Earn a Joint PharmD and Master of Healthcare Administration | Samford University

Advance your career with a Joint PharmD and Master of Healthcare Administration degree from Samford University. Gain the skills to lead in both pharmacy practice and healthcare administration.

Joint Degree

PharmD & MHA

Advance your PharmD with a Master of Healthcare Administration through this coordinated dual degree program.

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Advance Your PharmD With a Master of Healthcare Administration

Samford’s joint Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Healthcare Administration program pairs practice-ready clinical expertise in pharmacy with the business preparation needed to lead in health-focused organizations. Whether you plan to pursue a leadership role, own a pharmacy or work in the pharmaceutical industry, this degree strengthens your ability to guide teams, manage finances and shape strategic decisions in health care.

Career Preparation

This joint degree prepares students for leadership roles across health care settings by developing skills in strategy, communication, operations and quality improvement.

Graduates are equipped to lead teams, improve patient care and advance health systems:

Pharmacy leadership and management
Health system or hospital administration
Health care operations and quality improvement
Managed care and pharmacy benefit management
Pharmaceutical industry or consulting roles
Executive and administrative leadership positions

How the PharmD/MHA Works

TThe PharmD/Master of Healthcare Administration is is designed to provide flexibility, efficiency and hands-on leadership experience.

Dual-Degree Structure

Earn both degrees in a reduced timeframe through coordinated coursework.

Credit Sharing

Eleven credit hours of healthcare administration coursework apply toward the PharmD curriculum.

Comprehensive Curriculum

Students complete 48 credit hours of MHA coursework and 135 credit hours of pharmacy coursework.

Flexible Delivery

MHA courses are offered asynchronously online and meet Quality Matters standards.

Experiential Learning

Complete a minimum 120-hour internship and applied project in an approved setting such as a hospital, health system, insurance organization or consulting firm.

Integrated Experience

The internship is completed during the final semester of pharmacy school and also counts toward pharmacy coursework.

Collaborative Environment

Students learn alongside faculty, health care leaders and executives in an interprofessional setting.

Plan of Study

Admission Requirements

To be considered for the PharmD/MHA joint degree, students must first be admitted to both the McWhorter School of Pharmacy and the School of Public Health. Applicants must also be in good standing in the PharmD program.

McWhorter School of Pharmacy PharmD Admission

MHA Application Requirements

To be considered for the MHA portion of the degree program, submit the following materials to the School of Public Health:

A completed School of Public Health joint degree application form
A resume reflecting work experience and other accomplishments. Upload the resume into the application.

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the joint PharmD/MHA program is April 1.

Questions?

Amber Kustos

Director of Graduate and Undergraduate Student Services

School of Public Health

akustos@samford.edu

205-726-4691

PharmD/MHA Frequently Asked Questions

When will I earn my PharmD and MHA degrees?

Students may earn both the PharmD and MHA degrees in the same semester. The MHA must be completed within five academic years of the original admission date to the program.

How are grades and GPAs handled?

Students maintain two separate GPAs, one for pharmacy coursework and one for healthcare administration coursework. Pharmacy class rank and percentiles are based only on the pharmacy GPA. A minimum 3.0 GPA in the MHA program is required to remain in good standing.

How many credit hours may I take each semester?

Pharmacy students who choose to discontinue the MBA must notify the McWhorter School of Pharmacy associate dean for academic affairs.

Is there a limit to how many credits I can take each semester?

Students may register for up to 21 credit hours per full semester. Those wishing to exceed this limit must petition the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for approval.

What if I decide not to complete the MHA portion of the program?

Students who choose to discontinue the MHA must notify the McWhorter School of Pharmacy Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Students may continue in the PharmD program without penalty.