Part-Time Hybrid Curriculum

Developing Healthcare Leaders

Columbia University’s 45.5-credit Part-Time Hybrid Healthcare Management Program is designed for early-to-mid-stage professionals (with at least one year of professional work experience) who wish to excel as healthcare leaders. For the Part-Time Hybrid MHA Program, students meet in-person or online during the week in the evenings. The hybrid format maximizes engagement and facilitates professional networking. The curriculum focuses on leadership development, business management, health policy, and public health systems. 

“Together, we strive to solve the most urgent and complex challenges facing health systems and society through world-class research, actionable insights, and real-world management expertise."

Yuna S.H. Lee, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor and Faculty Director

Program Format 

Cohort-based learning is a cornerstone of the program experience. Each September, a new class of 20 to 25 students begins the program. Professionals typically complete the Part-Time Hybrid Program in 2.5 to 3 years, taking courses during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Part-Time students typically complete their degree in 7 semesters.

Key figures 

Part-Time Hybrid Healthcare Management Program

Classes are held weekly on the following schedule: 

• Two or three nights per week between 5:30pm-8:20pm
• Either on-campus or online (1 class per semester)

Curriculum at a Glance 

An Interdisciplinary Approach 

The Executive Healthcare Management and Part-Time Hybrid Programs blend public health and business education into a unified, interdisciplinary curriculum. Through case studies, simulations, and collaborative projects, students apply theories and models to the realities of the workplace. 

The curriculum is structured around three core areas: 

• Healthcare Management and Business Administration – Encompasses leadership and management, finance, marketing, digital health and entrepreneurship, and strategy.
• Health Policy – Provides an overview of the political, economic, and legal landscape of healthcare. 
• Public Health – Dives into key public health principles, research methods, and frameworks. 

Explore detailed course descriptions for each category. 

The Part-Time Hybrid Programs follow a carefully sequenced curriculum in which learning objectives build progressively from one term to the next. The sample schedule illustrates course progression and content structure. 

Upon the start of the program in September, students receive a detailed class schedule along with specific program dates. 

Sample Course List

Accreditation and Competencies 

The program meets standardized public health and healthcare management competencies with a curriculum that is accredited by: 

• The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) 

• The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) 
• Additionally, Columbia’s Department of Health Policy and Management is a member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), ensuring high academic and professional standards.

Career-Enhancing Program Features 

In addition to the core curriculum, the program includes valuable supplemental offerings: 

• Electives: Students choose 7.5 credits in electives in classes that dive deeper into public health topics and trends, healthcare business and financing, and management.
• Special Events and Workshops: Lectures, hands-on workshops, and the annual Health Policy and Management Conference allow students to engage with top healthcare experts. 
• Healthcare Simulation: A dynamic, interactive experience that simulates strategic leadership decision-making in a competitive healthcare system. 

"Physicians are in a unique place to take advantage of what this program has to offer. The intersection between healthcare delivery, management, and policy is at the heart of navigating the system." 

Pat Casale, MD, Chief, Pediatric Urological Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center