Accredited Healthcare Administration Programs in California [2026 Guide]

Healthcare administration programs in California give you clear paths into management roles across hospitals, clinics, health systems, and public agencies.

Whether you want a campus based experience at schools like the University of Southern California, California State University Long Beach, California State University Northridge, California State University San Bernardino, or California State University Los Angeles, or you prefer a flexible online option such as UCLA’s online Master of Healthcare Administration, you can find programs that match your schedule and goals.

Most degrees combine leadership, finance, policy, and quality improvement so you can move into supervisory and executive positions in a complex healthcare environment.

Best Healthcare Administration Programs in California

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

• University of Southern California – Master of Health Administration (MHA)
• California State University Long Beach – Master of Science in Health Care Administration (MSHCA)
• California State University Northridge – Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA)
• California State University San Bernardino – Master of Science in Health Services Administration (MSHSA)
• California State University Los Angeles – Master of Science in Healthcare Management (MS HCM)
• University of California Los Angeles – Online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

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

University of Southern California (USC)

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

The University of Southern California (USC) offers a campus-based Master of Health Administration (MHA) through the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, designed for students who want to move into management and leadership roles across hospitals, health systems, and other healthcare organizations. The program blends management, policy, and health systems content so you learn how to run complex organizations while understanding the broader forces that shape health services.

To earn the USC MHA, you complete 48 credit hours (units) of graduate coursework, divided between required core courses and electives that allow you to build a focus area such as operations, finance, or quality improvement. This structure gives you a strong foundation in health administration while still letting you tailor part of the degree to your interests.

A defining feature of the program is a 1,000-hour supervised residency that places you inside a healthcare organization under the guidance of a senior-level manager. During this residency you observe day-to-day operations, contribute to projects, and see how strategic decisions are made in real time, which helps bridge the gap between classroom concepts and real-world practice.

The curriculum covers key areas such as healthcare finance, organizational leadership, health policy and regulation, information systems, quality of care, and performance improvement. By moving through these areas in a planned sequence, you build the skills to interpret data, manage teams, understand regulatory requirements, and improve processes in a variety of health settings.

Most full-time students complete the MHA in about two years, while part-time students typically finish in three to five years, within the university’s standard five-year limit for master’s programs. This flexibility makes it possible to advance your education while continuing to work in the healthcare field.

Overall, the USC MHA is structured as a career-focused professional degree that combines rigorous coursework, a substantial residency, and strong ties to the Southern California health sector, positioning graduates for advancement into supervisory, managerial, and executive roles.

Courses and Curriculum

The USC MHA curriculum is built around a carefully sequenced set of courses that introduce you to the structure of the U.S. healthcare system, then move into advanced topics such as strategy, finance, operations, and quality management. The 48 credit hours include core requirements that every student must complete, alongside electives that let you deepen your knowledge in specific areas such as ambulatory care, long-term care, or health policy.

Early in the program you focus on foundations: health systems organization, leadership, microeconomics for health management, and quantitative methods. These courses help you understand how healthcare organizations are financed and managed, how to interpret data, and how to think critically about policy and organizational decisions.

As you progress, you move into more advanced management and application courses that address topics like strategic planning, operations, information systems, and quality improvement. The residency experience is integrated into this academic structure so that what you learn in class can be applied to real projects in hospitals, health systems, or other healthcare organizations.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

• Management of Health Care Organizations – Examines how hospitals, medical groups, and other healthcare organizations are structured and governed, and how leaders coordinate people, budgets, and services to achieve clinical and operational goals.
• Healthcare Finance and Reimbursement – Introduces key concepts in financial management, including budgeting, cost analysis, and revenue cycles, as well as how public and private payers reimburse providers for services.
• Health Economics and Policy – Explores how economic principles apply to healthcare markets, insurance, and payment models, and how policy choices influence access, cost, and quality of care.
• Quality Improvement and Patient Safety – Focuses on methods for measuring quality, reducing errors, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives that support safer, more reliable care.
• Health Information Systems – Covers electronic health records, data standards, analytics tools, and governance structures that support informed decision-making and regulatory compliance.
• Operations Management in Health Services – Looks at capacity planning, patient flow, scheduling, supply chain issues, and process redesign to improve efficiency and service delivery in clinical and administrative operations.
• Strategic Management in Healthcare – Emphasizes environmental scanning, competitive analysis, and strategy formulation so you can help organizations navigate change and position themselves in evolving markets.
• MHA Residency / Field Placement – A structured, 1,000-hour supervised experience where you contribute to projects, analyze organizational issues, and develop professional skills under the guidance of an experienced health-care executive.

