The Health Administration Program

Diane K. Duin, Ph.D., ActingDirector
AP 107, 406-896-5830
heathadministration@msubillings.edu

Faculty
MPA; Diane K. Duin, PhD; Deana D. Fuller, MBA/MIS; Jonathan Engel, PhD; Michael Erbschloe, MAJames Goes, PhD; Stewart Kirkpatrick, JD; Roland Loudenberg, MPH; Mary Helen McSweeney, PhD; James Paul, PhD; Patrice Spath, BA, RHIT; Zara Sette, JD; Todd Smith, RN, MSHA, MBA.

The department offers and administers the following Graduate Degree program:

Master of Health Administration

Mission
The Master of Health Administration is an online executive program designed for working professionals who wish to pursue advanced studies in the business and management of healthcare. As a health management “generalist” program, the MHA is appropriate for clinicians and mid-level managers.

Admission Requirements
Admission to the Master of Health Administration degree program is based on the following criteria:

1. Two copies of official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate institutions to verify:
   1. Graduation from an accredited institution;
   2. Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 64 semester (96 quarter) hours;
   3. Graduate GPA of at least 3.00

2. Completion of the GMAT or the GRE with scores submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies.

3. A professional resume.
4. A letter of application which introduces the applicant, outlines the applicant’s educational and career goals, and articulates how completion of the MHA will contribute to those goals.
5. Three written recommendations (includes the completed Recommendation Form and a letter) the applicant’s potential as a graduate student, professional abilities, potential for success in a health administration career, commitment to service, and motivation to excel.

Outcomes A graduate of the Montana State University Billings Master’s in Health Administration has the competencies to:

• Structure, position, market, and govern health organizations to achieve optimum clinical and business performance;

• Prepare and use financial reports to assess the financial health of the organization, be accountable for finances, and manage risk and reimbursement pressures;

• Demonstrate proficiency in leadership, interpersonal relations, conflict and change management, and written and oral communications;

• Manage human resources and health professionals in diverse healthcare organizations to facilitate workforce performance, motivation, satisfaction, and retention;

• Manage information systems, including data collection and management, information security and patient confidentiality, statistical and nonstatistical analyses, summarizing management and health data for decision-making;

• Demonstrate proficiency in conceptual and analytical reasoning to support management and clinical decision-making;

• Assess changes in state and federal health policy, their implications for healthcare organizations, and strategies to influence and adapt to policy shifts;

• Assess and improve quality of business practices and patient care delivery through the use of operations analysis, outcomes measurements, and process improvement methods;

• Manage change in various healthcare organizations by applying social and behavioral principles;

• Assess and monitor the health status of populations, determinants of health and illness, and health risks and behaviors in diverse populations

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