Health Administration Master's (MHA)

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Master of Health Administration

Master of Health Administration

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Our MHA

The Vision

To prepare health leaders who will foster the continuous transformation of health systems, with a view to maximizing the quality, access, and sustainability of these systems.

The Mission

We will equip learners with the requisite competencies, knowledge, and skills for providing effective, evidence-informed leadership across health systems using a curriculum guided by pedagogical best practices.

Our Values

Accountability    Collaboration    Excellence

Respect    Integrity    Leadership

Professionalism     Lifelong Learning

Social Responsibility     Inclusivity    

Equity & Diversity

For a career in management that matters.

Our rigorous 16-month, CAHME accredited Master program will prepare you to take the lead in managing healthcare organisations.  You can cultivate a career in management and administration, playing a transformative role in improving healthcare for the communities we serve.

Key features of our program include:

Outstanding Learning Experience

24 students in each cohort; a personal academic advisor, and world-class facilities. Instructors include two Canada Research Chairs.

 

CAHME Accreditation, & CHE

The international gold-standard for the sector building towards Canadian Health Executive designation.

 

A 4-Month Residency

Our partnerships extend across the sector, providing essential and meaningful employment experience for our graduates

The ELEMENT Mentoring Scheme

A one-to-one connection with a serving healthcare leader, to review your goals, overcome challenges and discuss career progression.

 

Interprofessional Health Education

Collaborative care team simulations of real-world clinical situations, learning with and from Dentistry, Medicine & Health.

 

The Nova Scotia Advantage

Live, learn and grow in Halifax, Nova Scotia: the best of the city with the beauty of the ocean, and a world-class University to call home. 

 

The key question: will the program enhance your career?

89% of our 2021 cohort were employed within the sector within 3 months of graduation. 

 

Our MHA in a nutshell:

 

Want to meet the team?

 

Are you ready for the program?

The program is the only CAHME accredited course in Canada designed to suit students who do not yet have healthcare sector experience.  Therefore, although many of our students do have extensive experience in healthcare, you can apply for the program from any undergraduate background: recent graduates have joined us from medicine, accounting, architecture and engineering. 

Please note: all MHA applicants must complete the GMAT, and MHA/JD applicants must complete the LSAT.  

Ready to Apply? Click here.

Would you like to speak to a current student?

If you complete the contact form, below, we will have a current MHA student contact you and arrange for a video call.  They can give you the best possible insight into the program.  However, for questions about the admissions process and the GMAT, please use the "Questions for Admissions" button instead. 

For questions about admissions, click here

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Program Details

The Master of Health Administration (MHA) is a 16 month program providing students with financial, strategic, administrative, legal, and advanced knowledge of healthcare administration.

Master of Health Administration

Admission requirements

All candidates must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. A 4-year bachelor degree (honours or equivalent), with a minimum B+ average (3.3 GPA) is required.

Admission also depends on an assessment of supporting documents, including:

  • original transcripts of all previous academic work (2 copies, B+ average)
  • at least 2 academic letters of reference
  • resume/curriculum vitae
  • a statement of career interests and reasons for applying to the MHA program
  • GMAT (minimum score 550), or for students interested in pursuing the combined JD/MHA program, the LSAT is required.
  • for international students: proof of English language proficiency.  This does not replace the need for the GMAT.
  • completed application form

See full details on the application procedure, including links to all necessary forms.

Program structure

The Master of Health Administration (MHA) is now a 1.5 - year program:

Year 1

  • Fall and winter terms: 5 courses per term of preparatory education plus an interprofessional health education course
  • 4-month summer residency

Year 2

  • Fall term: 5 courses to integrate and expand your skills plus an interprofessional health education course

Options include thesis research and law for health administrators. Joint degree programs are also available.

Part-time options are available, but not always straightforward: the program is primarily designed to be taken intensively over 16-months. Contact us for an early conversation about flexible options.

