Healthcare Administration (MHA) - Human Resources Specialization
36
Credit Hours
14
Month Completion
Class Type
Next Start Date
Jan 6, 2025
Placement Tests
GMAT/GRE not required for admission

Earn your MHA HR and transform how the healthcare industry helps the people who help people

An evolving workforce, technological advancements and calls for more diversity, equity and inclusion are impacting the healthcare industry. This is leading to even greater demand for HR-focused healthcare leaders – leaders who can identify challenges, set priorities and develop strategies that strengthen capacity, capabilities and worker satisfaction. Franklin’s 100% online MHA with a Specialization in HR will prepare you to lead growth-minded hospital systems and healthcare organizations toward both talent and business success.

Program Availability

On Site

14-Month Completion

Finish your MHA faster.

Fulfilling Work

Drive positive change and make a lasting impact.

Groundbreaking Strategies

Lead and inspire employees at all levels.

Top-Notch Networking

Learn from faculty and peers who are in-field professionals.

100% Online Classes

Take classes that fit with your busy life.

Contemporary Curriculum

Be at the forefront of trends and technologies.

MHA-Human Resources Specialization Program Overview

Lead healthcare toward a new, more sustainable talent and workforce model

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that there is a "profound shortage of human resources" for the healthcare industry. Given the fact that healthcare is in the business of caring for people, it only makes sense that leaders are needed to care for the people who care for them.

What's needed in today's (and tomorrow's) healthcare environment are leaders who can move human resources in healthcare toward a more flexible yet sustainable model marked by dynamic talent, an engaged workforce and a culture of empowerment.

As such, demand for healthcare leaders is strong and growing stronger. As an industry, healthcare is on a serious growth trajectory with a project growth rate of 19.70% through 2032.*

Go further in your career faster when you earn an MHA-HR – a unique degree not offered at most universities

The healthcare industry is experiencing a shortage of HR-focused leaders. You could be at the forefront of this growing segment of an ever-changing industry with Franklin University’s 100% online MHA with a Specialization in HR. Our healthcare in human resources master’s will equip you to lead the workforce function across a variety of healthcare systems, hospitals and medical groups. Most MHA programs don’t offer the MHA human resources specialization – so Franklin’s program enables you to differentiate yourself. Plus, you can earn your MHA-HR in as few as 14 months.

Earn the MHA degree that prepares you to become part of the healthcare leadership team

With an online MHA-HR degree from Franklin, you’ll develop human resources knowledge and skills specifically related to the healthcare industry, including leadership and strategy, operations management, law and policy, accounting and finance, and management.

Our healthcare-human resources master’s degree program is aligned with industry best practices and our coursework incorporates emerging and relevant trends. So, if you’re looking to become part of human resources leadership in a healthcare organization, Franklin’s MHA-HR can help prepare you for such roles as director of human resources, human resources manager and human resources business partner.

Your online MHA with a specialization in HR will challenge you through a variety of academic methodologies, including case studies, lectures, group assignments, and community and healthcare projects. You’ll also be exposed to essential human resources in healthcare topics, such as employment and workplace law, healthcare talent management and organizational development.

Grow in your leadership skills with relevant curriculum informed by top healthcare executives

To ensure the most relevant curriculum for our students, we rely on the input of an industry-specific Advisory Board to oversee our MHA-HR master’s degree program. Board members include top-level executives like the hospital president and COO of Mt. Carmel East Hospital, a medical association CEO, an SVP at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and the president of Grady Memorial Hospitals.

*Source information provided by Lightcast.

Read more >

Future Start Dates

Start dates for individual programs may vary and are subject to change. Please request free information & speak with an admission advisor for the latest program start dates.

Spring 2025
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Your Best Value Master of Healthcare Administration

Choose Franklin's MHA and get a high-quality degree that fits your life and your budget. 

Affordable Tuition

$670
PER CREDIT HOUR

Affordable tuition rates for the Master of Healthcare Administration provide value and quality.

Take One Class at a Time

Balance your education with your life.

Finish Fast

14
MONTHS TO COMPLETE

Realize your career goals sooner and reap the benefits.

Partner? Pay Less.

Search below to see if you could save tuition through an employer or professional organization partnership.

$24,120
Total Tuition
(After Partner Discount)

Tuition Guarantee

Inflation-proof your degree cost by locking-in your tuition rate from day one through graduation.

Highly Recommended

98%
STUDENT SATISFACTION

98% of graduating students would recommend Franklin to their family, friends and/or colleagues.

