Health Services Administration (MS)

The Master of Science in Health Services Administration program (MSHSA) has been designed to meet the societal need for professionals in the healthcare industry to serve in a variety of leadership roles for organizations that provide health services. The program prepares students to critically evaluate and apply theory and research in all specialty areas of healthcare and administration into their daily professional work. Graduates are taught to become informed, responsible, and ethical leaders in the community.

Students in the MSHSA program are encouraged to explore the complex issues surrounding healthcare in a pluralistic society, applied ethics, and multicultural health. Students are provided with many opportunities to develop analytical and organizational skills in class and apply these skills through course assignments and internships. Specific areas of study include management, marketing, epidemiology, strategic planning, finance, and continuous quality improvement. The diversely rich student body and faculty, representing many ethnic and cultural backgrounds and communities, support the development of cultural competence.

Our faculty includes members with strong academic and professional backgrounds who are dedicated to teaching, performing research, and continuing professional development. The program's faculty is accessible and supportive and strives to always be available to students outside of the classroom.

The MSHSA program offers a flexible schedule to meet the needs of working professionals as well as full-time students. In addition, we offer courses through a number of cohorts or strategic partnerships with health care organizations throughout the South Florida area. This allows students to attend classes at the main campus or at a location closer to their home or business. The average length of the program is approximately two years. Students are required to successfully complete 51 didactic credit hours and an individualized internship/practicum in a specialty area of their choice.

The Master of Science degree program in Health Services Administration (MSHSA) provides a unique learning experience in keeping with the university mission. Barry students find highly-regarded faculty always available and willing to mentor them in a caring environment. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in professional, community, and religious activities.

The health professional interested in graduate study in Health Services Administration must choose between pursuing a business degree where only three or four courses of the entire program involve health administration, or a uniquely designed degree program where all the courses focus on health administration and are taught by highly-regarded faculty who are experienced health care executives. 

Barry University's unique M.S. in Health Services Administration program is designed to meet the needs of health professionals, and others, in developing and enhancing the requisite knowledge and skills necessary to qualify for such leadership positions amidst the constant changes in health care delivery, managed care, policy regulation, and a diversified consumer environment. The program empowers students in the critical evaluation of theoretical and research perspectives in all specialty areas of health administration and the practical application of these insights into their daily professional work.

The Master of Science Program in Health Services Administration (MSHSA) and the Master of Science Program in Health Services Administration and Master of Public Health Dual Degree (MSHSA-MPH) offers two internship courses:

• HSA 660 or MPH 567
• and HSA 662

Scheduling is highly flexible and individualized in order to meet the needs of both the student and the organization providing the internship. Students should be aware; however, that the majority of the internship experiences occur during the daytime hours (Monday - Friday). Ultimately, it is the student's responsibility to arrange his or her schedule with the organization providing the internship in accordance with the requirements of the MSHSA Program.

The essence of internship should be experiential learning and integrative. Specifically, the internship will ensure that students demonstrate and develop critical thinking and problem solving skills as well as management competencies in applied, experiential settings. This practical learning experience as an important component of our curriculum will require students to draw upon, apply and synthesize knowledge, and skills covered throughout the MSHSA program of study.

Internships are required for all students enrolled in the MSHSA-MPH Dual Degree Program. The internship program within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences MSHSA has goals designed to be flexible in a structure where the needs of our students and employers are achieved. In addition, the internship will provide a learning environment where students can experience real work experience and work on tasks and projects relevant to their academic programs and professional interests.

The Master of Science Program in Health Services Administration and Public Health Dual Degree at Barry University provides for staff, administrators, and physicians currently working within local health care organizations an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and careers by way of establishing strategic partnerships with these facilities through the development of Health Care Institutional Cohorts. Program courses are delivered on site at the health care facility.

The objective of the Health Services Administration and Public Health Dual degree is to not only to prepare professionals in the healthcare industry to serve in a variety of leadership roles within health care organizations, but also to prepare graduates of the program with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and manage public health challenges, reduce global disparities, and promote health care as a fundamental right of all human beings.

We are proud of our strategic partnerships and affiliations with some of the major health care institutions in the South Florida region.

Our goal is to continue to expand our reach through continuous developments and collaboration with local health care facilities in an effort to establish strong partnerships. We are committed to providing our students with quality educational experiences that will help them to develop into transformational leaders and health care administrators who are able to efficiently meet and exceed the needs of today and tomorrow's health care organizations, while also equipping them with the analytical skills necessary to address and reduce the disparities of health care delivery and promote health locally, nationally and globally.

We are confident that with the continuity and growth of our community affiliations our students will gain vital experience and expertise through the internship and field experiences within the local health care institutions.

Our strategic affiliations are established on an ongoing basis. We welcome you to check back periodically for updates. As always, we are eager to partner with health care institutions which align with the program's mission and vision.

Congratulations on taking the first step to pursue your passion, advance your career, and make a difference in your community. We are committed to assist each student through the admission process.

Whether you transition straight from undergraduate studies to a graduate program or have been out of school for some time, we offer a welcoming and professional environment for graduate study.

With small class sizes, there is a considerable amount of personalized attention from your faculty and opportunities to build strong relationships with fellow classmates.

At BarryU, our tuition is competitive, affordable and still promises all the perks of a private school education. Our cost per credit is in-line with other institutions, but we offer a mission-driven educational experience and provide our students with small class sizes, personalized attention, and academic excellence. Scholarships, graduate assistantships, and financial aid can also be explored to help offset overall costs.

Barry University participates in the full array of federal and state financial aid programs. At Barry, we are committed to doing all we can to help you finance your education.

Barry University's Financial Aid staff will assist you through the financial aid application process.

Barry University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award bachelor's, master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees.

The Master of Science in Health Services Administration program is an Associate Graduate Member in the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA).