Discover Which Health Services Administration Program is Right for You
Whether you are a member of the next generation of healthcare leaders, in a position to elevate yourself to executive status, or in the C-suite and looking for a distinct advantage—we have degree options to meet your needs.
With plenty of online options, flexible courses, and accelerated healthcare leadership degrees, UAB is where trails are blazed and stellar careers are launched. Explore our programs below or reach out today to start your future.
Opportunities Await. Get in Touch.
Master of Science in Health Administration, MSHA - Residential
On-CampusJoin the #1 Ranked program (U.S. News & World Report)
The Master of Science in Health Administration Residential program is geared toward students ready to step into leadership positions across a broad range of healthcare organizations. This on-campus program offers a unique educational experience through its dedicated faculty, supportive alumni, cohort model, and the administrative residency requirement. Graduates also gain hands-on learning through the Student Workforce Initiative. The selective cohort model yields life-long connections and builds leadership skills.
Master of Science in Health Administration, MSHA - Executive
On-CampusJoin the #1 Ranked program (U.S. News & World Report)
Gain expertise and a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of health care with our Executive Master of Science in Health Administration program. Designed for full-time healthcare workers or clinicians seeking senior management positions, our curriculum focuses on leadership, marketing, economics, operations management, population health, quality improvement, and strategic management. With only three intensive campus visits a year and flexible online courses, your Master’s in Health Administration will prepare you to become a hospital administrator, manager, director, COO, or CEO while still prioritizing your current lifestyle and career.
Master of Science in Health Informatics
Blended* On-CampusDesigned for the working professional who is passionate about data, analytics, research, and making sure that systems are designed for the people who use them. The Health Informaticist knows how big of an impact data, user experience and AI can have on healthcare decisions and wants to make a difference. The Health Informatics program combines the love of data and the curiosity of AI to improve experiences and impact healthcare. With four tracks – Data Analytics, User Experience, Research or AI, you can gain the skills you need to pursue an informatics career in healthcare, government, or elsewhere.
Master of Science In Healthcare Simulation
OnlineDesigned at the intersection of healthcare education and patient safety, our program equips you with the skills to lead in the field of healthcare simulation. Grounded in the belief that interprofessional collaboration is key, it brings together students from diverse backgrounds to engage in creative problem-solving and practical application of simulation in their current practice. Structured for flexibility, the program offers online learning coupled with one immersive on-campus experience making it ideal for both full-time and part-time professionals.
Master of Science in Healthcare Quality & Safety
OnlineDesigned to address complex challenges in healthcare quality and safety. It empowers professionals at all levels, from system executives to emerging leaders, with multidisciplinary approaches for analyzing and solving intricate problems in patient care delivery systems. Learners gain not just theoretical knowledge, but practical skills they can immediately apply in their work environments, enhancing both patient outcomes and organizational efficiency.
Doctor of Science (DSc) in Health Care Leadership - Executive
Blended* On-CampusDesigned for the leader who is seeking a differentiating factor—an advanced, personalized educational experience that will refine their analytical skills and approach to strategic decision-making. The DSc program is for experienced healthcare executives who currently occupy or who are preparing to enter senior leadership positions. In addition to opening new opportunities and ways of thinking, the DSc program prepares graduates who are distinct. Our alumni are thought leaders and practitioner-scholars who are making a positive impact and moving the healthcare industry forward.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Administration Health Services
On-CampusOur PhD program for healthcare administration will prepare you for academic and high-level research positions within the world of health administration and health services. This interdisciplinary program will connect you with industry experts and furnish you with the research, communication, and teaching skills you need to excel.
Applications of Mixed Methods Research
OnlineDesigned for the graduate student, doctoral student, or healthcare professional who is seeking knowledge of how to design, conduct, and evaluate mixed methods research in diverse contexts. The Graduate Certificate in Applications of Mixed Methods teaches researchers the skills to successfully integrate quantitative and qualitative approaches to address complex research issues. This five-course certificate program will prepare you to become a certified expert in the mixed methods research approach.