Practical Experience

Practical learning is built into the USC MHA through the required 1,000-hour residency. You are placed in a healthcare organization such as a hospital, integrated delivery system, health plan, or specialty clinic, where you work under the supervision of a senior-level manager. During this period, you may help analyze operational problems, participate in quality improvement initiatives, support strategic projects, or assist with financial and regulatory tasks.

Students who already have significant healthcare experience may be able to shape the residency as a “career enhancement” experience focused on a targeted project or specialized area. Either way, the residency is intended to ensure that you graduate not only with theoretical knowledge but also with documented, real-world leadership experience in health administration.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze the structure, financing, and regulation of U.S. healthcare systems and explain how these factors affect organizational performance.
• Apply management and leadership principles to plan, organize, and direct the work of healthcare teams and departments.
• Interpret financial statements, budgets, and reimbursement data to support sound financial decision-making in healthcare organizations.
• Use quantitative methods and health information systems to collect, interpret, and communicate data for operational and strategic decisions.
• Design and evaluate quality improvement and patient-safety initiatives that support better outcomes and more reliable care processes.
• Assess the impact of health policies and regulations on healthcare organizations and recommend strategies for compliance and advocacy.
• Demonstrate ethical, culturally responsive, and patient-centered leadership in diverse healthcare settings.

Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the USC MHA pursue roles such as hospital or clinic administrator, service line director, operations manager, project manager, quality improvement leader, managed care analyst, or health services consultant. The combination of rigorous coursework, access to the Southern California health sector, and the 1,000-hour residency is designed to help you build a competitive résumé and network for these roles.

The university reports a strong overall student success profile, with a six-year graduation rate around 90-92% for recent undergraduate cohorts, reflecting a high level of institutional support and academic quality. While this rate is reported at the university-wide level, it provides a useful indicator of the environment in which MHA students study and build their careers.

Admissions Requirements

• Completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Generally, a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is expected for competitive applicants.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
• Current résumé detailing professional and volunteer experience, especially in healthcare or related fields.
• Statement of purpose outlining your academic background, career goals, and reasons for pursuing the MHA at USC.
• Letters of recommendation (typically from academic or professional references who can comment on your readiness for graduate study).
• Evidence of English language proficiency for international applicants, according to USC graduate admission standards.

Application Deadlines

Application dates can vary by year, but USC Price lists the following typical deadlines for fall entry into the MHA program:

• Scholarship admission (priority consideration): December 15, for Fall entry
• Final deadline for international applicants: May 1
• Final deadline for domestic applicants: July 1

California State University Long Beach (CSULB)

Master of Science in Health Care Administration (MSHCA – Traditional)

Program Overview

The California State University Long Beach (CSULB) Master of Science in Health Care Administration (MSHCA) – Traditional program is designed for early career professionals, recent graduates, and international students who want to move into supervisory and management roles across hospitals, health systems, medical groups, and other health organizations. The degree emphasizes management skills, health systems knowledge, and applied learning that prepare you for decision-making roles in a wide range of settings.

The curriculum consists of 45 graduate credit hours (units) of coursework. You complete a defined set of core classes in areas such as health care systems, economics, organizational behavior, finance, law, information systems, and quality improvement, along with one graduate elective that lets you align the program with your interests. This structure builds a solid foundation in health administration while still giving you room to shape a focused area of study.

Most students finish the MSHCA Traditional program in about two to three years, studying on a full-time or part-time basis. Courses are typically scheduled in the evenings on weekdays, which makes it easier to combine graduate study with ongoing employment in the health sector or related fields.

As a CAHME-accredited program, the CSULB MSHCA follows external quality standards for curriculum, faculty, field experience, and assessment. That accreditation signals to employers that the program meets nationally recognized expectations for graduate education in health care administration and that you are being prepared with competencies valued across the industry.

The program structure moves from foundational topics in health systems, economics, and organizational design into advanced work in financial management, quantitative methods, legal and ethical issues, population health, and strategic planning. You also complete a culminating project that lets you apply analytical and leadership skills to a real organizational issue.

Throughout your studies, you benefit from the department’s relationships with regional health care facilities and organizations. These partnerships support internships, applied projects, mentoring, and exposure to current practice, allowing you to connect classroom learning with real-world challenges in health administration.

