Health Administration MBA

Highlights of the program include:

• A field study  built into the curriculum to give you practical experience 

• Strong ties  to the health community in Colorado and across the nation at hospitals, HMOs, medical group practices, and consulting companies 

• Flexibility to work full-time while completing the degree with evening class options 

• Three specialization options to customize your degree to help you stand out in a sea of applicants 

Real-world experience is a requirement for this degree and students get it in their study here. Through the capstone health field study course, you’ll relate your classroom knowledge directly to problems facing hospitals and other healthcare organizations. 

The Health Administration MBA consists of 45 credit hours total and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). Our classes have an emphasis on group-based work, where you’ll apply your education directly to industry problems in a capstone health field study course.

Suggested Course Sequence

MBA core (24 hours)

Five MBA core classes are entirely health-focused, and the remaining three core courses give you a strong business foundation. Course topics include:

Health administration core (15 hours)

The health core classes help you understand the healthcare landscape and policy shaping the industry today.

Health administration electives (3 hours)

Additional coursework can be tailored to your interests and include special topics like:

You can add a specialization to your MBA in Health Administration degree by focusing your electives on one area. The following specializations are available.

Financial Health Management

This specialization is designed for anyone either currently working or would like to work in the finance area of a healthcare organization. Subjects include accounting, financial modeling, macroeconomics, and security analysis.

Health Information Technology Management

You’ll learn about the evolving role of IT in healthcare, the applications for delivering healthcare with reduced cost and increased quality, utilizing effective knowledge management systems, and the security and privacy issues associated with health information.

International Health Management and Policy

In this specialization, you’ll focus on global health issues. You’ll learn about international health policy and global health systems with an option to complete an international health travel study. Countries students have visited in the past include India, South Africa, Indonesia, Australia, and Thailand.

Students are measured on their mastery of the program competencies at different levels in each course they take.   Mastery of competency will be measured in a variety of ways:

• Each course has specific learning objectives that contribute to the student’s mastery of program competencies by the time a student completes the program course of study.
• Teaching in our program uses multiple assessment methods.  These assessments are less about how you memorize something (“Rote” learning) and more about how you can apply and use the knowledge you get from your study in your work as a health care administrator.  Most all of the courses have a mix of assessment methods ranging from simple objective quizzes/exams to higher-level assessments such as case studies, projects done in collaboration with industry partners, discussion groups, journaling, group assignments, peer-to-peer assessments, and evaluation of your work by industry professionals. All of these assessments are aimed at demonstrating your mastery of program competencies and, ultimately, building your skills in those competencies to the levels you will need to succeed in our industry.
•  Each student will be assessed on each program competency at the beginning of their study, at least once during their course of study using one major assignment that aligns with that program competency, and again using a standardized national exam on program competencies.

Our program uses a variety of teaching and learning methods that require you to be an active learner.  This is not a program where you just listen to a lecture, read a book chapter, and do homework. Instead, you learn by doing.  In most courses, you will be required to work in groups (just like we do in the industry), and you will do that from the very beginning of your studies in our program. Our courses include a large proportion of the higher-level teaching and learning methods, including external field experiences, group assignments, case studies, live cases with guest practitioners, use of real-world data, in-class presentations, class discussions, reflective learning, and strategic/consulting projects. 

Our program uses a variety of teaching and learning methods that require you to be an active learner.  This is not a program where you just listen to a lecture, read a book chapter, and do homework. Instead, you learn by doing.  In most courses, you will be required to work in groups (just like we do in the industry), and you will do that from the very beginning of your studies in our program. Our courses include a large proportion of the higher-level teaching and learning methods, including external field experiences, group assignments, case studies, live cases with guest practitioners, use of real-world data, in-class presentations, class discussions, reflective learning, and strategic/consulting projects. 

Grades are awarded in accordance with the grading scale used in the College of Business Administration, University of Colorado.

The grade scale for MBA-Health Administration courses is:

The health administration program has limited spots available.  Once your application is submitted and complete the admissions department will forward your application to be reviewed by the MBA-HA committee.  After your application is reviewed and if you meet the admission criteria you will be invited to interview within 2-3 weeks from the application deadline date.

We admit students for a fall, spring, or summer start. Admissions are made on a rolling basis, meaning decisions are made as applications are completed.

Application Process

Applicants are required to submit all application materials. Interviews are a part of the admission process. Because of the program’s competitive nature and limited space, we strongly recommend submitting your application as early as possible.

You can check your admission status online through the account you created for the online application. Within two to three weeks from submission of all materials, you will be notified if you are moving forward in the admissions process.

Admission Requirements

• Applicants must have completed an undergraduate program at an accredited United States college or its equivalent in another country.
• No work experience or formal business education is required for admission.

The GMAT/GRE is not required for this program

The Health Administration MBA does not require GMAT or GRE scores for their degree program as part of the graduate admissions requirements. The requirements are a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better from a US accredited four-year undergraduate institution or the successful completion of a graduate degree, and three or more years of full-time professional work experience.

However, if you received your bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of less than 3.30 or have less than 3 years of professional work experience, you will be asked to submit a statement that outlines other indicators of exceptional motivation, such as solid upper-division performance, GMAT or GRE scores, and other relevant professional experience. The MBA in Health Administration admissions committee may require a minimum GMAT or GRE score for students that do not automatically qualify by GPA and prior work.

For any questions, please contact our admissions team at bschool.admissions@ucdenver.edu or call 303-315-8200.