Healthcare Leadership
OnlineDesigned for clinical trainees and professionals looking for training in healthcare management and leadership as well as experienced professionals looking to transition into the healthcare industry. Gain applied evidence-based knowledge and tools to assess and navigate your healthcare environment, maximize team performance, and lead effectively in diverse contexts.
Certificate Clinical Informatics
OnlineThe Graduate Certificate in Clinical Informatics provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance clinical environments to ensure effective and appropriate data-driven decisions. This program is 100% online and you can apply credits earned toward our MS in Health Informatics.
*This program delivers at least half of the content online with the remaining content delivered via on- campus meetings. Please check with the program director for more information about on-campus requirements.
Why Choose UAB?
For over 50 years, UAB’s top-ranked and innovative programs have been developing leaders to shape tomorrow’s healthcare. Our programs are designed to help diverse leaders create the kinds of careers they’ve always dreamed of—and create the kind of change they know they’re capable of making in our healthcare system.
Our Reputation
- Globally Recognized & Respected
- Long History of Industry Leadership & Growth
- Committed to Student Growth & Mentorship
- Partners for Your Entire Career Journey
Our Results
- Ranked #1 Health Care Management Graduate Program in the U.S.
- Ranked #1 Graduate Programs in Health Informatics and Healthcare Quality & Safety
- Ranked #11 Master in Healthcare Quality & Safety
- 1 of only 3 Online MS in Healthcare Simulation Programs in the Country
Spots Saved for Active, Reserve and Retired Military
These University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Health Services Administration graduate programs have reserved student spots for active, reserve and retired military personnel. For more details and contact information, simply click the name of the program that interests you.
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Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership
The Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership is an online, five-course program designed to prepare you to lead effectively in your current and future career. This certificate was designed with busy working professionals and clinical trainees in mind, offering maximum flexibility to accommodate your demanding schedule. The online curriculum allows students the flexibility to work around their busy schedule, time zone, and professional demands.
Contact us
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M.S. in Health Administration
The Master of Science in Health Administration program is CAHME-accredited and currently ranked as the #1 health care management graduate program in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The MSHA is a 33-month program with 21 months of full-time courses on campus and 9-12 months in an administrative residency. The residency also provides a paid stipend and frequently leads to employment opportunities.
Contact us
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M.S. in Health Informatics
Health Informatics is a rapidly emerging discipline that connects people, technology, and data to better improve healthcare outcomes. HI professionals work with the processes and tools used to implement, maintain, and evaluate health informatics systems and applications. The M.S. in Health Informatics program can prepare you for a thriving career in Health Informatics. In just two years, you can learn the skills you need to pursue an informatics career at a health care facility, government, or elsewhere.
Contact us
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M.S. in Healthcare Quality & Safety
The M.S. in Healthcare Quality & Safety program is designed for those who are driven to shape a safer environment for their patients. Our courses are applied educational experiences for those who want to increase their skills without stopping their busy professional lives. We offer cost-effective graduate education, which allows you to continue your educational pursuits without the burden of high tuition rates.
Contact us
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M.S. in Healthcare Simulation
The M.S. in Healthcare Simulation program is designed to prepare you with leadership and quality improvement skills in healthcare simulation in order to improve patient safety, increase communication effectiveness, refine teamwork, and enhance care delivery. Our degree is completed online with one, 3 ½-day on-campus visit. This provides you with flexibility to complete the degree while working full-time. We offer both full-time (16 months) and part-time (24 months) options.
Contact us
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Doctor of Philosophy in Administration-Health Services
The Doctor of Philosophy in Administration-Health Services program offers an interdisciplinary approach that provides advanced studies in the conceptual and applied aspects of health administration and health services. The program’s interdisciplinary foundation is based on the active involvement of faculty members who are nationally recognized scholars in their field. The education experience includes didactic coursework with experts from a wide-range of disciplines relevant to health administration and policy from across the university.