Courses and Curriculum

The MSHCA Traditional curriculum is organized around a set of core courses that cover the major functional areas of health care administration. You start with the structure of the U.S. health care system, the economic forces that shape it, and the way organizations are designed and managed. From there, you build skills in finance, human resources, quantitative analysis, and law, and then move into information systems, population health, strategic planning, and quality improvement.

Courses are offered in the evening during the fall, spring, and summer terms, which allows you to progress at a pace that matches your professional and personal responsibilities. Many students take two courses per term, while others adjust their load depending on work schedules. The sequence is designed so that foundational classes like HCA 502, HCA 503, and HCA 505 support later work in advanced finance, quantitative methods, and project-based courses.

A culminating experience brings everything together. You complete an internship in health care administration and a graduate project course that focuses on a significant issue in health services management. Across these experiences, you apply the theories and tools learned in class to actual operational, financial, strategic, or quality-related problems in health organizations.

• HCA 502 – The Health Care System (3 units) – Introduces the organization, structure, and financing of the U.S. health care system, including key stakeholders, delivery models, regulatory influences, and current challenges facing health services leaders.
• HCA 503 – Health Care Economics (3 units) – Examines how economic principles apply to health care markets, demand for services, insurance coverage, reimbursement methods, and policy decisions that shape cost, access, and quality.
• HCA 505 – Organization and Systems in Health Care (3 units) – Focuses on how hospitals, medical groups, and other health organizations are designed, governed, and managed, and how systems thinking helps leaders coordinate people, processes, and resources.
• HCA 510 – Human Resources Management in Health Care (3 units) – Covers staffing, talent development, labor relations, performance management, and workforce planning, with attention to regulatory requirements and the dynamics of clinical and non-clinical teams.
• HCA 515 – Advanced Financial Management in Health Care (3 units) – Develops skills in budgeting, financial analysis, capital planning, cost control, and reimbursement management, preparing you to interpret financial data and support resource decisions.
• HCA 517 – Advanced Healthcare Information Systems Management (3 units) – Addresses the management of health information technology, including electronic health records, data standards, analytics tools, privacy and security, and the role of IT in strategic initiatives.
• HCA 524 – Advanced Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Administration (3 units) – Reviews legal frameworks and ethical principles relevant to health care leaders, such as patient rights, risk management, corporate compliance, and professional accountability.
• HCA 535 – Quantitative Methods for Health Administration (3 units) – Introduces quantitative tools for decision-making, including forecasting, modeling, basic operations research techniques, and data interpretation to support planning and performance improvement.

Popular Elective Courses

• HCA 536 – Hospital Management
• HCA 537 – Managed Care
• HCA 538 – Management Challenges in Long-Term Care
• HCA 552 – Medical Group Practice Management

Practical Experience

Practical learning is a central element of the CSULB MSHCA program. Through the graduate internship in health care administration (HCA 580), you complete supervised fieldwork in a health organization such as a hospital, health system, medical group, long-term care facility, or public agency. During this time, you gain experience with day-to-day operations, administrative processes, and project work aligned with your interests.

The department’s internship program is supported by extensive partnerships with regional health care providers. Internship instructors and site preceptors work closely with you to define learning goals, monitor progress, and connect classroom concepts with real problems facing organizations. This experience helps you clarify your career direction, strengthen professional skills, and build a network that can support your job search after graduation.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain how major components of the U.S. health care system are structured, financed, and regulated, and how these factors affect patients, providers, and organizations.
• Use management and leadership concepts to organize work, coordinate teams, and guide change initiatives in hospitals, clinics, and other health settings.
• Interpret financial statements, budgets, and reimbursement information to support responsible financial planning and decision-making.
• Apply quantitative and analytical methods to evaluate data, measure performance, and recommend improvements in health services.
• Assess legal and ethical issues in health administration and propose actions that align with regulatory requirements and professional standards.
• Evaluate quality, safety, and population health indicators and design strategies that support better outcomes and more efficient care.
• Communicate effectively with clinicians, staff, executives, and community partners, demonstrating cultural awareness and respect for diverse populations.

Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the CSULB MSHCA Traditional program are prepared for positions such as department manager, service line coordinator, practice manager, operations analyst, quality improvement specialist, and other leadership roles in hospitals, medical groups, health plans, and community-based organizations. The combination of CAHME-accredited coursework, quantitative training, and structured internship experience helps you develop a resume that is competitive for early and mid-level management roles.

CSU Long Beach shows strong student success metrics, and public data sources such as the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard report an overall graduation rate around the low-80-percent range. This performance reflects institutional support and student outcomes that can be reassuring as you commit time and resources to a graduate degree.

