MHA Specializations: What Options Exist?

Those in healthcare administration roles ensure that healthcare organizations operate efficiently, which ultimately affects patient care and outcomes. A Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree provides you with the comprehensive education, skills and competency necessary to do precisely this.

However, with the increasing complexity of the healthcare industry, choosing the right specialization within an MHA program has become more important than ever. This is especially true if you want to find a focus that best aligns with your career goals and interests.

What is a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)?

An MHA is a graduate-level program that prepares you for leadership and management roles within healthcare organizations. 
The curriculum typically includes courses in healthcare policy, financial management, health informatics, organizational behavior and ethics, among others.

Pursuing a master's degree in healthcare administration will help you grow your leadership and management skills, enabling you to build high-performing teams and improve the effectiveness of programs and services. You'll also deepen your understanding of health policy, risk management and the ever-changing legal, ethical and compliance issues that impact the healthcare industry.

By earning an MHA, you position yourself to make informed decisions that enhance healthcare delivery and performance.

For more insights into the value of healthcare degrees, check out:
Best Healthcare Master’s Degrees

Traditional MHA vs. Specialized MHA: What's the Difference?

As mentioned above, a traditional MHA program covers a broad range of topics, offering a comprehensive overview of healthcare administration without delving too deeply into any one area.

In contrast, MHA specializations are tailored programs that allow you to focus your studies on specific areas within healthcare administration. These specializations typically require additional coursework and provide more in-depth knowledge and skills in a particular domain, such as finance, leadership, human resources, global health management or operations.

While a specialized MHA may be more beneficial if you want to pursue a specific area in healthcare, a traditional MHA may be more advantageous if you're looking for broader roles in health administration and want the flexibility to work in various settings. 
 

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How to Choose the Right Area of Specialization

Selecting the right Master of Health Administration specialization is an important decision that can shape your career trajectory. 

According to Dr. Leslie Mathew, chair of the Master of Healthcare Administration program at Franklin University, a specialized MHA may be more beneficial if you have a specific career goal in mind or a strong interest in a particular aspect of healthcare. 

“Specializing allows one to gain in-depth knowledge in a specific area, making one an expert. Specializations can make one more attractive to employers looking for specific skills.”

With this in mind, the following considerations can help you make an informed choice:

• Industry Trends and Job Market Demand. Explore current industry trends, labor statistics and job market demand for various health administration specializations (you can find this using the BLS occupational outlook handbook). Understanding where the demand lies can help you choose a specialization that offers excellent job opportunities and security.
• Personal Skills and Strengths. Reflect on your skills and strengths. Are you good with numbers and data? Do you excel in leadership and team management? Are certain job responsibilities, such as those of health services managers, appealing to you? Identifying your innate abilities can guide you toward a specialization that plays to these strengths.
• Career Goals, Interests and Values. Spend some time considering what you want out of your career. What aspects of healthcare management and administration excite you the most? Where do you see yourself making the biggest impact? By aligning your specialization with your career goals and interests, you'll be more motivated and engaged in your studies and future career.

MHA Specializations to Help You Thrive in the Healthcare Industry

According to Lightcast, jobs in healthcare administration across the U.S. are on the rise, with total openings expected to increase by 20% through 2032. Dr. Mathew notes that, because of this expected growth, advanced degrees have become even more important for healthcare professionals. 

“Employers generally view healthcare professionals with advanced degrees, like an MHA, as having more specialized knowledge and skills. This can make them more competitive for higher-level positions compared to those with only a bachelor's degree.”

And, with numerous specializations available within the healthcare administration sector, you can tailor your MHA to fit your career aspirations perfectly.

Here are some of the most lucrative specializations to consider.

Finance

This specialization is ideal for those with a strong affinity for numbers and who enjoy strategic financial planning.
You'll develop expertise in financial management and planning, healthcare economics, budgeting and analysis, enabling you to optimize financial resources and improve overall financial performance. You'll also learn how to make data-driven decisions from healthcare informatics that ensure the financial wellness of healthcare institutions.

Career Examples:

• Financial manager at a hospital
• Business development director at a medical device company
   

Global Health Management

The global health management specialization prepares you to address complex health issues across national boundaries. You'll gain knowledge of global health trends, population health, international health policies and cross-border health initiatives.