Contact us
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Executive Doctor of Science in Healthcare Leadership
The Executive Doctor of Science in Healthcare Leadership program is a practice-oriented, academic program designed for experienced healthcare executives who currently occupy or who are preparing to enter senior leadership positions. Our blended delivery format—distance learning with only three intensive on-campus sessions per year—allows you to obtain these skills and your DSc degree while maintaining your executive responsibilities. Our program is paced so you can complete your doctoral degree in only three years: two years of coursework and one year of dissertation research.
Contact us
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UAB is a proud institutional member of Service Members Opportunity Colleges.
The next step in shaping the future of health care begins now! We invite you to show your UAB pride on your favorite social media platform. Download and share your program graphic below and let everyone know how you are forging your path at UAB.
Download Instructions
Download by right-clicking an image below to save it onto your desktop. For mobile users, click on the image and press “Save Image” to download it to your camera roll.
- Log on to your favorite social media sites, such as Instagram or LinkedIn.
- Copy and paste one of the sample messages below into your caption—or create your own message that includes the #uabhsa #ForgingMyPath
- Post your downloaded image and caption. Be sure to tag @uabshp on Instagram and The Department of Health Services Administration on LinkedIn!
Downloads and Caption Examples
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MSHA
I’m #ForgingMyPath with a master’s in health administration! I’m excited to shape the future of healthcare with the support of #uabhsa.
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MSHI
I’m #ForgingMyPath with a master’s in health informatics! I’m thrilled to continue my journey to improve healthcare outcomes through data and new technology. #uabhsa
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HQS
I’m #ForgingMyPath to create a safer environment for patients with a master’s in healthcare quality and safety! I’m excited to learn and build meaningful relationships with my peers and #uabhsa faculty.
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Simulation
I’m #ForgingMyPath with the UAB Healthcare Simulation program! I’m excited to further my health care knowledge and improve patient care with simulation.
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DSc
I’m thrilled to continue #ForgingMyPath in the Executive Doctor of Science in Healthcare Leadership program with #uabhsa. This experience will broaden my scope of health care delivery systems and position me to grow as a leader in healthcare.
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PhD
I’m #ForgingMyPath to improve healthcare policy and practice in the PhD in Administration-Health Services program with #uabhsa!
Certificate in Healthcare Leadership positions individuals for advancement
Nancy Borkowski knows health care – she has more than 20 years’ experience working in the industry and 20 years’ experience teaching in academia. She also fully understands leadership – her book Organizational Behavior in Health Care has been called “one of the most significant advances in the field of health services administration.”
In her latest role, as interim director of the new UAB Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership, Borkowski is injecting the countless lessons she has learned over the years into the complete experience of this totally online program.
“Health care leaders need a broad understanding of policy, process, finances, organization, quality, management and more – we deliver all that knowledge, plus we do it totally online,” said Borkowski, who is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Health Services Administration.
"lead efficiently and effectively"
The certificate, comprised of five courses and can be completed in three semesters. It is designed specifically for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, other clinicians, as well as administrators/managers in the health care field. It is for those who are either early careerists or have aspirations for leadership roles in their organizations.
“Too often I have seen exceptional practitioners promoted to leadership roles without the proper training to lead efficiently and effectively,” said Borkowksi, who is a Fellow of both the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Healthcare Financial Management Association. “The best succession plan you can have, is to prepare yourself today, to be in position for advancement tomorrow. We accept applications year-round and we welcome individuals who consider themselves ready for the next phase of their career.”
Full-time UAB employees outside of their probationary period qualify for educational assistance – meaning UAB will pay 100 percent of in-state tuition – once accepted to the Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership program. This certificate is also part of UAB’s new Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies master’s program that allows students to combine two participating UAB certificate programs with an experiential learning capstone project for their graduate degree.
“So many people have stepped up during the pandemic and proven themselves as viable candidates for leadership and C-Suite positions,” said Borkowski. “It is disappointing for an individual to miss an opportunity because they were not properly prepared.”