Source: Franklin University, Office of Career Development Student Satisfaction Survey (Summer 2023)

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Master of Healthcare Administration Courses & Curriculum

36 Semester Hours
Major Area Required
HCM 733 - Finance and Managerial Accounting in Healthcare Organizations (4)

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the fundamental concepts and calculations associated with financial accounting and managerial accounting within a healthcare organization. Students will study the foundational aspects of financial accounting with a primary focus on financial statements and the uses of the information in these statements. Students will also study the functional aspects of managerial accounting to include cost behavior, cost allocation, pricing, planning, budgeting, profit analysis, and performance evaluation. Application of these concepts will include analysis of case studies.

HCM 735 - Healthcare Delivery Systems (4)

The course provides an extensive overview of leadership in the U.S. health services system. The focus of the course will be on the role health services leadership plays in the delivery of healthcare services, to include managing with professionals, financial management, services utilization, and other aspects of the U.S. healthcare system. The student will explore the key theoretical and practical elements of leadership as well as current issues clarifying how the U.S. health services system is organized, managed, and financed.

HCM 742 - Healthcare Laws and Ethics (4)

In this course students will develop a strong foundation in health law, enabling them to deal with the common legal, practical, moral, and ethical issues that healthcare organizations face on a daily basis. Topics will include statutory law, rules and regulations, tort law, criminal law, contract law, civil procedures, and trial procedure.

HCM 752 - Health Policy (4)

This course will explore the essential conceptual and analytical understanding of health policymaking and politics, including their impact on health administration and leadership. Selected policy issues will be explored through the application of political concepts and behavioral models, including a system model of policymaking. The emphasis will be on understanding the health leader?s approach to the policymaking system, become involved in it, and work through it to attain their objectives and those of their organization.

HCM 765 - Healthcare Operations Management (4)

Students will explore concepts and theories of operations management. The student will develop both knowledge and skills in solving the operational problems of healthcare organizations. This course will examine process improvement models that are aimed at improving the safety and quality of healthcare delivery within an organization.

HCM 772 - Healthcare Strategic Management (4)

The student will examine principles of strategic management applied to healthcare organizations. This Capstone course through critical assessments of the real world environment and case studies on strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation will examine alternative strategic frameworks for healthcare organizations. Topics will include, mission, vision statement development, environmental assessments, analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, use of critical success factors, development of business plans, and other techniques for strategic planning and management.

MHA or MHA with Specialization

MHA:

HCM 762 - Global Health (4)

The student will examine demographic measurements, epidemiological methods, outcomes assessment, health promotion, and disease prevention from a global perspective.

HIM 702 - Health Information Governance (4)

This course covers the broad spectrum of strategic issues in healthcare including policies, guidelines, standards, processes, and controls required to manage and implement enterprise-level information. Treating information as a strategic asset to healthcare organizations, processes to manage various risks to the quality of information and ensure its appropriate use are covered.

AND

HIM 710 - Clinical Workflow & Applications (4)

This course explores requirements for clinical workflows in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, and emergency healthcare environments. It covers the documentation, review, mapping, and diagramming of clinical workflow information and processes. The course also covers the linkages between the improvement of patient care to workflow mapping and change management, as part of evidence based decision making in healthcare.

OR HIM 761 - Healthcare Analytics (4)

This course addresses the process of retrieving, analyzing, and reporting intelligence to make healthcare decisions. It covers the techniques of extracting, transforming and loading data from a myriad of operational databases into corporate data warehouses, as well means to ensure that decision making is based on clean and reliable information. The course also includes ways to report the healthcare intelligence gathered.

OR GRAD 770 - Lean Six Sigma (4)

The purpose of this course is to train individuals in Lean Six Sigma skills and strategies to improve processes and provide safe, effective care environments. The learner will demonstrate the practical application of tools utilized with Lean Six Sigma methodologies. Students will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge learned during this course concurrently with a case study designed specifically to use Six Sigma methodologies. Students will develop a Lean Six Sigma project plan that can serve as the foundation for completing a major project for Lean Six Sigma certification following the completion of the course. Interested students would need to apply for Lean Six Sigma certification and complete the major project with Franklin University's Center for Professional Training & Development.

OR PUAD 701 - Foundations of Public Service and Administration (4)

This foundational course provides an introduction to the social, economic, political, and ethical context of public administration in the United States. Students examine how public sector values differentiate government from the private sector and develop skills for critically evaluating issues faced by public administrators.

OR PSYC 603 - Managerial Psychology (4)

This course will explore the psychological influences on the development and behavior of managers and organizational leaders. Topics include: follower influences, nature vs. nurture in the development of leaders, relationship of personality to leadership style, behavioral decision- making biases, tactical, operational, and strategic decision-making , group think, and scenario planning.

