MHCDS vs. MHA
Which health care management degree is for you? Explore Dartmouth’s program offerings to determine the educational experience that will help you reach your professional goals.
Health Care Management Education (HCME) at Dartmouth College is home to two degree programs created to impart highly relevant business, leadership, and health systems knowledge that is necessary for effective health care leaders. The Master of Health Care Delivery Science (MHCDS) and Master of Health Administration (MHA) are uniquely tailored to the needs and goals of two distinct student groups at differing points in their careers.
Both executive programs offer a hybrid learning format – the MHCDS and MHA degree programs are designed for busy professionals who desire a rigorous, intimate, and highly personal educational experience but who need the flexibility to continue working and advancing their careers. The two programs are delivered as a unique collaboration between the Tuck School of Business and the Geisel School of Medicine, infusing curriculums with the management and health care expertise of both schools. Explore each program below.
Built for early and mid-career professionals, the MHA program is ideal for administrators, clinicians, and industry specialists with two to 10 years of work experience. The technical and granular skills honed through courses like spreadsheet modeling, accounting, and finance equip students with practical know-how necessary for career advancement or a pivot into health care from another industry or job function. In order to master these highly technical competencies, the time commitment of the MHA program is double that of the MHCDS program.
The technical components of the curriculum are rounded out with vital leadership training through courses including managing people, communications, and negotiations – while courses such as population health equity and health systems expand students’ understanding of the complexities and challenges pervasive throughout health care, the players involved, and the impact on patient outcomes. The summative capstone course draws on the entire curriculum and prepares graduates to manage critical projects.
Accomplished clinical and executive leaders with more than 10 years of experience will find the most benefit with our MHCDS program. As established accomplished and emerging leaders in their field, students engage with high-level concepts and aim their focus on leveraging hard financial and health data to guide decision making. Students gain invaluable insights from their peers who have an average of 20+ years’ experience across health systems, payor organizations, policy, government agencies, the armed forces, and other health-related industries.
Through courses such as finance, operations management, health economics and policy, and population health, students gain valuable practical knowledge and the perspective to contribute at a higher level to the success of their organizations. The ability to motivate and inspire people is sharpened in general management and personal leadership coursework. And courses in innovation and strategy prepare students to design sweeping transformations in their organizations.