Master of Science in Health Systems Administration

Mission:
Our mission is to educate the next generation of health system leaders to improve the quality and value of health care and to advance the knowledge needed to make these improvements. We accomplish this through a curriculum that is experiential and competency based and framed by Jesuit values.

Vision:
Our vision is to be on the cutting edge of health systems education and research, focusing on health system performance while being consistent with the University’s commitment to both social justice and academic excellence.

While both Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Master of Science in Health Systems Administration (MHSA) programs prepare students for healthcare leadership roles, the distinction lies in how students are trained to understand and manage healthcare organizations.

The Georgetown MHSA is intentionally designed around a health systems perspective that emphasizes the larger healthcare ecosystem and interrelationships between healthcare organizations and other key stakeholders. Rather than focusing solely on management of a single organization, the program prepares students to understand healthcare as a complex, interconnected system — one that includes health systems, payers, policymakers, technology companies, community organizations, and many other forces that influence how care delivers quality and value. With an MHSA degree, students are equipped for a wider set of goals and career aspirations. Our graduates are not only leaders in healthcare organization leaders, they are leaders in consulting, government, pharmaceutical, medical device development, and more.

A care-for-the-whole-person, systems-based approach reflects Georgetown University’s broader educational philosophy and is especially relevant in today’s healthcare environment, where leaders are expected to apply systems thinking, navigate complexity, work across organization and sector boundaries, and respond to rapid changes in policy, practice and emerging care delivery models.

“The MHSA program gave me the flexibility I needed as a working professional and also a sense of community. The hybrid structure allowed me to engage and build genuine relationships with my cohort and professors. The experiential learning opportunities, from global learning experiences to institutional site visits, really broadened my perspective. The program strengthened my skills, expanded my network, and continues to support me as an alum.”
— Angel Phan (G’25)

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“Being in D.C. meant having access to health policy wonks not only on the federal but local level as well. The smaller, cohort-structured program was appealing because I wanted to build meaningful relationships with classmates and faculty.”
— Raynard Ware (G’18)

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“The great thing about Georgetown was that there was a lot of support and opportunity to do things beyond just the coursework to develop as a healthcare leader.”
— Ila Anita Flannigan (G’09)

On-Campus Intensives (OCIs)

On-Campus Intensives (OCIs) are weeklong campus visits that allow students to engage deeply in classes, networking, site visits, and career events. They are a core part of the MHSA experience, providing opportunities to:

• Meet peers, faculty, and alumni,
• Attend seminar-style courses on pressing healthcare topics,
• Participate in career workshops and professional development events led by faculty, alumni, and industry leaders,
• Conduct site visits to health care organizations, and
• Network with local healthcare leaders and members of the Georgetown community.

Global Comparative Health Experience

Each year, MHSA students may participate in an optional comparative health system global experience, which includes site visits, engagement with health system leaders and academic faculty, and team-based activities.

Recent trips have included:

• Spain
• Seoul, South Korea
• Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil and
• Singapore

American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) & Annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership

Student Associate Membership in ACHE is highly encouraged, providing early career development and valuable networking opportunities.

Each year, students have the opportunity to attend the annual ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership, where they connect with national health care leaders, alumni and potential employers, and participate in educational sessions covering key trends and issues. The MHSA Alumni Reception is a highlight of the Congress, offering a time to come together and celebrate the program community.

Curriculum

The MHSA curriculum is designed around a competency-based framework that ensures students develop the knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities necessary to transform and advance health systems administration.

The Georgetown MHSA Competency Model prepares students across six key domains:

• Performance Management & Quality Improvement Domain
• Policy, Strategy & System Models Domain
• Leadership and Ethics Domain
• Management Skills & Tools Domain
• Knowledge Management, Analysis & Critical Thinking Domain
• Financial Acumen and Management Domain

View MHSA Course Descriptions

Teaching and Learning Methods

The program maintains a balance of approximately 60% higher-level teaching and assessment methods and 40% lower-level methods.

Higher-level methods are used to challenge students to synthesize information, engage in complex problem-solving, and apply their knowledge in practical settings. Examples include case studies where students apply ethical frameworks to complex scenarios, experiential learning projects requiring evaluation of real-world health care operations, and reflective exercises to analyze leadership practices.

These are complemented by foundational, lower-level assessments such as traditional exams and quizzes, which ensure students grasp essential skills before applying them in advanced scenarios.

This approach supports the program’s mission to develop leaders with strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in the health care industry. View grading policies.

Integrative Seminar Series

The Integrative Seminar series is the capstone experience of the MHSA program.

Across three academic terms, students engage in a competency-based experiential project that allows them to apply their learning to real-world health care challenges. Developed in collaboration with health care organizations, these projects culminate in the creation and formal presentation of a strategic plan, marketing plan, or business plan.

During the final on-campus intensive, students deliver live presentations that demonstrate mastery of MHSA competencies while advancing the mission of a health care organization. 

Fall I – On-Campus Intensive

• HESY 5001: Introduction to U.S. Health Systems
• HESY 5002: Organizational Leadership and Workforce Management

Fall I – Virtual, Synchronous

• HESY 5003: Financial Management I
• HESY 5004: Quality and Performance
• HESY 5005: Strategic Management

Spring I – Virtual, Synchronous

• HESY 6002: Financial Management II
• HESY 5006: Healthcare Operations and Talent Management
• HESY 5007: Quantitative Methods for a Learning Health System

Spring I – On-Campus Intensive

• HESY 6022: Experiential Seminar

Summer I – Virtual, Synchronous

• HESY 5008: Health Politics and Policy
• HESY 5009: Managerial Ethics and Law
• HESY 6020: Integrative Seminar I

Fall II – On-Campus Intensive

• HESY 6004: Business Innovations
• HESY 6009: Digitization of Health

Fall II – Virtual, Synchronous

• HESY 6003: Health Economics
• HESY 6008: Population Health Analytics and Data Visualization
• HESY 6021: Integrative Seminar II

Spring II – Virtual, Synchronous

• HESY 6005: Planning and Marketing
• HESY 6006: Payment Policy and Implications for Medical Care
• HESY 6023: Integrative Seminar III

Spring II – On-Campus Intensive

• HESY 6007: Managing Healthcare Organizations

Alumni Network

The MHSA alumni network is an integral part of the program community. It provides current students with ongoing opportunities for mentorship, professional development and networking.

Alumni frequently engage with the program by sharing insights through guest lectures, presentations, and panel discussions, offering guidance on career growth and leadership challenges, and connecting students to broader professional networks. This active community of 400+ alumni fosters lasting relationships that extend beyond graduation, allowing students and alumni alike to collaborate, exchange ideas, and continue learning from one another throughout their careers.

Click the map to view details about alumni hometown locations in the U.S. and globally:

Health Systems Administration Student Association (HSASA)

The Health Systems Administration Student Association (HSASA) fosters community and peer-to-peer connections among MHSA students while enhancing academic and professional growth.

The association provides opportunities for students to connect socially and professionally throughout the program, host professional development events such as webinars, workshops, and guest speaker sessions, and take on leadership roles that offer hands-on administrative experience.