Curriculum
See below for the UAB Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership program’s curriculum. Click here for the UAB Catalog and scroll down to the 2nd program to see the official Healthcare Leadership curriculum.
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HA 606: Operations Management & Process Improvement in Health Care Organizations (4 hours)
Presents an overview of operational management and processes from the administrative perspective. Provides students with knowledge, skills, and tools including lean/six sigma, to implement, facilitate, and coordinate continuous quality improvement activities in health care environments.
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HA 610: Health Systems and Policy for Leaders (4 hours)
Overview of the United States health care system in terms of historical, current, political, organizational, human resources, financial, access-related, and quality dimensions; comparisons of the US health system to other health systems; overview of US health policy, policymaking, and analysis.
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HCS 660: Financial Management for Healthcare Quality Leaders (3 hours)
Basic concepts in financial management; introduction to financial accounting and management accounting; emphasis on evaluating the financial impact of new programs.
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HQS 630: Leadership of High Reliability Healthcare Organizations (3 hours)
Applying concepts of high reliability organizations to create an organizational culture that supports strong, functional, and safe patient care environments resulting in quality clinical care and patient satisfaction.
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HI 624: Leadership Theory & Development (2 hours)
Exploration of leadership theory and development, and the role of leadership in internal and external advocacy. The emphasis is on the application of leadership theories to individuals and groups in healthcare settings.
Enrollment Open
If you have any questions or wish to learn more, please contact us
The objective of this initiative is to retain outstanding students in the Department’s graduate programs by supporting successful and uninterrupted studies when unanticipated financial needs arise. The fund is not designed to support on-going financial needs of students.
GPHA will provide limited financial support (one-time support, up to $1,000) to students with defined need. The fund is for students in any of the Department’s graduate degree programs who:
- Have successfully completed at least one semester of coursework;
- Demonstrate an unexpected change in financial status and/or unanticipated financial circumstances;
- Are currently making satisfactory progress toward their degree (“good standing” as verified by Program Director).
Note: Students are eligible to receive one award from this Fund during their time in their program. At this time, students enrolled only in graduate certificate programs are not eligible.
How to Apply
Students will submit a request for funding to the Department Chair with the following items:
- Copy of unofficial UAB transcript.
- List of current funding granted or anticipated for the current academic year (e.g., scholarships, grants, loans, etc.).
- Personal statement of up to 500 words addressing these prompts:
- Describe the financial hardship you are experiencing. We invite you to include any particular barrier or hardship you think is relevant for us to consider (be specific). Note that this could be something you need to buy or do immediately in order to proceed in your studies, an opportunity that you did not anticipate that requires financial support, or many other situations.
- Amount requested. Describe what level of financial award would positively impact your current and/or future ability to realize your academic and professional goals? If documents are available, please provide them.
Materials should be collected in a single PDF file and submitted via email to Randa Hall, Associate Chair (
Selection Process
Committee of GPHA Board Members and the Department Chair will review submitted applications. Students may be contacted to provide more information. After receiving funds, the student will confirm receipt and that the funds were spent in the manner expected.
Health Informatics, MSHI
School of Health Professions
Health Informatics is a rapidly emerging discipline that connects people, technology, and data to better improve healthcare outcomes. Health Informatics professionals work with the processes and tools used to implement, maintain, and evaluate health informatics systems and applications.
Our graduate program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) can prepare you for a thriving career in Health Informatics. In just two years, you can learn the skills you need to pursue an informatics career at a healthcare facility, government, or elsewhere.
Are you interested in a reputable and top-ranked graduate program in health informatics?
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Master of Science in Health Informatics may be the right fit for you.
90% of previous students recommend the UAB MSHI program to others – find out why!
Request More Info Program Website Curriculum and Tracks Admission Requirements
The American Board of Preventive Medicine Announces a Three-Year Extension of the Practice Pathway for Clinical Informatics
Leverage your experience and our MSHI degree to take advantage of the American Board of Medical Specialties 3-year extension of the practice pathway for Clinical Informatics.
