Health Administration – Master – College of Community Innovation and Education

Health care administrators play an integral role in managing public health systems, hospital networks and health care facilities. Make health care management an integral part of your career by earning a master’s degree in health services administration from UCF.

The 51-credit hour curriculum of the Master of Health Administration* emphasizes leadership, strategic and financial planning, and issues and trends in health care. Classes are offered in both mixed-mode and face-to-face formats and are also offered at night to accommodate the busy schedules of working professionals.

Whether you are a health care professional who is ready to move into a leadership position or a recent college graduate who wants to further your education, the MHA program will provide you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed in the fast-changing field of health care management.

*Formerly “Master of Science in Health Sciences – Health Services Administration Track”

CAHME Accreditation
The MHA program at the University of Central Florida is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. CAHME is the only organization recognized to grant accreditation to individual academic programs offering a professional master’s degree in health care management education and is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. CAHME Accreditation is the benchmark for students and employers alike that ensure the integrity of healthcare management education.

CAHME Mentorship Circle
CAHME Mentorship Circle status recognizes that the MHA program at the University of Central Florida — in addition to achieving the high standards of CAHME accreditation — engages in activities that help to extend CAHME’s mission of advancing the quality of graduate healthcare management education. Mentorship Circle status recognizes that the program provides opportunities to other students and other programs to advance their own experiences and skills — for the good of the entire healthcare field.

Admissions & Advising

FAQs

Internships

Mission, Vision & Values

The graduate health services administration program at the University of Central Florida offers a health services administration track that is 51 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. Admission to the program is competitive and contingent on meeting its requirements. Not all students who apply may be accepted, even if minimum requirements are met.

Upon admission into the program, we ask that students meet with an academic advisor to develop a plan of study, which they will follow during their academic career. Our MHA advisors, Pamela Von Graff and Kathlyn Terry, can guide you through the program and answer any questions you may have about the degree. However, we ask that you visit the FAQ section, or the MHA Internship FAQ section, before scheduling an appointment as it may already provide the answer to your question.

For more information on the MHA, download the printable brochure or view a breakdown of the course offerings in the UCF Graduate Catalog.

What are the admissions criteria?

To be considered for admission to the M.H.A., you must submit the following:

An official transcript of your undergraduate degree or the equivalent from an accredited college or university
A minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA (either cumulative or the last 60 credit hours)
A one to two page goal statement that describes who you are, what your career goals are and how this degree will assist you in making those goals a reality
Your resume

Where do I apply?

All prospective students must apply via the College of Graduate Studies’ website.

How much is the tuition?
Current tuition rates are found on the tuition and fees website. Be sure to select the appropriate program level as “graduate” to reflect the correct tuition cost.

What kind of financial aid is available?
UCF’s Office of Student Financial Assistance provides aid to students who cannot afford the full cost of tuition. A variety of scholarships, grants and loans may be made available to students based on need and academic achievement. For more information, please visit the Office of Student Financial Assistance website.

Can I attend the program part time?
Yes, you can enroll on a part-time basis. Part-time students typically complete the degree within three-and-a-half years.

What was the completion rate for the last graduating class?
89 percent of the matriculating students completed the program within three-and-a-half years.

What percentage of students were employed within three months of graduating?

88 percent of graduating students were employed within three months of graduation.

What campus resources are available?

Here are just a few of the university wide resources available to all UCF students:

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): 407-823-2811
Serves currently enrolled students seeking assistance with developmental and mental-health related concerns.
UCF Health Services: 407-823-6337
Students can use the Heath Center regardless of insurance coverage. Additional services include the dental center and pharmacy.
UCF Library: 407-823-2564
University Police (non-emergency): 407-823-5555
University Writing Center: 407-823-2197
Assists students with writing assignments, including research papers.
Victim Services: 407-823-2425
Provides free, confidential information and support to students who may be victims of crime, violence or abuse.
Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC): 407-823-2408
RWC is open to all students with a valid UCF ID.

Through an internship, students can apply what they’ve learned in the classroom and gain valuable administrative experience that is essential for starting or advancing a career in health services administration. Because of this, the Department of Health Management and Informatics requires students who are enrolled in the Master of Health Administration program to complete an internship prior to graduation.

If you have specific questions about the program that aren’t answered here, please visit our MHA Internship FAQ section.

Graduate Internship Process

Mission

The Master of Health Administration prepares current and future health administrators to make positive contributions to the health care industry. Our diverse student population achieves competence in the health care environment by:

Understanding health care systems
Applying business skills
Communicating and managing relationships
Demonstrating excellence in leadership
Exhibiting professionalism and ethical conduct

Our program competencies are developed through exceptional, media-enhance instruction, and are reinforced through expert faculty who create and disseminate knowledge that improves managerial practice, strengthens health systems worldwide through global partnerships, and significantly contributes to the profession’s body of knowledge through applied research, publications, and presentations. Program competencies are also applied through service-learning, experiential projects and practical internships with community partners.

Vision

The MHA will be a preeminent program in health services administration education through excellence in graduate performance, faculty scholarship and global partnerships. It will be recognized for its innovative, high-quality approach to meeting the health care needs and expectations of its communities, and for leading significant improvements in the health care system.

Values

In addition to the core values of UCF (Integrity, Scholarship, Community, Creativity and Excellence), the MHA program also embodies the following values:

Accountability
Continuous improvement
Diversity
Fairness
Opportunity
Respect
Service
Teamwork

Barbara Andraka-Christou, Ph.D., J.D., B.A.

Assistant Professor

Health Management and Informatics

Health Administration, MHA

PRINTABLE INFORMATION SHEET

Faculty