Coursework That’s Flexible and Focused
The Master of Health Care Administration program at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences offers flexible enrollment options, allowing you to complete your degree in as little as two years.
The academic calendar is organized into five 8-week terms, making it easy to balance coursework with professional and personal commitments.
You’ll complete 47 total credit hours across 17 courses, including:
- 44 credit hours of academic coursework
- A 3-credit field-based learning or long-term care internship
Competency-Driven Curriculum
The DMU MHA program is designed to prepare you for leadership roles across a variety of health care settings. The curriculum emphasizes:
- Competency development in health care management
- Interprofessional education and experience
- Preparation for entry to mid-level leadership positions in the health sector
Competency Model
The MHA program utilizes the National Center for Healthcare Leadership competency model version 3.0.
The NCHL competency model includes four action domains and three enabling domains. The action domain competencies relate to the direct work of the job while the enabling domain competencies reflect professional development and self-awareness competencies. The model includes 28 competencies, each with specific behavioral expectations. Each summative assessment in DMU’s MHA program is linked to at least one of these specific competencies.
Completing the program's activities and assessments helps students understand the specific health care leadership skills they are developing.
Action Domain Competencies
Action domain competencies relate to the direct work of the job:
Boundary Spanning
Execution
Relations
Transformation
Enabling Domain Competencies
The enabling domain reflects professional development and self-awareness competencies:
Values
Health System Awareness and Business Literacy
Self-Awareness and Self-Development
Grading Policies
Assessments throughout the MHA program are graded with rubrics that clearly inform students of their performance strengths and weaknesses. All assignments are scored on a typical 0-100% scale. Student competence is evaluated as follows:
- Below 70%: Student did not demonstrate competence
- 70-80%: Competency met 70-80%
- 80-90%: Competency met 80-90%
- 90-100%: Competency met 90-100%
Percentage is also tied to a letter grade, following the MPH/MHA grading policy.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Master of Health Care Administration program faculty utilize a variety of lower- and higher-level teaching, learning and assessment methods to ensure multiple opportunities for competency development and achievement. Across the MHA program, students engage in lower-level teaching and learning methods approximately 50% of the time and higher-level methods approximately 50% of the time.
Lower-Level Teaching and Learning Methods
- Required textbook and scientific article readings
- Pre-recorded lectures with media
- Online discussion forums with fellow students and faculty
- Interactive learning modules or tutorials
Higher-Level Teaching and Learning Methods
- In-class presentations
- Case studies/case analyses
- Team or group-based activities
- Simulations
- Field-based learning opportunities
- Reflective learning
In addition to the above teaching and learning methods, faculty utilize a variety of lower- and higher-level assessment methods. Across the MHA program, approximately 80% of evaluations utilize higher-level assessment methods, while approximately 20% are based on lower-level assessment methods.
Lower-Level Assessment Methods
- Quizzes and exams
- Papers and reports (e.g., research reports)
Higher-Level Assessment Methods
- Synthesis, analysis-based exams
- Case review and feedback
- Project review and feedback
- Class participation
- Experiential report
- Strategic or consulting projects
Length of Program
The MHA program offers flexible enrollment, allowing students to earn their degree in as little as two years. Its calendar is based on five 8-week terms. Students earn 47 total credit hours in 19 courses — 44 academic course credit hours and a required three-credit-hour Field Based Learning or Long Term Care Internship. This required class is to be completed in-person, at an organization of the student’s choice, including any current places of employment.
Interprofessional Experiences
Online Seminars and Development
Students participate in seminars that connect them with other members of the health care industry. Within these teams, students collaborate to address issues, solve problems and enhance real-world organizations with their work.
Expand Your Impact with Dual Degrees
MHA + Clinical Dual Degree
Students enrolled in DMU’s clinical programs (DO, DPM, DPT, OTD) may be eligible for a dual degree option leading to a Master of Health Care Administration.
This pathway allows students to combine clinical expertise with administrative leadership, enhancing patient care and career opportunities.
Interested students typically apply during the first year of their primary clinical program.
MHA + MPH
Students in the MHA program may also pursue a dual degree with a Master of Public Health. Faculty guide students toward culminating experiences that allow them to use both the MPH and MHA competencies and skills.
To apply, you must first complete nine semester hours in the MHA program.
The dual curriculum includes overlapping credits, requiring a total of 78 semester hours to complete both degrees.
Current DMU students can apply through the DMU Direct Application — no need to resubmit transcripts or test scores, as these are retrieved from the DMU Registrar’s Office.
University Partnerships
DMU partners with select universities and colleges in the health sciences, allowing eligible students to begin MHA coursework during their undergraduate studies and apply approved credits toward both degrees.