Admissions Requirements

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of approximately 3.0 on the last degree (applicants with slightly lower GPAs may be considered based on overall strength of the application).
• Prerequisite coursework totaling about 9 units in financial accounting, microeconomics, and statistics, typically completed within the last ten years.
• Online application to the university and program through Cal State Apply.
• Statement of purpose describing your background, professional goals, and reasons for pursuing the MSHCA at CSULB.
• Current resume outlining relevant academic, professional, and volunteer experience.
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty members, supervisors, or other professionals who can speak to your readiness for graduate study.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
• Proof of English language proficiency for international applicants, according to CSULB graduate admission standards.

Application Deadlines

For the MSHCA Traditional program, CSULB typically lists an April 1 deadline for submission of the Cal State Apply application and supporting materials for fall admission.

California State University, Northridge (CSUN)

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

The California State University, Northridge offers a Master of Health Administration (MHA) designed for working professionals – whether early- or mid-career – who wish to lead and manage hospitals, health systems, clinics, public agencies or other health-care organizations. The program emphasizes leadership, systems thinking, health economics, quality improvement, and practical administration skills. The curriculum is built to reflect the evolving needs of the healthcare sector and prepare you for real-world administrative challenges.

The degree requires a minimum of 45 semester units (courses beyond the bachelor’s degree), covering a comprehensive set of core courses, electives, and a culminating experience. This unit count ensures depth across key functional areas of health administration – from finance and policy to operations and data-driven management. The flexible design accommodates both full-time and part-time students.

Classes are offered in a flexible “evening + hybrid” format: in-person sessions every other week, with online instruction in alternating weeks, making it possible to continue working while studying. This flexibility is one of the main attractions of the CSUN MHA if you are currently employed in healthcare or a related field. The program is accredited by the national accrediting body for health-care management education, offering assurance of curriculum quality and relevance.

The structure proceeds from foundational courses in health systems, policy, law, and organizational behavior to advanced courses in finance, data management, strategic planning, and continuous quality improvement. A supervised field training component gives you real-world exposure and practical experience in a health-care setting to apply classroom learning. You also complete a culminating requirement – either a comprehensive exam or a graduate project – to demonstrate mastery of content and readiness for professional practice.

Because of the evening/hybrid format, many students complete the program over two to four years, depending on whether they study part-time or accelerate the pace. This flexibility accommodates working professionals, caregivers, or others balancing multiple responsibilities while earning their master’s degree.

Overall, CSUN’s MHA is tailored for individuals seeking a practical, flexible and accredited graduate degree in health administration – combining academic rigor, applied learning, and scheduling flexibility to help you advance your career in health-care leadership.

Courses and Curriculum

The curriculum for CSUN’s MHA is structured around 36 units of required core courses covering essential domains of health administration, followed by a set of electives (at least 6 units) and a culminating experience (comprehensive exam or project). You begin with core courses focused on leadership, systems, law and ethics, and the broader health-care environment.

As you move forward, you dive into specialized content such as financial management, data analysis, quality improvement, information systems, and strategic planning. This progression ensures you build a broad base before specializing in skills critical for health-care management roles.

The program’s evening/hybrid format lets you take classes without leaving your current job; many students take two to three courses per semester. This flexibility enables working professionals to steadily progress while maintaining their employment, and often allows them to complete the degree in three years on average, depending on course load and personal commitments.

The culminating experience – either a comprehensive exam (directed studies) or a graduate project – requires you to integrate what you have learned. Through the project or exam, you demonstrate capacity for strategic thinking, data-driven decision making, ethical reasoning, and practical problem-solving in health administration contexts. This final requirement ensures that graduates are ready to transition into leadership roles with both theoretical knowledge and applied competence.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

