healthcare related roles.
• Two recommendation forms or letters from academic or professional references who can speak to your readiness for graduate study and leadership potential in healthcare.
• For applicants with limited healthcare experience, a commitment to complete the HADM 770 practicum before graduation to gain structured field exposure.

Application Deadlines

The Radford University M.H.A. program uses a rolling admissions process and enrolls a new cohort beginning each Fall semester. The program aims to admit approximately 25 qualified students each year. While applications are reviewed as they are completed, the published application deadline for Fall admission is typically July 31, subject to space availability.