Master of Healthcare Innovation
Lead change by designing forward-thinking solutions that transform care delivery and improve health systems.
Program overview
Healthcare needs bold, practical innovation — and leaders who know how to make it happen. Ohio State’s Master of Healthcare Innovation (MHI) prepares professionals from diverse backgrounds to lead change in complex, risk-averse environments.
Delivered fully online, the program emphasizes hands-on learning. You’ll collaborate with peers from different disciplines and apply human-centered design and systems thinking. Using tools like virtual reality, mind mapping, and interactive video discussions, you’ll create practical solutions ready for real-world healthcare challenges.
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Online
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31 credit hours
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2 years
Admission requirements
- Completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program
- Bachelor's degree must be conferred before beginning the program
- Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last degree earned that is relevant to the program of study
- Applicants with lower GPAs may still be considered
- GPAs are reviewed by Ohio State's Graduate and Professional Admissions Office
- Residence in an authorized state
Program length
- 2 years part-time, including summers
Credit hours
- 31
Delivery format
- Online, synchronous and asynchronous
- Synchronous requires scheduled participation
- Promotes teamwork, communication and collaboration
Year 1
- Autumn
- Leadership (3 credits)
- Culture (3 credits)
- Spring
- Innovation (3 credits)
- Enhancing Communication (3 credits)
- Summer
- Organizational Operations (3 credits)
- Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
Year 2
- Autumn
- Fundamentals of Design (3 credits)
- Utilizing Technology (3 credits)
- Spring
- Professional Development Seminar (1 credit)
- Health Care Policy (3 credit)
- Capstone (3 credits)
Applicants can track their application status through their Applicant Center. Allow up to five business days for material status updates to be reflected.
Rolling admissions
Applications are reviewed as they are received, and admission decisions are made on a rolling basis.
- Deadline
- The application and all required materials must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on the posted deadline.
- Decision
- Applicants will receive an admission decision four to six weeks after submitting their application. The application status will show as “pending” until a decision is posted.
- Most applicants will receive their admission decision through their Applicant Center. All applicants, including Ohio State graduate transfer applicants, will be notified of their admission decision by email. Graduate transfer applicants can track their application status by emailing nursing@osu.edu.
- Accept
- Students must accept their offer of admission by two weeks prior to the start term.
- Admission cannot be deferred. Students unable to start in the admitted term must reapply for a future term.
Elevate your career and lead meaningful change across today’s fast-moving health systems. This degree equips you with evidence-based leadership skills and practical innovation tools to design, test and scale improvements in complex adaptive systems, while building a personalized leadership plan for long-term growth.
Career paths this degree supports:
- Clinical Innovation Lead or Innovation Program Manager
- Quality & Safety Improvement Leader (QI/QS, patient safety, HRO initiatives)
- Operations Excellence or Care Transformation Manager
- Digital Health or Health Tech Project Manager (EHR, telehealth, AI pilots)
- Population Health or Value-Based Care Manager
- Patient Experience & Service Design Lead
- Change Management Specialist or Organizational Development Partner
- Practice or Service Line Manager or Director
- Health Equity or Community Partnerships Program Lead
- Strategy & Performance Improvement Analyst or Consultant
How to apply
Submit an application through Ohio State’s Graduate and Professional Admissions Office. A $60 application fee is required.
You must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have previously attended at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. This includes transcripts for any post-secondary courses taken during high school or of coursework that appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Transcripts from The Ohio State University do not need to be submitted.
Transcripts should be submitted directly by the sending institution by mail or electronic transfer to be considered official. Request that your transcripts be sent early so they arrive before the deadline. Transcripts can be sent to gpadocs@osu.edu or by mail to:
The Ohio State University
Graduate Admissions Office
P.O. Box 182004
Columbus, OH 43218-2004
Upload a copy of an official transcript at the time of application or afterward on the admissions uploader. Documents submitted in this manner are considered unofficial but will suffice for the purposes of your application. Web based documents, online grade reports and related materials are not acceptable. If you are admitted, you will be required to supply official transcripts sent directly from your previous institution(s).
For details regarding these methods of submitting transcripts, visit The Ohio State University Graduate and Professional Admissions and direct all transcript related questions to their office at 614-292-9444 or to gpadmissions@osu.edu.
Your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) should be in a similar format as a job application. You should include your previous education, professional experiences, community service, volunteer activities, publications, research and leadership experiences. Submit at the time of application or afterward on the admissions uploader.
The purpose and goals statement is a one-to-two-page document that describes your goals and how they relate to the MHI program. Discuss your academic goals and how this program will help you achieve your career aspirations. Include what innovation means to you and how you utilize innovation to lead others. Submit at the time of application or afterward on the admissions uploader.
Learn about the proof of English proficiency requirement for international students, which tests are acceptable, the scores required and how to submit.
If you are currently or have been previously enrolled in a degree granting graduate program at The Ohio State University for any length of time, you would be considered a Graduate Intra-University Transfer Student. Choose the appropriate application for "current or former" Ohio State students while completing your online application.
In addition to that online application, you must complete a supplemental application. This separate application must be submitted to the College of Nursing directly at CON-gradrecords@osu.edu. Choose any of the following options to access this application:
- MS Word Document: Supplemental MHI application
- PDF: Supplemental MHI application
Applicants must submit all application materials by 11:59 p.m. ET on the deadline to be considered for admission.
Contact
FAQ
We review applications holistically, considering academic background, professional experience, and life experiences. We look for candidates who demonstrate:
- Passion for innovation or examples of pursuing innovation
- Leadership and collaboration skills
- Creativity and problem-solving
- Diversity of thought and perspective
- Experience with the healthcare system
Yes, if the work is distinct from your paid role. Learn more about capstone expectations in the curriculum section's sample schedule.
Yes, as a dual degree student and you must meet credit requirements for both programs. Coursework overlap is limited, so you may need to complete all requirements for each degree. For programs with clinical components, adjustments may not be possible. Contact the program director and follow all College of Nursing application steps. Questions? Email OnlineEnrollment@osu.edu.
Yes. You may enroll as a graduate non-degree student, and up to ten credits may be applied to the MHI. You can also consider the Healthcare Leadership and Innovation certificate before enrolling.
This program admits students once a year for autumn semester.