MBA MHA dual degree programs let you earn both a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Healthcare Administration.
This combined study covers both general business administration and the business of healthcare services. This can allow you to better understand the financial and economical aspects of healthcare and business management.
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Your training in healthcare administration offers specialized expertise within the field, and your business training in this joint degree program is also applicable to the healthcare industry.
MBA & MHA Dual Degree Programs
This joint degree program is a strategic option if you want to enter into business leadership roles in the healthcare industry. A number of universities offer both online and on-campus formats of this dual degree.
MBA MHA dual programs allow you to develop practical business management skills along with an understanding of healthcare regulations, patient privacy, and industry-specific communication and administration.
You may find yourself enrolled in courses that teach you about health services organizations and systems, health economics, organizational communications, and managerial finance.
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These two degrees pair well together because they create a strong foundational bridge between the business and healthcare industries, allowing you to develop more dynamic skills.
Professionals in the field work in pharmaceuticals, health insurance, healthcare services management, and even financial institutions that oversee hospitals and medical centers.
Master of Business Administration
A Master of Business Administration focuses on business management and investments.
MBA coursework typically includes studying areas such as:
- Accounting
- Human resources
- Business communication
- Business law
- Economics
- Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
This is a professional degree that allows you to pursue leadership positions within various career sectors. Content for the degree is analytical and functional, focusing on the ethical aspects of business management.
Master of Health Administration
This professional degree focuses on management and administration to prepare you for work within the healthcare industry.
An MHA focuses on health administration at various levels:
- Local
- State
- Federal
This program helps prepare you for an ever-changing industry and teaches you how to approach problems with innovative and practical solutions. Business skills are interwoven in the courses with a specific application to healthcare organizations.
Health Administration Careers & Salaries
Professionals with an MHA and MBA degrees tend to plan and oversee business administration and management services within the healthcare industry.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health services managers are expected to experience 32% job growth in the next ten years, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Medical and Health Services Managers, Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $195,100 |
| Chief Executives | $185,950 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers, Government | $116,380 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers, Hospitals | $112,870 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers, Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $105,830 |
| General and Operations Managers | $103,650 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers, Outpatient Care Centers | $100,690 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers, Offices of Physicians | $94,240 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers, Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $89,880 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers, Home Health Care Services | $89,710 |
Healthcare administration careers can be very diverse and tend to offer above average salaries. Of course, your annual wages can vary depending on your state, employer, work experience, and education level, among other factors.
Healthcare MBA and Master’s Curriculum
Courses will vary by school, but here are a few you may find yourself taking if you pursue an M.H.A. and MBA program.
- Contemporary Health Administration: You’ll learn foundations of management in a healthcare facility, including good principles and practices.
- Organizational Communications: This course develops your business communication skills and provides you with the necessary knowledge to engage in appropriate and discreet communication practices, with specific insight into the healthcare industry.
- Managerial Accounting: This course allows you to understand the role of a manager in business accounting services and how to make appropriate accounting decisions that benefit an organization. This includes understanding cost, profit analysis, and budget planning.
- Health Services Organizations and Systems: You’ll come to better understand how a healthcare organization runs and functions, along with the systems used to help it run more efficiently.
- Legal and Ethical Perspectives on Healthcare Administration: It’s necessary to understand the laws, regulations, and ethical motivations that are necessary for successful management of a healthcare organization.
- Health Services Financial Management: With a specific look at healthcare organizations, you’ll learn financial leadership skills. This course looks at ensuring facilities are providing quality care in a financially responsible way.
- Economics for Leadership: This course helps you integrate economics into your decision-making. This helps you develop the necessary skills to make a quick economic analysis of a situation and proceed with reasoning that leads to effective solutions.
- Human Resource Management: This course helps you develop the necessary skills and strategies for management, such as effective hiring processes and administration of employee tasks.
- Health Administration Research Methods: This course prepares you with the necessary skills to analyze data and participate in qualitative research.
- Strategic Health Services Management: This course covers the environmental factors that influence healthcare management and how to adapt to change within healthcare organizations. It also covers how to evaluate health services and critically analyze them for improvement.
