Health Services Administration (MHSA)

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  Admissions Requirements

  Graduate Application Requirements

  • A baccalaureate or advanced degree from a regionally-accredited college or university, with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale). Your undergraduate degree does not have to be healthcare-related.
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
  • Work experience, in health care and otherwise, is very helpful in this program, but not required.
  • Three letters of recommendation from professional and academic recommenders, including one from a direct supervisor. Recommendation letters should be on the recommender’s employer’s letterhead and sent directly by the recommenders from their professional (not personal) email address either to HSAprogram@udmercy.edu or through the Detroit Mercy application portal.
  • Official transcripts sent directly from all colleges and universities attended.
  • A brief (1-2 pages) essay explaining why you are interested in pursuing the MHSA program at University of Detroit Mercy:
    • how your prior professional and/or personal experience led to your choice of a career in health administration
    • why the MHSA program at University of Detroit Mercy is of particular interest to you (including how you see your professional and/or personal goals relating to the mission of the MHSA program)
    • what your professional goals are upon graduation from the program / how you plan to use the MHSA degree upon graduation
    • For international students: why you chose the U.S. as your study destination
  • For international students: TOEFL score of 6.5 or equivalent test score
  • A personal interview with the Health Services Administration program director may be requested.

  Probationary Admission

  Students who do not meet the admission requirements, but who show other indicators of potential success will be considered for probationary admission. If admitted on probation, the student will be required to pass the first three HSA courses with a grade of B or better in each of the courses. These courses may not be repeated.

  Application Deadlines 

  Please note: Official application deadlines for each semester are

  • Fall Semester: August 1
  • Winter Semester: November 1
  • Summer Semester: April 1

  Applying after the deadline

  It is always best to submit a completed application by the deadline in order to ensure that there is sufficient time for the MHSA program and Admissions Office to review and process it. Although it is possible to submit a late application after the official application deadline has passed, it would be reviewed and processed only if time permits. Your chances depend on the number of students who applied on time and accepted their spot after the admission selection round.

  There are two ways to apply:

  Option 1 is directly through Detroit Mercy, the online application is free - click here to apply. Admissions Office, 4001 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, MI 48221-3038. If you have any questions, please call 1-800-635-5020.
  Option 2 is through the Healthcare Administration, Management & Policy Centralized Application System (HAMPCAS).  
  Our graduate program in Health Services Administration is a participant of HAMPCAS. This means that applicants can now apply to health management, administration and policy programs across different colleges and universities throughout the U.S. by way of a single, web-based application.  See below for the benefits to applicants when using HAMPCAS.
  Go to HAMPCAS to apply now.

  International Students

  In lieu of sending foreign transcripts directly to us, applicants who have studied overseas must submit official foreign transcripts to an approved foreign transcript evaluation service for a course-by-course U.S. equivalency report. Contact the foreign transcript evaluation service as early as possible. The service may take several weeks to process your foreign transcript once it is received.

  Applicants who are not United States citizens must contact the International Admissions Office for information about the application process, official evaluation services and status. For more information click here. You may also contact them at:
  
  International Admissions Office
  Phone: 313-993-3310

  Fax: 313-993-3326
  admissions@udmercy.edu

   

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  Grading Policies

  Successful completion of all Health Services Administration courses (HSA, ETH, PYC, HLH) is dependent upon achievement of the minimum grade standards (see below). The internship stands as an independent course separate from the theory/didactic courses and students receive separate grades for the internship. These grades are calculated into the cumulative GPA. A letter grade is awarded based on achievement of the course objectives. 

  Grades are assigned by the faculty scheduled to teach a course. Grades are determined based on the evaluation criteria and competencies described in the course syllabus. Faculty utilize their clinical expertise and academic judgment when assigning a grade. Grades cannot be assigned by any other person than the faculty teaching that course, and a grade can only be changed by the faculty member who assigned the grade. A passing grade cannot be appealed or grieved.  

  Academic standards are set to ensure that the master’s degree in Health Services Administration signifies that student work meets or exceeds academic excellence and industry standards. The MHSA graduate program considers a grade below B- in any of the MHSA courses to represent unsatisfactory academic progress. 

  In order to remain in good standing and/or to progress in the MHSA program, graduate students must: a) fulfill all prerequisite requirements, b) maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and c) earn grades of ‘B-’ or better in all courses.  

  When a graduate student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, or when a grade below “B-” is earned in any course, even though their cumulative GPA may be above 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation by the Health Services Administration program and will be notified by registered mail. The student has one semester to bring his/her cumulative GPA up to 3.0. 

  The graduate student must repeat any course in which less than a B- was earned at the first opportunity and earn a grade of B- or higher, as well as maintain his/her cumulative GPA at 3.0 or higher, to progress onward in the curriculum. It is the responsibility of the student to follow up with the advisor if the student receives a poor or failing grade in a course. The purpose of this communication is to notify the student of his/her academic standing and provide additional support and guidance that will enable the student to improve his/her academic performance and successfully complete the MHSA degree. A course may be repeated only once.

  Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program unless the student is able to demonstrate unusual or extraordinary circumstances that are responsible for his/her performance.

