Business
Career
Healthcare
Complete all your classes online with our flexible curriculum
Finish this track in as little as 8 months at the Accelerated Plus program pace
Complete 30 credits to earn your MHA – Organizational Leadership degree
Advanced coursework designed to develop leadership skills and competencies
Flexible online classes and three program pace options to choose from
Accessible and knowledgeable faculty with diverse experience in health administration
No-cost access to LinkedIn Learning with the opportunity to earn certificates for your profile
Our specialized MHA – Organizational Leadership degree helps equip you with the skills needed to lead with confidence and effectiveness.
The Organizational Leadership track gives you the opportunity to learn about core functional areas of healthcare businesses while taking specialized classes on management, operations management, and organizational behavior and leadership. Position yourself as both a leader and a health administrator with expertise in the latest organizational tools and technology.
Distance Education/Online
30 Credits
8 Months
2 Trimesters
Distance Education/Online
30 Credits
12 Months
3 Trimesters
Distance Education/Online
30 Credits
20 Months
5 Trimesters
To achieve the graduation requirement of 30 credits, all students must complete 30 credits of core and track courses. Core courses provide students with the specific discipline experience required for the degree. All students will complete at least 21 core course credits as detailed below. The remaining 9 credits are based on the program track the student is enrolled in. The currently available programs are:
Core Courses to be completed by all students (21 credits)
Course Number | Course Name | Total Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Number | Name | Hours |
HA 500 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care Management | 3 |
HA 505 | Information Systems for Health Care Programs | 3 |
HA 520 | Financial Management for Health Care Managers | 3 |
HA 545 | Hospital Administration and Management | 3 |
HA 550 | Leadership Models for Health Care Managers | 3 |
HA 555 | Project Management | 3 |
HA 565 | Capstone Course: Cases in Health Care Management | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
Core courses to be completed if no track chosen (9 credits)
Course Number | Course Name | Total Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Number | Name | Hours |
HA 525 | Marketing Management for Health Care Professionals | 3 |
HA 540 | Strategic Planning in Health Care Organizations | 3 |
HA 560 | Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Health Care Industry | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Informatics Track
Track courses to be completed in the Informatics Track (9 credits)
Course Number | Course Name | Total Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Number | Name | Hours |
Database Systems, Design and Informatics | 3 | |
Project Management in Healthcare Informatics | 3 | |
Implementation, Management, and Evaluation of Healthcare Systems | 3 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Organizational Leadership Track
Track courses to be completed in the Organizational Leadership Track (9 credits)
Course Number | Course Name | Total Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Number | Name | Hours |
Principles of Management | 3 | |
Organizational Behavior and Leadership | 3 | |
Fundamentals of Operations Management | 3 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Public Health Track
Track courses to be completed in the Public Health Track (9 credits)
Course Number | Course Name | Total Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Number | Name | Hours |
Foundations of Public Health | 3 | |
Cultural Diversity & Health Disparities in Public Health | 3 | |
Environmental and Occupational Health | 3 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Project Management Track
Track courses to be completed in the Project Management Track (9 credits)
Course Number | Course Name | Total Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Number | Name | Hours |
Organizational Behavior and Leadership | 3 | |
Fundamentals of Operations Management | 3 | |
Project Management II | 3 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
We know school is a substantial commitment. At WCU, we want to equip you with all the information you need to make the right decision for your future.
Our goal is to give you a clear understanding of MHA – Organizational Leadership track tuition costs so you can be well-informed as you navigate the application and enrollment process. To assist you in your decision, we provide a breakdown below of the MHA – Organizational Leadership track costs at .
We offer several financial aid options — including scholarships, grants, and loan access — to help support you through your studies. We also offer reduced tuition rates for military personnel and their spouses. For more information about your financial support options, visit our financial aid page.