• Leadership in Health Administration Practice (HSCI 513) – Covers organizational behavior, leadership theory, team management, and decision-making approaches relevant to health-care settings.
• Seminar in Health Information and Management Systems (HSCI 515) – Focuses on health information systems, data management, information governance, and how to leverage data for strategic and operational decisions.
• Health Economics and National Health Policy (HSCI 517) – Examines health-care economics, insurance systems, cost/benefit analyses, reimbursement models, and policy influences on health-care delivery.
• Managerial Ethics and Healthcare Law (HSCI 521) – Reviews legal and ethical issues in health-care administration including compliance, patient rights, regulatory frameworks, and organizational ethics.
• Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare System (HSCI 523) – Provides a broad overview of health-care structure in the U.S., including delivery models, regulatory environment, payer systems, and stakeholder roles.
• Financial Analysis and Management in Health Administration (HSCI 614) – Teaches budgeting, financial planning, cost-control strategies, reimbursement processes, and financial decision-making in health organizations.
• Data Management and Analysis for Decision Making in Healthcare (HSCI 615) – Provides training in quantitative methods, statistical analysis, data interpretation, and using data to guide operational and strategic decisions.
• Continuous Quality Improvement in Healthcare (HSCI 616) & Strategic Planning (HSCI 618) – Focus on quality assurance, performance improvement, organizational strategy, long-term planning, and adapting to changing health-care environments.

Popular Elective Courses

• Health Administration electives approved by curriculum coordinator
• Healthcare management electives oriented to hospitals, long-term care, managed care, or health informatics
• Courses in public health, policy, or related fields (with coordinator approval)
• Courses in health-care ethics, compliance, or specialized health-care delivery models
• Electives supporting quality improvement, population health, data analytics
• Options relevant to healthcare management in non-profit, public, or community settings

Practical Experience

The MHA includes a supervised field training course (HSCI 693A or 693B + 693C) that provides real-world experience in a health-care organization such as a hospital, clinic, long-term care facility, or community health agency. Through this placement, you get to apply classroom knowledge – such as finance, management, data analysis, law, and systems thinking – to live organizational challenges, operations, quality initiatives, or management tasks under supervision.

This experiential component helps you understand how strategic decisions are made, how health-care operations are managed on a day-to-day basis, and how to lead teams or departments effectively. It also helps you build professional networks and practical skills that can ease your transition into administrative roles after graduation.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate mastery of conceptual and technical knowledge relevant to effective health administration practice.
• Apply analytical, written, and oral communication skills required for leadership and management roles.
• Integrate theoretical learning and practical skills to address real-world challenges in health organizations.
• Evaluate and manage health-care finances, budgets, and reimbursement systems to support organizational sustainability.
• Use data management and analysis tools to guide decision-making and performance improvement in health settings.
• Assess and respond to legal, ethical, and regulatory issues relevant to patient care, staffing, and organizational compliance.
• Design and implement strategies for continuous quality improvement, safety, and efficient service delivery in health-care organizations.

Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the CSUN MHA program are prepared for a range of leadership and management roles in hospitals, managed-care organizations, community clinics, public-health agencies, long-term care facilities, and health systems. They may work as department managers, operations analysts, quality improvement coordinators, policy implementers, administrative directors, or strategic planners – positions that require leadership, analytical, financial, and systems-oriented skills.

CSUN reports that many students complete the MHA program over a 2-to-4-year period, depending on their chosen pacing plan, which gives flexibility if you are balancing work and study. The program’s accreditation by the national body for health-care management education and its regional and institutional reputation support strong employer recognition of the degree.

The overall institutional graduation outcomes at CSUN – including undergraduate and graduate programs – reflect a commitment to student success, with publicly available data showing a solid completion rate for full-time degree seekers. This context can give you confidence when investing in the MHA for long-term career growth.

Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of about 3.0 (though some applicants with slightly lower GPA may be considered if other parts of their application are strong).
• Submission of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
• Completed application to the university plus program-specific MHA application.
• Application fee as required by the university and the MHA program.
• Resume (or CV) detailing academic, professional, volunteer, or health-care related experience.
• Personal statement or video personal statement describing your background, interest in health administration, career goals, and motivation to join CSUN MHA.
• Two letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees familiar with your credentials and readiness for graduate study.
• For international applicants: proof of English language proficiency according to CSUN requirements.

Application Deadlines

The application for CSUN’s MHA opens on October 1 each year. The priority application deadline is February 1, with a final submission deadline of May 10. The admissions committee reviews complete applications on a rolling basis between February and May, and decisions are typically sent out during the review period.
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California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB)

Master of Science in Health Services Administration (MSHSA)

The California State University, San Bernardino Master of Science in Health Services Administration (MSHSA) is designed for students who want to lead and manage hospitals, health maintenance organizations, medical group practices, nursing homes, public health departments, government agencies, and other health service organizations. The program focuses on preparing early and mid career professionals for supervisory and administrative roles with a strong emphasis on ethical leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The degree requires 43 to 44 graduate units, including a structured set of core courses plus a culminating experience through either an administrative residency or a graduate project. Core courses cover organizational management, finance, health economics, information systems, communication, law and ethics, strategic planning, leadership, and research methods. This unit total provides both breadth and depth in the major functional areas of health services administration.

