Curriculum

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Department Information

The MHA in Health Systems Management curriculum is driven by professional competencies and organized into five domain clusters. At the completion of the program, students are expected to achieve targeted proficiency in each of the competencies associated with the following domains.

  1. Knowledge of the Healthcare System and Healthcare Management
  2. Communications and Interpersonal Effectiveness
  3. Critical Thinking, Analysis and Problem Solving
  4. Management and Leadership
  5. Professionalism and Ethics

The curriculum is designed to develop student proficiency in the Professional Competencies necessary for future success in mid- and executive-level management in various roles in health-related organizations in public and private sectors.

The program curriculum, including short descriptions of the required courses, is available in Mason's University Catalog.

Most courses in the on-campus program are taught in the evening at Mason’s Fairfax Campus. Additionally, some classes are offered in a hybrid format or fully online. Students can complete their degree at their own pace, provided that they do so within six years of starting the program.

The online program follows the same curriculum as the on-campus program. Online format courses are taken one at a time. Each course lasts eight weeks.

*Please note: Summer courses may overlap due to compliance with the university's academic year calendar. 

The faculty teaching courses in the MHA program employ a wide range of teaching methods. These include case studies, problem-solving, project reports, student presentations, reflective papers, team projects, moderated group discussions, and lectures. Read more about our outcomes.

Fall Start (admitted Fall 2025 or later)

Traditional Pathway: Part time - Fall semester

Semester
Executive Concentration
Quality Concentration
Fall
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 716 Health Economics and Policy
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 716 Health Econ and Policy
Spring
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • HAP 764 Health Policy/Govt Payment Sys.
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
Summer
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation (Online Term 2)
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems (Online Term 1)
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation (Online Term 2)
Fall (2nd year)
  • HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems
  • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare
  • Elective (approved by advisor)
  • HAP 697 The Healthcare Quality Environment (Online Term 1)
Spring (2nd year)
  • HAP 702 Managerial Accounting in Health Care
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 764 Health Policy and Government Payment Systems
Summer (2nd year)
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care (Online Term 2)
  • HAP 789 Pre capstone
  • HAP 699 Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety (Online Term 1)
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care (Online Term 2)
  • HAP 789 Pre capstone
Fall (3rd year)
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 790 Capstone

Traditional Pathway: Full time - Fall semester

Semester
Executive Concentration
Quality Concentration
Fall
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 716 Health Economics and Policy
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 716 Health Econ and Policy
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
Spring
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
Summer (optional)

Optional

Optional
Fall (2nd year)
  • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare
  • HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation (Online Term 2)
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • Elective approved by advisor
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
Spring (2nd year)
  • HAP 702 Managerial Accounting in Health Care
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 764 Health Policy/Govt Payment Sys.
  • HAP 789 Pre capstone
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 764 Health Policy and Government Payment Systems
  • HAP 697 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
Summer (2nd year)

–
  • HAP 789 Pre capstone
Fall (3rd year)
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  • HAP 699 Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety (Online Term 1)

Online Pathway: Starting Spring Semester

Semester
Executive Concentration
Quality Concentration
Spring
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Summer
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
Fall (2nd year)
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
Spring (2nd year)
  • HAP 716 Health Economics and Policy
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
  • HAP 716 Health Economics and Policy
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
Summer (2nd year)
  • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare
  • HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems
  • Elective approved by advisor
  • HAP 699 Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
Fall (3rd year)
  • HAP 702 Managerial Accounting in Health Care
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 697 The Healthcare Quality Environment
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
Spring (3rd year)
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management OR HAP 789 Precapstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management OR HAP 789 Precapstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone

Online Pathway: Starting Summer Semester

Semester
Executive Concentration
Quality Concentration
Summer
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Fall
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
Spring
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
Summer (2nd year)
  • HAP 716 Health Economics and Policy
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
  • HAP 716 Health Economics and Policy
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
Fall (2nd year)
  • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare
  • HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems
  • Elective approved by advisor
  • HAP 699 Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
Spring (2nd year)
  • HAP 702 Managerial Accounting in Health Care
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 697 The Healthcare Quality Environment
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
Summer (3rd year)
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management OR HAP 789 Precapstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management OR HAP 789 Precapstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone

Online Pathway: Starting Fall Semester

Semester
Executive Concentration
Quality Concentration
Fall
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Spring
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
Summer
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
Fall (2nd year)
  • HAP 716 Health Economics and Policy
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
  • HAP 716 Health Economics and Policy
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
Spring (2nd year)
  • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare
  • HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems
  • Elective approved by advisor
  • HAP 699 Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
Summer (2nd year)
  • HAP 702 Managerial Accounting in Health Care
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 697 The Healthcare Quality Environment
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
Fall (3rd year)
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management OR HAP 789 Precapstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management OR HAP 789 Precapstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone

Fall Start (admitted before Fall 2025)

