MHA

Healthcare Administration

The healthcare systems of tomorrow need bold leaders who can meet the needs of diverse communities — especially rural ones. Fully online and built for working professionals, the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) at UNC Pembroke prepares you to lead and make a real difference. this program teaches practical skills, offers real-world experience and focuses on rural health equity.

Degrees

100% Online

MHAMaster of Healthcare Administration

William Howard Dean Graduate School

College of Health Sciences

Department of Health Professions

Application Deadline

Jan. 5, 2026

Classes Start

Jan. 12, 2026

Apply Now

Healthcare isn't one-size-fits-all, especially in rural America. Patients, healthcare providers and administrators in these areas face challenges distinct from their urban counterparts. Workforce shortages, economic constraints, cultural and social differences, educational gaps and geographic isolation all contribute to healthcare disparities, making it harder for rural residents to maintain healthy lives.

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Designed with working professionals in mind, this flexible program offers a manageable course load so you can keep moving forward without putting your career on hold. You’ll learn from expert faculty with real-world experience across the healthcare industry, gaining practical insights that translate directly to your work. With four built in action project opportunities, you’ll build your network, gain hands-on experience and graduate ready to lead with confidence.

No GRE

or Capstone Requirements

Action Project Opportunities

7-week

Sessions

Learn by Doing: Applied Action Research in the MHA Program

The MHA program replaces the traditional internship with a hands-on Applied Action Research Experience built into four management courses—so you don’t pause your career to gain real-world experience. Instead, you apply what you learn directly to the healthcare challenges you face every day.

Over the course of the program, you’ll work step by step on an action research project focused on a real organizational or system-level issue. With faculty guidance, you’ll analyze data, develop practical solutions, and evaluate outcomes—building leadership and decision-making skills that translate immediately to the workplace.

Projects can be completed:

In your current healthcare organization,
With a community or healthcare partner, or
Through a guided case-based project aligned with your career goals.

By graduation, you won’t just understand healthcare administration—you’ll have a polished, applied project that demonstrates your ability to lead change, improve systems, and make evidence-informed decisions across healthcare settings.

Admissions Requirements

To apply for UNCP's MHA program, you'll need:

A bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, preferably in healthcare administration, public health, nursing, or a closely related healthcare field. Applicants with degrees in other disciplines may be considered if they have relevant professional experience in healthcare.
minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Three professional letters of recommendation, with at least one from an academic reference.
A current resume detailing educational background and professional experience, particularly in healthcare settings.
A 1–2 page Statement of Purpose outlining career goals, motivation for pursuing the MHA degree, and how the program aligns with their professional aspirations in healthcare leadership.

Curriculum Sequence

To maximize their impact, today's administrators must be able to apply best practices and organizational principles to decisions and operations that affect countless lives. The MHA curriculum is designed to provide students with both breadth and depth of knowledge. It is competency-based, which provides students with the necessary skills and know-how to succeed as healthcare administrators.

UNCP's online MHA curriculum is designed to align with the standards of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).

Recommended Course Sequencing

Year 1

Semester 1

HCA 5301-Health Care Administration and Organization (3 credits)
HCA 5300-Health Care Finance: Strategic and Management Challenges (3 credits)

Semester 2

HCA5329-Health Policy and Management: Current Trends, Issues, and Approaches (3 credits)
ECN5740-Health Economics (3 credits)
BLAW5300-Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Care Professionals (3 credits)

Semester 3

HCA5303-Health Services Strategy and Marketing (3 credits)
HCA5311-Introduction to Public/Population Health (3 credits)
HCA5323-Management and Administration of Rural Health and Small Practices (3 credits including Action Project)

Year 2

Semester 4

HCA5314-Health Information Technology (3 credits)
HCA5309-Health Care Quality: Perspectives, Initiatives, and Strategies (3 credits)
HCA5320-Management and Administration of Long-Term Care Facilities (3 credits including Action Project)

Semester 5

HCA5317-Management and Administration of Acute Care Facilities (3 credits including Action Project)
HCA5306-Analytics and Managerial Decision-Making in Health care (3 credits)

Semester 6

MGT5300-Human Resources Management (3 credits)
HCA5326-Crisis Management of Health Facilities (3 credits including Action Project)

Total Program Credits - 45

Beyond the Classroom

Addressing the health outcomes of our region and state is an ongoing goal of our university, which includes preparing graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of healthcare management.

Robin Gary Cummings, MD

UNCP Chancellor

Common Careers

Gain specialized knowledge in addressing the challenges of healthcare delivery in rural communities, where leadership and innovation are needed most.

The skills and experience gained in our MHA program prepare graduates for leadership roles in hospitals, long-term care facilities, private practices, government agencies and other healthcare settings.

Roles include: