What Is a Dual MHA/MBA Degree?

Acquiring expertise in both business and healthcare provides you with a diverse set of skills and knowledge and broadens your job prospects.

A dual Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree equips you with a unique outlook on the business aspects of the healthcare industry. Earning this credential puts you in a position to obtain leadership roles that focus on the business side of healthcare.

Explore details about earning a combined MHA/MBA degree and how you can begin to embark on a lucrative career path in the healthcare sector.

What Is a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) Degree?

A Master of Healthcare Administration is a comprehensive graduate program that blends elements of finance and healthcare. It encompasses strategic planning and health policy analysis where you will gain a thorough understanding of management tools and training that help you oversee certain aspects of healthcare delivery.

An MHA program focuses on the importance of maintaining quality patient care and fiscal responsibilities. It is designed to prepare students for high-level management and leadership positions in healthcare and financial operations.

Individuals choose to pursue this degree to develop the essential skills needed to lead efficiently in various roles across the healthcare industry.

What Is a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree?

An MBA program is a graduate-level degree that covers various business administration and management topics, such as marketing and accounting. It provides practical training in business principles that leads to jobs as financial advisors and investment bankers.

Obtaining a Master of Business Administration degree helps you acquire the skills and expertise to successfully manage the complexity of businesses across a wide range of fields and industries.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the MBA is the most popular and top-earned graduate degree students across the nation choose to obtain.

What Is an MBA/MHA Dual Degree?

Combining a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Healthcare Administration offers a dual degree program that integrates general business expertise with healthcare administration, and it is a popular choice for many.

Earning both of these highly sought-after master's degrees at the same time has its benefits. The combination provides a strong business foundation and administrative training for working in healthcare organizations, and it also helps students save on time and tuition costs for obtaining a college education.

Enrolling in both graduate programs to obtain an MHA and MBA dual degree fast-tracks your career and supplies you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in upper management and leadership roles within the healthcare industry.

MBA/MHA Course Work

The coursework in a Master of Business Administration and Master of Healthcare Administration dual degree program teaches essential decision-making and leadership skills in both healthcare administration and general business.

Examples of classes you will take in a dual MBA/MHA program and some of the topics that are covered include:

• systems thinking in healthcare environments
• healthcare ethics
• healthcare financial management
• strategic management
• health services management
• business intelligence
• healthcare law
• human resources management
• regulations in healthcare
• healthcare statistics

Subject and course requirements tend to fluctuate between schools and programs. As a prospective graduate student, you should research your desired degree and its curriculum to ensure you choose one that fits your needs and budget.

MBA/MHA Careers

Earning an MBA/MHA dual degree opens you up to many career prospects and profitable opportunities for pursuing top-level managerial positions.

It offers you the potential to embark on a lucrative job path with high earnings in the healthcare system, allowing you to apply your dual-degree skills in business and healthcare management.

Examples of job roles that you can pursue with an MBA/MHA degree include:

• medical and health services manager
• healthcare consultant
• hospital administrator
• director of hospital operations
• chief executive officer
• health information management director
• nursing home administrator
• pharmaceutical brand manager
• healthcare policy analyst
• administrative services manager

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1.8 million job openings in healthcare are projected to occur each year until 2032, which is higher than the average across all occupations and demonstrates the value of obtaining a dual MHA/MBA degree.

Where To Earn Your MHA/MBA Degree

If you hold a bachelor's degree and want to enroll in an MHA/MBA program, several accredited institutions offer full-time and part-time options. Many are accessible through online learning and offer financial aid packages to alleviate the expenses of getting a college degree.

The following are examples of schools that provide these dual degrees. They have varying application deadlines and admission requirements, such as acceptable GPA and GRE scores, and you should research your chosen one to find specific details.

University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix offers an online MHA/MBA degree that you can complete in about two and a half years. The curriculum is taught by instructors with real-world experience and covers strategies for business growth in conjunction with administrative healthcare and ethical marketing practices that prepare you for executive leadership roles. A total of 58 credit hours, including 20 core courses, are required for graduation.

University of Scranton

The University of Scranton delivers a dual MBA/MHA degree through distance education focusing on business concepts and healthcare regulations. The MBA is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and the MHA has earned accreditation from the Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). The program takes about two and a half years and requires at least 65 credit hours.

University of Houston, Clear Lake

The University of Houston at Clear Lake offers a joint MBA/MHA program through its business school with flexible and convenient online and hybrid options. Its MBA programs are accredited by the AACSB and rank among the top in Texas. This dual degree covers coursework in health policy and corporate finance and is ideal for individuals seeking executive positions within the healthcare field. Classes are eight weeks long; full-time students can finish the program in two years, while attending part-time takes four years.

Texas Woman's University

Texas Woman's University offers an MHA/MBA dual degree that requires 57 credit hours and typically takes three years to complete. This program gives you a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare industry and the specific expertise needed to manage health services while also providing a background in business training. The MHA program is CAHME-accredited, and the MBA degree program is accredited by the AACSB.

Samford University

Samford University, in conjunction with its School of Public Health and School of Business, offers an online MHA/MBA joint degree. Full-time graduate students can finish this dual degree program in three years. Their Master of Healthcare Administration is CAHME-accredited, and their Master of Business Administration is AACSB-accredited. Course topics in this program's plan of study include strategic management and healthcare organization, requiring at least 69 credits to complete.