Master’s in Health Administration degree programs in Pennsylvania give students the opportunity to learn more about public health and to develop the skills required of those working in community health centers, for nonprofit organizations and for government agencies. The requirements for those enrolling vary between programs, but you generally need a bachelor’s degree in business, health care or a related field. You may also need some experience too. Some of these programs are even available online and allow you to work full-time or do volunteer work while still completing your studies.
Penn State Harrisburg
Penn State Harrisburg is a division of Pennsylvania State University that offers both undergraduate and graduate classes. Founded in 1966, its campus has a convenient location near major highways that makes it easier for students to get to the campus. Around 4,500 undergrads and a little over 800 grad students take courses through this campus each year. Despite being smaller than its parent institution, this campus does offer housing options for students as well as some off-campus housing options in the surrounding community. The location of Penn State Harrisburg also makes it easy for students to find jobs and placements nearby.
Master of Health Administration/Health Policy and Administration
You may have a hard time enrolling in the Master of Health Administration program offered by Penn State Harrisburg until you have more experience because the university requires that all incoming students have a minimum of three years of practical experience. Students must also have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a tradition college grading scale for at least the last two years they were in college. You can transfer in up to 15 credits earned through Penn State or up to nine credits earned on another campus. Penn State Harrisburg offers a Health Policy and Administration program for students at the doctoral level. As one of the only health administration degrees in Pennsylvania of its type, this program can help you find work as a college professor or in a health care facility. This program has a placement requirement that is especially helpful for those who want to teach. You’ll have the chance to work for major colleges in Pennsylvania and other states and get on the tenure track before finishing your studies. You’ll need to submit reference letters, an official test score, transcripts, a statement of purpose and a resume when applying to this program.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
777 West Harrisburg Pike
Middletown, PA 17057
(800) 222-2056
Program Link
Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University, also called PSU and Penn State, is the largest public university system in the state. Founded in 1855, it maintains one large flagship campus in College Park and operates 19 smaller campuses in Pennsylvania that allow undergrads to complete some required classes before transferring to a full degree program. U.S. News & World Report ranked Penn State as the 50th best college in the United States, but Washington Monthly, Forbes and ARWU also rank the university as one of the best in the country. Some of its programs that rank on a national scale as well.
Master of Health Administration/Doctorate in Health Policy and Administration
Penn State University offers a Master of Health Administration for those who want to work in the health care field. One unique feature of this program is that it lets you enroll as an online student or a traditional student who takes classes on the main Penn State campus or one of its other campuses. It is one of the best Master’s in Health Administration degrees in Pennsylvania because it allows students to learn more about different aspects of the health care system. Managerial epidemiology, health law, strategy development in health services organization and health economics are some of the classes that you’ll take. The Doctorate in Health Policy and Administration that Penn State offers is beneficial to those who want to work in academic settings as well as those who want to do research and work in other fields. The program is extremely selective, and the university only accepts up to six new students each year. Those students can enroll in a dual program that awards them a second degree in demography. After finishing your first year, you can pick a concentration in population health or health care management to go along with your degree. Some graduates find work within the university in different capacities too.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
604 Ford Building
University Park, PA 16802-6500
(814) 863-290
Program Link
Philadelphia University
Philadelphia University opened in 1885 with just five enrolled students, but calls for a college in the city started years before. A group of locals worked together to open a school that focused on the textile industry, which was one of the fastest growing industries at the time. The school expanded rapidly at the end of the century and took over the campus of a failed school to make room for its students. Enrollment grew steadily over the following years and eventually reached more than 2,000 students. Philadelphia University now has a campus with around 100 acres for its students and operates an online campus.
