Master of Healthcare Administration

MHA

You must first meet the admission requirements of the UWM Graduate School. In addition to UWM Graduate School requirements, you must be prepared to meet the following departmental requirements:

• A baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent, as determined by the UWM Center on International Education, from a regionally accredited institution, and completed before the first term of enrollment in the UWM Graduate School.
• A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or an equivalent measure on a grading system that does not use a 4.0 scale.
• Proficiency in the English language, use of word processing, spreadsheet and database software.
• Submission of two letters of recommendation, a resume or CV, and official transcripts.

You can find admission deadlines on the Graduate School application deadline chart.

Download the guide to the MHA application process (PDF)

Full-time students can complete the Master of Healthcare Administration program in just two years.

Program Options

1. Face to face program (39 credits)
   All courses are face-to-face: 30 credits of required courses, three-credit internship, and six credits of electives are required.
2. Online program (39 credits)
   All courses are online: 30 credits of required courses, three-credit internship, and six credits of electives are required.
3. Executive Online program (33 credits)
   All courses are online: 30 credits of required courses and a three-credit internship are required. Admission to the Executive Online program requires previous health-related administrative experience and an advanced professional degree (e.g., MBA, PharmD, PhD, MD, JD, DO, DPT, and APRN).

Internship

Students are required to complete a minimum eight-week, 120-hour summer administrative internship between their first and second academic years under the supervision of a preceptor. The internship is designed to provide MHA students with an opportunity to apply classroom acquired knowledge to the work environment. It is a significant educational capstone experience, which involves a supervised practical experience in a community agency or health services organization. A written report is required summarizing the fieldwork experience as well as the submission of weekly reports.  

Internship Placement  

Students will be matched into an internship with a preceptor from a health organization. Students may acquire their own internship placement and approval of internship is decided by the program by March 1st. Prior to beginning their internship, students are expected to complete all pre-internship vetting requirements set by the clinical or administrative organization (e.g., physical exam, TB test, vaccinations, etc.) via Viewpoint by June 1st. The fee for Viewpoint is around $98, which students will pay when an account is created. Prices vary from year to year and additional fees may apply.   

Internship Placement Sites

• Advocate Health
• Children’s of Wisconsin
• Clement J Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Froedtert Health
• Mayo Clinic
• Medical College of Wisconsin
• Rogers Behavioral Health
• SSM Health
• UW Health
• Vizient

See MHA Handbook for more details. 

Capstone Project

The capstone project will reflect the cumulative knowledge of your educational and practical/laboratory experiences, and build upon a literature base. The purpose of the capstone is to further enhance your learning experience, provide some independence in developing and managing the project, and should be in line with your career goals. You will receive three credits, repeatable to a maximum of six credits.

Please click on the cost button in the right hand navigation to learn more about tuition for this certificate. Applicants can calculate the cost of tuition by multiplying the number of credits with the graduate credit cost.

• We are the first accredited MHA program in Wisconsin. UWM’s Master of Healthcare Administration is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).

• Our program is designed for both full-time or part-time students with the flexibility of completing the program entirely online.
• Accelerated (18 Month) Executive Online Program (33 credits)

Master of Healthcare Administration Student Handbook (PDF)

Employment Outlook

Our graduates are highly sought after. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for medical and health service managers is projected to grow 28% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Salaries depend on education level, employment setting and experience. The median annual wage for medical and health services managers was $110,680 in May 2023. The lowest 10% earned less than $67,900, and the highest 10% earned more than $216,750. Salaries differ for non-managerial entry level positions, with higher pay typically associated with positions requiring a master’s degree.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers.

Related Programs

• Master of Healthcare Administration & Master of Business Administration
• Value-Based Healthcare, Graduate Certificate
• Healthcare Compliance, Graduate Certificate
• Health Sciences, PhD

Internship Capstone  

The internship capstone is designed to provide MHA students with an opportunity to apply classroom-acquired knowledge to the work environment. 

Requirements

• Minimum eight-week, 120-hour administrative internship 
• Complete internship under supervision of healthcare leader/preceptor 
• Pre-internship Viewpoint package requirements (i.e., background check, drug test, etc.) 
  *Note: Student pays Viewpoint fee 

Placement   

Students will be matched into an internship with a preceptor from a health
organization by the MHA Clinical Placement Coordinator. Students may acquire their own internship placement pending approval by the MHA program. 

See the MHA Handbook for more details.

Testimonials

“My internship experience was excellent and truly meaningful for my professional development.”  – VA Milwaukee Medical Center intern 

“I had a great experience as an intern. Everyone was very welcoming”  -Froedtert Memorial Hospital intern  

Internship Placement Sites

• Advocate Aurora Health 
• Children’s of Wisconsin 
• Clement J Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center 
• Froedtert Health & Medical College of Wisconsin 
• Mayo Clinic 
• Rogers Behavioral Health 
• SSM Health 
• UW Health 
• Vizient