Health Services Administration (MHSA)

Description

Student Handbook
Student Handbook

Master of Health Services Administration

The Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) builds on its strong connection with the health care industry and the community, bringing health-related work experience into the classroom; and develops advanced competencies in management and research techniques, as well as current knowledge of the health care delivery system, health law, program planning and evaluation and health care policy issues. Courses are offered in the evenings on the McNichols Campus. Class formats are designed for the working person. The MHSA program does not offer weekend classes.

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    Admissions Requirements

    Graduate Application Requirements

    • A baccalaureate or advanced degree from a regionally-accredited college or university, with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale). Your undergraduate degree does not have to be health care-related.
    • Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
    • Work experience, in health care and otherwise, is very helpful in this program, but not required.
    • Three letters of recommendation from professional and academic recommenders, including one from a direct supervisor. Recommendation letters should be on the recommender’s employer’s letterhead and sent directly by the recommenders from their professional (not personal) email address either to the health services administrative assistant or through the É«×ۺϾþà Mercy application portal.
    • Official transcripts sent directly from all colleges and universities attended.
    • A brief (1-2 pages) essay explaining why you are interested in pursuing the MHSA program at University of É«×ۺϾþà Mercy*:
      • how your prior professional and/or personal experience led to your choice of a career in health administration
      • why the MHSA program at University of É«×ۺϾþà Mercy is of particular interest to you (including how you see your professional and/or personal goals relating to the mission of the MHSA program)
      • what your professional goals are upon graduation from the program / how you plan to use the MHSA degree upon graduation
      • For international students: why you chose the U.S. as your study destination
    • For international students: TOEFL score of 6.5 or equivalent test score
    • A personal interview with the Health Services Administration program director may be requested.
    *Essays will be screened for plagiarism

    Probationary Admission

    Students who do not meet the admission requirements, but who show other indicators of potential success will be considered for probationary admission. If admitted on probation, the student will be required to pass the first three HSA courses with a grade of B or better in each of the courses. These courses may not be repeated.

    Application Deadlines 

    Please note: Official application deadlines for each semester are

    • Fall Semester: August 1
    • Winter Semester: November 1
    • Summer Semester: April 1

    Applying after the deadline

    It is always best to submit a completed application by the deadline in order to ensure that there is sufficient time for the MHSA program and Admissions Office to review and process it. Although it is possible to submit a late application after the official application deadline has passed, it would be reviewed and processed only if time permits. Your chances depend on the number of students who applied on time and accepted their spot after the admission selection round.

    There are two ways to apply:

    Option 1 is directly through É«×ۺϾþà Mercy, the online application is free.
    Admissions Office, 4001 W. McNichols Rd., É«×ۺϾþÃ, MI 48221-3038. If you have any questions, please call 1-800-635-5020

    Option 2 is through the Healthcare Administration, Management & Policy Centralized Application System (HAMPCAS).

    Our graduate program in Health Services Administration is a participant of HAMPCAS. This means that applicants can now apply to health management, administration and policy programs across different colleges and universities throughout the U.S. by way of a single, web-based application. See their website for the benefits to applicants when using HAMPCAS.

    International Students

    In lieu of sending foreign transcripts directly to us, applicants who have studied overseas must submit official foreign transcripts to an approved foreign transcript evaluation service for a course-by-course U.S. equivalency report. Contact the foreign transcript evaluation service as early as possible. The service may take several weeks to process your foreign transcript once it is received.

    Applicants who are not United States citizens must contact the International Admissions Office for information about the application process, official evaluation services and status. You may also contact them at:

    International Admissions Office
    Phone: 313-993-3310
    Fax: 313-993-3326
    admissions@udmercy.edu

     

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    Grading Policies

    Successful completion of all Health Services Administration courses (HSA, ETH, PYC, HLH) is dependent upon achievement of the minimum grade standards (see below). The internship stands as an independent course separate from the theory/didactic courses, and students receive separate grades for the internship. These grades are calculated into the cumulative GPA. A letter grade is awarded based on achievement of the course objectives. 

