At the College of Public Health, you’ll combine your education with hands-on learning and leadership experiences that will prime you to make a positive change in health care administration in ways that drive better clinical care and public health.

Competency-based curriculum

Our two-year, full-time master’s degree is a rigorous, competency-based curriculum that advances your knowledge and skills in public health, health systems, policy and health care management essential to effective health care leadership.

The first year of the program provides foundational knowledge about the U.S. health care system and develops your critical thinking, analytical and communication skills. You then apply those lessons within a health care organization, gaining real-world experience before you ever leave the program.

The second year further develops your skills and expertise while also providing opportunities for integrative, case- and practice-based learning. In addition, you can focus your education based on your interests through a vast selection of electives available within the College of Public Health and across Ohio State.

Experiential learning

The Master of Health Administration program is designed to immerse you in practical, timely examples of health care administration. It is intentionally built to provide opportunities for real-world experience through: 

• case-based assignments
• clinical rotations at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
• site visits to central Ohio health care organizations
• a summer administrative residency
• an integrative business plan capstone
• the chance to participate in case competitions

Leadership development

The faculty and staff of the College of Public Health and the MHA alumni are dedicated to your success and development as a student and professional. Hands-on learning in the classroom will help you grow as a leader, and you’ll hear directly from successful, experienced health care administrators. Our dedicated staff will guide your professional development to make the most of your learning opportunities outside of the classroom. And our MHA alumni give back to our students with opportunities for mentoring and networking at events throughout the year.

Who you learn from

Courses are taught by full-time faculty who are experts in health care management, economics, finance, policy and other health administration topics, and by adjunct faculty who are currently immersed in the field and have deep experience working in health care settings. Courses are taught using a variety of methods, including lecture, class discussion, case analyses, guest speakers and other projects from the field of practice.