Dual Master of Business Administration and Master of Health Services Administration (MBA/MHSA)

Description

The Master of Business Administration and the Master of Health Services Administration (MBA/MHSA) dual degree is designed to accommodate the career needs of health care professionals. Students are prepared for managing a patient-focused organization in an ever-changing and increasingly complex business. The program accommodates both current health care professionals who wish to establish themselves as partners with the business staff in the health care environment and business professionals currently in or moving into the health care environment.

The dual degree program is offered cooperatively between the College of Health Professions and the College of Business Administration. It is designed for clinicians and others with minimal formal business training, including doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, medical office staff, etc. For the non-health care professional, the dual degree provides additional study about the health care environment, providing a stronger basis for obtaining employment in the health care business setting.

  • Health care practitioners need knowledge and experience beyond clinical expertise to manage effectively at the enterprise level
  • There is a growing need for clinical credibility combined with managerial and administrative excellence
  • Effective management in a health care environment requires an understanding of health care policy and reimbursement, financial principles and best practices for marketing, operations and information technology
  • An MBA establishes clinicians as full partners with business staff in preparing to operate in a changing health care environment

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    Accreditation

    The MBA program is fully accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Organized in 1916, AACSB International is the premier accrediting agency for bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting. Detroit Mercy's MBA program is one of the oldest AACSB-accredited programs in the United States. In 2019, the program celebrated 70 years of accreditation by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

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    Admission Requirements

    Students interested in the MBA/MHSA dual degree program must apply to both the MBA and MHSA programs and be accepted into both programs in order to be fully admitted into the MBA/MHSA dual degree. The Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) program requires a separate application to the College of Health Professions. Admission criteria to the Master of Health Services Administration program differ from the MBA program admission criteria. For questions or assistance regarding the application process to the Master of Health Services Administration, contact the MHSA program director via e-mail at hsaprogram@udmercy.edu.

    The MBA program is open to students of high promise who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. No prior academic work in business is required. Admission decisions are based on undergraduate grade point average (GPA), work experience, post graduate studies, and recommendations, and GMAT (if needed).

    Admission Materials

    • A University of Detroit Mercy Graduate Application Form, with the application fee (waived for online applications)
    • Official transcripts for all previous academic work
    • An official report with the scores earned on the GMAT (if needed)
    • A resume
    • A letter of ; and
    • Any other information that the applicant feels is important to the admission decision.

    Graduate students should contact Maia Platt, program chair and associate professor at the College of Health Professions, for admission requirements into the MHSA degree program.

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    Degree Requirements

    The basic requirements for University of Detroit Mercy's MBA program involve a structure that includes the following set of core courses and a set of post-core courses (*33 credit hours) for those students that are concurrently pursuing the MHSA program (*47 credit hours). Core courses serve as the heart of a common educational experience for all students who seek the MBA degree. Post-core requirements include an integrated capstone course, MBA 5900 and elective courses in Health Services Administration.

    Core Business Courses

    • ACC 5200 Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
    • MBA 5200 Modeling, Analytics, and Operations Decisions (3 credits)
    • MBA 5210 Personal Development, Ethics, and Social Responsibility (3 credits)
    • MBA 5220 Strategic Financial Management (3 credits)
    • MBA 5240 Marketing Management and Planning (3 credits)
    • MBA 5250 Teamwork and Shared Leadership: Enhancing the Creative Process in Organizations (3 credits)
    • MBA 5260 Systems and Technology (3 credits)

    Post-Core Courses

    • MBA 5900 Strategic Management and Innovation in a Global Economy (3 credits)
    • HLH 5500 Research Methods in Health Care (3 credits)
    • HLH 5700 Health Care Delivery and Policy Issues (3 credits)
    • HSA 5780 Quality Improvement in Health Care Organizations (3 credits)

    Under the MBA/MHSA dual degree, students are required to be enrolled in both programs. In this option a maximum of nine overlapping credit hours may be counted toward the two concurrent degrees if the overlapping credits are approved for both degrees.

