Advanced Administration Degrees
An educational foundation in the core areas of management with a focus on the healthcare industry
Multiple specialty tracks to choose from, allowing you to refine your education to meet your specific goals
Flexible online format with three program paces available (Accelerated Plus, Accelerated, and Working Professional)
Extensive resources available, including no-cost tutoring, a Student Success advisor, a faculty mentor, complimentary LinkedIn Learning, and more
Health administrators help pave the pathway to efficient healthcare, overseeing its operations and infrastructure and supporting healthcare workers so they can perform at their best.
Our online MHA program at WCU has been designed to provide the fundamental knowledge required of supervisors and managers in the healthcare industry, including planning, directing, coordinating, and supervising the delivery of healthcare services and products.
To create an environment that encourages student success, we offer a community of learning combined with professional development experiences, leveraging our relationships with local organizations, international internship partners, and our alumni network.
WCU now offers the Accelerated Plus program pace for the online MHA program, which means you can complete your MHA degree in as little as 8 months! Also, with no set class times, you have the benefit of a flexible study schedule, which is ideal for working professionals.
Our specialized tracks allow you to focus your education on your particular goals and interests. Explore our available MHA tracks:
This track is designed for data-driven aspiring health administrators and nurses who have a passion for analysis, procedural problem solving, and information systems.
Develop the skills to position yourself as both a leader and a health administrator with expertise in the latest organizational tools and tech.
This critical role in health administration is key in facilitating operations, preparedness, leadership, and informational support.
Learn the skills needed to serve as a leader in public health—a field that takes a community-based approach to health promotion and disease prevention.
We know every student faces different circumstances and challenges in their educational journey, and that’s why we offer multiple program paces. Whether you want to get to graduation day as quickly as possible or you prefer a slower pace with a more flexibility schedule, we have options for you.
Here are the MHA program paces available:
Accelerated Plus
(8 Months)
The Accelerated Plus program pace is for students who want to streamline the path to their degree. At this pace, you can complete your MHA degree in as little as 8 months, or just 2 trimesters.
Accelerated
(12 Months)
On the Accelerated program pace, you’ll be considered a full-time student, and you will be able to complete your degree in as little as 12 months, which is 3 trimesters.
Working Professional
(20 Months)
Are you a working professional, parent, or at-home caregiver? Then you might need to take fewer courses per term. At the Working Professional pace, you can finish your degree in 20 months, or 5 trimesters.
You can always change your program pace if needed. Just speak with your advisor about making the switch.
One of the benefits of completing your MHA degree online is that you can access everything you need remotely (lectures, assignments, WCU library, mobile-friendly learning tools), which means you can study from anywhere. You also have the freedom to complete your schoolwork morning, afternoon, or night, or even on the weekends. You will get reminders about your weekly deadlines, but how you complete your coursework day-to-day is up to you!
New academic terms begin, on average, every eight weeks. Please speak with your advisor for further information about your expected length of study. Review our Academic Calendar for term start and completion dates.
Upon graduation students will be able to:
At WCU, we believe in giving you the tools you need to succeed. That’s why our Career Services department offers a wealth of ongoing support for students and graduates, including professional development workshops, one-on-one guidance, help scheduling meetings with recruiters, assistance with finding job leads, and more.1
Whether you want to brush up your resume, conduct a mock interview, or just speak to an advisor about the next steps for landing the right job, we can help. As a WCU graduate, you will be able use our career services for as long as you want.
WCU’s Master of Health Administration online program helps provide the education you need to take the next step in your career, opening the door to a range of entry-level managerial opportunities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health services managers can work in a variety of settings, including:
Alongside our comprehensive health administration curriculum, we give our MHA students no-cost access to LinkedIn Learning, which is a valuable tool for building new professional skills. In each of your core MHA courses, you will have time dedicated to completing a LinkedIn Learning module, which will be on a topic that aligns with your main MHA coursework. You will get to choose from an extensive library of educational video content on LinkedIn.
