Master of Health Administration

Core Curriculum

Our two-year MHA offers students a rigorous management curriculum, unparalleled flexibility in selecting specialized courses based on career interests, and practical learning opportunities. Our core curriculum consists of 15 required courses in key management disciplines including:

1. Health Care Organizations
2. Regression Analysis and Managerial Forecasting
3. Health Care Accounting
4. Population Health for Health Managers
5. Managerial Finance
6. Health Care Finance
7. Managing Operations
8. Health Policy
9. Organizational Development and Human Resources
10. Microeconomics for Management and Policy
11. Health Care Strategy
12. Health Care Marketing 
13. Health Care Ethics
14. Legal Aspects of Health Care
15. Data Analytics for Health Care Administrators

In addition to these core courses, students have the flexibility to select specialized courses based on their career interests. The program also emphasizes practical learning opportunities such as Practitioner-Led Intensive Courses (PLICs), trips, colloquium series, a summer internship, and a capstone course.

The Sloan Colloquium

The Sloan Colloquium Series is a valuable component of our program, providing students with opportunities to engage directly with health care executives and industry professionals. The Sloan Colloquium Series enhances the educational experience by bridging academic knowledge with real-world insights, preparing students to become effective leaders and decision-makers in health care management.

Purpose: The colloquia aim to expose students to recent trends, issues, and innovative developments in the health care field. They provide a platform for students to interact with high-level professionals and gain insights into real-world practices and challenges.

Format: Practicing health care executives visit campus each semester to deliver lectures, workshops, and seminars. These sessions are conducted in an informal setting, allowing for open discussions, debates, and exchanges of ideas between students and practitioners.

Topics and Speakers: The colloquia cover a wide range of topics relevant to health care management, including academic medical centers, community hospitals, the VA system, medical practice management, biotechnology, health insurance, management consulting, and professional associations. The speakers are experienced professionals from diverse sectors within the health care industry.

Interaction Opportunities: Students actively participate in the colloquia by asking questions, sharing perspectives, and engaging in discussions with the speakers. The sessions foster a dynamic learning environment where students can deepen their understanding of current health care issues and practices.

Networking: In addition to the formal sessions, students have the opportunity to network with speakers during lunch sessions. This networking aspect allows students to build connections, gain mentorship, and explore potential career paths within the health care industry.

Practitioner-Led Intensive Courses (PLICs)

Sloan offers a variety of Practitioner-Led Intensive Courses (PLICs) throughout the year, providing students with opportunities to delve into specialized topics and acquire practical skills under the guidance of experienced health care executives.  

Course Structure: PLICs are short-duration weekend courses ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 credits. They are designed to be intensive and focused, allowing students to gain in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in specific areas within health care management.

Instructor Expertise: PLICs are taught by seasoned health care executives who bring real-world insights and expertise to the classroom. These instructors have extensive experience in their respective fields, offering valuable perspectives and practical strategies to students.

Topics Covered: PLICs cover a diverse range of topics relevant to health care management. Some examples include health care facilities planning, alternative payments in healthcare, VUCA leadership (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity), disruptive innovation, key management issues in biotech and pharmaceutical industries, quality measurement, data analysis using Python, private equity in health care, and physician practice administration.

Skill Development: The courses focus not only on theoretical knowledge but also on practical skills development. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios, enhancing their problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills.

Flexibility and Choice: With at least ten PLICs offered annually, students have the flexibility to choose courses based on their interests, career goals, and areas of specialization within health care management. This variety allows for a customized learning experience tailored to individual preferences.

Capstone Course

During the second year in the program, students engage in a comprehensive capstone project that spans the entire year. This project involves collaborating with a small team of classmates, typically three to four individuals, to address a real-world challenge faced by a health care organization. This hands-on experience allows students to apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout their coursework and internships at Sloan to provide practical solutions for actual clients.

The capstone project culminates in an oral presentation and a research paper, showcasing the team’s expertise and recommendations to the client. The following are examples of recent capstone projects completed by students:

• Assisting a hospital’s pediatric practice in increasing patient volume.
• Redesigning physician schedules at a gastrointestinal (GI) clinic to enhance patient access and optimize operational throughput.
• Examining the feasibility of establishing a hospice house.
• Exploring solutions for physician practices to accept cash payments from patients without breaching payer contract agreements, ensuring compliance and financial sustainability.

Professional Development Workshops

Each fall, incoming first-year students are required to participate in a series of career and professional development workshops aimed at refining their professional skill set. These workshops cover a range of essential areas including communication, networking, interviewing, negotiating, etiquette, and health care management skills. 

Summer Internship

Students in the program are required to complete a 10-week internship during the summer break between their first and second years, typically in a paid capacity. This internship serves as a crucial opportunity for students to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to real-world projects within a health care organization. 

Some students may receive full-time job offers from their internship organizations, providing a smooth transition from academic studies to professional employment. Overall, students gain a deeper appreciation for the challenges and opportunities in the health care industry and return with a renewed motivation and focus for their second year of study.

Off-Campus Trips

During the program, students have two valuable opportunities to participate in class trips. These trips are designed to enhance students’ understanding of key aspects of the health care industry and policy landscape. Below is an overview of the two class trips:

Boston Trip (Fall of Odd Years):

• The Boston trip focuses on innovation within the health care industry. 
• Students will have the chance to observe and engage with practitioners who are implementing innovative strategies to disrupt and improve health care practices.
• The trip includes presentations, discussions, and interactions with professionals involved in financing or executing innovative initiatives.
• Students will gain insights into the importance of innovation in health care, the challenges associated with implementing innovative practices, and the impact of innovation on health care organizations.

Washington, D.C. Trip (Spring of Even Years):

• The Washington, D.C. trip is centered around health care policy and governance.
• Students will meet with policymakers, lobbyists, and advocacy groups to understand how health care policies are developed and implemented at the national level.
• The trip involves meetings, discussions, and engagements with key stakeholders involved in shaping health care policies.
• Students will learn firsthand about the process of crafting health care policies, the role of various stakeholders in policy formulation, and how policies influence different types of health care organizations.

These class trips provide students with unique experiential learning opportunities, allowing them to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world practices and challenges in the health care sector. They also facilitate networking, exposure to diverse perspectives, and a deeper understanding of the broader health care landscape beyond classroom teachings.