Classes are scheduled primarily in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate working professionals. Many students pursue the MSHSA on a part time basis while continuing to work in healthcare or related fields, while others follow a more intensive plan of study. Graduate students in the program are required to complete all degree requirements within a seven year time frame, giving you flexibility to manage family and work responsibilities while progressing steadily toward graduation.

CSUSB’s MSHSA integrates classroom learning with applied skills. Courses in planning, evaluation, information systems, and quality development are taught using case studies, projects, and group work so that you learn to interpret data, manage teams, and design solutions to practical problems faced by health service organizations in the Inland Empire and beyond.

The program also allows you to pair the master’s degree with a certificate in Finance, Accounting, and Information Systems, giving you an opportunity to add targeted technical skills in financial management and data systems. This option is particularly useful if you are interested in roles that require advanced analytic, budgeting, or information technology responsibilities in healthcare.

Overall, the CSUSB MSHSA offers a professionally oriented curriculum that blends theory, methods, and supervised experience so you graduate with the competencies needed to move into health services management, policy implementation, operations coordination, or department level leadership roles.

Courses and Curriculum

The MSHSA curriculum is organized around a set of core courses totaling 40 units, followed by a 3 to 4 unit culminating experience through either an administrative residency or a project. You begin with fundamental coursework in administration of health care programs, management and planning, health economics and financial systems, and communication in health services. These subjects give you a foundation in how organizations are structured, how they are financed, and how managers work with staff, clinicians, and communities.

As you continue, you take courses in information and technology systems management, health law and medical ethics, strategic planning and evaluation, leadership and quality development, and graduate level research methodology. In these courses you learn to evaluate legal and ethical issues, design and assess strategic plans, interpret data, and lead teams through improvement initiatives. The capstone seminar in health services administration helps you integrate concepts from the entire program and apply them to complex administrative issues.

The culminating experience allows you to choose a path that fits your background and goals. The administrative residency option places you in a health services organization where you work on supervised projects, while the project option focuses on an in depth investigation of a management or policy issue in health services administration. Both paths require you to synthesize coursework and demonstrate readiness for professional responsibilities.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

• HSCI 6010 – Administration of Health Care Programs (4 units) – Examines how health programs are organized and managed, with attention to planning, staffing, budgeting, and evaluation of services in hospitals, clinics, and community agencies.
• HSCI 6020 – Management, Organization and Planning (4 units) – Focuses on organizational behavior, management theory, environmental factors, and planning processes that shape the design and operation of health service organizations.
• HSCI 6030 – Health Economics and Financial Systems (4 units) – Introduces economic concepts, reimbursement mechanisms, financial systems, and cost control strategies used to support the financial stability of health care organizations.
• HSCI 6100 – Communication and Human Relations in Health Services (4 units) – Develops interpersonal, group, and organizational communication skills, including conflict resolution, negotiation, and culturally responsive communication with diverse stakeholders.
• HSCI 6140 – Information and Technology Systems Management in Health Services (4 units) – Covers the management of health information systems, electronic records, data security, analytics, and the use of technology to support decision making and performance monitoring.
• HSCI 6150 – Health Law and Medical Ethics (4 units) – Reviews legal frameworks and ethical principles relevant to health services administration, such as regulatory compliance, patient rights, liability, and organizational responsibilities.
• HSCI 6160 – Strategic Planning and Evaluation (4 units) – Emphasizes strategic analysis, formulation, and evaluation, including environmental scanning, goal setting, program evaluation, and use of logic models to assess health service programs.
• HSCI 6170 – Health Services Administration Leadership, Team and Quality Development (4 units) – Focuses on leadership theory, team development, quality improvement methods, and approaches for building a culture of safety and high performance in health organizations.

Popular Elective Courses

• Advanced topics in health services management
• Quality improvement and patient safety in healthcare
• Population health and community health services
• Health care marketing and stakeholder engagement
• Long term care and aging services administration
• Special topics seminar in health policy or health equity

Practical Experience

Practical learning is built into the MSHSA through the culminating experience options. If you choose the Administrative Residency (HSCI 6754), you complete supervised work in a health service organization such as a hospital, health system, community clinic, long term care facility, or public agency. Under the guidance of a preceptor and faculty supervisor, you work on organizational projects, participate in meetings, and gain exposure to daily management activities.