 

Degree requirements

The MHA curriculum has both academic and hands-on components. It requires the successful completion of 51 credit hours. Please refer to the “Courses” section below for program requirements.

Students also maintain enrolment in IPHE 5900 (Interprofessional Health Education) for the duration of their MHA program. Successful completion of this course is required for graduation, and will be recognized with a special Certificate in Interprofessional Collaboration presented by the Faculty of Health.

 

Download our graduate handbook for more details. [PDF - 1.3 MB]

Courses

MHA Year One: 5 courses per term plus IPHE

Year 1 Fall Term

Year 1 Winter Term

Year 1 Summer Term

 

MHA Year two: 5 courses plus IPHE

Year 2 Fall

TOTAL 8.5 Credits

Student residency

The residency is a pivotal component of the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program, strategically positioned between Year 1 and Year 2 coursework. The goal of the 4-month residency is to provide students with an opportunity to put academic knowledge to the test, expand experiences, meet new challenges and work in a new environment.

Residencies are planned, selected and arranged in full consultation with students, to align with their interests and career goals. Students are placed in a Canadian health facility or agency to work with top tier management.

Host organizations may include, but are not limited to, the Department of Health, district and regional health organizations and other public-sector organizations.

Students have access to information about past residencies and feedback on particular placements.

Find out more about the MHA residency component.

Read sample student residency reports:

Juris Doctor/Master of Health Administration

Dalhousie’s Juris Doctor/Master of Health Administration (JD/MHA) is the only program of its kind in Canada. It is ideally suited for future health executives, policy-makers and lawyers in private practice, giving you the tools to effectively navigate the legal complexities of the Canadian health system.

The 4-year JD/MHA program is a collaboration between the Dalhousie Schulich School of Law and the School of Health Administration. Students select courses leading to two degrees: Juris Doctor and Master of Health Administration.

Learn more about the JD/MHA program.

Thesis option

Students in the Thesis Stream add a research project to the coursework component of their program.  While there are some differences in the coursework component, there is not significant decrease in the number of courses.  For this reason, students are highly unlikely to complete their research project within the 16 months of the MHA.  Thesis Stream students should expect to register for an additional 1-2 semesters/terms. 

This is an attractive option for students interested in pursuing a career in research, academia or a PhD program.

Working directly with a School of Health Administration faculty member on their research program also equips health leaders to evaluate and use evidence in policy formation and decision making.

Find out more about the thesis option.

CAHME accredited

The Dalhousie Master of Health Administration (MHA) program has met the rigorous criteria established by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), one of only three programs in Canada to do so.

This prestigious accreditation is recognized throughout North America and ensures all graduates receive an outstanding level of training. To become and remain accredited, a graduate program in healthcare management must submit to a rigorous examination of its:

  • purpose
  • curriculum
  • student experience
  • success of the graduates in the competitive job market

Accreditation is evaluated through formal external reviews (including site visits and document reviews) by American and Canadian health administration experts.


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Graduate handbook for Health Administration
health_footer_mha

Download our graduate handbook [PDF - 1.3 MB] for full details on all graduate programs available in the School of Health Administration.

Next: View Certificate Options
What makes a CAHME Accredited Masters Program Better?
CAHME Picture

The student who enters a CAHME Accredited Masters Program is assured a level of quality that only comes from accreditation. In order for a graduate program in healthcare management to become accredited it must submit to a rigorous examination of its purpose, the curriculum, the student experience and the success of the graduates in the competitive job market. For the program to remain a CAHME Accredited Program, the program must submit to periodic self examination followed by review of an outside panel of experts to assure the public that the program is constantly seeking to improve itself.

Why the Canadian College of Health Leaders?
CCHL Logo

Graduates from our MHA program are well on their way to their designation as a Canadian Health Executive through the Bluenose Chapter of the Canadian College of Health Leaders.  Details on this essential career recognition can be viewed here