Health Services Policy and Management, M.H.A.

Arnold School of Public Health

Learn how to lead organizations involved in the management and delivery of health and health care services.

A health care management career offers opportunities for growth and advancement in settings like hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, long-term care, insurance organizations, government agencies and consulting firms. When you're ready to assume or progress to a leadership position, two formats are available to meet your scheduling needs.

Program Highlights

Assistance Available

Earn while you learn with graduate assistantships for both program years in the traditional track.
Nationally Accredited

Study in a full-time program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.
Keep Working

Choose an executive track with weekend courses if you are an experienced health care professional without an MHA degree.
Expansive Network

Take advantage of opportunities for leadership experience and networking with other health care professionals.

What You’ll Study

Courses include critical thinking and problem-solving in health services organizations. Gain management and leadership competencies, plus understand professionalism and ethics. Study accounting, law, policy and principles, as well as community perspectives and physician practice management. Traditional students will work as graduate assistants in a health care setting.

Program Website Degree Details Admissions Info

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

Management

Directing and overseeing the activities and resources to achieve specific goals

Networking

Building relationships and making connections with others to advance personal or professional goals

Critical Thinking

Analyzing and evaluating information to make informed decisions or judgments
Communication

Exchanging information and ideas through speaking, writing or other means of expression

Teamwork

Working collaboratively with others to achieve a shared goal or objective

Administration

Overseeing operations, managing resources and implementing policies for efficient and effective organizational functioning

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Learn how alumni use degrees with outcome data from Gamecock GradStats, a service of the University of South Carolina Career Center.

Potential Careers

Chief Executive Officer
President
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Director
Administrator

Job Titles of Alumni

Director of Operations
Senior Consultant
Executive Director
Project Manager

Average Alumni Salary

Five to 10 years after graduation without additional education $109,192

Workplace Settings

Health Systems
Medical Practice
Insurance
State Government
Federal Government
Nonprofit

Employers of Alumni

Prisma Health
Lexington Medical Center
Atrium Health
Bon Secours
Medical University of South Carolina
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Advanced Degrees

Advance your career or options with post-graduate education.

I found a true passion in understanding health promotion from a systems-perspective and decided that I wanted to work in health care administration. After attending my bachelor’s program here, I felt connected to this community and knew that it was only right for me to stay here for graduate school.

Abby Edwards