Jan. 31, 2025 - Registration is now open for CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s new Master
of Health Care Administration (MHA), which will be offered through its Extended University
(EU). Classes begin in Fall of 2025.
The program is entirely online, which will make it convenient for working professionals interested in a career in the administrative side of a hospital or patient care facility. What sets CSUCI’s program apart from others is that students will have the opportunity to also earn a certificate in gerontology by completing additional coursework.
“The reason we are offering the certificate in gerontology is because globally, nationally and in California, the proportion of older adults is growing and there is an additional need for professionals who understand the older adult,” said Associate Professor of Health Science Ron Berkowsky. “There is a need to find solutions and address elderly needs. This additional training will give students a leg up when they enter the job market.”
Faculty members from the Health Science program and EU worked together to design the program in response to a need they saw in the county and the larger Southern California area.
“The Health Science program has done its homework over the past couple of years in terms of finding out what the community needs and how CSUCI can address those needs,” Berkowsky said. “We keep hearing that Ventura County has one of the highest proportions of older adults and the need for professionals in gerontology is only going to grow.”
Unlike a typical undergraduate program in which students need to carry four or five courses in order to be considered full-time students, the MHA requires students to carry only two or three courses at a time that generally last eight weeks. If students remain on track, Berkowsky said, they should be able to complete their degree in two years.
The MHA will not only prepare students to pursue a career in health administration, but Berkowsky believes the classes in gerontology will also help students to successfully navigate the intricacies of an environment with a high proportion of older adults.
“These would be the long-term care communities, retirement villages or other senior communities,” Berkowsky said. “A lot of these communities will need health administration professionals.”
The MHA program has been designed to include the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology (44 units) but can also be completed without the certificate (41 units). Starting in Fall 2026, the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology can be completed on its own, requiring only six classes.
To apply for the program or learn more, visit: Master of Healthcare Administration.