Masters in Business Administration in Health Care Management
One of the top Master’s in Health Administration degrees in Pennsylvania is the Masters in Business Administration in Health Care Management available through Philadelphia University. The university designed this MBA program in a way that lets full-time students finish it in 18 months, but part-time students can spend up to two years taking classes before they graduate. This MBA program is also available as an online option. Students must take a minimum of 30 credits of business courses that included core business classes as well as up to 10 credits within their concentration. The health care management concentration includes classes on health laws, business ethics and leadership. Philadelphia University expects you to take courses on other aspects of business as well, including finance, accounting, marketing and taxation. Classes on management will teach you how to more effectively deal with and lead those you work with on the job later.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
4201 Henry Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 951-2943
Program Link
Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University is a private college with a liberal arts foundation that has an affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church. Established in 1847, it is one of the nation’s oldest Roman Catholic institutions of higher learning and is still one of the few colleges in the country with a connection to the Franciscan Brothers. It operated as Saint Francis College until the early 2000s, which is when the state granted it university status. Saint Francis has an enrollment of more than 2,000 students and offers several strong programs for its more than 600 enrolled graduate students.
Master of Health Science in Healthcare Administration (Online)
One of the best Master’s in Health Administration degrees in Pennsylvania for those who want to take online courses is the Master of Health Science in Healthcare Administration that Saint Francis University offers. This program asks that you select a specialization or a concentration in either clinical care, health education or health leadership. The health leadership track is a good choice for those who want to work as managers or supervisors, but the health education track is better suited for those who want to work as professors. Its clinical care track can help you succeed in a research position or in a position that requires you work with patients. Though students take different classes based on their concentrations, all students must take 21 credits of core classes like ethical issues in practice, diversity in health care, research methods and leadership. This program also has a capstone requirement that allows students to get up to four credits for the clinical residency that they do.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
117 Evergreen Drive
Loretto, PA 15940
(814) 472-3000
Program Link
Saint Joseph’s University
Saint Joseph’s University is a small private college in Pennsylvania that also goes by the names St. Joe’s and SJU. Founded in 1851 as a Jesuit institution of higher learning, around 100 Jesuits still live and work on its campus today. Though it has a strong affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church, students of all denominations are welcome to apply and attend. U.S. News & World Report ranked St. Joe’s as one of the top colleges in the northern region of the country, while Princeton Review ranked it as one of the top northeastern schools in the United States.
M.S. in Health Administration (Online)
St. Joe’s offers both an M.S. in Health Administration and an M.S. in Health Administration with a specialization in informatics. Both programs rank among the top Master’s in Health Administration degrees in Pennsylvania. The basic program asks that you take 36 credits of core health administration courses. These courses cover different disciplines within the field such as health services and health administrative services. You’ll also take a course on ethics as well as one on leadership. There is an integrative capstone requirement as well. To do your capstone, you’ll need to do some type of residency component or a field placement and then create a paper or project around that work. Health informatics students will take 14 additional courses that are worth a total of 42 credits. Those courses cover some of the programs, apps and software used in health care facilities. You must meet all technology requirements before enrolling in this program and have a computer capable of keeping up with your classes.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
5600 City Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19131
(610) 660-1000
Program Link
Temple University
Though Temple University opened in the 1880s, it didn’t earn the right to award degrees to its graduating students until the end of the decade, and it did not become a full university until 1907. More than 20 of the programs that it offers rank among the nation’s best, including those in primary medical care, criminology, education, business, chemistry and statistics. Many of its graduate programs also rank highly. Temple University now operates a main campus in North Philadelphia as well as smaller campuses in Japan and Rome. Its international campuses give students at all levels the opportunity to study abroad.
