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Curriculum

Examine The Curriculum

The Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) curriculum at WesternU is designed to develop well-rounded, humanistic leaders who can navigate the business and ethical complexities of modern healthcare. Grounded in the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and Healthcare Leadership Alliance (HLA) competency models, our program blends theory with real-world application.

Students gain a strong foundation in healthcare systems, leadership, finance, policy, and organizational management—while exploring the social and economic forces that shape health outcomes. With flexible one-year (accelerated) and two-year (traditional) tracks, experiential field training, and interprofessional learning alongside clinical programs, WesternU’s MHA curriculum equips graduates to lead with integrity, innovation, and purpose in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape.

Curriculum Overview

The Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program at WesternU is a 46-unit graduate degree that combines academic rigor with meaningful, hands-on experience. The curriculum is organized around five key domains—healthcare systems, leadership, communication, critical thinking, and professionalism—ensuring graduates are prepared to lead effectively across diverse healthcare settings.

Students engage in core coursework, Interprofessional Leadership experiences, and 160 hours of supervised field training, gaining firsthand insight into the operational, financial, and human aspects of healthcare leadership. The program is offered in two formats: a traditional two-year track for working professionals and an accelerated one-year track for students ready to advance quickly.

Each course is intentionally designed to foster strategic thinking, ethical decision-making, and a humanistic approach to leadership—values that define WesternU’s approach to healthcare education. Graduates emerge with the confidence and competence to guide organizations through change, improve system performance, and champion equitable healthcare for all.

Courses

  • HA 5100 Financial and Healthcare Accounting
  • HA 5101 Economics for Managers
  • HA 5102 Ethics of Healthcare Economics and National Health Policy
  • HA 5103 Survey of Finance
  • HA 5104 Healthcare Organizations and Management
  • HA 5105 Healthcare Information Technology and Management Systems
  • HA 5106 Market-Based Management
  • HA 5107 Organizational and Healthcare Leadership
  • HA 5108 Healthcare and Law
  • HA 5109 Competencies for Healthcare Executives
  • HA 5992 Interprofessional Leadership Roundtable
  • HA 5994 Interprofessional Leadership Immersion
  • HA 5996 Supervised Healthcare Administration Field Training

Review The Course Descriptions In Our Catalog

For more detail regarding the curriculum, please review the course descriptions (PDF) in our University catalog.

Academic Support

Caring about students and helping them achieve success is a hallmark of our faculty. As respected health professionals and scholars who keep pace with the latest teaching techniques and technology, our professors are committed to helping you master the material.

The Office of Learning Enhancement & Academic Development Office (LEAD)  is another resource for on-campus and distance students. LEAD helps students connect academic success with wellbeing.  In individual counseling sessions, students learn time management, test taking, and studying strategies. LEAD facilitates training in managing stress, increasing focus, and professional skills.

 

The Health Education Center (HEC) and The Daumier frame the WesternU Pomona Esplanade set against vibrant clouds.

Outstanding Facilities

WesternU is a thriving academic health center spread out over 22 acres in Pomona, CA. The main campus includes 19 major buildings. As an MSMS student you could be doing research in any one of our laboratories throughout the campus. To give you an example of the research facilities available, our Rodney P. Wineberg Center (RWC) has 3,600 square feet of laboratory space that include cell culture and other facilities, a dark room, and a multi-species animal facility with the latest equipment to support faculty and student research.

You will also make use of the Harriet K. and Philip Pumerantz Library, a four-story 35,000-square-foot building renovated in 2021. The library features open and private study space, a food nook equipped with a refrigerator, microwaves, coffee station, a wellness room perfect for a study break, lockers, and more. The library has an extensive collection of print books and journals. Access to the library’s electronic books, journals and databases are available both on and off campus through the Library’s E-Resources page.
19 major buildings
Harriet K. and Philip Pumerantz Library
Library E-Resources

Accreditation

Western University of Health Sciences is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)-985 Atlantic Venue, Suite 100. Alameda, CA 94570. (510) 748-9001. The Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree in the College of Health Sciences represents a significant addition to the University’s mission and goals, and requires approval. The MHA degree program is pending approval.