Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) Integrity Empathy Leadership Innovation
Department of Health Policy and Administration College of Health and Human Development
A Focus on Building Leaders Integrity. Empathy. Leadership. Innovation. These are the values and ideals guiding the Penn State M.H.A. program. These are the values and ideals to which our students aspire. The program’s goal is to build leaders. We focus our energy on helping you become the leader you want to be.
“C3” competency model To that end, the Penn State M.H.A. program follows a “C3” competency model. We provide our students with deep grounding in the context of the health care industry, training in content that is highly relevant to the management profession, and extensive practice developing the personal attributes and capabilities that enable effective leadership. Capabilities
Content
Context
Emotional Intelligence
Critical Thinking
Management
Communications Skills Ethics and Professionalism
Health Industry Knowledge
Deep Industry Ties The Penn State M.H.A. program is centered on the practice of management and leadership in health care contexts. To that end, our deep industry ties—including a board of visitors and several key strategic partners—serve as a guiding light for our curriculum. These ties are fostered by an expert faculty committed to improving health and health care delivery and by an alumni base that is among the most active and committed in the field. Examples of the organizations with whom we work closely include the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Mount Nittany Medical Center, and Geisinger Health System.
Practical Experience Deep industry ties enable the Penn State M.H.A. program to focus on the practice of management and leadership throughout the program. This is accomplished by: • Infusing the classroom experience with case studies, projects, and simulation experiences • Holding regular “grand rounds” in which students are exposed to the unique settings and issues that health care managers face • Requiring each student to complete a 10-week, preceptor guided residency • Working with our strategic partners to design real-world “capstone” projects that enable students to fully integrate what they’ve learned during their experience in the program.
Admissions Requirements Admission to our program is competitive. The selection committee seeks students with the greatest potential for success, based on academic performance (GPA), test scores (GRE or GMAT), letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and interviews. We are looking for a record of experience and achievement that demonstrates leadership potential.
Funding Financial assistance is available through department and graduate school scholarships, assistantships, and traineeships. All applicants are considered for these opportunities and funds are awarded on a competitive basis. Additional assistance is available through federal and private loans.
Application Deadline
February 1st
Minimum GPA
3.0 (3.6)
(Average of Admitted Students) Minimum Test Score
50th percentile
(Average of Admitted Students)
(65th percentile)
Typical Undergraduate Majors
Wide and Varied
Students Receiving Funding
40% - 50%
Career Opportunities While it is most common for our graduates to go on to manage and lead hospitals and health systems, our alumni are also helping to shape the industry landscape in technology companies, consulting firms, physician groups, and more.
Positioned for Success The Penn State M.H.A. Program expends substantial energy to ensure the appropriate placement of our graduates upon completion of the program. Since 2006, we have successfully placed 97% of our students with organizations such as: • Aramark • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia • Cleveland Clinic • Deloitte • Lehigh Valley Health System • Massachusetts General Hospital • Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center • Teletracking • UPMC
Alumni Perspectives Grant Simmons ’09 M H A
Operations Manager, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA “The Penn State M.H.A. program is very distinctive in its structure and approach. It provides students with tangible skill sets that can be used immediately upon graduation. I feel that I’ve learned how to think forward and strategically, which assists health care organizations in their pursuit of excellence in service delivery and patient outcomes. The close-knit atmosphere truly fostered my growth within the health care administration discipline and positively positioned me for an opportunity to become one of America’s leading hospital/health system executives.”
Jessica Havern ’10 M H A
Administrative Fellow, Geisinger Health System, Wilkes-Barre, PA “The Penn State M.H.A. program has developed a stellar national reputation in recent years and gave me the tools I need to thrive in today’s health care management environment. I felt extremely prepared and capable of performing at a high level once completing the program. The coursework and additional experience alloted to students throughout the two years are unmatched. I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else.”
Briene Simmons ’09 M H A
Clinical and Operations Associate, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Philadelphia, PA “The M.H.A. program at Penn State prepared me for the challenges and professional expectations faced within the health care industry. The M.H.A. program provides a comprehensive overview of the current health care arena while developing qualitative skills through team building, etiquette training, and professional development as well as quantitative skills through student case competitions and oral presentations. I believe that the experiences and training gained through the program have given me a competitive advantage over my peers in the field. Through my professors, courses, and numerous class discussions I developed the knowledge necessary to excel within the health care industry and learned the qualifications and skills necessary to be a successful leader. Most importantly, I learned how to teach, motivate, and continuously refine myself as an individual and a professional. I would recommend the Penn State M.H.A. program to anyone with a passion to help people, a desire to learn, and a willingness to grow.”
Contact Us Find out more about how we can help you take the next step toward a leading role in the future of health and health care. M.H.A. Program Department of Health Policy and Administration Penn State University 118 Keller Building University Park, PA 16802 814-865-0631 • PennStateMHA@psu.edu www.hhd.psu.edu/hpa
This publication is available in alternative media on request. The Pennsylvania State University is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce. (HPA14011) U.Ed. HHD 14-011