Master of Health Administration

• An undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university (or international equivalent)
• Statement of Purpose for seeking the degree
• Resume
• Letters of recommendation are optional. The HAMPCAS application portal currently provides the option to submit up to three. However, this may be left blank when submitting the application.

Application Fees 
Samuel Merritt University does not charge an additional admission fee.  

Non-Refundable Deposits and Fees 
Students offered admission pay a non-refundable tuition deposit of $350 to secure their seat in the class. Application fees and tuition deposits are non-refundable, whether or not the student withdraws in the first week of the term. 

Tuition  
For a detailed summary of annual tuition, and all fees for the program visit Student Accounts. 

Academic Year: 2024-2025 

            Per Unit Rate                =          $973/unit 

            Program Units               =          36 units 

            Total Cost Estimate*     =          $35,000 

*The total cost estimate does not reflect potential future tuition rate increases. 

Core Courses required of all MHA students (30 units total)

• Systems Approach to U.S. Healthcare (3 units)
• Ethical Leadership in Healthcare (3 units)
• Professional Communications (3 units)
• Professional and Personal Care & Development (1 unit each, 3x)
• Fundamentals of Public Health (3 units)
• Information Mgmt. & Regulatory Compliance (3 units)
• Financial Management (3 units)
• The Economics of Healthcare (2 units)
• Strategic Management (2 units)
• Capstone Seminar (5 units)

Electives (6 units)

Choice of two of the following electives:

• Risk Management (3 units)
• Supply Chain Management (3 units)
• Emergency Preparedness (3 units)
• Internship – required in first year of study for all students who lack experience in the U.S. Healthcare System (3 units)   

SAMPLE SCHEDULE FOR COMPLETION IN ONE CALENDAR YEAR

Detailed information about financial aid, budgeting, total cost and application processes. 

We realize that the financial aid process can be difficult and overwhelming.  We are here to help. The Financial Aid staff can assist with budgeting, understanding your awards, and understanding the process.  The SMU staff is committed to each and every prospective student and enrolled student.  We have an open door policy and are available via phone or email. 

finaid@samuelmerritt.edu or 510-879-9200 

International Students Admission Requirements
You must submit:

1. Completed application. Application fees are waived.
2. Resume of your educational and professional experience. 
3. Copy of your official transcript for all colleges attended. Please note that official transcripts and their evaluation must be submitted before your second term of registration.
4. Personal statement about career goals and reasons for desiring an MHA.

You will receive communications via email. Be sure to provide a reliable email address.

International applicants should contact Keith Schildt, the Global Health Initiative program director, at kschildt@samuelmerritt.edu with questions about SMU programming and services.

Global Health Initiative

Samuel Merritt University’s (SMU) Global Health Initiative (GHI) is a University-wide effort that seeks to connect our existing healthcare educational and research efforts to global issues and creativities. The GHI at SMU functions as the centralized hub to provide support and advocacy to international students, visiting faculty, and others as they interact with departments and programs across the University.  

Our fundamental ethos is to change the future of healthcare.

At the center of our mission, GHI aims to serve the entire SMU community and stakeholders by promoting the principles of creating global connections, understanding the international context, and expanding the profession’s role as an advocate in fostering health and community well-being worldwide. The vision of GHI is to be a world leader in increasing global access to effective education and training to meet the needs of local, regional, and global healthcare enterprises. We will generate collaborations, educational programming, and applied synergistic research in innovative ways that confront the global/local nexus of health challenges. 

We imagine a new kind of healthcare, one in which our knowledge is focused on new solutions with quality access for all. A healthcare system worldwide where patients and clinicians are empowered to transform the way health is delivered. A patient and community-oriented health system where individual health is seen as a product of social and political factors as much as clinical techniques. 

This requires change. We must stop doing more of the same and start thinking and innovating in completely new ways. 

This requires a global perspective, new ways of defining health and wellness, and new collaborations between academia, and the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Local health is increasingly dependent on global health. Our students are enriched by this global perspective.

For more information about SMU’s Global Health Initiative, please contact Keith Schildt, the Global Health Initiative program director, at kschildt@samuelmerritt.edu.