Health Services Administration (MBA/MHSA) | Office | Website

The MBA/MHSA joint degree is designed to accommodate the career needs of health care professionals. Students are prepared for managing a patient focused organization in an ever changing and increasingly complex business. The program accommodates both current health care professionals who wish to establish themselves as partners with the business staff in the health care environment and business professionals currently in or moving into the health care environment.

The joint degree program is offered cooperatively between the College for Health Professions & McCauley School of Nursing and the College of Business Administration. It is designed for clinicians and others with minimal formal business training, including doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, medical office staff, etc. For the non-health care professional, the joint degree provides additional study about the health care environment, providing a stronger basis for obtaining employment in health care business setting.

• Health care practitioners need knowledge and experience beyond clinical expertise to manage effectively at the enterprise level
• There is a growing need for clinical credibility combined with managerial and administrative excellence
• Effective management in a health care environment requires an understanding of health care policy and reimbursement, financial principles and best practices for marketing, operations and information technology
• An MBA establishes clinicians as full partners with business staff in preparing to operate in a changing health care environment

Accreditation
The MBA Program is fully accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Organized in 1916, AACSB International is the premier accrediting agency for bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting. For more information about AACSB International, go to

Information for Students/Parents/Counselors/Corporations

List of Accredited Schools

UDM's MBA Program is one of the oldest AACSB-accredited programs in the United States. In 2009, the program celebrated 60 years of accreditation by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. UDM's MBA Program is the only private program in Michigan with AACSB International accreditation.

Students interested in the MBA/MHSA joint degree program must first apply to the MBA program and be accepted. In order to be fully admitted into the MBA/MHSA joint degree, a student must gain admission into the Master of Health Services Administration program.

The MBA Program is open to students of high promise who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. No prior academic work in business is required. Admission decisions are based on undergraduate grade point average (GPA), work experience, post graduate studies, and recommendations, and GMAT (if needed).

Admission Materials

• A University of Detroit Mercy Graduate Application Form, with the application fee (waived for online applications);
• Official transcripts for all previous academic work;
• An official report with the scores earned on the GMAT (if needed)
• A resume; and
• Any other information such as letters of recommendation which the applicant feels is important to the admission decision.

Graduate Students should consult the Master of Health Services Administration for admission requirements.

The basic requirements for University of Detroit Mercy's MBA Program with a concentration in Health Services Administration involve a 36 credit hour structure which includes the following set of core courses and a set of post-core courses. Core courses serve as the heart of a common educational experience for all students who seek the MBA degree. Post-core requirements include an integrated capstone course, MBA 5900 and elective courses in Health Services Administration.

Under the MBA/MHSA joint degree, students are required to be enrolled in both programs. In this option up to 15 credits from one degree may be applied to the other degree. Grades earned in those 15 credits will not be counted in the calculation of the grade point average for the second degree.

Graduate Students should consult the Master of Health Services Administration for program requirements and courses.

Foundation Courses
Foundation requirements include a set of courses designed for those applicants who have had no exposure or limited exposure to business courses in their academic background and/or limited work experience. These courses, up to a maximum of 18 credit hours, may be required to guarantee preparedness for the program's core and post-core requirements.

Each applicant's program requirements are determined immediately following the admission decision. Foundation requirements may be waived, in any number, depending upon the applicant's academic background. The mere fact that a student has completed coursework in one or more particular disciplines or had extensive work experience does not imply that any waiver will be granted. Prior academic work must be of sufficient quantity and quality as to satisfy the specific criteria established. Each student's specific requirements are determined individually with the objective of ensuring the overall quality of that student's degree program.

Conditional Entry Status
Applicants whose admission materials do not lead to regular acceptance into the program may be considered for conditional entry status. Conditional entry status is restricted to a narrow margin of applicants and usually requires a personal interview.

Guest Student Status
Individuals currently enrolled in another AACSB accredited MBA program may obtain Guest Student Status at the University of Detroit Mercy for a limited number of courses by providing a statement of good standing from their school's Dean or program director, or by applying for guest student status using a Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate School form (MIGS). The MIGS application can be obtained in the Graduate Business Programs Office.

Advanced Placement
Core requirements are systematically required of all MBA students. In certain limited cases, however, an individual's academic record may indicate that a specific core course should be replaced by an advanced course within the same discipline (e.g., an undergraduate marketing major may be considered for an advanced course in marketing in lieu of the core course, MBA 5240).

In such cases, the designation of "Advanced Placement" (AP) is used to direct the student into a designated advanced course, as worked out with the Director of Graduate Business Programs.

Credits earned by the student in an AP designation will be counted towards the student's core requirements.

Upon completion of the Joint MBA/MHSA Program, graduates receive two diplomas: one for the MBA degree and one for the Master of Health Services Administration

GMAT Scholarships
The University provides scholarships to graduate students in the College of Business Administration who score 600 or higher on the GMAT test. Information about the test and applications for it may be obtained by calling the Graduate Business Programs Office at (313) 993-1202, or by writing: GMAT, Educational Testing Service, CN6103, Princeton, NJ 08541-6103.

Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistantships are available to selected full-time students enrolled in any graduate business program. A graduate assistantship is conferred upon a student with the understanding that the student will be assigned to a discipline or program to assist in research, tutoring or general activities. In return, the student receives a tuition waiver for up to nine credit hours in Term I and/or Term II. Application forms for a graduate assistantship are available in the Graduate Business Programs Office.

