Program Curriculum
To view the most current curriculum for the MHA program, please visit the Course Catalog here.
Introducing Idaho's First MHA Program...
The Idaho State University (ISU) College of Business is delighted to introduce Idaho's first Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program with its inaugural class beginning in the fall of 2018. The MHA will provide early and mid-careerists an opportunity to earn the preferred academic credential for today and tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.
Designed for recent undergraduates and mid-career healthcare professionals, the MHA degree will greatly enhance students’ conceptual, technical, and human relation skills needed to compete and succeed in today’s highly complex and competitive healthcare industry.
The strength of the MHA program is providing student-centered education with flexible learning options, affordable tuition, highly qualified faculty members, and comprehensive professional experience, just to name a few. In order to accommodate a variety of student learning needs, the MHA program offers a combination of online teaching formats (asynchronous and synchronous online courses) to enhance the flexibility for students who work full or part-time during their study in the program.
Overview of the MHA Program
The MHA program is housed in ISU's College of Business (COB). ISU) is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research university with more than 12,000 students. ISU has a health mission and is home to 75 percent of Idaho’s health degree programs.
Under the leadership of Dr. Shane Hunt (Dean), the COB is an AACSB accredited business school with a mission to develop outstanding, effective, and ethical business professionals. The MHA program aligns well with the mission of ISU and COB. The program’s vision is to become one of the finest CAHME accredited MHA programs in the western United States, and the premier healthcare leadership and management education venue in the State of Idaho and beyond.
The passionate and dedicated MHA full-time, executive in residence, and adjunct faculty bring students the perspective and wisdom that comes from decades of practical healthcare leadership and management experience in U.S. and international healthcare systems. The MHA program faculty have diverse backgrounds and expertise in healthcare management education, research, and healthcare executive practices. The MHA program strives for providing students with high quality and cutting-edge education for the State of Idaho and beyond to prepare the next generation of competent administrators, managers, and leaders in the healthcare industry.
Mission Statement
The Masters in Health Care Administration (MHA) program at Idaho State University will provide early and mid-career professionals, in Idaho and beyond, with foundational, conceptual, technical, and human relations skills needed to assume increasingly responsible leadership roles in the healthcare industry.
Vision Statement
The MHA program will be widely regarded as one of the finest jointly AACSB & CAHME accredited MHA programs in the western U.S. and the premier healthcare leadership education venue in the State of Idaho.
Values Statement
Teamwork/Collaboration: We forge value added partnerships across the various disciplines and communities we serve. We value and celebrate teamwork.
Integrity: We seek the highest level of professional and ethical conduct in our decision making and other personal and professional endeavors.
Mutual respect: We strive to treat each other and our stakeholders with respect.
Excellence: We seek continuous improvement and the highest levels of standards of leadership, teaching, research, and service. Our quest for excellence emphasizes the principles and practices of evidence-based management.
Diversity, equity and inclusion: We strive to maintain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all, and promote a culture of belonging in the community.
Meeting the Gold Standard
The MHA program at ISU is in candidacy at the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education’s (CAHME). Candidate status is an indication that a program in healthcare management has voluntarily committed to participate in a plan of self-improvement and is actively progressing toward the status of accreditation. Candidate status is not accredited status and does not guarantee eventual accredited status. CAHME is the accreditation agency for MHA and related programs and represents the highest and most distinguished level of accreditation.
The MHA program and faculty will be affiliated with Idaho’s only AUPHA-certified undergraduate healthcare administration program, located at Idaho State University. The MHA program vision is to be regarded as one of the finest CAHME accredited programs in the western United States and the premier healthcare leadership education venue in the state of Idaho.
Goals, Objectives and Outcomes
MHA Program Goals:
Goal 2: Develop culturally-competent healthcare administrators by supporting practical education.
Goal 3: Demonstrate professionalism as evidenced by significant contributions in the healthcare field.
MHA Program Objectives:
- A significant percentage of MHA core faculties will have a terminal degree in the relevant discipline.
- A significant percentage of faculties teaching in the MHA program will have relevant professional experience.
- Students will participate with other professional degree programs.
- The MHA curriculum will be informed by healthcare industry standards and trends.
- MHA students will participate in internship, residency, and/or consulting activities during the MHA program to be culturally-competent.
- MHA students will have access to participate in professional outreach activities.
- MHA students will have access to participate in professional development activities.
- Each of the MHA Core faculties will be involved in at least one service activity within the healthcare field.
- MHA Core faculty members will be actively engaged in scholarly activities.
Curriculum Manageability
The MHA program is designed to be very manageable for either full or part-time students. MHA courses will primarily take place in traditional classroom settings in Meridian, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello. Roughly half of classes will be offered online and remote access will also be available at designated class times through Zoom Video Conferencing.
Competencies
The MHA program has adopted the following competencies based on the program’s mission, vision, and values. The competency framework is an adaption from the Healthcare Leadership Alliance (HLA) Competency Directory. In large measure, the HLA competencies provide a common framework and lexicon for a variety of healthcare leaders and managers in a range of roles and settings; they serve to define the field.
Competency Domain 1: Communication and Relationship Management
The ability to communicate clearly and concisely with internal and external customers, establish and maintain relationships, and facilitate constructive interactions with individuals and groups. Communication and relationship management includes:
- Relationship management
- Communication skills
- Facilitation and negotiation
Competency Domain 2: Leadership
The ability to inspire individual and organizational excellence, create a shared vision and successfully manage change to attain the organization’s strategic ends and successful performance. The leadership domain intersects with each of the other four domains and includes:
- Leadership skills and behavior
- Organizational climate and culture
- Communicating vision
- Managing change
Competency Domain 3: Professionalism
The ability to align personal and organizational conduct with ethical and professional standards that include a responsibility to the patient and community, a service orientation, and a commitment to lifelong learning and improvement. Professionalism includes:
- Personal and professional accountability
- Professional development and lifelong learning
- Contributions to the community and profession
Competency Domain 4: Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment
The understanding of the healthcare system and the environment in which healthcare managers and providers function. Knowledge of the healthcare environment includes:
- Healthcare systems and organizations
- Healthcare personnel
- The patient’s perspective
- The community and environment
Competency Domain 5: Business Skills and Knowledge
The ability to apply business principles, including systems thinking, to the healthcare environment. Business skills and knowledge includes:
- General management
- Financial management
- Human resource management
- Organizational dynamics and governance
- Strategic planning and marketing
- Information management
- Risk management
- Quality improvement
- Patient safety
- Critical thinking and analysis