Health Administration - Master

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.

Prerequisite

The internship will be counted as a course, so you must meet the following prerequisite in order to enroll: 24 credits completed in the program.

Securing an Internship

Before signing up for an internship, you must complete an online internship orientation session. This session will be offered during the semester before your internship starts. During orientation, you will receive an affiliation list with contact information for the various internship locations. Once you have chosen the organizations for which you would like to intern, you must follow these steps to secure an internship:

• Contact your organizations of interest by sending a resume and cover letter.
• Set up an interview.
• Interview with the organization.
• Secure the internship.

Once you have secured an internship, you will be able to enroll in the internship course. To do so, you must contact MHA internship director Jackie Le to obtain your unique permission number, which will allow you to enroll in the course.

Internship Requirements

Once you have begun your internship, you will be required to complete four things:

• The required number of working hours, which is 240 for a three-credit graduate internship
• A “work product,” or final project, for the organization
• The course portion of the internship
• All of the required paperwork throughout the semester

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