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.
What coursework is required for this degree?
How much? How long?
Who can enroll?
Read what our students have to say.
Admission to Walton College graduate programs is selective. Enrollment in each program is limited.
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.
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.
Less than 2 Years
The part-time program can be completed in less than two years.
Program Specific
The part-time program begins in the Fall Semester.
Do I Qualify to Enroll?
Complete your undergraduate degree and meet additional requirements. View Requirements
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.
Part-Time
July 1
Part-Time
View Cost Breakdown
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Summer 2025 MIS, MABA, MHCBA |
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* 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.
“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
Alyson, an accounting director in Little Rock, pursued a Master of Applied Business Analytics through Walton College's part-time, professional program to help her with innovation and automation opportunities at work.
06/02/2025 | By Lori McLemore
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.
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