The MSHI program at UAB Master of Science in Health Informatics program is a 2-year online MSHI with specialty tracks in data analytics with a data science focus, user experience with a human factors focus, and research with a biomedical informatics focus. It has been developed for leaders with busy lives.
Why UAB is the
Right Fit For You
Health Informatics is about optimizing technology to effectively turn data into actionable information. At UAB, not only can you learn these critical skills, but you can also fit your workload within your already busy schedule.
There’s a reason that 90% of our students recommend the UAB MSHI program. We specifically designed this curriculum with online classes and limited residential requirements to make it easier for you to keep up with your full-time job and other responsibilities.
10 Helpful Facts About UAB Health Professions Graduate Programs
- The graduate program in Health Informatics is the only program of its kind in Alabama.
- 100% online classes with two residential visits required each year.
- Earn your master’s degree in 24 months.
- No GRE required. No healthcare background required.
- A curriculum built with busy and working professionals in mind.
- Specialize your curriculum with one of our four academic tracks: Data Analytics, User Experience, Artifical Intelligence, or Research, or by choosing courses in focus areas such as Imaging Informatics.
- Work directly with nationally and internationally recognized faculty as leaders in healthcare IT practice, research, and education.
- Our Master of Science in Health Administration program, the same department as our MSHI program, is ranked #1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
- US News & World Reports ranks 9 UAB graduate programs in the Top 20 Best Graduate Programs (2021).
- The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics projects jobs in medical or health services will grow by 20% from 2016-2026.
Recent Posts
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Solving Emergency Crowding Through Analytics - UAB Health Informatics
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed new threats and opportunities throughout global healthcare infrastructure. As the world grappled with a deadly virus, healthcare professionals faced logistical challenges from the front lines. Now, with lockdowns lifted and the world of healthcare forever changed by the pandemic, what lessons can we learn and use to improve our hospitals, urgent care facilities, and emergency rooms moving forward?
Read more -
Top 4 UX Trends That Will Continue to Shape the Healthcare Industry
Technology is rapidly bridging the gap between patients and healthcare providers, allowing for better care and greater understanding, especially when compared to what can be achieved in brief, in-person appointments. By employing technology to enhance the user experience (UX), healthcare providers are able to collect more data, customize treatments, and attend to patients no matter where they are.
Read more
Program Accreditation
- 90% of respondents would recommend the UAB MSHI program to others (2022 survey of 2022 graduates)
- Student retention rate is 93% (2022)
- 2-year graduation rate 92% (2022)
- 95% of graduates are employed in Health Informatics within six months of graduation (2022)
The Health Informatics accreditor of the University of Alabama at Birmingham is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for the Master degree in Health Informatics has been reaffirmed through 2027. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at
UAB Health Informatics is a member of the AMIA Academic Forum.
UAB MSHI Program FAQs
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What is the program accreditation?
The Health Informatics accreditor of the University of Alabama at Birmingham is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for the Master’s degree in Health Informatics has been reaffirmed through 2027.
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What are my potential job opportunities with this degree?
Our UAB MSHI program is designed to prepare our students for a variety of careers, such as health informatics specialists, clinical informatics analysts, health informatics consultants, and chief medical information officers. We’re dedicated to helping you find the right career path for you – that’s why 95% of graduates are employed in Health Informatics within six months of graduation.
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I already work in the health informatics industry. Why should I complete this program?
A degree in health informatics can help you gain skills in this increasingly important field of healthcare services. At UAB, we also offer a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Informatics. This certificate could be a perfect fit for those looking to upskill in their current jobs.
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Are there prerequisites for the MSHI program?
The MSHI program requires a course in statistics, with a B or better, to be taken during the last 5 years. Additionally, we require either a course or working knowledge in SQL. However, if you do not have these courses, upon admission, we will send you links to some online courses that qualify as substitutions for out-of-date or formal coursework.
Other than that, there are no prerequisites – no previous healthcare or IT knowledge or experience needed! Through our carefully sequenced coursework, you will get everything needed for a competitive job market.