These are just a few courses you may encounter when pursuing a dual MBA and MHA degree.
Dual Masters Admissions Requirements
Admissions requirements for schools with dual degree programs vary from school to school, but here are a few common requirements for admission into MBA MHA programs:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Related work or managerial experience
- Letters of reference
- Statement of intent
- Background check for working in healthcare
It’s beneficial to investigate the specific requirements of the school that interests you. Though most schools no longer request a GMAT or GRE score, this may still be required by some schools.
Accreditation
Pursuing a degree from a regionally accredited school can be essential. Regional accreditation is a status that shows whether a school is committed to a high-standard of education.
Employers tend to prefer degrees from accredited universities, and accreditation can be a stipulation for some forms of financial aid. Accreditation ensures your degree will be recognized nation-wide and can impact the transferability of your credits.
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You can visit the US Department of Education’s website to make sure that your prospective school is accredited according to national standards.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
There are numerous tuition scholarships available for qualifying students who are pursuing an MBA-MHA dual degree program.
If you are currently working, your organization may offer financial assistance or paid leave to enable you to further your education and training. You can also ask your prospective school if they have financial aid assistance programs or offer merit-based scholarships.
You can begin your financial aid search with the US Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Ensuring you meet the school’s deadline, FAFSA may assist you in obtaining federal or state financial aid for your graduate program.
MBA or MHA, Which Is Better?
An MBA and MHA dual degree program can be beneficial for many students who want to dive into business administration within the healthcare field.
If you can only commit to one degree, there are some factors you can consider that can help you decide which is the best degree path for you.
Master of Business Administration:
- Offers a wide range of business administration education
- Applicable across various industries for business-specific leadership roles
Master of Healthcare Administration:
- More specific to healthcare management
- Applicable to top-level positions in a healthcare facility or organization
Healthcare leadership roles include healthcare facilities manager, nurse manager, healthcare programs manager, director of hospital operations, or hospital administrator. Business leadership roles include CEO or COO, HR executive, management or financial consultant, and investment banker.
The best degree option for you also depends on your career goals. If you come from a business background, you may prefer an MBA, while someone from a healthcare background may prefer an MHA.
What Is an MBA Dual Degree Program?
An MBA dual degree program is a program in business management that allows you to focus your degree on two specific industries. Essentially, you are getting two graduate degrees at the same time. Some colleges offer free small business classes that may help you decide if a business degree is right for you.
Pairing a Master of Business Administration with a secondary degree can allow you to stand out in a specific industry or specialization. When paired with an MHA, you can develop business administration skills as well as organizational and service management skills specific to the ever-growing healthcare industry.
What Is the Benefit of an MBA-MHA Dual Degree?
There are numerous benefits to pursuing a dual graduate degree in business administration and healthcare administration.
An MBA-MHA dual degree can open the door to a variety of dynamic and diverse career opportunities within the health industry. You can also learn the necessary skills to being a dynamic leader in both business and health service management.
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In addition, a dual degree program gives you the ability to earn two masters degrees in a shorter amount of time than if you were pursuing them individually.
What Can You Do with a Joint MHA/MBA Degree?
Demand for healthcare workers is booming, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment will grow faster than average, creating of demand for managers in healthcare.
Here are some career paths that can benefit from professionals with business and healthcare administration skill sets:
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing administration
- Healthcare financial management
- Specialty hospital administration
- Surgical hospital management
- Physician’s office administration
- Health services management
While a dual MBA MHA degree does not guarantee employment, it can demonstrate your business management expertise and your dedication to the healthcare industry.
How Long Does It Take to Do the Dual MBA/MHA?
A typical 36 credit hour masters program with no thesis requirement can generally be completed in 1 year with full-time enrollment, including summer courses. A thesis can add some additional time to completion, as can attending only part-time.
For a dual masters program, you are typically required to take an average of 60 credit hours over 30 to 36 months. This means it may take you around 2.5 years to complete your dual degree.
Most programs allow you to structure your course load according to your schedule. By completing a dual degree, you may save yourself from having to take approximately 15 additional credits. Also, if you are not able to attend classes full time, there MBA / MHA part time programs offered at some universities.