Master of Healthcare Management
Temple University is home to some of the best Master’s in Health Administration degrees in Pennsylvania, including a Master of Healthcare Management, Master of Public Health and Master of Science in Healthcare Financial Management. These programs give you the chance to select one that best matches your future career goals. The financial management program includes courses on budgeting, taxation and accounting. Its healthcare management program is best for those who want to work in positions of authority and includes courses on leadership, ethics and business practices. You’ll also learn federal and state laws regarding hiring practices. Its Master of Public Health looks at social and behavioral issues and can help you work in a community health center or for a hospital. This program features classes like understanding stress and change, international health studies abroad, risk communication in public health and responding to disasters. Depending on the program at Temple that you choose, you may need to do some type of research paper or thesis before you can graduate.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
1101 W. Montgomery Ave. 3rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-5200
Program Link
The University of Scranton
Founded in 1888 by the Bishop of Scranton, the University of Scranton is one of less than 30 Jesuit colleges operating in the United States today. Originally called the College of St. Thomas Aquinas, it later changed its name to reflect that it welcomed students of all backgrounds and that it met the needs of Scranton. As a religious college, it requires that students take philosophy and theology courses, but it also asks that all students take cultural diversity courses that teach them how to look beyond skin color and other visible features. More than 5,400 students take courses form this university annually.
MBA – Healthcare Management (Online)
When hunting for Master’s in Health Administration degree programs in Pennsylvania, you may want to check out the MBA that the University of Scranton offers online, which has a concentration in healthcare management available. Enrolling in an online program lets you work on your studies while on the job and at home without worrying about driving to the Scranton campus. The university will look at your work experience, the degree that you have and other factors to determine if you meet the requirements of the program. Some students will need to take up to 12 classes before working on an MBA. The healthcare management concentration includes five courses that you must complete in addition to other required courses. These classes include hospital administration, health care law, health care financial management, global health management and health services and systems. There is a final capstone course that all MBA students take that involves doing research and writing on your own.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
The Estate
Scranton, PA 18510
(570) 941-7600
Program Link
Thomas Jefferson University
Thomas Jefferson University is one of the best health sciences college in the country. Established in 1825 as a medical school, it offered practical training for doctors and other medical professionals. It was one of the first schools in the country with its own medical clinic, which gave students the chance to practice their skills and work with actual patients before graduating. The university now has an affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals and continues letting students work with patients in the field. U.S. News & World Report ranked the university as one of the nation’s best research institutions.
Master of Public Health
Though some assume that Thomas Jefferson University functions as a traditional medical school and only offers programs for those who will work with patients, it also offers a Master of Public Health that is one of the top Master’s in Health Administration degree programs in Pennsylvania. This program has a rolling admissions policy that allows students to submit applications at any point during the year and begin classes if there is space available. It typically takes students four years to finish the program, which includes 45 credits of core classes and nine hours of electives. Required courses include public health policy and advocacy, introduction to public health, basic public health statistics and health research methods. There is also a public health certificate program available that asks students to take 18 credit hours of classes. The full program includes both a clerkship and a capstone that students typically do in their last years.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
901 Walnut Street, 10th Floor
Philadelphia PA 19107
(215) 503-0174
Program Link
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is one of the oldest colleges in the nation and opened before the American Revolution and before America became a country. It was the first college in the country to offer both undergrad and graduate programs. Prior to that, students typically attended two different schools to earn both degrees. Also called Penn and U Penn, it ranks within the top 10 of all American schools, according to Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report. Those same organizations rank U Penn among the best colleges around the world, and both QS and ARWU rank it globally too.
Master of Public Health
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If you’re on the hunt for the best Master’s in Health Administration degrees in Pennsylvania, you should look to U Penn first. The Master of Public Health program available from this university comes in several different concentration options, including those in anthropology, environmental/occupational health, ethics, genetics and genetic epidemiology and global health, you can also pick a concentration in history and sociology of science, nutrition, policy and health care management or behavior, psychology and community health. You must take nine core courses on topics such as biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, public health law and ethics and epidemiology, but the university gives you 14 classes to choose from in the program. U Penn requires that students do some type of capstone project that applies specifically to the concentrations they chose. You’ll also take five courses within your concentration. Though you can transfer in credits, you must take 12 classes through U Penn.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
3620 Hamilton Walk
Anatomy Chemistry Room 146
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 573-8841
Program Link
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh is a research institution and university with a main campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1787, it operated as the Pittsburgh Academy and then the Western University of Pennsylvania before becoming the University of Pittsburgh. The 17 colleges operating on its campus are responsible for the degrees available and the requirements associated with each program. Groups and organizations that ranked the university among the nation’s best include Forbes, Washington Monthly, ARWU and U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News & World Report also ranked the University of Pittsburgh within the top 50 of all colleges in the world.