If you select the Project (HSCI 6960) option, you design and complete a graduate level project that addresses a specific management, policy, or program issue in health services administration. This experience allows you to apply research methods and analytic tools to a real question faced by health organizations, producing recommendations that can inform decision making or future initiatives.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the structure, financing, and regulation of health services in the United States and explain how these features influence patients, providers, and organizations.
• Apply management and leadership principles to organize work, guide teams, and support change efforts in health services organizations.
• Interpret economic and financial information, including budgets, financial reports, and reimbursement arrangements, to support sound administrative decisions.
• Use health information systems and data analysis techniques to monitor performance, evaluate programs, and inform strategic planning.
• Analyze legal and ethical issues in health services administration and propose actions that align with professional standards and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and evaluate strategic plans, quality initiatives, and program evaluations that aim to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and equity in health services.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with clinicians, staff, leaders, and community stakeholders while demonstrating sensitivity to cultural, social, and linguistic diversity.

Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the CSUSB MSHSA program pursue positions such as health services administrator, department manager, clinic or medical group manager, program coordinator, quality improvement specialist, policy and planning analyst, or operations supervisor in hospitals, managed care organizations, community health centers, long term care facilities, and public agencies.

The evening oriented schedule, residency or project requirement, and focus on real world skills are designed to help you move into or advance within leadership roles in the region’s health care system.

Overall institutional performance data show that California State University, San Bernardino maintains a solid completion profile, with an overall graduation rate of about 55% according to federal College Scorecard reporting. This level of student success reflects the university’s investment in advising, support services, and learning resources that you can draw on while completing the MSHSA and preparing for your career in health services administration.

Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum grade point average of approximately 3.0 in the last 60 semester (or 90 quarter) units of undergraduate coursework, or in previous graduate work.
• Completion of prerequisite coursework as needed in health science and introductory statistics (for applicants without a prior health science background).
• Submission of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
• University application through Cal State Apply plus program specific materials for the MSHSA.
• Current resume describing academic background, employment history, and any health related or community experience.
• Personal statement or statement of purpose that addresses your interest in health services administration, professional goals, strengths, and skills you wish to develop.
• Writing sample on a health services management topic, typically about 1,000 words, as specified by the program.
• Letters of recommendation from academic or professional references who can comment on your preparation for graduate study.
• Evidence of English language proficiency for international applicants, according to CSUSB graduate admission standards.

Application Deadlines

CSUSB posts application timelines through its Graduate Studies office and program specific pages. External graduate directories commonly list a fall application deadline in early May for domestic applicants, with separate deadlines for international and spring admission cycles.

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

The University of California, Los Angeles offers an online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) through the Fielding School of Public Health, designed for working professionals who want to advance into management or leadership roles across hospitals, health-systems, clinics, payer organizations, public-health agencies, and other health-care settings.

The program emphasizes data-driven decision-making, value-based care, organizational leadership, finance, operations, and strategic management tailored to modern health-care challenges.

The degree requires 66 units in total, delivered through a flexible online format with two required on-campus immersions and a capstone project. This structure accommodates full-time professionals who wish to continue working while earning the degree.

Because the program uses a quarterly schedule and offers flexible pacing, many students complete the MHA in as little as two years. Part-time pacing is also supported, which allows you to balance work, personal commitments, and academic progress without sacrificing quality or content breadth.

The curriculum covers core domains including health systems structure, finance and reimbursement, management and organizational behavior, health information systems, data analytics, ethics and law, operations management, and strategic planning. By building expertise across these areas, the program prepares you to lead complex organizations, make informed managerial decisions, and respond to evolving healthcare trends.

The online MHA also offers networking and real-world exposure: the two on-campus immersions bring you together with peers, faculty, and industry professionals, while the capstone project allows you to work with an actual healthcare organization to solve real operational or management challenges – giving practical experience you can add to your portfolio.

Overall, UCLA’s online MHA offers a rigorous, flexible, and professionally-oriented master’s degree that balances academic depth with practical application, making it a strong option for those seeking career advancement without pausing their professional life.

Courses and Curriculum

The UCLA MHA curriculum unfolds over a 66-unit program structured into quarterly 10-week terms. Each course combines asynchronous lectures and readings with weekly live sessions, enabling you to manage coursework alongside full-time employment. You progress through foundational courses in health systems, economics, and organizational behavior before advancing to specialized subjects in finance, operations, analytics, strategy, and quality management.

