JD-Master of Health Administration

MHA-JD joint degree

This course of study addresses the health services’ need for professionals who understand the legal and administrative frameworks necessary to function successfully as health lawyers or health services administrators.

Individuals must independently apply and be accepted into both the School of Public Health MHA program and the McKinney School of Law JD program. Once students have been accepted into this joint degree program, they should meet with their academic advisors to plan the course sequencing. The program includes 39 credit hours in PBHL courses, and 82 credit hours in law courses.

Undergraduate prerequisites

A grade of “C” or better is required for each of the prerequisite courses listed below. Courses must be taken from an accredited institution.

  • Microeconomics course (ECON-E 201 or equivalent)
  • Accounting course (PBHL-H 200 or equivalent)
  • Statistics course (PBHL-B 300: Healthcare Statistics or equivalent)
Elizabeth Walker

Elizabeth Walker, JD, MHA

ECG Management Consultants, Inc.
Senior Manager

I've always been interested in the healthcare industry. I was accepted to IU School of Medicine and intended to begin my studies after a "year off" at law school. I found myself very much at home in the study of the law and stumbled upon the MHA program as I sought ways to broaden my healthcare knowledge.

The quality of adjunct instructors in Indianapolis is hard to beat. I had a wide range of teachers, including a health system CEO and Hall Render attorney. Another benefit of the Indianapolis location is the opportunity to try out meaningful internships. I took advantage of every healthcare-related internship the law school had to offer.

The MHA credential is meaningful in the healthcare field. When I meet with hospital CEOs, I stand out; the MHA degree indicates to other healthcare professionals that I am dedicated to improving our healthcare community. Having an MHA degree in addition to my JD was crucial to becoming a hospital vice president at age 28.

The investment you make now to obtain these degrees will pay huge dividends for the rest of your life. Additional time in school and more tuition are small prices to pay for having a career you love. Having a JD and MHA has given me tremendous flexibility and opportunity as I have progressed in my career.

The foundation this education has provided has prepared me well to handle whatever changes this disruptive healthcare landscape presents now and in the future.

View more student profiles

Curriculum

The MHA-JD joint degree was recently revised. The updated curriculum will go into effect in fall 2024. Students who started the MHA-JD joint degree prior to fall 2024 are encouraged to make an advising appointment with a Fairbanks School of Public Health advisor to discuss course planning to complete the degree on the old curriculum or discuss transitioning to the new curriculum.

  • PBHL-H 507 Human Resources & Organizational Behavior in Health Care (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 508 Managing Healthcare Accounting Information for Decision-Making (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 509 Financial Management Principles of Healthcare (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 514 Health Economics (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 521 Applied Data Analytics in Health Administration (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 612 Marketing Health Services Delivery (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 623 Capstone in Health Administration (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 624 Developing Strategic Capability (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 628 Healthcare Information Systems (3 credits)
  • PBHL-P 506 Public Health & Community-Focused Leadership (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 531 Population Health Management & Value-based Health Insurance (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 735 Research in Health Administration (3 credits)
  • Choose (1) 3 credit hour electives from the list below:
    • PBHL-P 510 Introduction to Public Health (3 credits)
    • PBHL-P 504 U.S. Healthcare Sys. & Health Policy (3 credits)

  • PBHL-H 507 Management of Individual and Group Behavior (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 508 Managing Health Care Accounting Information for Decision-Making (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 509 Financial Management Principles in Healthcare (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 514 Health Economics (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 518 Statistical Methods for Health Services (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 521 Management Science for Health Services Administration (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 523 Health Services Human Resources Management (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 610 Lean Principles for Healthcare (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 612 Marketing Health Services Delivery (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 623 Healthcare Applications of Strategic Management (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 624 Developing Strategic Capability in Healthcare (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 628 Healthcare Information Systems (3 credits)
  • PBHL-P 506 Population and Public Health (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 670 Operations Management for Healthcare Organizations (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 735 Research in Health Administration (3 credits)