Once you’re done with your module, you will earn a certificate of completion, which you can add to your LinkedIn profile for prospective employers to see. Over time, you will have the chance to build a robust ePorfolio, which can be a valuable asset for future job searches.
Dean, Health Administration (MHA/BSHA, MBA/BSBA Programs)
Dr. Justin Ako is the Dean of Health Administration at West Coast University. He was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i and received his bachelor’s degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska with a double major in marketing and strategic management. Dr. Ako then went on to receive his doctorate from the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and most recently completed the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education program at Harvard University.
Dr. Ako has been in private practice for more than 25 years and has been a dean of multiple programs at higher education institutions. He has served as Dean of the Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Bachelor of Health Services Administration (BHSA) programs at West Coast University for the past 10 years. He also serves as the interim dean for WCU’s MBA and BSBA programs.
Dr. Ako has sat on community boards such as the board for Northridge Hospital/Dignity Health, and he works collaboratively with NGOs such as the International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent while serving his local community.
Our MHA program is designed specifically with working adults in mind. Because your coursework and WCU resources (such as our online library) are available to you virtually, and because there are no set class times, you have greater flexibility. You can study anytime and anywhere to meet your weekly assignment deadlines. You can also choose the Working Professional program pace if you need to take fewer courses per term to accommodate your work schedule.
All three of these programs help prepare students for administrative roles within the healthcare industry, but they have their key differences.
In the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program, students are fully focused on learning how to apply business concepts and managerial skills within healthcare settings. In a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with a focus on Health Administration & Leadership, students primarily get a general business education with some courses being dedicated to health administration-related topics.
Meanwhile, in a Master of Public Health (MPH) program, students learn about the social context of health—such as social determinants and inequities in healthcare—and how to apply that scholarly knowledge to the improvement of care for entire communities.
A Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree helps graduates develop the skills for overseeing healthcare organization operations while helping healthcare workers optimize the delivery of healthcare services.
The Master of Health Administration program gives students foundational knowledge of management best practices with a specific focus on the healthcare industry. The program helps equip graduates with the multidisciplinary skills they need for entry-level managerial positions. The program also helps prepare them for the challenges facing the healthcare industry today, as well as the significant social and economic impacts of those challenges.
Yes, at WCU, you can earn your MHA degree 100% online.
WCU's online MHA programs offers three program paces. You can earn your degree in as little as 8 months at the Accelerated Plus pace, 12 months at the Accelerated pace, or 20 months at the Working Professional pace. You may also be able to shorten your time at any pace if you completed the BSHA bridge program at West Coast University. This is because you will have already completed some of your required MHA credits beforehand.
We can evaluate your previous coursework for credit. WCU accepts up to a total of up to 9 credits for graduate programs.
WCU may accept credit for courses completed at other academic institutions, but only when the course meets the criteria of the academic program for which it is being considered. To qualify for transfer credit for a graduate course, you must have received a grade of B- or better, and the grade must be documented on official transcripts. Each WCU program has its own requirements for transfer credit.
Yes. Our online MHA program includes highly qualified faculty members who have extensive experience working within the healthcare field and who actively engage in scholarship and research, professional development, and service.
Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify. Some of the grants and scholarships available to online students include the Alumni Pathway Grant (covers up to 20% of tuition), the WCU Health Services Grant (covers up to 10% of tuition), and the WCU Performance Scholarship (covers up to 15% of tuition).
You can visit our Tuition and Financial Aid page to learn about additional aid options, such as student loans, employer tuition reimbursement, and military tuition reductions.
WCU will evaluate your previous professional experience and certifications to see if you qualify for prior learning assessment (PLA) credits or for experiential credits. PLA credits can be given for professional licenses, or trainings, and experience credits can be given for skills earned through previous work experience. More information is available in our catalog.
Pursuing your degree is a big choice. Fill out our form and one of our admissions advisors will contact you to answer any question you may have!
1 WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment.
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers, “Work Environment,” Updated Sept. 8, 2022
Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.
