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Dhruvi Bhatt's Transformative Path to Senior Walk, and Beyond
Bhatt moved from Gaithersburg, Maryland, to the U of A to pursue a Master of Information Systems, “a decision that was both exciting and daunting.”
06/30/2025 | By DeLani Bartlette
Master of Healthcare Business Analytics
Healthcare is a trillion-dollar industry, generating an explosion of complex data. From insurance companies to hospitals and pharmaceuticals, the ability to harness large amounts of complex data and make informed business decisions is a highly sought-after skill.
The Robert L. Shoptaw Master of Healthcare Business Analytics program focuses on how to dive into healthcare data, comprehend the information and then present it clearly for easy consumption.
The need to effectively analyze data is growing at an amazing rate. At the same time,
businesses are finding that they lack enough skilled professionals to fill those roles.
Industry analysts predict that the United States will soon face a vast shortage of
people with deep analytical skills as well as the managers and analysts qualified
to make decisions based on that data.
Courses and Schedule
What coursework is required for this degree?
Just the Facts
How much? How long?
Who can enroll?
Hear From Our Students
Read what our students have to say.
How Do I Enroll?
Admission to Walton College graduate programs is selective. Enrollment in each program is limited.
Degree Conferred:
Master of Healthcare Business Analytics
The Master of Healthcare Business Analytics (M.H.B.A.) degree is a part-time 30-hour degree focusing on business analytics applications in the healthcare industry and healthcare analytics applications. The curriculum addresses barriers, facilitators and adoption of new procedures in the healthcare environment, as well as how analytics can achieve modern healthcare system goals: high-quality, responsive, affordable and efficient care.
Healthcare systems capture enormous amounts of information – electronic health records, billing information, patient wait times, supply records – as well as more novel forms of data such as chronic disease monitoring and radio-frequency identification tracking. Managerial issues include how to influence electronic data users to employ analytics consistently for improving healthcare delivery, managing the reporting and sharing of data, and leveraging data and resources to improve health at a manageable cost.
This degree is designed to provide professional preparation for positions in healthcare business, government and public service. Sufficient flexibility is provided to meet the needs of students with various backgrounds and foster lifelong learning and innovation.
Flexible Course Schedule
Part-Time Schedule
Working professionals can complete the part-time schedule in less than two years.
The Department of Information Systems and the Graduate School of Business have structured this program to meet the needs of working professionals as well as traditional full-time students. Do you have questions about your schedule options? Contact us.
Just the Facts: Master of Healthcare Business Analytics
Program Length
Less than 2 Years
The part-time program can be completed in less than two years.
Start Date
Program Specific
The part-time program begins in the Fall Semester.
Admissions Info
Do I Qualify to Enroll?
Complete your undergraduate degree and meet additional requirements. View Requirements
Entrance Test
GMAT or GRE
Students may be eligible for a GMAT/GRE test waiver with a 3.2 undergraduate GPA or 3 years of professional work experience. Please review our master's admissions policies.
Application Deadline
Part-Time
July 1
Estimated Program Cost
Part-Time
View Cost Breakdown
Career Development
Close ties with our corporate partners facilitate recruiting and networking opportunities, internships, and careers.
Students can participate in corporate internships, career counseling and take advantage of all the Walton College Career Services has to offer.
Courses and Program Schedule
Students may choose from a variety of elective analytics courses focusing on business applications or a deeper dive into statistical theory. The program culminates with a multi-semester practicum experience where students work with industry data to complete an analytics project from beginning to end.