Degree Type | Master of Science (Enrolling prior to April 1, 2024) | Master of Science (Enrolling after April 1, 2024) |
Total Program Credits | 30 | 30 |
Program Length(full time) | 2 trimesters | 2 trimesters |
Tuition Cost(per credit) | $750 | $750 |
Total Tuition Cost | $22,500 | $22,500 |
STRF1 | $60 | $0 |
Technology Fee2 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Estimate for Program Supply Fees3 | $50 | $50 |
Estimated Total Program Costs (Texas) | $23,550 | $23,550 |
Estimated Total Program Costs (California) | $23,610 | $23,550 |
Degree Type | Master of Science (Enrolling prior to April 1, 2024) | Master of Science (Enrolling after April 1, 2024) |
Total Program Credits | 30 | 30 |
Program Length(full time) | 3 trimesters | 3 trimesters |
Tuition Cost(per credit) | $750 | $750 |
Total Tuition Cost | $22,500 | $22,500 |
STRF1 | $60 | $0 |
Technology Fee2 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
Estimate for Program Supply Fees3 | $50 | $50 |
Estimated Total Program Costs (Texas) | $24,050 | $24,050 |
Estimated Total Program Costs (California) | $24,110 | $24,050 |
Degree Type | Master of Science (Enrolling prior to April 1, 2024) | Master of Science (Enrolling after April 1, 2024) |
Total Program Credits | 30 | 30 |
Program Length(full time) | 5 trimesters | 5 trimesters |
Tuition Cost(per credit) | $750 | $750 |
Total Tuition Cost | $22,500 | $22,500 |
STRF1 | $62.50 | $0 |
Technology Fee2 | $2,500 | $2,500 |
Estimate for Program Supply Fees3 | $50 | $50 |
Estimated Total Program Costs (Texas) | $25,050 | $25,050 |
Estimated Total Program Costs (California) | $25,112.50 | $25,050 |
Indirect Costs
8 Month Academic Year4 | ||||
Prior to Fall I 2024 | Starting Fall I 2024 | |||
with parents | off campus | with parents | off campus | |
Federal Student Loan Fee | $220 | $220 | $220 | $220 |
Living Expenses (Food & Housing) | $2,384 | $7,936 | $2,496 | $8,328 |
Transportation | $1,648 | $1,648 | $1,728 | $1,728 |
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $5,392 | $5,392 | $5,656 | $5,656 |
Total | $9,644 | $15,196 | $10,100 | $15,932 |
* Upon enrollment, students select Accelerated Plus, Accelerated or Working Professional, which will determine the pace at which students complete their degree. In most cases, students that select Accelerated will attempt two courses per term, and students that select Working Professional will attempt one course a term.
1 Effective April 1, 2024, the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) assessment rate will be zero dollars and zero cents ($0.00) per one thousand dollars ($1,000) of institutional charges.
The State of California established the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student in an educational program at a qualifying institution, who is or was a California resident while enrolled, or was enrolled in a residency program, if the student enrolled in the institution, prepaid tuition, and suffered an economic loss. Unless relieved of the obligation to do so, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for the STRF, or it must be paid on your behalf, if you are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition.
You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment, if you are not a California resident, or are not enrolled in a residency program.
It is important that you keep copies of your enrollment agreement, financial aid documents, receipts, or any other information that documents the amount paid to the school. Questions regarding the STRF may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, 1747 N. Market Blvd. Ste 225 Sacramento, CA 95834, (916) 431-6959 or (888) 370-7589.
To be eligible for STRF, you must be a California resident or enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid or deemed to have paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:
To qualify for STRF reimbursement, the application must be received within four (4) years from the date of the action or event that made the student eligible for recovery from STRF.
A student whose loan is revived by a loan holder or debt collector after a period of noncollection may, at any time, file a written application for recovery from STRF for the debt that would have otherwise been eligible for recovery. If it has been more than four (4) years since the action or event that made the student eligible, the student must have filed a written application for recovery within the original four (4) year period, unless the period has been extended by another act of law.
However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.
2 Technology Fee includes student technical support, Office 365, blended and online course delivery/learning management system, mobile app, student portal technology and access, and required electronic course materials/software.