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  Sample: Health Services Administration Curriculum Plan* - 5 Terms (The courses are subject to changes in the schedule)

  Sample: “Old” (for students who started prior to Fall 2021) Health Services Administration Curriculum Plan* - 5 Terms (The courses are subject to changes in the schedule)

  Term I Fall

  • HSA 5001 Theory and Practice of Health Services Management (co-requisite **HSA 5005) (2 credits)
  • HSA 5005 Career Management for Health Services Administrators (co-requisite **HSA 5001) (1 credit)
  • HSA 5010 Accounting Principles in the Health Care Profession (3 credits)
  • HSA 5500 Information Systems for Health Services Administration (3 credits)

  Term 2 Winter

  • HSA 5020 Financial Management of Health Services (prerequisite HSA 5010) (3 credits)
  • HSA 5825 Professional Development for Health Services Administrators (prerequisite HSA 5005) (1 credit)
  • ETH 5520 Ethical Perspectives in HSA (3 credits)
  • HLH 5700 Health Care Delivery and Policy Issues (also offered in summer) (3 credits)

  Term 3 Summer

  • PYC 5030 Statistics (also offered in fall) (3 credits)
  • HSA 5070 Population Health (3 credits)
  • HSA 5090 Human Resources in Health Care Organizations (co-requisite **HSA 5150) (1.5 credits)
  • HSA 5150 Leadership in Health Care Organizations (co-requisite **HSA 5090) (1.5 credits)
    

  Term 4 Fall

  • HSA 5060 Health Economics (3 credits)
  • HSA 5160 Marketing for Healthcare Organizations (co-requisite **HSA 5190) (1.5 credits)
  • HSA 5190 Strategic Planning for Healthcare Organizations (co-requisite **HSA 5160) (1.5 credits)
  • HLH 5500 Research Methods in Health Care (prerequisite PYC 5030, this course is offered every term) (3 credits)
    

  Term 5 Winter

  • HSA 5050 Legal Aspects of Health Services Administration (3 credits)
  • HSA 5780 Quality Improvement in Health Care Organizations (3 credits)
  • HSA 5860***Internship in Health Services Administration (offered every term) (2 credits)
  • HSA 5941***Health Services Administration Capstone (2 credits)

  Total credits required for the Master of Health Services Administration: 47 credits

  * This sample plan of study shows typical semesters of course offerings. Offerings may vary from year to year: please consult your advisor every semester prior to registration. All students are required to meet with their academic advisor prior to registration. Failure to do so can cause students to fall out of sequence or delay their graduation. 

  ** Courses that are co-requisites must be added to the registration basket at the same time.

  *** Students must have completed at least 35 credits in the MHSA program before enrolling in the internship and capstone courses.

  Sample: “New” (for students who started Fall 2021 or later) Health Services Administration Curriculum Plan* - 5 Terms (The courses are subject to changes in the schedule)

  Term I Fall

  • HSA 5001 Theory and Practice of Health Services Management  (co-requisite **HSA 5005)  (2 credits)
  • HSA 5005 Career Management for Health Services Administrators  (co-requisite **HSA 5001)  (1 credit)
  • HSA 5010 Accounting Principles in the Health Care Profession (3 credits)
  • HSA 5500 Information Systems for Health Services Administration (3 credits)

  Term 2 Winter

  • HSA 5020 Financial Management of Health Services (prerequisite HSA 5010) (3 credits)
  • HSA 5825 Professional Development for Health Services Administrators (prerequisite HSA 5005) (1 credit)
  • HSA 5055 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Services Administration (3 credits)
  • HLH 5700 Health Care Delivery and Policy Issues (also offered in summer) (3 credits)

  Term 3 Summer

  • HSA 5070 Population Health (3 credits)
  • HSA 5090 Human Resources in Health Care Organizations (co-requisite **HSA 5150) (1.5 credits)
  • HSA 5150 Leadership in Health Care Organizations (co-requisite **HSA 5090) (1.5 credits)

  Term 4 Fall

  • HSA 5060 Health Economics (3 credits)
  • HSA 5160 Marketing for Healthcare Organizations (co-requisite **HSA 5190) (1.5 credits)
  • HSA 5190 Strategic Planning for Healthcare Organizations (co-requisite **HSA 5160) (1.5 credits)
  • HSA 5400 Healthcare Research Methods and Statistics  (3 credits)

  Term 5 Winter

  • HSA 5350 Foundations of Physician Practice Management (3 credits, elective)
  • HSA 5780 Quality Improvement in Health Care Organizations (3 credits)
  • HSA 5860 ***Internship in Health Services Administration (offered every term) (2 credits)
  • HSA 5940 ***Health Services Administration Capstone (3 credits)

  Total credits required for the Master of Health Services Administration: 42 credits

  * This sample plan of study shows typical semesters of course offerings. Offerings may vary from year to year: please consult your advisor every semester prior to registration. All students are required to meet with their academic advisor prior to registration. Failure to do so can cause students to fall out of sequence or delay their graduation. 

  ** Courses that are co-requisites must be added to the registration basket at the same time.

  *** Students must have completed at least 30 credits in the MHSA program before enrolling in the internship and capstone courses.

  Students who are terminated from their internship site at the request of their on-site preceptor for any reason will receive a grade of "F" for the internship course.  They will be required to repeat the internship course.  The previous hours earned on-site will not count toward completion of their required internship hours.

  Students are expected to complete their degree within seven years. Graduate courses in the Health Services Administration program that are over seven years old must be repeated.

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  Program Policy Manual

  The Student Handbook contains additional policies that apply to students in this program.

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  Program Contact Information

  MHSA Program Contact Information:

  Mary Mitsch, PhD, MSN, RN
  Program Director
  HP 332
  McNichols Campus
  Telephone:  313-993-0411

  Munai Newash, MA
  Administrative Assistant
  HP 115
  McNichols Campus
  HSAprogram@udmercy.edu
  Telephone:  313-993-1146
  Website
  For admissions related questions, contact 800-635-5020 or admissions@udmercy.edu