• Curriculum

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Program Description

The Master of Healthcare Administration in Strategy & Innovation (MHA-SI) is a two-year program that develops leaders who possess the values, knowledge, and skills needed to work in a highly-competitive, market-driven environment. Students will learn about the design, delivery and execution of strategy and innovation in healthcare. In particular, students will learn to integrate data and evidence-based practices to gain operational effectiveness, quality outcomes, and sustainability of strategy in healthcare. All classes are offered online to accommodate the working professional.

Mental and Physical Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the MHA-SI program must:

• Be able to speak in a clear and concise manner.
• Have communication abilities sufficient to interact professionally with others in verbal and written form.
• Possess critical thinking skills sufficient to think clearly and act appropriately in stressful situations.
• Possess interpersonal skills sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the MHA-SI program must:

1. Submit an application online and nonrefundable $50 application fee.
2. Present evidence of a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
3. Present current official transcripts from all undergraduate and/or graduate institutions attended. Admission GPAs will be calculated based on credits and grades from regionally accredited institutions only. Transcripts must be mailed or delivered electronically to AHU from each institution, or the applicant may deliver a transcript in a sealed envelope directly to the Office of Admissions. Faxed copies will not be considered official. Failure to disclose all colleges previously attended could result in denial or dismissal. Additionally, transcripts from institutions outside the United States must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES). This is the only company from which we accept transcript evaluations.
4. Present official transcripts for each College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP), and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) examination taken only if the applicant would like them to be considered for fulfillment of prerequisite requirements. CLEP scores reported on an official college transcript are also acceptable for this requirement.
5. Present a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
6. Submit the MHA S&I Healthcare Administration Program Prerequisite Eligibility Form.
7. Provide an essay or goal statement outlining career goals, reasons for choosing to attend a faith-based institution, and reasons for specifically choosing AdventHealth University.
8. Provide two recommendations using AHU Recommendation Forms. It is preferred to have one academic reference and one supervisor reference in addition to the third recommendation.

Note: Competency in computer skills is assumed.

Reapplication Process

Applicants who are not admitted to the Master’s in Healthcare Administration in Strategy & Innovation program during a specific admission cycle may reapply to the program for the next admission cycle as long as they have successfully met the minimum admission requirements. Reapplicants are expected to meet the published admission deadlines by submitting the following additional information to the Office of Admissions.

1. Submit an application online with a non-refundable $50 reactivation fee.
2. Updated official transcripts from any accredited institutions attended since the original application was submitted.

Progression

In the MHA-SI Program, students will be deemed to be making continuous satisfactory progress toward the MHA-SI degree when they:

​A. Academic Status and Notification. A student who is advancing in the program is considered in good academic standing. Students on probation are not considered in good academic standing. Please refer to the AHU Catalog for the complete definition of academic probation. 

B. Academic Concern Process.

1. Unsatisfactory progress indicators include:

a. Falling below a 3.00 Grade Point Average

b. Grade of C or below in any course

c. Unprofessional conduct (as reported by the Department Chair, a course instructor, or other faculty)

d. Disciplinary problems and other conduct and professionalism infractions that fall within the scope of AHU’s Code of Conduct.

2. Academic Alert. An Academic Alert is issued by the department of Healthcare Administration and applies to students in good academic standing that may have failed one graduate level course. Students that receive an Academic Alert will be notified in writing by the department chair that they are at risk for dismissal from the program.  There are instances that students would not receive an Academic Alert and instead be dismissed from the program. This is detailed in section ‘C’ below.
3. Withdrawal.

a. If a student withdraws (W, WF) from a core course, the student will only be permitted to retake the course one time.
     i. Withdrawal from the same core course for a second time will be considered withdrawal from the program.
b. In accordance with university policy, a student may also be academically dismissed for:
     i. Displaying a high degree of academic irresponsibility and academic dishonesty (see the Academic Integrity section of the AHU catalog)

4. Provisional Grades and Remediation. The incomplete (I) grade is a transcript grade which may be replaced by a passing grade should the student successfully pass the course meeting all the requirements therein. Please see the Grading Policy for all grading definitions.

   If a student earns a C in the course, a grade of C will be recorded on the transcript. Students that earn a C will be notified in writing by the department chair that they are at risk for dismissal from the program and this will trigger an Academic Alert. Students that earn a D or F will automatically be dismissed from the program.

   If a student withdraws from a course, the student will only be permitted to retake the course one time. Withdrawal from the course for a second time will be considered withdrawal from the program.

C. Dismissal. 

a. Academic failure is taken seriously at AHU. Academic failure within the Healthcare Administration department is defined as follows:

i. Any student that earns a second ‘C’ would trigger an automatic dismissal.

ii. Any student that earns a ‘D’ or ‘F’ would trigger an automatic dismissal.

iii. Any student with documented unprofessional behavior. 

D. Remediation. A student failing to receive a minimum acceptable grade in a course for graduate credit may not continue his/her program of studies without permission of the Department Chair. The Chairs decision, along with an appropriate explanation and justification, must be filed in the Graduate Studies Office. This may include a requirement to retake the course. Students may be given the opportunity to repeat no more than two courses during their progression. 

E. Petition for Readmission. If an individual who has previously been dismissed from the AHU MHA program due to academic failure desires to return to the MHA program, he or she must re-apply during the normal application cycle for the next available class. Should a vacancy occur in the MHA program which is compatible with matriculation of the academically failed/dismissed student, the department chair may extend an invitation for reapplication to the MHA program. Individuals/ applicants must submit required admission paperwork and fees. An invitation for application does not signify acceptance into the MHA program. Academically/dismissed individuals desiring to be considered to reapplication should submit a letter of intent to the department chair. If an individual is accepted into the Healthcare Administration program again, at the time of readmission, the department chair will design an individualized course plan of study for the readmitted student, which may include repeating coursework successfully completed previously and directed study classes. 

Readmissions Process

If an individual who has previously been dismissed from the program due to academic failure who desires to return to the MHA in Strategy & Innovation program, must submit a letter of intent for readmission in writing to the Healthcare Administration Chair. If an individual is accepted into the program again, at the time of readmission, the Healthcare Administration Chair may design an individualized course of study for the readmitted student, which may include repeating coursework successfully completed previously and directed study classes.

Completion

AdventHealth University will consider students for graduation with a Master’s in Healthcare Administration in Strategy and Innovation when they have:

1. Students must complete the required credit hours for their graduate degree program.
2. Total time from matriculation to graduate cannot exceed 72 months. 
3. Students must attain the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for a healthcare administration leader.
4. Students must comply with the standards of conduct, professionalism, and academic integrity as outlined in the university catalog, student handbook, and related policies. 

5. Only students in good academic standing are eligible for graduation.

I. Exceptions 

Deviation from the aforementioned policies will require a petition to and approval by the department chair.