How Would an MHA/MBA in Health Care Administration Help Me?
If you’re looking to eventually move to a management role within the healthcare industry, a dual MHA MBA program can help you advance your expertise and qualifications.
One main advantage of this dual degree is that you can advance your healthcare skill sets along with your business administration and management skills. In addition, this dual degree may show hiring managers your commitment to administrative roles. A masters-level education can lead to increased salary potential.
What’s the Difference Between an MPH vs. MHA?
There are a few key differences between an MPH and an MHA.
| Master of Public Health | Master of Healthcare Administration |
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While there is some overlap, it’s strategic to choose the degree that aligns best with your professional goals.
What’s the Difference Between an MBA vs. MHA?
Both an MBA and an MHA can help you develop your business and management skill sets, but there are distinct differences between the two.
| Master of Business Administration | Master of Healthcare Administration |
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Your degree choice may depend on the industry you wish to work in long-term. Alternatively, both degrees complement each other for a well-rounded education on business administration within the healthcare industry.
Is a Dual MBA and MHA Worth It?
Yes, a dual MBA and MHA is worth it for many students. Not only are you pursuing two degrees in a fraction of the time, but you open yourself up to new opportunities in an ever-growing industry.
Managers and administrators in healthcare institutions have a favorable job outlook. The Bureau of Labor Statistics project 32% job growth for medical and health services managers over the next ten years.
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This dual degree program helps you develop the skills and qualifications for top-tier positions in the healthcare industry.
Universities Offering Online MBA and MHA Dual Degree Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer business degree online programs or in a hybrid format.
AdventHealth University offers a dual degree program featuring a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration.
Students must complete 54 credits to graduate. To be eligible for the program, applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 and need to submit official transcripts, a resume, 2 letters of recommendation, and an entrance essay.
AdventHealth University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Bellevue University offers a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration.
Students must complete 56 credit hours to graduate. Those interested in the program must have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.5 or higher and be employed at a healthcare organization or have a Letter of Commitment from an organization.
Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Mary Baldwin University offers a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration dual degree program. To graduate, students must complete 54 credit hours, including a capstone project. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, a professional reference, and a personal statement about their professional goals.
MBU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.
Pfeiffer University offers an online dual degree program for students interested in obtaining both a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration. The program requires 60 semester hours to graduate and can usually be completed in 36 months. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and 3 letters of recommendation.
Pfeiffer University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Samford University offers a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration dual degree program. Students can typically obtain both degrees in 3 years of online classes. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and 3 letters of recommendation and complete a video interview.
Samford University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Suffolk University offers a Master of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Health Administration dual degree program. The program can be taken full-time or part-time and requires students to complete 64 credits. Applicants must submit a resume, 2 letters of recommendation, and a personal essay about their goals.
Suffolk University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Texas Woman’s University offers a dual degree program for students interested in receiving a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Health Administration. All MBA courses can be taken online. To graduate, students must complete 57 credit hours. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Texas Woman’s University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Alabama—Birmingham offers a dual degree program featuring a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Health Administration.
The program can usually be completed in 33 months and involves a residency. Applicants must submit GRE and GMAT scores, 3 letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal essay.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Phoenix offers a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration dual degree program. To graduate, students must complete 58 credits. Each course is 3 to 6 weeks long, and classes are completed one at a time. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
The University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Washington offers a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration. The dual degree program can typically be completed in 3 years and requires a summer internship. Those interested in the dual degree must apply for both programs at the same time.
The University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Getting Your MHA-MBA Dual Degree Online
A dual degree program that combines a masters in healthcare administration and a masters in business administration allows you to obtain two degrees in a fraction of the time. Graduate school is challenging for some students, and it may take a bit of patience to study for two degrees at the same time. So it may be worthwhile to learn how to study more effectively.
An MHA MBA dual degree program lets you procure a wide range of business management skills along with specialized healthcare administration skills. Careers in healthcare, and especially healthcare management, are growing much faster than the average rate.
If your professional goals are centered around management or administration in the healthcare industry, you may want to begin researching accredited schools that offer a dual MBA program online that pairs with an online degree in healthcare administration.
