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.
- Knowledge of the Healthcare System and Healthcare Management
- Communications and Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Critical Thinking, Analysis and Problem Solving
- Management and Leadership
- 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.
On-Campus Course Sequence
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 Managing Accounting in Health Care • HAP 705 Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care • HAP 707 Human Resource Management in Healthcare • HAP 789 Precapstone |
• 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 Precapstone
|
| 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 |
• 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 Managing 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 Precapstone |
• HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management • Elective- approved by advisor • HAP 789 Precapstone |
| 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 Precapstone |
| Fall (2nd year) |
• HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management • HAP 635 Role of Government in Health Care and Public Health • HAP 789 Precap
|
• 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 Precapstone | • HAP 789 Precapstone |
| Fall (3rd year) | • HAP 790 Capstone | • HAP 790 Capstone |
Online Course Sequence
Option 1: Starting 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 Leadership and Organizational Behavior • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care |
• HAP 740 Leadership and Organizational Behavior • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care |
|
Summer |
• HAP 715 Legal Issues in Health Administration • HAP 698 Quality Measurement and Evaluation |
• HAP 715 Legal Issues in Health Administration • 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 Precapstone • HAP 790 Capstone |
• HAP 789 Precapstone • HAP 790 Capstone |
Option 2: Starting 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 Leadership and Organizational Behavior • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care |
• HAP 740 Leadership and Organizational Behavior • 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 Precapstone • HAP 790 Capstone |
• HAP 789 Precapstone • 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 Leadership and Organizational Behavior • HAP 652 Essentials of Health Insurance and Managed Care |
• HAP 740 Leadership and Organizational Behavior • 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 Precapstone • HAP 790 Capstone |
• HAP 789 Precapstone • HAP 790 Capstone |