Des Moines University College of Health Sciences
Curriculum

Course content, discussions, and assignments embody recommendations from two professional groups: the Association of University Programs in Healthcare Administration (AUPHA) and the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL). The curriculum covers these professional recommendations through an industry standard, competency-based model developed by the NCHL.

This model is the road map for everything we do and everything you study. At both the start and finish of the program, you complete a personal evaluation that marks where you stand in relation to the professional competencies. These evaluations help you discover what you’ve learned, where your strengths lie, and what skills you should continue to develop. At the same time you learn to objectively evaluate your abilities which forms the basis for life long learning.

One of the features of the MHA Program is its flexibility. You can follow a general course of study or select specific electives to support your professional and academic objectives. The program offers these areas of interest:

  • Public Health
  • Long-Term Care Administration
  • Health Education

Leadership Seminar Series

In 2004, the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) published a validated set of competencies required for exceptional performance in managing health organizations across selected provider sectors, across disciplines of administration, nursing and medicine and across career levels (NCHL, 2006).

The Leadership Seminar Series was developed to support the core curriculum in providing students with opportunities to achieve competency in the 26 identified areas. You can choose 7 elective credits from the 10 seminars offered to strengthen your skills.

Read more about the Leadership Seminar Series

Specific curriculum information

All courses are 3 semester hours unless noted.

Block I

Orientation (no credit)
Overview of U.S. Health Care System
Organization of Health Care Systems
Management of Health Organizations
Basic Statistics and Research
Health Care Financial Management I

Block II

Health Care Financial Management II
Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care
Health Information Systems and Decision Analysis

Block III

Health Care Economics and Policy
Health Services Program Evaluation
Entrepreneurship and Strategic Marketing
Administrative Internship
or
Management Study in Health Services Organizations

Block IV

Health Care Administration Capstone - 2 credits

Total semester hours of core: 38
Total semester hours of electives: 7

Total semester hours for MHA Degree: 45

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