Giving Opportunities
Your support makes a difference in our ability to prepare students for their future and their ability to impact the future health of the people and communities they will serve. Ready to learn more? Explore our MSHI scholarship opportunities below.
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Alabama Chapter of HIMSS Sponsored Travel Award
The Alabama Chapter of HIMSS Sponsored Travel Award will provide support for registration fees, travel and lodging for UAB HI students attending the HIMSS Annual Conference & Exhibition or HIMSS International Conference. There will be an emphasis placed on those students who have had posters selected to present at either conference. The award will be given to students based on merit, academic promise and achievement in the field.
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Alabama HIMSS President's Endowed Award in Health Informatics
The Alabama HIMSS Endowed Award Fund was established in 2004 by a generous gift from the Alabama chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society to be awarded annually to recognize and provide financial support to an outstanding senior student enrolled in the UAB Master of Science in Health Informatics program.
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Terrell W. Herzig Endowed Award in Health Informatics
Terrell W. Herzig was a beloved faculty member who passed away unexpectedly in 2012. To honor his commitment to training leaders in health informatics and security, a collective group of alumni and friends of the university established this scholarship award in his memory.
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William W. Featheringill Endowed Scholarship
Established by his daughter Elizabeth Pharo, this scholarship was endowed by SuccessEHS to honor Featheringill’s legacy as a visionary in health informatics.The endowment will support students in the UAB School of Health Professions’ Master of Science in Health Informatics program. The award will be given on the basis of merit as well as financial need and in a nod to Featheringill’s inventiveness, the student must demonstrate academic promise and achievement in health informatics.
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Sara S. Grostick Endowed Award
Family, friends, colleagues, and admirers of Ms. Sara S. Grostick have given gifts toward an endowed fund to pay tribute to Ms. Grostick and her more than 35 years of service to the UAB School of Health Professions. This award is used annually to recognize and reward to recognize and reward an outstanding student in the UAB Department of Health Services Administration interested in data analytics and health information management.
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Questions? Contact Us
General
Sue Feldman, RN, MEd, PhD
Program Director, Graduate Programs in Health Informatics
(205) 975-0809
Accelerate Your Leadership Career
You have what it takes to succeed. We have solutions to help you get there.
Accessible wherever you live and whatever your schedule, our innovative executive programs are designed for practicing clinicians and senior executives. Dive into engaging learning experiences with leading faculty and exchange ideas with other senior leaders from across the country.
Proven track record with leaders like you.
Women represent more than half of our graduate students, doctoral dissertations and department leaders. An advanced degree is available to you in an executive format, so you can earn your degree your way.
Featured Programs For You
Founded in 1978, our mission is to improve health administration practice and policy through the generation and conduct of research in the management of health service organizations. This mission is accomplished through the education of individuals for academic positions and for high-level research positions in non-academic organizations.
Interdisciplinary Approach
The program offers an interdisciplinary approach that provides advanced studies in the conceptual and applied aspects of health administration and health services. The program’s interdisciplinary foundation is based on the active involvement of faculty members who are nationally recognized scholars in their field from a variety of departments across campus, including the School of Health Professions, Collat School of Business, School of Public Health, Heersink School of Medicine, and School of Nursing. The program also draws on the resources of campus-wide centers, such as the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education, and Center for Aging.
Student Life and Expectations
The educational experience in the Ph.D. Program includes didactic coursework with experts from a wide-range of disciplines relevant to health administration and policy from across the university. Additionally, students are expected to work closely with selected faculty in one-on-one mentorship relationships both prior to and during the writing of the doctoral dissertation. Upon completion of the program, students are expected to be highly skilled researchers capable of:
- Conducting and managing empirical and conceptual research.
- Demonstrating high levels of expertise in a specialization.
- Meeting the requirements for a faculty position in a department of health services administration or policy.
- Performing well in a high-level research or policy-making role in a non-academic organization, such as a corporation, non-profit institution, or a government agency.
- Effectively communicating their ideas orally and in writing.