This specialization will teach you how to develop and implement strategies for global health programs and partnerships, making you an asset in organizations focused on international health.

Career Examples:

• Program manager at a global health organization
• International health specialist at a government agency
   

Human Resources

Focusing on human resources within healthcare administration allows you to develop skills in recruitment, talent development and employee relations. You'll learn how to design and implement HR programs and policies that support organizational goals and improve employee satisfaction and retention.

This program is ideal if you enjoy working with people and are interested in organizational structure, training, support, behavior and development.

Career Examples:

• HR manager in health services
• Director of human resources at a healthcare startup
   

Information Systems and Analytics

Specializing in information systems and analytics enables you to become proficient in healthcare informatics and data management. Through this program, you'll learn how to design and implement data-driven solutions that enhance healthcare operations and improve patient outcomes.

It's the ideal specialization if you're a tech-savvy individual keen on data analytics and information technology.

Career Examples:

• Clinical informatics specialist at a health campus
• Data analyst at a health insurance company
   

Organizational Leadership

If you have strong leadership qualities and aspire to hold senior healthcare management positions, then this may be the specialization for you.

Focusing on organizational leadership will develop your ability to manage teams, provide high-level project management and lead healthcare organizations effectively. This includes creating and executing strategies that drive organizational performance and excellence.

Career Examples:

• Healthcare services department director at a government institution
• Project management specialist at a nonprofit health organization
   

Operations

The operations specialization focuses on optimizing healthcare processes to improve efficiency, quality and patient satisfaction. You'll learn to apply operational management principles and practices to streamline workflows and enhance service delivery.

This specialization may be suitable if you enjoy problem-solving, process improvement and healthcare innovation.

Career Examples:

• Process improvement specialist at a diagnostic center
• Supply manager at a medical group
   

Policy and Administration

Specializing in policy and administration prepares you to develop, analyze and implement healthcare policies that are vital for operational success. Through this program, you'll learn to navigate the complexities of the healthcare system and its regulations, as well as manage administrative systems that support organizational goals.

This MHA degree specialization is perfect if you're interested in the intersection of health policy and healthcare administration.

Career Examples:

• Policy analyst within independent or chain health insurance companies
• Regulatory affairs specialist at a healthcare company
   

Quality and Safety

In this branch of an MHA program, you'll focus on ensuring that healthcare organizations provide safe, high-quality patient care. This entails learning how to design and implement quality improvement programs and patient safety initiatives for overall better health outcomes and a higher level of patient care.

If you're passionate about enhancing patient outcomes and ensuring safe healthcare practices, then this may be the specialization you're looking for.

Career Examples:

• Quality improvement specialist at an urgent care center
• Patient safety manager at a medical group practice

Benefits of Holding a Specialized MHA in Health Administration Roles

While specializing in your MHA is optional, Dr. Mathew notes that the benefits are worth taking into full consideration. 

“Choosing a specialized MHA equips students with the leadership, management and business skills necessary to succeed in dynamic and niche healthcare environments. A specialized MHA is advantageous in numerous healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics and public health organizations, as there’s high demand for skilled administrators to manage and improve healthcare delivery systems.” 

Pursuing a specialized MHA also offers additional advantages, such as:

• Enhanced Career Prospects. A specialization increases your marketability by demonstrating to employers that you have focused knowledge and skills in a specific area. This can give you a competitive edge in the job market and make you a more attractive candidate for specialized roles within the healthcare administration field.
• Deeper Expertise. By delving into a particular area of healthcare administration, you can develop a level of expertise that can distinguish you from others in the field. This can lead to roles within a healthcare organization that require specialized knowledge.
• Greater Job Satisfaction. When you choose a specialization that aligns with your personal interests and career goals, you're more likely to find your work enjoyable and rewarding. Specializing allows you to focus on what you are passionate about, which can lead to greater job satisfaction and career longevity.

Explore Your MHA Specialization Options at Franklin

If you're ready to take the next step in your healthcare administration career, consider applying to one of Franklin University's specialized MHA programs.
Whether you choose to focus on organizational leadership, human resources or operational excellence, Franklin can help you achieve your career objectives.

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