Master of Science in Healthcare Management (MSHM) Program

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Healthcare Management (MSHM) program is designed to equip students with skills and knowledge to advance their careers in the healthcare sector and prepare them for future senior leadership roles in healthcare organizations. It is designed to give students flexibility in determining the duration of their program and can be completed anywhere from 14 months to 4 years. 

Our pedagogical rationale is that to be a successful leader in healthcare, one must combine deep industry knowledge with strong leadership abilities, underpinned by a comprehensive management toolkit to equip you with the tools and techniques to drive organizational success. As a result, the curriculum has been developed around the four identifiable content pillars: 

• Healthcare Fundamentals:  Achieving excellence in healthcare delivery means staying on top of the trends, research, regulations, and best practices that are shaping the sector.
• Business Essentials:  Being an effective manager – of teams, functions, and organizations – in healthcare requires having command of a core set of management tools and techniques and a practical understanding of how to apply them in this unique sector.
• Technology:  Embracing the transformative power of technology and knowing how to understand, assess, and deploy it are imperative to future success in healthcare.
• Leadership:  Transformational change requires dynamic leaders, equipped with skills and behaviors to strive in complex, multi-faceted environments.

Program Outcomes 

The program has been designed so that students of the MSHM will: 

• Develop extensive knowledge of healthcare delivery systems and understand the impact of societal, financial, regulatory, and legislative developments on the professional practice of healthcare management within an ethical-legal framework.
• Be able to apply various methods of leadership in healthcare and understand how to lead high-performing teams with emotional and social intelligence, communication, and innovation.
• Develop their ability to apply current management theories, tools, and techniques to healthcare management in the areas of strategic planning, financial management, data-driven decision-making, and resource and operational management.
• Gain a critical understanding of the latest information technology systems, how they are likely to impact the sector, and how they can be leveraged to drive quality and efficiency.
• Become an active and engaged advocate for quality and innovation within the healthcare sector and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to education and professional development.

Program Summary 

The program is made of a total of 36 credits and consists of 10 core courses, a Research Methods course, and a Capstone Project/Dissertation. All students are required to first take the foundational The Business of Medicine course which acts as a prerequisite to all other courses. However, to support your self-directed learning journey, you are free to take the other courses in whichever sequence you prefer. The Capstone Project/Dissertation is the practical equivalent of a master’s thesis and is designed to allow you to integrate your degree program learnings. As a result, this course is undertaken after you have successfully completed all other courses. 

Program Requirements

In order to be eligible for the award of a degree, students must:

• successfully complete and pass all core courses (30 credits);
• successfully complete and pass the Research Methods Course (3 credits);
• successfully complete and pass the Capstone/Dissertation project (3 credits);
• maintain acceptable program performance and remain in good academic standing, which includes maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above and no more than 2 “C” grades.
• have no outstanding student disciplinary sanctions or investigations; and
• be in good financial standing.

Course Descriptions

The Business of Medicine (MSH 500)  
3 Credits

This course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare business landscape, including the various components that drive success in the industry. From crafting a clear vision and mission to navigating the intricacies of the revenue cycle, this course offers valuable insights and strategies for anyone looking to start or run a healthcare-based business. With a focus on putting the patient at the center and understanding the business behind medicine, it equips you with the knowledge and skills to navigate the healthcare industry successfully.

Compliance (MSH 505)
3 Credits

This course provides a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the compliance aspects of healthcare, giving you the tools to navigate the complex regulatory landscape with confidence. It covers key topics such as reimbursement models, credentialing and contracting, state and federal regulations, risk management, revenue cycle management, human resources, staff, and patient safety, security, and privacy, enabling you to ensure your healthcare organization is operating in compliance and mitigating risk.

Quality (MSH 510)
3 Credits

There are myriad definitions and purposes for quality in the healthcare field. This course delves into the world of quality in healthcare, guiding you through the various initiatives and processes aimed at improving patient outcomes and overall excellence in the field. From understanding evidence-based medicine to exploring the principles of continuous quality improvement, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the guidelines and regulations that drive quality in healthcare and learn how to achieve the best results for patients and healthcare organizations alike.

