Morehead State University

Morehead State University is also featured in our ranking 20 Best Online MBA in Healthcare Management Degree Programs.

Master of Business Administration in Health Systems Management at Morehead State University

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at Morehead State University provides quality educational opportunities in business. The degree is offered fully online. It’s designed for working professionals and students looking to improve their management success. Students with a bachelor’s degree in business may earn their degree by completing 30 semester hours. Those without undergraduate experience in business may be admitted to the program after taking business prerequisite courses.

In order to earn the MBA degree, all students must complete a minimum of 24 core hours and six hours of free electives. All MBA courses are offered in an eight-week format. Students may earn the degree in one or two years, depending on how many credit hours they take per semester.

The concentration in health systems management (HSM) prepares students for leadership positions in the broad field of healthcare. Students may complete this track with at least 36 semester credit hours. The MBA core course requirements remain the same. HSM students will focus their 12 elective hours in the area of HSM. Core courses cover topics in:

  • healthcare leadership and ethics
  • health information technology
  • clinical transformation

Students may choose two electives in areas such as:

  • ethics in public administration
  • community partner clinical placements
  • directed research in health systems management
  • health economics
  • management of healthcare information systems

Other available elective topics include:

  • trends in the healthcare industry
  • healthcare financial management
  • healthcare public policy

Students who already have professional experience in the healthcare industry are eligible to earn a Health Systems Management Certificate. In this program, students are prepared for leadership positions in the healthcare industry. The coursework aims to address the national need for university-based education that can meet the increased demand for healthcare professionals with competencies in:

  • health systems transformation
  • health information technology

About Morehead State University

MSU is a co-educational, public university located in Morehead, Kentucky. The rural 700-acre campus is in the foothills of the Daniel Boone National Forest, halfway between Lexington, Kentucky and Huntington, West Virginia. MSU was founded in 1887 as Morehead Normal School, and only one student arrived for the first day of class. Class was held in a tiny rented cottage at the current location of the Adron Doran University Center. The school became Morehead State Normal School in 1922 before accepting its first students in the fall of 1923. MSU experienced frequent name changes in 1926, 1930, and 1948 until it finally reached university status in 1966. U.S. News & World Report ranked MSU 22nd among public regional universities in the South in 2017.

Morehead State University offers 214 associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees through four colleges:

  • the College of Science
  • the College of Education
  • the College of Business and Technology
  • the Caudill College of Humanities

In addition, MSU offers a doctoral degree in education. The school was the first in the state to offer a fully online degree program, which was the Master of Business Administration (MBA). MSU is also only one of five U.S. institutions that offer a bachelor’s degree in space science. The student body represents:

  • 27 foreign countries
  • 45 U.S. states
  • 109 counties in Kentucky

MSU supports its missions of public service, applied research, and teaching through a yearly budget of approximately $152 million.

Morehead State University Accreditation Details

Morehead State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). In addition, the Master of Business Administration degree is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Students considering earning a degree should be aware that accreditation is important for several reasons. It allows for the transfer of credits between institutions. It allows schools to receive federal financial aid. It also serves to inform prospective students and the public that a particular institution has successfully passed the accreditation peer review process. Schools that become accredited have been shown to meet or exceed the accrediting agency’s high standards of quality in terms of:

  • academic programs
  • learning outcomes
  • faculty
  • mission

Morehead State University Application Requirements

Students considering applying to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a concentration in health systems management must meet the application requirements of the MBA as well as the health systems management track. Students who already hold a master’s degree and a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 from a regionally accredited school are not required to submit an official GMAT score. However, they must show an official transcript indicating the completion of a master’s degree.

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 and provide an acceptable Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score. In addition, those pursuing the health systems management track must be able to meet one of the following:

  • requirements for the certificate
  • completion of a prior graduate degree program
  • at least two years of relevant professional experience in a business or healthcare position after they earned a bachelor’s degree.

All applicants must:

  • complete an application
  • pay a $30 nonrefundable application fee
  • send official transcripts from all previously attended institutions

Tuition and Financial Aid

Morehead State University charges a flat tuition rate for its graduate students. This means that in-state, out-of-state, and online students pay the same price regardless of residency. Graduate students will pay $579 per credit hour to earn their degree. At a minimum of 36 credit hours, the total tuition for the MBA in Health Systems Management program, excluding fees and expenses, is $20,844. Students who take online courses may be assessed an additional tuition fee of $10 per credit hour.

Students interested in receiving financial aid from MSU should first fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Graduates may be eligible for:

  • scholarships
  • fellowships
  • grants
  • loans
  • and/or student employment

In addition, MSU offers more than 90 graduate assistantships with stipends of $5,000 per semester or $10,000 per year. These assistantships allow students to further engage in the service, research and teaching efforts of Morehead State University.