3 Program supplies include WCU identification card and background check.
4 The purpose of the Cost of Attendance (COA) is to provide students and families with an estimated cost to attend . The COA includes both direct and indirect cost estimates. Direct costs are paid directly to and are shown separately for each program. Indirect costs are not paid to and are estimates students may use to budget expenses they may incur while attending school. While actual indirect costs may vary, estimates these amounts based on the number of months in an academic year and whether students will live with parents or off campus.
Applicants for the Master of Health Administration must:
For additional requirements, including information for students submitting non-U.S. or non-English transcripts, please visit our .
New academic sessions begin, on average, every eight weeks. For the most updated start-to-completion schedule, view the Academic Calendar.
At WCU, we’re here to support you throughout your educational journey and beyond. Once you become a WCU student, you become eligible to receive support from our Career Services team. WCU Career Services offers services such as:
Don’t miss out on these valuable resources!
WCU’s MHA – Organizational Leadership track helps prepare graduates for a wide range of managerial roles across many different types of healthcare settings. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health services managers tend to work in settings such as:
As a Master of Health Administration student, you get complimentary access to LinkedIn Learning. This is an extensive library of educational video content that allows you to learn about new topics pertaining to your field of interest straight from industry professionals.
In each MHA core course, you choose a LinkedIn Learning module relevant to your WCU coursework and complete it by the end of the term. Once you’re done, you are given a certificate of completion from LinkedIn, which you can then post to your profile. After finishing all your MHA core courses, you’ll have an impressive ePortfolio on LinkedIn that can serve as a valuable addition to your resume.
Dr. Ron J. Macias is an Assistant Professor and lead faculty member for ’s Health Administration and Business Administration programs. He has been teaching at WCU since 2011 and has over 25 years of experience working in senior management positions in Fortune 100 health service organizations, as well as 23 years of experience in corporate information services.
A seasoned veteran in health and business administration, Dr. Macias has served as a senior manager at Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealth Group, PacifiCare Health Systems, Prescription Solutions (now OptumRx), First American Corporation, and Ingram Micro. He has also managed corporate departments in healthcare research, IT security, IT service management, service quality metrics, project management, instructional technology methodology, corporate communication, and personnel development and training.
Dr. Macias is a Certified Higher Education Professional (CHEP) under Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU), and he is also ITIL Foundations Certified. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Project Management Institute (PMI), and Project Management Institute – Orange County Chapter.
We can evaluate your previous coursework for transfer credit. We may also be able to give you credit for skills earned through work experience, as well as professional licenses, certifications, and trainings. See our for more information about prior learning assessment (PLA) credits and experiential credits.
Your advisor is available to help you figure out which credits can be applied toward your MHA – Organizational Leadership degree, if any.
Yes, you can. This is because our online MHA program gives you the flexibility you need to study largely on your own schedule. While you will have weekly deadlines, you can choose what day of the week and what time of day to complete your assignments. You also have the option of choosing the Working Professional program pace, which helps you take fewer courses each term so you can properly balance school and work.
You can finish this track in as little as 8 months at the Accelerated Plus program pace, 12 months at the Accelerated pace, or 20 months at the Working Professional pace. Additionally, if you completed the Bachelor of Science in Health Administration (BSHA) bridge program at WCU, you have a head start on your graduate courses, which means you may be able to complete your program sooner.
Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify. There are plenty of grant and scholarship options . A few examples at WCU include the Alumni Pathway Grant (covering up to 20% of tuition), the WCU Health Services Grant (covering up to 10% of tuition), and the WCU Performance Scholarship (covering up to 15% of tuition).
You may also be eligible for other forms of financial aid such as student loans, employer tuition reimbursement, and tuition reductions for members of the military. Learn more on our Tuition & Financial aid page.
is accredited by WASC Senior College of University Commission (WSCUC), a regional accreditation body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). 1001 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 402 Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748- 9001/ .
1 WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment.
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, , “Work Environment,” Updated Sept. 8, 2022
Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.