Utilization Management (MSH 515)
3 Credits

This course will dive into the intricacies of effectively managing healthcare resources while striving to achieve the highest possible patient outcomes. We will explore innovative solutions and strategies to ensure that healthcare delivery is both efficient and cost-effective, providing you with the tools to deliver exceptional patient care while keeping a keen eye on the bottom line.

Operations in Healthcare (MSH 520)
3 Credits 

If compliance is the foundation or backbone of the healthcare business, then operations are its tendon, ligament, and muscle. In this course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the various components that make up the operations of a healthcare business and learn how they all work together to achieve optimal patient outcomes. With expert insights and real-world examples, you will gain a valuable understanding of the inner workings of a healthcare entity.

Information Technology in Healthcare (MSH 525
3 Credits

The impact of IT in healthcare is immeasurable. This course delves into the vast and transformative impact of IT on healthcare, exploring the ways in which technology is revolutionizing medical practice management, patient safety, and clinical decision-making. You will gain a deep understanding of the latest tools and technologies and learn how they are shaping the present and future of healthcare.

Graduate and Postgraduate Medical Education – Training Physicians (MSH 530)
3 Credits

This course will guide you through the complex landscape of graduate and continuing education requirements in the medical profession, with a particular focus on U.S. requirements but also in relation to broader trends and challenges in healthcare internationally. You will learn about the different types and continued evolution of CME credits, board certifications, graduate medical education requirements, and healthcare administration/management offerings. You will also learn how to become an accredited provider of educational materials. With a comprehensive understanding of continuing education opportunities and requirements, this course will ensure that you know how to keep yourself and your organization current and relevant in your field. 

Medicare Risk Adjustment (MSH 535)
3 Credits

The managed-care MRA model is vastly different from the FFS model. This course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the MRA funding model, including its key differences from the FFS reimbursement model. You will learn about the intricacies of documentation and coding, how they are used to predict patient morbidity and mortality, and ultimately, the cost of care. Additionally, you will gain insight into how the office staff works together to support providers and ensure compliance with internal and external controls.

Blockchain for Healthcare (MSH 545)
3 Credits

Blockchain technology offers a wide scope of applications and uses in healthcare. It has the potential to transform this sector putting the patient at the center of the healthcare multiverse and increasing security, privacy, and interoperability of sensitive data. It could lay the foundations of a new system for Health Information Exchange. It resolves crippling issues such as transferring and storing patient medical records securely and managing prescriptions, supply chains, and billing, and it also expands healthcare research in fields such as genetics and aging. While it doesn’t fix all the problems, this ground-breaking, ever-changing technology provides great expectations for experimentation, innovation, and proof-of-concept testing. This course will walk you through how blockchain works, allow you to explore its many potential uses, and understand when the use of such technology is desirable. 

Leadership in Healthcare (MSH 540)
3 Credits 

Successful leadership is vital in healthcare. Leaders create and sustain the vision and strategy of an organization and are key to overall employee and patient satisfaction. In this class, we will study key competencies of leadership in healthcare to meet changing industry demands and needs. We will approach this by discussing the topics of communication, negotiation, change management, and innovation. We will learn about how to lead teams, social and emotional intelligence, stress management, and motivation. 

Research Methods (MSH 690)
3 Credits

This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of social science research methods. By advancing through the steps of framing a research question, conducting a literature review, formulating hypotheses, and examining various data collection and analysis techniques, students will gain the skills and knowledge needed to conduct their own research at the graduate level. A variety of research designs and methodologies will be presented, allowing students to gain a deeper understanding of the field and make informed choices about their own research projects.

Capstone Project/Dissertation (MSH 699)
3 Credits

The Capstone Project is the ultimate opportunity to showcase the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the program. It is designed to provide a platform where participants can integrate all of their learnings and apply their newfound expertise to an impactful project.