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AdventHealth University (AHU) and Stetson University are partnering to offer an innovative, dual-degree, online program leading students to degrees in both a Master of Healthcare Administration in Strategy & Innovation (MHA-SI) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). This program is designed to be completed in as little as two years with a total of 54 credit hours, split between the two universities, with AHU conferring the MHA-SI, while Stetson confers the MBA.
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The dual degree combines the best of business and healthcare administration skillsets, giving graduates an advantage over their peers in both sectors. Students with this degree can expect a wide range of job opportunities upon graduation.
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Daryl Tol, CEO of AdventHealth's Central Florida Division, said, "The preferred degree for healthcare leadership is usually a graduate degree like the MHA or an MBA. Students at AHU can now earn both in less time and for lower cost than taking them separately. AHU and Stetson crafted the new MHA/MBA dual degree to provide the best-in-class business education for aspiring healthcare leaders."
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"I am thrilled with the way AHU and Stetson faculty worked together to bring the strengths of both institutions into an original program specifically designed with busy, working professionals in mind," said Wendy B. Libby, Ph.D., Stetson University President. "Graduates will be at the top of their game in an industry always looking for talented and educated employees to fill high-paying jobs."
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The coursework is 100 percent online for both institutions, removing barriers to access for candidates across the nation. Additionally, the online format will allow students to maintain employment and their daily life schedule while advancing their education.
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"Engaging in our Healthcare Administration education online marries the interdisciplinary strength of this degree with the opportunity for students to network and develop professional relationships from a distance - a skill needed in today's electronic age," said Dr. Benita David, Healthcare Administration Department Chair at AHU.
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"This program represents a high level of pedagogical collaboration between two outstanding institutions," said Noel Painter, Ph.D., EVP and Provost at Stetson University. "It brings together a shared understanding of the needs of today's students in a competitive environment with the distinctive points of academic excellence within both Stetson and AHU."
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Today's announcement reveals the second collaboration between AHU and Stetson University. In December 2018, the two institutions signed an agreement to provide "pathways" for Stetson University health and science students into the AHU Master of Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs beginning this fall.
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"AdventHealth University, through the leadership of President Edwin Hernandez, Ph.D., and Provost Sandra Dunbar, D.P.A., has been an invaluable partner as we have worked to develop student pathways between our institutions," said Painter. "Our common goals of strengthening student experiences both during and after their time in college, as well as expanding student employment opportunities, have made for wonderful connections that will continue to expand moving forward."
