Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Studies Bulletin 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Studies Bulletin

Health Administration, MHA


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs (Alphabetically, University-wide)

Associate Professor Edward Coffield, PhD, Graduate Program Director, 516-463-7019

Program website

The mission of the graduate program in Health Administration at Hofstra University is to educate future health care administrators who can apply evidence based and critical thinking skills to the delivery of health care services within a culturally diverse environment. The vision of the program is to be a recognized leader in the preparation of competent, ethically sensitive and skilled health care administrators.

The 48 semester hour program can be completed in-person on campus or fully online and is designed for aspiring and committed professionals who are interested in careers in health services administration in such settings as hospitals, managed care organizations, medical group practices, ambulatory, long-term care, and home health care facilities, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, consulting firms, voluntary agencies, government, for-profit, and non-profit sector organizations. Emphasis is placed on management theories and practices, policy strategies, financial and other business considerations as they relate to administration in health care facilities. Effective communication skills and networking with established health professionals are incorporated throughout the program. Students with significant administrative experience may petition for a waiver of the internship course.

Conceptually, this program is built on the fundamental belief that the health of populations results from the interaction among many variables including genetic, biological, psychological, emotional, behavioral, cultural, political, economic and environmental factors, while incorporating the presence and values of business principles. The goal of the program is to prepare practitioner-scholars who have the knowledge and resources to create and manage health services effectively, efficiently, and ethically, in order to maximize healthy lifestyles and the health status of populations.

Admission Requirements


  1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  2. Interview with the program director and other program faculty member may be required.
  3. Two letters of recommendation from employers or faculty members.
  4. Brief essay discussing career goals, interests, and experiences.
  5. Current resume.
  6. For International Students, TOEFL scores.

Provisional Acceptance

Students with less than a 3.0 GPA may be admitted provisionally pending review of additional requested academic performance evidence or acceptable standardized test scores, such as the GRE or GMAT. Provisionally admitted students must earn a minimum grade of ‘B’ in each of the first 12 semester hours of coursework.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 48


The following workshop is required of all students:


By the conclusion of the first semester students must complete the MHA: Excel® Learning Plan (this learning module is free and available online through the MHAConnect tab on Blackboard to admitted MHA students at Hofstra University). Confirmation of completion must be submitted to the MHA Program Director by the aforementioned deadline.

Master of Health Administration (MHA) Career Discipline Tracks


As a key enrichment component of our Master of Health Administration (MHA), Hofstra University’s MHA program offers academic tracks.  Elective courses can be chosen according to either individual needs or preferences in order to conform to one of the suggested tracks listed below.  While it is not necessary for a student to designate or complete a particular track to satisfy the Master of Health Administration requirements, the tracks have been carefully developed as coherent courses of study that students can choose in supporting greater enrichment in Operations Management and Administration or Long-Term Care Administration (see footnote **). 

Transfer Credit


With MHA program director or faculty adviser approval, students may transfer up to 12 semester hours of equivalent graduate courses from an accredited higher education institution. Course work must have been completed within the last five years with minimum grades of B.

Students with extensive clinical or administrative health services experience may request and be granted individualized adjustments to the program requirements upon the recommendation of the program director.

Graduation Requirements


  1. Completion of 48 semester hours within a five year period.
  2. Minimum GPA of 3.0 in overall graduate course work.
  3. No more than two course grades below B-.

Footnotes */**


* Students with extensive health services experience may petition the program director to substitute HADM 260 for an additional 3 credit elective.

** Students selecting a course of study in Long-Term Care Administration in preparation to sit for the NYS Department of Health’s Long Term Care Administrator’s Licensure Examination are required to complete the Long Term Care track as indicated. This is not a requirement of the MHA program, and students may select alternate electives to satisfy their MHA degree. For additional information, please contact the Department of Population Health  at 516-463-5883.     

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs (Alphabetically, University-wide)