Traditional Pathway

Option 1: Full-Time Starting in Fall
Semester
Executive Concentration
Quality Concentration
Fall
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 715 Health Economics
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 715 Health Economics
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health
Spring
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Mgmt
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Mgmt
Summer (optional)
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems (online term 1)
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
Fall (2nd year)
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
  • HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation (online term 2)
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • Elective approved by advisor
  • HAP 697 The Healthcare Quality Environment
Spring (2nd year)
  • HAP 702 Managerial Accounting in Health Care
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare
  • HAP 699 Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety (online term 1)
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 764 Health Policy and Government Payment Systems
Summer (2nd year)
  • HAP 789 Pre capstone
  • HAP 789 Pre capstone
Fall (3rd year)
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 790 Capstone
 
Option 2: Part-Time Starting in Fall
Semester
Executive Concentration
Quality Concentration
Fall
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 715 Health Economics
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 715 Health Economics
Spring
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care (online)
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Mgmt
Summer
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems (online term 1)
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health (online term 2)
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
Fall (2nd year)
  • HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health
  • HAP 697 The Healthcare Quality Environment
Spring (2nd year)
  • HAP 702 Managerial Accounting in Health Care
  • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 764 Health Policy and Government Payment Systems
Summer (2nd year)
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration (online term 1)
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation (online term 2)
  • HAP 699 Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
Fall (3rd year)
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care (online term 2)
  • HAP 789 Pre capstone
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • Elective approved by advisor
  • HAP 789 Pre capstone
Spring (3rd year)
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone
 
Option 3: Full-Time Starting in Spring
Semester
Executive Concentration
Quality Concentration
Spring
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
Summer
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems (online term 1)
Fall
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
  • HAP 715 Health Econ
  • HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health
  • HAP 715 Health Econ
  • Elective - approved by advisor
Spring (2nd year)
  • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare
  • HAP 702 Managerial Accounting in Health Care
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation (online term 2)
  • HAP 764 Health Policy and Government Payment Systems
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
Summer (2nd year)
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration (online term 1)
  • HAP 697 The Healthcare Quality Environment (online term 1)
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation (online term 2)
  • HAP 789 Pre capstone
Fall (2nd year)
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health
  • HAP 789 Pre capstone
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues
  • HAP 699 Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety (online term 1)
  • HAP 790 Capstone
Spring (3rd year)
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  
Option 4: Part-Time Starting in Spring
Semester
Executive Concentration
Quality Concentration
Spring
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
Summer
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems (online term 1)
  • HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems (online term 2)
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
Fall
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
  • HAP 715 Health Econ
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health
  • HAP 715 Health Econ
Spring (2nd year)
  • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 764 Health Policy and Government Payment Systems
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
Summer (2nd year)
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health (online term 1 – Session A)
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • Elective - approved by advisor
Fall (2nd year)
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health (online term 2)
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues
  • HAP 697 The Healthcare Quality Environment
Spring (3rd year)
  • HAP 702 Managerial Accounting in Health Care
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 699 Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
Summer (3rd year)
  • HAP 789 Pre capstone
  • HAP 789 Pre capstone
Fall (3rd year)
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone

Online Pathway

Option 1: Starting in Fall
Semester
Executive Concentration
Quality Concentration
Fall
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Spring
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
Summer
  • HAP 715 Health Economics
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
  • HAP 715 Health Economics
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
Fall (2nd Year)
  • HAP 715 Health Economics
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
  • HAP 715 Health Economics
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
Spring (2nd Year)
  • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare
  • HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems
  • Elective (approved by advisor)
  • HAP 699 Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
Summer (2nd Year)
  • HAP 702 Managerial Accounting in Health Care
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 697 The Healthcare Quality Environment
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
Fall (3rd Year)
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 764 Health Policy and Government Payment Systems
Spring (3rd Year)
  • HAP 789 Pre Capstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  • HAP 789 Pre Capstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone
Option 2: Starting in Spring
Semester
Executive Concentration
Quality Concentration
Spring
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Summer
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
Fall
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
Spring (2nd Year)
  • HAP 715 Health Economics
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
  • HAP 715 Health Economics
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
Summer (2nd Year)
  • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare
  • HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems
  • Elective (approved by advisor)
  • HAP 699 Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
Fall (2nd Year)
  • HAP 702 Managerial Accounting in Health Care
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 697 The Healthcare Quality Environment
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
Spring (3rd Year)
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health
Summer (3rd Year)
  • HAP 789 Pre Capstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  • HAP 789 Pre Capstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone
Option 3: Starting in Summer
Semester
Executive Concentration
Quality Concentration
Summer
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health
  • HAP 621 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Fall
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
  • HAP 740 Management of Health Information Systems
  • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care
Spring
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
  • HAP 750 Legal Issues in Health Administration
  • HAP 602 Statistics in Health Services Management
Summer (2nd Year)
  • HAP 715 Health Economics
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
  • HAP 715 Health Economics
  • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation
Fall (2nd Year)
  • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare
  • HAP 703 Financial Management in Health Systems
  • Elective (approved by advisor)
  • HAP 699 Liability in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
Spring (2nd Year)
  • HAP 702 Managerial Accounting in Health Care
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
  • HAP 697 The Healthcare Quality Environment
  • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
Summer (3rd Year)
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health
  • HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
  • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health
Fall (3rd Year)
  • HAP 789 Pre Capstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone
  • HAP 789 Pre Capstone
  • HAP 790 Capstone