    Grades are assigned by the faculty scheduled to teach a course. Grades are determined based on the evaluation criteria and competencies described in the course syllabus. Faculty utilize their clinical expertise and academic judgment when assigning a grade. Grades cannot be assigned by any other person than the faculty teaching that course, and a grade can only be changed by the faculty member who assigned the grade. A passing grade cannot be appealed or grieved.  

    Academic standards are set to ensure that the master’s degree in Health Services Administration signifies that student work meets or exceeds academic excellence and industry standards. The MHSA graduate program considers a grade below B- in any of the MHSA courses to represent unsatisfactory academic progress. 

    In order to remain in good standing and/or to progress in the MHSA program, graduate students must: a) fulfill all prerequisite requirements, b) maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and c) earn grades of ‘B-’ or better in all courses.  

    When a graduate student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, or when a grade below “B-” is earned in any course, even though their cumulative GPA may be above 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation by the Health Services Administration program and will be notified by registered mail. The student has one semester to bring his/her cumulative GPA up to 3.0. 

    The graduate student must repeat any course in which less than a B- was earned at the first opportunity and earn a grade of B- or higher, as well as maintain his/her cumulative GPA at 3.0 or higher, to progress onward in the curriculum. It is the responsibility of the student to follow up with the advisor if the student receives a poor or failing grade in a course. The purpose of this communication is to notify the student of his/her academic standing and provide additional support and guidance that will enable the student to improve his/her academic performance and successfully complete the MHSA degree. A course may be repeated only once.

    Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program unless the student is able to demonstrate unusual or extraordinary circumstances that are responsible for his/her performance.
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    Master of Health Services Administration Degree Requirements (42 credits)

    • HSA 5001 Theory and Practice of Health Services Management (2 credits)
    • HSA 5005 Career Management for Health Services Administrators (1 credit)
    • HSA 5010 Accounting Principles in the Health Care Profession (3 credits)
    • HSA 5020 Financial Management of Health Services (3 credits)
    • HSA 5055 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Services Administration (3 credits)
    • HSA 5060 Health Economics (3 credits)
    • HSA 5070 Population Health (3 credits)
    • HSA 5090 Human Resources in Health Care Organizations (1.5 credits)
    • HSA 5150 Leadership in Health Care Organizations (1.5 credits)
    • HSA 5160 Marketing for Healthcare Organizations (1.5 credits)
    • HSA 5190 Strategic Planning for Healthcare Organizations (1.5 credits)
    • HSA 5400 Healthcare Research Methods and Statistics (3 credits)
    • HSA 5500 Information Systems for Health Services Administration (3 credits)
    • HLH 5700 Health Care Delivery and Policy Issues (3 credits)
    • HSA 5825 Professional Development for Health Services Administrators (1 credit)
    • HSA 5350 Foundations of Physician Practice Management (3 credits)
    • HSA 5780 Quality Improvement in Health Care Organizations (3 credits)
    • HSA 5860 Internship in Health Services Administration* (2 credits)
    • HSA 5940 Health Services Administration Capstone (3 credits)

    Total credits required: 42 credits

    *Students who are terminated from their internship site at the request of their on-site preceptor for any reason will receive a grade of "F" for the internship course.  They will be required to repeat the internship course.  The previous hours earned on-site will not count toward completion of their required internship hours.

    Students are expected to complete their degree within seven years. Graduate courses in the Health Services Administration program that are over seven years old must be repeated.

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    Program Policy Manual

    The Student Handbook contains additional policies that apply to students in this program.

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    Program Contact Information

    MHSA Program Contact Information:

    Mary Mitsch, PhD, MSN, RN
    Program Director
    McNichols Campus Phone: 313-993-0411


    Administrative Assistant
    College of Health Professions, 115
    McNichols Campus
    Phone:  313-993-1146
    for admissions related questions, contact 800-635-5020 or the admissions website