Program Goal and Objectives 

The goal of the program is to offer a master’s degree in health administration for Taiwanese health care professionals.  Because of the nature and background of the student body, the non-traditional instructional format, and the involvement of faculties from two cultures, the objectives and content of the program are tailored to fit with the needs and requirements of the prospective student body. 

The program objectives are:

• Provide Taiwanese students with a broad understanding of the theory and practice of health and hospital management,

• Develop appropriate skills and capacities for preparing students in their roles as planners, leaders, and managers of effective and efficient Taiwanese health care organizations, and  

• Assist student appreciation of a rapidly changing organizational environment, e.g., environmental relationships in Taiwan with respect to the newly evolving national health insurance system, regionalization of health care as well as specific problems facing the Taiwanese health care system. 

To accomplish these objectives, the program will look carefully at the background of each group of students.  The students in each cohort may represent a mix of experiences such as clinician-executive, policy maker, or manager in the Taiwanese health care system. 

SLUSPH follows a three tiered learning structure for this program.  These three tiers are essential because of the background of the participating students and the non-residential nature of the program, which is spread over three different locales.  These three tiers are: 

• Interactive classroom teaching focused on course content.

• Practical learning focused on group project development.

• Electronic tutorials to enhance individual learning on a one to one basis.

Interactive Teaching 

Because an entire semester’s course work (15 weeks) is covered in a short time span at each stage, students are expected to be proactive partners in learning and not passive receivers of information.  Teaching involves, therefore, fewer formal lectures and more interactive learning.  Students will explore and process information in partnership with the faculty through an emphasis on exercises, cases, and guided instruction.  Most of the reading for the course  occurs prior to arrival for on-site class sessions and interaction during these intercession periods will be encouraged.  A special emphasis is placed upon the use of cases and data from the Taiwanese health care system. 

Practical Learning 

Practical learning consists of three steps.  These are: 

1. Visits to U.S. health care facilities to observe the administrative process and management technology and techniques used.

2. Development of student group projects employing the participants’ own experiences, career, and health care facilities in Taiwan.

3. Composition and presentation of project reports which apply what is observed and learned in the development of solutions to management problems.

Electronic Tutorials 

Electronic tutorials are conducted to support and enhance individual learning in situations where the participants need individual attention.  This is done at the conceptual or project development level.  Because of the distant location of participating students, the tutorial will consist of contacts with faculty as well as others through modes of interaction such as fax, telephone or E-Mail 

Student Body and Admission Requirements 

The student body consists of health care professionals from a variety of different health care facilities in Taiwan.  Many of the students admitted to the program are senior executives, physicians and/or other clinicians in their facilities, while others may hold middle management positions.  During the process of selecting the students for admission, the following factors will be considered: 

• The standards set forth by the Taiwan Ministry of Education stipulating that entrants to such a program must have a baccalaureate degree or equivalent.

• The ability of the health professionals to excel in an interactive learning process.

• The policy with regard to the TOEFL will be that it is not required for students who successfully complete an interview with SLU faculty members in Taiwan (or elsewhere).

• Students who are not medical doctors or dentists should take the GRE or GMAT as soon as possible.  They cannot be fully admitted without it but they can begin to take courses.

• Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate study and two      letters of recommendation.    

Because of these considerations, students are assessed on-site by Dr. Steven Chen and SLUSPH early in the admission process.  Admission forms for the Graduate School and SLUSPH will be used for this purpose.

Program Structure 

The degree program consists of 60 credit hours and follows the basic course curriculum established for the SLU main campus Master of Health Administration.  Courses for Cohort 6 include the following core and elective courses.

Only small changes have been made in the structure of this curriculum relative to the traditional curriculum offered for the MHA degree.  First, HAC-580 (Cases in Health Care Management) has been eliminated and EPIC-517 (Managerial Epidemiology) has been added to the curriculum.  A similar change is underway in the SLUSPH program (addition of managerial epidemiology).  Second, the number of credit hours assigned to HAC-540 (Legal Aspects of Health Administration) and HAC-542 (Health Care Ethics) has been increased from two to three.   

Teaching is accomplished in six stages in St. Louis, Kaohsiung and Taipei.  A comprehensive oral examination will be conducted during the final phase in Taiwan. 

Program Delivery Format 

SLUSPH develops the curriculum and employs its own faculty (or arranges capable faculty where necessary) to teach, distribute teaching materials, coordinate the day-to-day operations of the program, and offer the Master’s of Health Administration (MHA) degree at the completion of all requirements.   

Between each teaching stage, as shown above, there is an extended period of several months.  This is a period which is very critical from the point of view of accomplishing program goals.  This period is utilized for conducting the following: 

• Student reading

• Project development

• Electronic tutorials [Fax, Phone, E-Mail, etc.]       

• Report writing and exercises

• Take-home examinations 

Program Costs

Tuition is $667 per credit hour.  One sixth of the tuition is due one month prior to the first day of each class session. The US$667 per credit hour tuition rate charged by SLU covers student’s tuition, fees, books, course materials and housing while at SLU.  

The Student Health Service is available on campus.  Rooms are arranged on campus at the University Village Apartments.  Off campus housing is available at student expense.  SLUSPH will assist students who prefer off-campus housing.  Taiwanese students are encouraged to purchase health insurance before arrival in St. Louis. 

Program Cost per Student

The costs per session and total costs are as follows:

Application contacts

Click here to view links to Graduate School application forms.