In addition, recognizing that many of our graduates will find employment in academic settings, we offer students opportunities to develop their teaching skills. Doctoral students are often invited to provide guest lectures for master’s level courses, to serve as teaching assistants or graders for master’s level courses, and to serve as primary instructors for undergraduate courses.
The Residential MSHA Program offers a unique educational experience through its dedicated faculty, supportive alumni, cohort model and the administrative residency requirement. The MSHA Program is CAHME-accredited and currently ranked as the #1 health care management graduate program in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
The Master of Science in Health Administration is a 33-month program with 21 months of full-time courses on campus and 9-12 months in an administrative residency. In addition to providing directed experience, the residency also provides a paid stipend and frequently leads to employment opportunities.
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Mission
Developing leaders to shape tomorrow’s healthcare through an exceptional master’s-level educational experience.
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Vision
To be recognized as the national leader in healthcare management and leadership education.
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Values
Excellence: We are driven to do our best, learn from our setbacks, and tenaciously seek to improve.
Collaboration: We value partnerships and recognize that our success is due to the talent and time of the entire team.
Respect: We honor and appreciate the traditions, beliefs, and individuality of all.
Integrity: We are committed to honesty and authenticity, adhering to strong moral & ethical principles in everything we do.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: We believe our diversity is a source of our strength and strive to understand, value and involve all.
Cohort Model
Our cohort model means you will be with the same classmates the entire time you are on campus. But more than that - you will be connected for the rest of your careers. You will start your career with a built-in peer network and together, as you each advance, you will change the landscape of how healthcare is delivered. Meet our students.
Applied Learning
During your time in the MSHA Program, you will experience “real world” exposure from the start. Beginning in the first semester, you will work in the UAB Health System as part of the Student Workforce initiative. You may also complete an internship the first summer and after completing your classes, you will launch your career with the administrative residency. Learn about the Administrative Residency.
Expand Your Degree
Students who would like to gain additional skills while completing the residential MSHA program may participate in a dual degree program by completing the MSHA with a Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Health Informatics, or Master of Public Health program. Students may also take additional coursework to earn a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Financial Management. Learn more about these programs.
UAB’s Executive Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA) program is designed to prepare students for senior management positions throughout the health field. The MSHA Program is CAHME-accredited and currently ranked as the #1 health care management graduate program in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Students in the program gain new expertise and a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of health care organizations, with particular emphasis on important health care management areas such as leadership, marketing, economics, operations management, epidemiology, quality improvement and strategic management, to name a few.
What makes the program appealing to so many professionals is its structure, which enables students to gain all this new expertise without giving up their job or lifestyle. The program was created to meet the needs of busy professionals and requires students to visit the UAB campus for only four and a half days three times each year to complete the degree in two years. Between the intensive campus sessions, students continue courses through online distance learning.
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Mission
Developing leaders to shape tomorrow’s healthcare through an exceptional master’s-level educational experience.
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Vision
To be recognized as the national leader in healthcare management and leadership education.
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Values
Excellence: We are driven to do our best, learn from our setbacks, and tenaciously seek to improve.
Collaboration: We value partnerships and recognize that our success is due to the talent and time of the entire team.
Respect: We honor and appreciate the traditions, beliefs, and individuality of all.
Integrity: We are committed to honesty and authenticity, adhering to strong moral & ethical principles in everything we do.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: We believe our diversity is a source of our strength and strive to understand, value and involve all.
Expand Your Degree
Students in the executive MSHA program may opt to do a dual degree program with the Master of Science in Healthcare Quality and Safety (MSHQS) or add on a graduate certificate in Healthcare Quality and Safety. The MSHA program includes coursework in healthcare quality and safety, but the dual degree or graduate certificate program allows students to obtain a deeper understanding of this important area in healthcare. Visit the MSHQS or HQS graduate certificate pages for more information about these programs. Students do not have to choose to enroll in these programs at the time of acceptance into the MSHA program, and may choose to begin them in the second year of the MSHA program.
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