Curriculum
Fall - Year One
ESRM 53003: Healthcare Analytics Fundamentals
The Healthcare Analytics Fundamentals course provides fundamental knowledge and skills in several major areas of healthcare and business data analytics in a modular format. Several modules that emphasize healthcare analytics as well as data fundamentals, concepts, and problems are used and include - Healthcare Analytics Concepts, Problems, and Management; Intermediate & Advanced Spreadsheet Topics; Relational Databases & SOL; and Introductory Programming with Python. Prerequisite: Program Director permission.ISYS 55003: Decision Support and Analytics
Analysis of the highest level of information support for the manager-user. A study of systems providing analytics-based information derived from databases within and/or external to the organization and used to support management in the decision making. Application of tools in business analytics, problem solving, and decision making. Prerequisite: MIS Director approval.Spring - Year One
ISYS 58303: Data Management Systems
Investigation and application of advanced database concepts include database administration, database technology, and selection and acquisition of database management systems. Data modeling and system development in a database environment.ISYS 58403: Seminar in Business Intelligence and Knowledge Management
Business intelligence focuses on assessing and creating information and knowledge from internal and external sources to support business decision making process. In this seminar, data mining and information retrieval techniques will be used to extract useful knowledge from data, which could be used for business intelligence, and knowledge management. Pre- or Corequisite: ISYS 58303 or equivalent.Summer - Year One
Elective
ISYS 52103: ERP Fundamentals
An introduction to enterprise resource planning systems. Students should gain an understanding of the scope of these integrated systems that reach across organizational boundaries and can change how a company does business. Implementation issues are covered, including the importance of change management.Fall - Year Two
ESRM 58203: Healthcare Business Analytics I
Fundamentals of healthcare analytics to include data patterns, forecasting techniques, and linear prediction models, including theoretical and mathematical study of assumptions in model building. Prerequisite: ESRM 53003, ISYS 55003, ISYS 58303, and ISYS 58403, or permission of the instructor.ISYS 5990V: Practicum Seminar I
This course is designed to introduce and engage the student in the practice, application, and problem solving in the business environment. Hands-on application of a business problem. Students will gain experience working on, making decisions about, and developing solutions for business applications. Topics include but not limited to analytics, data, and information technology. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and MIS Director approval.Spring - Year Two
ESRM 58503: Healthcare Business Analytics II
Intermediate healthcare analytics to include categorical analyses and logistic regression for binary and polytomous models applied to healthcare. Prerequisite: ESRM 58203 or instructor permission.Practicum Seminar II
Seminar.Part-Time Program: Designed for Working Professionals
The Walton part-time M.H.B.A. is designed for working professionals. Once information systems proficiency is demonstrated (Information Systems and Business Analytics Toolkit), the program can be completed by taking six hours a semester for five semesters (21 months).
Courses are taught through a blended-delivery format with both face-to-face and online components, so students are in class only one Saturday per month. We work hard to simplify the logistics of returning to school so that you can focus on learning. Additionally, many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs, so check with your HR department to see if this great benefit is available.
Requirements for Master of Healthcare Business Analytics
Admission Requirements:
Students must apply to and meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School of Business and be admitted by the departmental admissions committee.
Requirements for the Master of Healthcare Business Analytics Degree:
Students whose previous studies have fulfilled requirements of the common body of knowledge in business and analytics will be required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of graduate work. The required common body of knowledge for the Healthcare Business Analytics degree includes fundamental business and economics concepts as well as fundamental knowledge of statistics. The M.H.B.A. degree considers work experience an integral part of the curriculum and recommends that students work/intern for up to one year in a position (or positions) which allow for the practical application of the theoretical principles taught in courses.
Students will have the ability to apply healthcare business analytics, machine learning methods, prescriptive models, and computing to identify, assess, and seize the opportunity for data-driven value creation in the private and public sectors. The Master of Healthcare Business Analytics Degree is a non-thesis degree program. The comprehensive exam will be a component of ISYS 599V Practicum Seminar.
Non-immigrant Status:
Students who hold non-immigrant status in the United States in the F-1 or J-1 categories are responsible for coordinating any necessary authorization for employment with the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS). F-1 and J-1 students are strongly advised to discuss training options with the M.H.B.A. program director and the ISS office early in their program, and to make themselves aware of limitations and restrictions related to F-1 or J-1 employment authorization benefits.
Saturday Class Dates
| Summer 2025 EMBA, MSPI, SCMT |
Summer 2025 MIS, MABA, MHCBA |
Fall 2025 |
Spring 2026 |
Summer 2026 |
| May 17 |
May 31 |
August 23 |
January 17 |
May 16 |
| June 7 |
June 14 |
September 20 |
February 14 |
June 6 |
| June 28 |
June 28 |
October 11 |
March 14 |
June 27 |
| July 26 |
July 26 |
November 8 |
April 4 | July 25 |
| December 6 |
April 25 |
* Students admitted to the professional programs in the Walton College are required to attend a multi-day orientation prior to the start of scheduled courses. Dates to be determined. Please contact gsb@walton.uark.edu for more information.
News and Notes: Master of Healthcare Business Analytics
Meet Josh Koelker, Master of Information Systems '25
“A strong emphasis on IT management has also been a game-changer. During my first year as a professional student, I gained skills that helped me excel in my current role. By my second year, I was learning tools and strategies to elevate my career to the next level.”
06/05/2025 | By Lori McLemore
The Northwest Arkansas Community
Join a supportive and engaging community located in the vibrant business network of Northwest Arkansas with over 300 Fortune 500 companies with a presence in the region.
Business leaders and Walton alumni are closely connected to the college, not just during your studies but throughout your career.