OR HRM 713 - Human Resource Management (4)

Organizations are composed of groups of people who work together to achieve defined outcomes. Experience has proven time and again that the key factor which differentiates successful companies from those who struggle to survive is people who make up the employee base. While the human resources function is given the specific task of planning for and resolving many employee-related issues and needs, individual managers have direct responsibility and accountability for motivating and leading employees to achieve sustained organizational success. The purpose of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively with human resources to enhance the contributions of all employees to organizational effectiveness. Students will learn about the elements which drive business success, theories of motivation, and methods for creating a plan for maximizing the human capital of an organization.

OR

Organizational Leadership Specialization:

MGMT 780 - Organizational Leadership Theories (4)

This course provides an overview of the historical and current leadership concepts, theories and constructs. Application and assessment of the individual leadership style will enable the student to develop their leadership voice. This course will provide a construct that will enable the student to identify transferrable skills that align with the organization that they are serving in. This course will challenge students to assess their own leadership strengths and weaknesses and produce an in-depth plan of action to develop and refine leadership competencies. Students will conduct substantive scholarly research to address and capture relevant and cutting-edge leadership theoretical work for application in course assignments.

MGMT 785 - Change Management for Organizational Leaders (4)

This course focuses on research and evaluation of the key theoretical concepts and practices central to the leading of organizational change initiatives. Students will evaluate real-world situations in a manner that supports the ability to initiate, implement and sustain major change. The management of change is a dynamic process. This course focuses on understanding how to plan and implement change in various organizations and other settings.

PSYC 603 - Managerial Psychology (4)

This course will explore the psychological influences on the development and behavior of managers and organizational leaders. Topics include: follower influences, nature vs. nurture in the development of leaders, relationship of personality to leadership style, behavioral decision- making biases, tactical, operational, and strategic decision-making , group think, and scenario planning.

OR

Operational Excellence Specialization:

GRAD 770 - Lean Six Sigma (4)

The purpose of this course is to train individuals in Lean Six Sigma skills and strategies to improve processes and provide safe, effective care environments. The learner will demonstrate the practical application of tools utilized with Lean Six Sigma methodologies. Students will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge learned during this course concurrently with a case study designed specifically to use Six Sigma methodologies. Students will develop a Lean Six Sigma project plan that can serve as the foundation for completing a major project for Lean Six Sigma certification following the completion of the course. Interested students would need to apply for Lean Six Sigma certification and complete the major project with Franklin University's Center for Professional Training & Development.

OSCM 731 - Operations Management (4)

In today's business environment, the success of organizations depends on the effective and efficient management of operations. Methods to select, plan, and improve organizational processes will be examined. The application of optimal capacity decisions in supply chains, development production, and inventory plans and schedules will be performed. The student will learn quality management and improvement process to increase the efficiency of a process.

OSCM 780 - Introduction to Operations Excellence (4)

Operational excellence can provide an important competitive advantage for firms in today?s marketplace. This course presents the concepts in quality. It builds upon the responses of six sigma and lean principles. This course also blends qualitative and quantitative information so that organizations can capitalize on opportunities and data driven management.

OR

Human Resources Specialization:

HRM 702 - Employee Rights, Responsibilities, Discp (4)

The primary purpose of this course is to introduce the principle theories and practices in the area of employment and workplace law. Topics include the federal and state laws associated with hiring, firing and discipline, medical leave (including FMLA, ADA and worker's compensation), discrimination, harassment, immigration, labor law, unemployment compensation, workplace privacy. Additional topics may include workplace investigations, workplace violence and employment-related legal processes, including EEOC Charges and lawsuits.

HRM 706 - Organizational Development/Intervention (4)

This course addresses the need for planned change focused on an organization's ability to compete strategically. The framework of consultation as helping organizations reach a level of optimum performance will be applied. Topics addressed include individual, team, and organization-wide interventions that can raise productivity/quality, improve competitiveness, increase skills, morale, and commitment.

HRM 708 - Strategic Human Resource Planning (4)

The course will introduce students to the field of strategic human resource management (SHRM). Current topics in SHRM that have resulted from environmental and organizational challenges, e.g., technology, globalization, legislation, restructuring, work/life balance, changing labor markets, are discussed Emphasis will be placed on problem solving issues, policies, and practices affecting HR specialists, practitioners, and managers.

Optional Focus Areas

Health Informatics:

HIM 710 - Clinical Workflow & Applications (4)

This course explores requirements for clinical workflows in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, and emergency healthcare environments. It covers the documentation, review, mapping, and diagramming of clinical workflow information and processes. The course also covers the linkages between the improvement of patient care to workflow mapping and change management, as part of evidence based decision making in healthcare.