    Graduate students should consult the Master of Health Services Administration for program requirements and courses.

    Foundation Courses

    Foundation requirements include a set of courses designed for those applicants who have had no exposure or limited exposure to business courses in their academic background and/or limited work experience. These courses, up to a maximum of *12 credit hours, may be required to guarantee preparedness for the program's core and post-core requirements.

    Foundation Courses

    • ACC 5100 Corporate Financial Accounting (3 credits)
    • MBA 5100 Legal Issues in Organizational Strategy (3 credits)
    • MBA 5120 Data Analysis for Decision Making (3 credits)
    • MBA 5180 Fundamentals of Financial Management (3 credits)

    Each applicant's program requirements are determined immediately following the admission decision. Foundation requirements may be waived, in any number, depending upon the applicant's academic background. The mere fact that a student has completed coursework in one or more particular disciplines or had extensive work experience does not imply that any waiver will be granted. Prior academic work must be of sufficient quantity and quality as to satisfy the specific criteria established. Each student's specific requirements are determined individually with the objective of ensuring the overall quality of that student's degree program.

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    Admission Status

    Conditional Entry Status

    Applicants whose admission materials do not lead to regular acceptance into the program may be considered for conditional entry status. Conditional entry status is restricted to a narrow margin of applicants and usually requires a personal interview.

    Guest Student Status

    Individuals currently enrolled in another AACSB-accredited MBA program may obtain guest student status at University of Detroit Mercy for a limited number of courses by providing a statement of good standing from their school's dean or program director, or by applying for guest student status using a Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate School form (MIGS). The MIGS application can be obtained in the Graduate Business Programs office.

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    Degree Identifications

    Upon completion of the Dual MBA/MHSA program, graduates receive two diplomas: one for the MBA degree and one for the Master of Health Services Administration degree.

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    Graduate Assistantships


    Graduate Assistantships

    Graduate assistantships are available to selected full-time students enrolled in any graduate business program. A graduate assistantship is conferred upon a student with the understanding that the student will be assigned to a discipline or program to assist in research, tutoring or general activities. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available each semester. A graduate assistant works 7.5 hours per week in exchange for a one-course tuition waiver. Application forms for a graduate assistantship are available in the Graduate Business Programs office.

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    Program Characteristics

    Several important aspects of the MBA program should be noted. These include policies regarding grade point averages, class scheduling, and advising.

    Cumulative Grade Point Average

    Students in the MBA program are required to achieve and maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale). A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for final completion of the degree requirements and graduation.

    Academic Standing

    While an individual may be admitted into the MBA program on a regular-acceptance basis, it is possible that the individual's eventual cumulative GPA may fall below a 3.0 in any particular term. When this situation occurs, the student automatically is placed on "academic probation". This status dictates that the student's cumulative GPA must continue to improve in each consecutive term thereafter until the cumulative GPA reaches 3.0 and is then sustained at that level or higher. If, after being placed on academic probation, the student's cumulative GPA does not improve in each subsequent term, the student will be academically dismissed.

    Class Scheduling

    MBA classes are scheduled in the evening and online. MBA classes are currently offered on the McNichols Campus and downtown Riverfront Campus. Evening classes begin at 6:40 p.m., Monday through Thursday for Term I and Term II on the McNichols Campus and evening classes begin at 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday for Term I and Term II on the downtown Riverfront Campus. Terms are 15 weeks in length. Each summer session is seven weeks in length. Summer I commences in May. Summer II begins in late June. The downtown Riverfront Campus summer term schedule spans the last four weeks of McNichols Summer I term and the first four weeks of McNichols Summer II term.

    Full-Time and Part-Time Student Status

    An individual may undertake the MBA program on either a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time student status usually involves a nine or above credit-hour course load in Terms I and II. Part-time student status usually entails a 1-8.5 credit hour load in Terms I and II.