Several important aspects of the MBA Program should be noted. These include policies regarding grade point averages, class scheduling, and advising.

Cumulative Grade Point Average
Students in the MBA Program are required to achieve and maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale). A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for final completion of the degree requirements and graduation.

Academic Standing
While an individual may be admitted into the MBA Program on a regular-acceptance basis, it is possible that the individual's eventual cumulative GPA may fall below a 3.0 in any particular term. When this situation occurs, the student automatically is placed on "Academic Probation". This status dictates that the student's cumulative GPA must continue to improve in each consecutive term thereafter until the cumulative GPA reaches 3.0 and is then sustained at that level or higher. If, after being placed on Academic Probation, the student's cumulative GPA does not improve in each subsequent term, the student will be academically dismissed.

Class Scheduling
MBA classes are scheduled in the evening and on the weekend. Classes are currently offered on the McNichols Campus. Evening classes begin at either 6:00 or 6:40 p.m., Monday through Thursday for Term I and Term II. Term I, commencing the day after Labor Day, is 15 weeks in length; Term II, commencing in early January, is also 15 weeks long. Some Foundation Courses are offered in an eight-week format in both terms. Each summer session is seven weeks in length. Summer I commences in early May. Summer II begins in late June. Evening classes for both sessions are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 5:30-8:00 p.m. and 8:10-10:40 p.m.

Full-Time and Part-Time Student Status
An individual may undertake the MBA Program on either a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time student status usually involves a nine or above credit-hour course load in Terms I and II. Part-time student status usually entails a 1-8 credit hour load in Terms I and II.

Residence and Time Requirements
Students who have not completed their required program within seven years may be subject to re-evaluation and additional coursework. Students not enrolled for more than two consecutive terms (without prior approval of the program director) may be required to re-apply for admission.

International Students
International students should consult with the International Services Office.

Advising
The Director of Graduate Business Programs serves as general academic advisor for all students entering the MBA Program. When appropriate, specific advising matters may be referred to the advisor in a particular academic discipline.

The Thesis Plan
An MBA student may elect, with approval of the associate dean, to write a master's thesis for the equivalent of six credit hours. These credits are applied to the student's electives. A thesis advisor will be selected from the full-time faculty. Guidelines are available in the Graduate Business Programs Office.

Student Responsibilities
Students in the College of Business Administration are responsible and accountable for knowledge of the requirements and procedures set forth by the College and University. Administrators, advisors, and faculty are available to assist students by explaining the various requirements and procedures for each program. However, the ultimate responsibility for compliance rests with the student.

Through its Career Education Center, the University of Detroit Mercy offers a professional practice program for MBA candidates. After completing the appropriate credit hours in the MBA Program, students are eligible for a career-related professional practice assignment. The professional practice model is based on traditional co-op, providing students with the opportunity to select either full-time assignments, alternating semesters of work with study, or part-time assignments, with parallel semesters of work and study. A minimum of two assignments is required, with three assignments being the maximum a student may complete. The professional practice program model combines the success of traditional co-op with the new demands for graduate student programming. The professional practice coordinator, upon the recommendation of the Director of Graduate Business Programs, accepts students into the program.

Upon placement, students are required to enroll in ADM 5950, 5960, or 5970. Grades are based on the evaluation of the employer, a written professional practice training report and a progress interview with the student's professional practice coordinator. Please refer to the Professional Practice Handbook, available in the Career Education Center for additional requirements.

Beta Gamma Sigma
Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, an international scholastic honor society for graduates in the field of business and management, is the highest international scholastic honor that a student in a school of business or management can achieve. Eligibility for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma places a student in a very select group and is conferred for a lifetime status. Beta Gamma Sigma chapters are only chartered in those business schools which are accredited by the AACSB International. For more information about Beta Gamma Sigma, see their web site at Beta Gamma Sigma

Beta Alpha Psi
Beta Alpha Psi is an honorary organization for Financial Information students and professionals. This membership is one of the highest scholastic honors that accounting and finance students can attain. As the premier professional accounting and business information fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi recognizes academic excellence and complements members' formal education by providing interaction between students, faculty and professionals, and fosters lifelong growth, service and ethical conduct. Beta Alpha Psi chapters may be chartered only in those schools of business and management accredited by AACSB International. For more information about Beta Alpha Psi, see their web site at Beta Alpha Psi

Alpha Iota Delta
Alpha Iota Delta is the international honor society confers distinction for academic excellence in the decision sciences and information systems; promotes the infusion of the functional and behavioral areas of administration with tools, concepts and methodologies of the decision sciences and information systems; and promotes professional fellowship among students, faculty, administration and practitioners. The lifetime membership is by invitation, reflecting exceptional academic achievement and, perhaps, outstanding campus leadership and service. For more information about Alpha Iota Delta, see their web site at Alpha Iota Delta

Global Jesuit Business Student Association
The purposes of the GJBSA Honor Society are to confer distinction for academic excellence upon students attending Jesuit business schools and to encourage their pursuit of lifelong education; to acknowledge and promote a spirit of community involvement among its members; to promote and encourage ethical and socially responsible business practices among its members and in the global business community; and to act as a catalyst for the advancement of business thought and theory. For more information about the GJBSA Honor Society, see their web site at Global Jesuit Business Student Association