<p>I am looking at potential avenues to pursue in graduate school, and am pondering the field of public health (PH). In terms of the health policy/management side of PH, what is the difference between the MPH in Health Management and MHSA (Master of Health Services Administration) ? Some graduate schools offer both degrees. Is one more specialized than the other?</p>
<p>Also, I understand that the MPH/MSHA degree prepares one for a career in health policy and health management. But what exactly do you do? If you have experience working in this field, could you share with me some insights?</p>
<p>The MHSA is more specialized. An MPH in health management will introduce you to the core areas of public health - you’ll be required to take courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, the social and behavioral sciences in public health, and possibly global health as well in addition to your courses in health policy and management. In an MPH program, you’ll also be expect to take more courses in health policy issues and analysis, even if your MPH is focused on the management and administration side. You’ll come out of the program prepared to be a healthcare administrator if that’s what you want, but you’ll also be equipped to do policy analysis and consider issues of the impact of policy on healthcare administration and management. You’ll also have a broader understanding of public health in general. MPH degrees are usually housed in schools of public health or at least interdisciplinary programs that include a lot of social scientists.</p>
<p>MHSA programs are usually more business-of-healthcare-focused; you’ll probably take more classes in finance, administration and management than you would in an MPH program. MHSAs don’t really prepare you as much for health policy work/analysis; they prepare you to become an administrator of hospitals and clinics and other agencies that provide health care to people. (Of course, that varies based on the program - USC’s MHA program claims to emphasize policy analysis as well as finance and management.) Most of these programs, from what I can tell, are housed in business schools/departments and so they are more focused on the business of healthcare.</p>