    Residence and Time Requirements

    Students who have not completed their required certificate program within two years may be subject to re-evaluation and additional coursework. Students not enrolled for more than four consecutive terms will be required to re-apply for admission.

    International Students

    International students should consult with the International Services office.

    Advising

    The director of Graduate Business Programs serves as general academic advisor for all students entering the MBA program. When appropriate, specific advising matters may be referred to the advisor in a particular academic discipline.

    The Thesis Plan

    An MBA student may elect, with approval of the director of Graduate Business Programs, to write a master's thesis for the equivalent of six credit hours. These credits are applied to the student's electives. A thesis advisor will be selected from the full-time faculty. Guidelines are available in the Graduate Business Programs office.

    Student Responsibilities

    Students in the College of Business Administration are responsible and accountable for knowledge of the requirements and procedures set forth by the College and University. Administrators, advisors, and faculty are available to assist students by explaining the various requirements and procedures for each program. However, the ultimate responsibility for compliance rests with the student.

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    Center for Career & Professional Development

    Through its Center for Career & Professional Development, University of Detroit Mercy offers a professional practice program for MBA candidates. After completing the appropriate credit hours in the MBA program, students are eligible for a career-related professional practice assignment. The professional practice model is based on traditional co-op, providing students with the opportunity to select either full-time assignments, alternating semesters of work with study, or part-time assignments, with parallel semesters of work and study. A minimum of two assignments is required, with three assignments being the maximum a student may complete. The professional practice program model combines the success of traditional co-op with the new demands for graduate student programming. The professional practice coordinator, upon the recommendation of the director of Graduate Business Programs, accepts students into the program.

    Upon placement, students are required to enroll in ADM 5950, 5960, or 5970. Grades are based on the evaluation of the employer, a written professional practice training report and a progress interview with the student's professional practice coordinator. Please refer to the Professional Practice Handbook, available in the Center for Career & Professional Development for additional requirements.

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    Honor Societies

    Beta Gamma Sigma

    Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, an international scholastic honor society for graduates in the field of business and management, is the highest international scholastic honor that a student in a school of business or management can achieve. Eligibility for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma places a student in a very select group and is conferred for a lifetime status. Beta Gamma Sigma chapters are only chartered in those business schools that are accredited by the AACSB International.

    Beta Alpha Psi

    Beta Alpha Psi is an honorary organization for financial information students and professionals. This membership is one of the highest scholastic honors that accounting and finance students can attain. As the premier professional accounting and business information fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi recognizes academic excellence and complements members' formal education by providing interaction between students, faculty and professionals, and fosters lifelong growth, service and ethical conduct. Beta Alpha Psi chapters may be chartered only in those schools of business and management accredited by AACSB International.

    Alpha Iota Delta

    Alpha Iota Delta is the international honor society that confers distinction for academic excellence in the decision sciences and information systems; promotes the infusion of the functional and behavioral areas of administration with tools, concepts and methodologies of the decision sciences and information systems; and promotes professional fellowship among students, faculty, administration and practitioners. The lifetime membership is by invitation, reflecting exceptional academic achievement and, perhaps, outstanding campus leadership and service.

    Global Jesuit Business Student Association

    The purposes of the GJBSA Honor Society are to confer distinction for academic excellence upon students attending Jesuit business schools and to encourage their pursuit of lifelong education; to acknowledge and promote a spirit of community involvement among its members; to promote and encourage ethical and socially responsible business practices among its members and in the global business community; and to act as a catalyst for the advancement of business thought and theory.

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    Program Contact Information

    Graduate Admissions Counselor: Theresa Carson


    Director of Graduate Business Programs: Wonseok Choi, Ph.D.


    Coordinator of Student Services: Carrol Parris

Detroit Mercy Catalogs


Graduate Catalog
2021-2022