Before stepping into the thriving healthcare field as a hospital administrator, medical services manager, or other leader, most employers will now require that you gain practical experience in an MHA program. Although specific requirements for earning a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree vary from school to school, most will require students to spend at least a few months to a whole year obtaining hands-on learning experience in the field. Since work experience is limited at the undergraduate level, this provides a viable chance for MHA students to begin building professional relationships and practicing their skills while under supervision. Below we’ve listed some of the popular practical learning experiences that are often included within the dynamic curriculum for MHA degrees.
Administrative Internships
MHA graduates need to be well-equipped with both the knowledge and practical skills needed to address a wide array of challenges in managing our nation’s health delivery systems. That’s why the majority of accredited MHA degrees will include a full-time administrative internship in which students work with an experienced administrator in an actual health-related organization. Students can often choose an internship setting that aligns with their interests, such as a hospital, physician office, community clinic, government agency, or nursing home. Under the guidance of a preceptor, students start spreading their wings in practicing skills learned in the classroom in real-life healthcare situations.
Research Work
A large number of graduate schools will also include research work in their MHA requirements, especially in courses centered on health policy. Health administrators are leaders in the medical field who frequently have a hand in research to help direct the newest policy changes that facilitate better patient care. Depending on their interests, MHA students may work with a faculty advisor to conduct research on quality improvement, risk management, health disparities, global health, women’s health, preventive healthcare, long-term administration, health law, strategic planning, and much more.
Study Abroad Trips
In our increasingly global world with a focus on international health, many MHA programs are now including a study abroad component to their curriculum to give students practical experience in a different country. From England and Argentina to China and New Zealand, there’s endless opportunities available for MHA students wishing to add a global perspective to their learning. In addition, health administration majors are often invited abroad to attend a variety of conferences by health-related professional associations like the ACHE or WHO to network with other healthcare leaders.
Capstone Projects
Once MHA students complete most of their degree requirements, many programs will require a final practical-oriented capstone project to demonstrate their competencies. Whether in the shape of a master’s thesis, case study, or applied internship project, the capstone gives MHA students the opportunity to ease their transition to the workforce with real-world application experience. In some cases, MHA programs will also have a capstone consulting project in which students work with a sponsoring healthcare organization to identify areas of improvement.
Overall, having these forms of practical experience will allow MHA graduates to better establish and lead an environment in which healthcare services are provided efficiently to patients. The practical learning opportunities help put the Master of Health Administration as Forbes magazine’s eighth best master’s degree in America, with a mid-career median salary of $87,800. Once you obtain your practical experience in an MHA program, you’ll be prepared to successfully rise to administrative and leadership positions in healthcare operations.
