Three people sitting around a table in a hospital

Our Master of Healthcare Administration program helps health care administrators make effective decisions by understanding the basic business principles and tools related to finance, information systems, strategic planning, human resource management and marketing. 

The Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program prepares you to enter management positions with the knowledge to make a difference when managing medical information and health care staff in all areas of the industry, and in doing so, provide excellent health care quality and value.

Program Type

Master’s

Program Format

On Campus, Online

Request Information
Loading…

Health Care Administrators…

are skilled professionals who manage hospitals, health care organizations and a variety of other services.

As a health care administrator your potential responsibilities may include establishing and implementing the policies and objectives of a specific clinical area or department within a facility; training and evaluating personnel; developing reports and budgets; and coordinating activities with other managers. With experience and an advanced degree, you may move into executive management positions.

Your work will take you to a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, medical group practices, residential settings, insurance companies and medical supply companies.

Two health care administration students working at a computer
  • Our program is designed for both full-time or part-time students with the flexibility of completing the program entirely online.
  • Full-time students can complete the program in just two years.
  • We are a proud member of the National Council of Administrative Fellowships (NCAF).

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 2021 to 2031, 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 $101,340 in May 2021. The lowest 10% earned less than $60,780, and the highest 10% earned more than $205,620. Salaries differ for non-managerial entry level positions, with higher pay typically associated with positions requiring a master’s degree.

Successful Alumni

The School of Biomedical Sciences & Health Care Administration has many successful alumni. These alumni have taken their degrees and have excelled in their careers.

Visit our Alumni page and be inspired by where a health sciences degree can take you.

Related Programs

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 2.75 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 and official transcripts.

We encourage students looking to enroll in fall semester to have application materials in by Jan. 1 of that year.

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

You will take part in a fieldwork placement in a staff or administrative position at an organization where you will establish a compelling organizational vision and goals. This is usually completed during the regular academic session. Required, too, is an individual project and preceptor designation, along with starting the capstone process that will continue until graduation.

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.

Phil Brummond Headshot
  • Executive-in-Residence, Health Care Administration
  • Managing Partner, Visante: Transforming Healthcare Through Pharmacy
Melissa Armstrong, PhDc, MHA, BS
  • Clinical Associate Professor, Health Care Administration
  • Director of Graduate Healthcare Administration and Certificates
John Brill
  • Executive-in-Residence, Health Care Administration
  • Vice President, Population Health Sciences & Research, Enterprise Population Health, Midwest
Carrie Donovan Headshot
  • Executive-in-Residence, Health Care Administration
  • Senior Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer, Advocate Health
Portrait of Jennifer Fink
  • Associate Professor, Chair - Health Care Administration Department, Master of Healthcare Administration Program Director, Health Care Administration
Taylor Mathewson Levandoski, MA
  • Academic Program Manager, Health Care Administration
Portrait of Kathleen Olewinski
  • Clinical Associate Professor, Health Care Administration Program Director/Educational Coordinator, Health Care Administration
  • Clinical Associate Professor, Health Care Administration
Aliah R Taylor
  • Administrative Assistant II, Communication Sciences & Disorders/Health Care Administration
Portrait of Hanh Trinh
  • Associate Professor, Health Care Administration
Accreditation
The UWM Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) has received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). This makes our program the first accredited MHA program in Wisconsin!
Contact
Melissa Armstrong, PhDc, MHA, BS
Clinical Associate Professor
Director of Graduate Healthcare Administration and Certificates
414-333-8590
armstro5@uwm.edu

Taylor Mathewson Levandoski, M.A.
Academic Program Manager
414-251-5431
levandos@uwm.edu

Aliah R. Taylor, M E
d
Administrative Assistant II
414-251-5659
taylo528@uwm.edu