Master of Health Administration

The course aims to provide the academic preparation for managers in health care and public health and those that aspire to such a career. This includes managers in the broad range of health care organisations from central agencies, health insurers, non-government organisations and the various health provider organisations. It involves structured learning in the key management disciplines including policy, organisational theory, financial management, human resources management, economics and marketing, with an emphasis on health care organisations and specific health-focused domains such as epidemiology, biostatistics and managing the patient care process. The course adopts an adult learning approach, encouraging self-directed learning, independent research and enquiry, reflection from practice, and peer learning with guidance from experienced academics in their respective fields.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that students will be able to:

1. apply comparison of health systems and theories of the policy process to critically analyse their own health system and to contextualise reform initiatives
2. master and critically appraise the relevant body of health management theories, knowledge and sources of information for application in management practice in healthcare and public health
3. use epidemiological and statistical principles and tools to research and evaluate complex health management problems and innovations
4. use management, leadership and organisational theories in the practice of health care administration
5. apply the principles of financial information and control to health care administration
6. evaluate patient care safety and quality and apply techniques and tools to improve the patient care process and governance
7. demonstrate an understanding of legal principles and ethics as they apply to health care administration
8. appreciate concepts of health economics and how to apply them to understand research and evaluation of health care interventions
9. apply concepts of marketing in health care to health administration and health care
10. demonstrate capacity in synthesising at an advanced academic level and communicating ideas to health administration problems and issues
11. apply and use knowledge, together with practical understanding, of how established techniques of research and inquiry are used to create, develop and interpret knowledge in health care and health administration.

This degree is accredited by the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM).

The course is structured in 12 units.

You will gain knowledge and skills in a broad range of areas that are relevant to management work in general health care administration and public health.

You will develop an understanding of the management within health care and public health organisations, basic accounting principles, use of economic tools, marketing, national health systems and health policy theory and development, biostatistics as applied to public health and management studies, key concepts of epidemiology, legal principles related to health care, health systems and health sector reforms, quantitative and qualitative research methods used in public health and improving the quality of care and patient safety.

The course adopts an adult learning approach, encouraging self-directed learning independent research and enquiry, reflection from practice, and peer learning with guidance from experienced academics in their respective fields.

You have the option to work towards the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrator's Fellowship, as the course is accredited by the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM).

The course comprises 72 points. All students complete all units.

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Students complete:

• ACF5268 Accounting for healthcare managers
• ECC5979 Health economics
• MGF5963 Introduction to management
• MKF5505 Marketing for healthcare managers
• MPH5301 Health systems and policy
• MPH5302 Biostatistics: Concepts and applications
• MPH5304 Leading and managing in public health and health care
• MPH5305 Epidemiology: Concepts and applications
• MPH5307 Introduction to health law principles
• MPH5308 Developing health systems
• MPH5306 Evaluation in public health or MPH5311 Safety and quality in health care*
• MPH5312 Advances in managing patient care processes

Note: Students who are working towards the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrator's Fellowship must complete MPH5306; all other students must complete MPH5311.

Students may exit this course early and apply to graduate with one of the following awards, provided they have satisfied the requirements for that award during their enrolment in the master's course:

• Graduate Certificate in Health Administration after successful completion of 24 points of study with a minimum of 18 credit points at level 4 or above
• Graduate Diploma in Health Administration after successful completion of 48 points of study with a minimum of 36 credit points at level 4 or above.