Core courses cover the essential functional areas of health-care administration: financing, management, operations, information systems, ethics, and strategic decision-making. As you move into later quarters, you engage in applied learning through case-based assignments, collaborative projects, and analytical exercises, bridging theory with real-world administrative challenges.

In the final phase of the program you participate in two on-campus immersions and a capstone project. Immersions are designed to help you build relationships with faculty and peers, gain insight into organizational practices, and prepare for the capstone. The capstone requires consulting with a healthcare organization, analyzing a current issue or project, and delivering a comprehensive written and/or presentation report – giving you hands-on experience and an actionable deliverable for your resume.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

• Healthcare Administration Foundations (e.g., organization & financing of U.S. health systems) – Provides an overview of how health services are structured, financed, and delivered in the U.S., including stakeholder roles, payer systems, regulatory context, and current challenges.
• Health Economics & Reimbursement Models – Examines economic principles in healthcare, insurance and reimbursement approaches, cost analysis, incentives, and the financial frameworks that underpin healthcare delivery.
• Management & Organizational Behavior in Health Systems – Focuses on leadership, team dynamics, organizational design, human resources, and decision-making in health-care settings, preparing you to manage departments, staff, and strategic initiatives.
• Healthcare Information Systems & Data Analytics – Covers electronic health records, data standards, analytics tools, data governance, and how to leverage health data for operational insight, performance evaluation, and strategic planning.
• Healthcare Financial Management – Teaches budgeting, financial planning, cost control, capital management, and financial decision-making tailored to healthcare organizations, ensuring sustainable operations.
• Healthcare Operations & Quality Improvement – Addresses workflow management, process optimization, patient safety, quality assurance, capacity planning, and performance monitoring to improve efficiency and outcomes.
• Ethics, Law & Compliance in Healthcare – Reviews legal frameworks, regulatory requirements, ethical obligations, privacy, patient rights, compliance standards, and risk management relevant to health administration.
• Capstone Project / Applied Consulting in a Healthcare Organization – In your final term you partner with a real healthcare organization to analyze problems, propose solutions, and implement strategic or operational improvements, culminating in a report or presentation.

Practical Experience

The practical component of the UCLA MHA comes through two main experiences: two required on-campus immersions and a capstone consulting project. The immersions (each lasting a few days) give you a chance to meet faculty, classmates, and industry professionals in person, build your network, and gain exposure to institutional and organizational contexts.

The capstone involves working with a real healthcare organization – such as a hospital, clinic, or health services provider – to analyze a current challenge, develop strategic or operational recommendations, and deliver a professional report or presentation. This experience provides you with a practical accomplishment you can showcase to employers and helps translate your academic knowledge into real-world impact.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the structure, financing, and delivery models of the U.S. health-care system.
• Apply leadership, management, and organizational behavior principles to guide teams and departments in health-care settings.
• Interpret financial data, reimbursement models, and budgeting frameworks to support sustainable operations and resource allocation.
• Employ data analytics and health information systems to inform strategic planning, quality improvement, and operational decisions.
• Design and evaluate process improvements and quality-assurance initiatives to enhance patient safety and organizational performance.
• Navigate legal, ethical, and regulatory considerations to ensure compliance, patient rights, and organizational integrity.
• Develop strategic plans and manage change initiatives in response to evolving health-care industry trends, policy shifts, and organizational needs.

Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the UCLA online MHA are prepared for leadership and administrative roles in hospitals, health systems, clinics, payer organizations, public health agencies, long-term care, and other health-care entities. Positions may include operations manager, department director, strategy analyst, quality and performance manager, health services consultant, or executive roles that require both healthcare knowledge and management acumen.

Because UCLA is consistently ranked among the top public universities in the U.S., the institution demonstrates strong student success metrics, with reported long-term graduation and completion outcomes available through national data sources. This underscores a supportive academic environment and a track record of preparing graduates for professional success, making the MHA a valuable credential as you pursue upward mobility in healthcare administration.

Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution (or equivalent).
• Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of about 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
• At least three years of professional work experience in any industry before enrollment.
• Completed online application with applicable application fee.
• Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions.
• Statement of purpose describing your background, motivation for pursuing MHA, and career goals.
• Personal statement detailing experiences, perspectives, and how you plan to leverage the MHA.
• Professional résumé showcasing work history, relevant skills, and professional achievements.
• Three letters of recommendation (at least one from a direct supervisor if employed). For international applicants: TOEFL/IELTS or equivalent proof of English proficiency, unless previously exempted.

Application Deadlines

The online MHA program at UCLA offers four start dates per year: Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring.