The National University School of Health and Human Services (SHHS) will welcome a second cohort in September to its new 16-course Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program. The first cohort of 30 students enrolled in March.
The majority of MHA courses are new and contemporary, taking into consideration current healthcare management and outcomes, according to Lead Faculty Terry Schmidt, Ph.D.
“This program is designed to allow SHHS to file an application for accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Management Education (CAHME), which we are currently pursuing,” Dr. Schmidt said. “We hope to file an application sometime this year.” CAHME accreditation is a two-year process.
Students pursuing the MHA degree at National University will be in better position for entry-level managerial positions within the rapidly-growing healthcare field. Seasoned healthcare leaders will enhance their career advancement opportunities through the MHA degree.
Unique to the MHA program is a healthcare internship that Dr. Schmidt arranged with a San Diego healthcare enterprise. The internship is part of the degree requirement.
According to Dr. Schmidt, employment in the healthcare industry is predicted to increase by 25 percent over the next eight years. To illustrate the point, he referenced January 2009 unemployment figures, citing more than 600,000 jobs lost. “In the same month,” said Dr. Schmidt, “The U.S. Department of Labor reported 350,000 new health care jobs.”
The MHA degree is offered exclusively as an on-site program at National University’s Technology and Health Sciences Center in Kearny Mesa. Three full-time faculty positions have been allocated, two of which are currently filled, said Dr. Schmidt.
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