A comparison of academic curricula in the MPH and MHA-type degrees in health administration at the accredited schools of public health.
Based on a survey of the departments of health services administration in accredited schools of public health, this study presents (1) a profile of the M.P.H. and M.H.A. (and similar) programs concentrating in health administration, and (2) a comparison of the M.P.H. and M.H.A. degrees. All 27 schools currently accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) are represented in this research. The curriculum from each school was broken down and classified into eight components: (1) epidemiology, (2) statistics, (3) accounting/finance, (4) management theory, (5) management application, (6) public health policy, (7) electives, and (8) other. That the M.H.A. programs compared to the M.P.H. programs, have higher course requirements to furnish skills in business management and quantitative/analytical areas is the main hypothesis tested. Statistically significant differences were found in seven of the eight curriculum components for M.P.H. and M.H.A. degrees. Overall, the M.H.A. degree was found to be more rigorous in applied management and analytical courses. Implications and recommendations are discussed.
Singh
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School of Business, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI 49104, USA. singh@andrews.edu
Stoskope
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CH
Ciesla
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JR
D000068:Accreditation; D003479:Curriculum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005376:Financial Management; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000193:education*; D012581:Schools, Public Health; D014481:United States