HIM 761 - Healthcare Analytics (4)

This course addresses the process of retrieving, analyzing, and reporting intelligence to make healthcare decisions. It covers the techniques of extracting, transforming and loading data from a myriad of operational databases into corporate data warehouses, as well means to ensure that decision making is based on clean and reliable information. The course also includes ways to report the healthcare intelligence gathered.

AND

Adding a focus area provides an opportunity for customization but is not required for completion of the degree. The focus area requires two additional courses.

Microcredentials Align with Job Essentials

In today's dynamic work environments, adaptive professionals thrive. A microcredential - either as a stand-alone course or integrated into your degree program - is a short, skill-specific recognition that enables you to demonstrate your competency in a distinct area. Like Franklin's degree programs, microcredentials are aligned with market and industry demand to ensure what you learn can be put to use right away. Microcredentials are easily shared via digital badges and can be stacked to create a unique portfolio of in-demand skills.

Master of Healthcare Administration Program Details

Employment Outlook

25%

From 2023-2033, jobs in Healthcare are expected to increase by 25%

Occupation Median Salary (2023) Job Postings (2023) Projected Growth (2023-2033)
Occupation
Human Resources Managers $136,344 195,533 11%
Human Resources Managers
Median Salary: $136,344
Job Postings: 195,533
Projected Growth: 11%
Occupation
Job Titles
Skills
Industry
Description

Human Resources Managers plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

Projected Growth
Job TitleJob Postings% of Job Postings
Human Resources Managers63,25432%
Human Resources Business Partners54,58528%
Directors of Human Resources31,31316%
Directors of Diversity and Inclusion7,0614%
Talent Acquisition Managers4,7212%
Show More
SkillJob Postings% of Total Postings
Employee Relations45,27131%
Performance Management34,61124%
Human Resources Information System (HRIS)24,06116%
Talent Management23,96016%
Project Management22,92716%
Show More
 
Industry% of Occupation in Industry
Management of Companies and Enterprises13%
Federal Government, Military6%
Employment Services5%
Computer Systems Design and Related Services5%
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services4%
Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals4%
Other65%
Medical and Health Services Managers $110,677 353,327 30%
Medical and Health Services Managers
Median Salary: $110,677
Job Postings: 353,327
Projected Growth: 30%
Occupation
Job Titles
Skills
Industry
Description

Medical and Health Services Managers plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

Projected Growth
Job TitleJob Postings% of Job Postings
Directors of Nursing74,53221%
Patient Care Coordinators44,56713%
Medical Directors25,4997%
Clinical Supervisors24,1877%
Directors of Rehabilitation31,4619%
Show More
SkillJob Postings% of Total Postings
Nursing96,01221%
Care Coordination61,08813%
Medical Records46,05110%
Billing39,9069%
Auditing36,7158%
Show More
 
Industry% of Occupation in Industry
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals23%
Offices of Physicians13%
Outpatient Care Centers7%
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)6%
Home Health Care Services5%
Offices of Other Health Practitioners4%
Other42%

Source: Employment Outlook data is provided by Lightcast. Franklin University cannot guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

Healthcare Administration Knowledge & Skillsets

Gain in-demand skills sought by employers with curriculum that teaches you:

Find the Human Resources Program That Fits Your Goals

If you’re interested in advancing your human resources career, Franklin has several great options. The best fit for you depends on your interests and goals. Compare programs and identify your perfect match.

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MHA-Human Resources
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MBA Human Resources
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M.S. Human Resources

Focus: 
Strengthen your understanding of the HR function and talent acquisition within the complex landscape of healthcare.

Skills: 
Deepen your HR and leadership skills within the context of the healthcare setting to design effective and efficient talent management strategies.

Careers: 
Let your MHA-HR put you in charge of balancing the needs of the business of healthcare with the needs of the people delivering and receiving it. 

How many courses are in the program?
Nine, 6-week classes

How quickly can I complete the program?
14 months

Focus: 
Grow your expertise in the foundational areas of business while increasing your familiarity with strategic HR, employment law and organizational development.

Skills: 
Build management and leadership skills alongside a deeper understanding of strategic and legal HR issues, and the impacts of planned change.

Careers: 
Use your MBA-Human Resources to lead diverse workforces in an ever-changing business environment.

How many courses are in the program?
Nine, 6-week classes

How quickly can I complete the program?
12 Months

Focus: 
Advance your leadership capabilities as well as your ability to oversee benefit plans, navigate labor laws and develop talent management strategies. 

Skills: 
Get the skills to navigate compensation systems, strategic HR, organizational leadership, employment law and organizational development.

Careers: 
Put your M.S. in Human Resource Management to work leading HR functions in a variety of industries.

How many courses are in the program?
Nine, 6-week classes

How quickly can I complete the program?
14 months 

MHA-HR Frequently Asked Questions

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