The Executive Experience

Overview

The Executive (EXEC) Programs in Healthcare Management (MHA/MPH) provide a unique interdisciplinary education across three areas of expertise: organizational leadership and management, health policy and public health, and health systems. The executive programs are designed for healthcare professionals who come from an extraordinary range of career fields including government agencies, hospitals, consulting companies, pharmaceutical corporations, insurance companies, finance, foundations and other healthcare enterprises. Columbia provides a world-class education shaped by faculty members in the Department of Health Policy and Management who are at the forefront of influencing the healthcare system. These instructors are experts in the field who are able to integrate current practical applications into an academic curriculum. Using a unique combination of teaching methodologies, including case studies, simulations, and collaborative learning, the EXEC Programs help students connect theories and models to the realities of the workplace.

Structure

Cohort-based learning is essential to the EXEC program experience. A new class enters each September. Students do not need to declare their degree choice until their second term. Cohorts are composed of approximately 30-35 students from various parts of the healthcare system. Visit our Profiles page for more information about the current cohort demographics and to read more about our students.

The 24-month EXEC program meets for one long weekend each month (Thursday to Sunday). Courses run from 9-5 (Thursday to Saturday) and 9-4 (Sunday) with a one hour lunch break.

Curriculum

The curriculum is comprised of three main components: an overview of the political, economic and legal healthcare framework; an overview of the public health system; and management methods and content. It provides students with the management and policy skills needed to be effective healthcare leaders. The MHA curriculum requires students to take additional management coursework whereas the MPH curriculum provides a more in depth understanding of public health and its application to the healthcare system. The variation is small and students will be counseled as needed to choose the best academic path for their professional growth.

Learning competencies and objectives are congruent with the requirements of the Council for Education on Public Health (CEPH) and the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). In addition to these accreditations, the Department of Health Policy and Management is a member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). 

View a sample schedule and course descriptions to learn more about class sequencing and courses offered.

The Executive MPH Curriculum at a Glance

The Executive MPH 45-credit curriculum includes 16 required courses and provides students with the management and policy skills needed to be effective healthcare leaders.

Sample Schedule

Specific Program Dates are distributed when students begin in September along with a detailed schedule of classes.

Unique Components

• Master Class
• Career Development Sessions
• HealthSquare Simulation
• Healthcare Delivery and Management Challenge