To qualify for Early Admission to the MHA Degree Program, applicants must submit a completed application. The program may contact eligible candidates to schedule an interview with the program faculty. A maximum of 10 students will be admitted each academic year into the Early Admission MHA Program.

The following criteria must be met before an application to the Early Admission MHA Degree Program will be reviewed by the admissions committee:

1. Completion of a minimum of 90 semester hours, to include the following general education requirements:

• Composition - 6 semester hours
• Humanities - 12 semester hours
• Social Sciences - 9 semester hours
• Math & Science - 12 semester hours (to include 3-4 semester hours of college algebra)

2. Submission of an application for admission, with the following:

• Relevant prior work experience in a health care environment.
• Official Transcripts for All Colleges and Universities attended.
• Satisfactory Personal Statement.
• Three satisfactory letters of recommendation.
• Submission of the MHA Skills Assessment

3. Degree Requirements:

Students are awarded a Master of Health Care Administration (MHA) degree after completion of a total of 165 semester hours of course work of which a minimum of 60 semester hours must be completed within the Health Care Administration (MHA) program.

Degree plan:
Required admission transfer credit - 90 semester hours
MHA Curriculum - 45 semester hours
Elective Courses - 30 semester hours
Minimum total semester hours for MHA degree - 165 semester hours

Elective Option
In addition to the 45-semester hour MHA curriculum, admitted students will complete an additional 30-semester hours of elective course work. Students will choose between the following options:

1. Complete the entire requirement through the Master of Health Care Administration and Master of Public Health curriculum.
2. Complete an area of concentration at another regionally accredited institution. Those students electing this option will develop an area of concentration in conjunction with their academic advisor. Areas of concentration must support a major in health care administration. Examples of several appropriate concentration areas include: gerontology, information systems, public administration, business administration, accounting, public health and finance.

Students admitted into this program will have seven years to complete all degree requirements.