Master of Public Health: Health Care Management Program Track
The Master’s in Health Administration degree in Pennsylvania offered by the University of Pittsburgh is a Master of Public Health with a concentration available in health care management, public health agency management or health policy. You can also enroll in its Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Services: Health Care Supervision and Management Concentration or its Masters of Health Administration program. Its MPH program also has concentrations available in biostatistics, behavioral and community health services and environmental and occupational health. The University of Pittsburgh is a research institution and encourages its students to do independent research on their own when working on their capstone projects and taking seminar classes. Though requirements vary between the programs, most ask that students take between 32 and 50 credits of classes and that they gain practical experience through placements in local hospitals, research centers and health care facilities.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
130 DeSoto Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
(412) 624-3001
Program Link
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University of Pennsylvania also goes by the names of West Chester and WCUPA. Established in 1871 as the West Chester Normal School, it took over the campus of a small school formerly owned and operated by the state. Once the school implemented a standard four-year teaching program in the 1920s, it became the West Chester State Teachers College. The school also operated as a state college after expanding its curriculum before becoming the university that it is today. WCUPA is unique in that it offers a 3-2 program that allows undergrads to earn two degrees in three years.
Master of Public Health
Though West Chester University of Pennsylvania offers some of the top Master’s in Health Administration degrees in Pennsylvania, you need to decide which of the Master of Public Health concentrations is right for you. These concentrations, which the university calls a focus, include community health, environmental health, health care administration, integrative health and nutrition. There is also a fast track program available for undergrads who want to study public health. This program lets you earn two certificates while enrolled in a bachelor’s program. Those certificates will then transfer into the program and let you graduate with an MPH degree faster. You will take required core courses in public health like health economics, health laws and health statistics before taking courses relating to your concentration. WCUPA also has an assistant program that lets you work in the health studies department and make money to pay for your tuition and other expenses.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
700 South High Street
West Chester, PA 19383
(610) 436-1000
Program Link
Wilkes University
Founded in 1933 as the Bucknell University Junior College, Wilkes University was one of the first junior colleges located in this region of the state and attracted students who did not think they would have the chance to go to college. Classes met in a building owned by a local business college before moving to a campus of its own. In the 1940s, the college transitioned from a junior college to a university that offered four-year degree programs. The university later opened its own pharmacy school as well as a school devoted to business subjects. Wilkes University’s enrollment now tops 4,500 students.
Master of Business Administration: Health Care Administration Concentration
The Master of Business Administration offered by Wilkes University helps students learn more about how medical facilities run in the same way that businesses do and ranks as one of the best Master’s in Health Administration degree programs in Pennsylvania. You must take a foundations of business and a foundations of management course in your first semester, but you will then take seven core courses that are worth three credits each. Core classes include financial management, managerial economics, financial and managerial accounting and other classes designed to help you handle the daily operations of a facility. You will then take electives that apply to health care administration such as topics in health care management. Many students take a special topics class or an independent research class to study health care administration topics on their own for course credit. Wilkes University also requires that students take two capstone classes on strategic management and policy and advanced projects in business.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
84 West South Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766
(800) 945-5378
Program Link
Graduate degree programs in health and health care administration train the future generation of leaders and teaches them how to act in a professional and ethical manner. Whether you are a college student in a bachelor’s degree program, you recently graduated or you worked in the field, you’ll find Master’s in Health Administration degree programs in Pennsylvania that are suitable for you.
Related resource:
Top 10 Best Online Masters in Health Administration Degree Programs
