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Degrees and certificates Print

Welcome to one of the world’s leading Health Policy and Administration departments. Consistently ranked by the U.S. News & World Report as one of the top health policy and administration programs in the U.S., we have distinguished ourselves with our collaborative learning environment, first-rate research and outstanding faculty.

For a brief description of each of our programs, use the link below. For more detailed information, select the "more information" link at the end of the description, or use the menu links at the left.


Also see: application deadlines, financing your education and program manuals.
 


 
Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH)

The Bachelor’s program in the Department of Health Policy and Administration at the University North Carolina at Chapel Hill prepares students for dynamic and successful careers in a variety of inpatient, ambulatory and other healthcare settings. These settings include health systems, primary care facilities, medical group practices, public health organizations, health insurance companies, federal, state, and local agencies, and alternative delivery organizations. The program also prepares students to assume positions in policy analysis and program development in health services organizations. Graduates of the Bachelor's program have also successfully pursued graduate degrees in a broad range of fields, including health policy and administration, law, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, business administration and social work.

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BSPH Program Director
Christopher M. Shea, MA, MPA
(919) 966-1938
Email Mr. Shea


Residential Master’s Programs

The Health Policy and Administration department offers three outstanding residential master’s programs for high-quality individuals who aspire to become leading health care professionals:

The department also offers dual degrees in business administration, medicine, law, library or information science, and dentistry.

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Master of Public Health (MPH)

PLEASE NOTE: The MPH is a professional degree intended for those students who hold a doctoral-level professional degree (JD, MD, DDS, etc.) or a PhD. 

Students gain a comprehensive understanding of public health philosophy, methods, and values and are provided with an orientation to management and policy-related careers in the health field. The degree is suitable for individuals who have an interest in either healthcare management or health policy. MPH graduates successfully pursue careers in a variety of healthcare sectors including health systems, hospitals, consulting firms, managed care organizations, medical group practices, government agencies, public policy organizations, public health departments, and international health organizations. Those interested in board certification in preventive medicine or public health dentistry should pay special attention to this degree.

Additionally, there is the opportunity for students currently pursuing a professional doctoral degree (or a PhD in another field) to earn simultaneously an MPH degree by taking a leave of absence from their doctoral studies to complete MPH coursework and other MPH degree requirements. Such students are awarded the MPH degree after, or concurrently with, being awarded the doctoral degree. For these students, eligibility for award of the MPH degree requires completion of the doctoral degree. Students who do not complete the doctoral degree may subsequently apply to either the MSPH or MHA program, but must meet the admissions requirement for the two-year programs, including submitting current GRE scores. Course credits previously earned through the MPH program can be applied toward the MSPH or MPH degree requirements if the student is admitted.

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Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)

The MSPH is a professional degree designed to prepare students for careers in health policy analysis, planning, development, evaluation, and advocacy at local, state, federal, and international levels as well as in the private sector The MSPH degree is particularly appropriate for individuals interested in pursuing careers with public policy organizations, public advocacy organizations, consulting research organizations, federal and state government entities, public health departments and international health organizations. Students obtain a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare system, master methods for the analysis of healthcare policy options, and pursue an area of concentration.

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Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

The MHA is a professional degree for students wishing to pursue management careers in health systems, hospitals, consulting firms, managed care organizations, insurance firms, medical group practices, government agencies and other healthcare settings. In response to the demand for skilled managers, the MHA degree builds upon the program's core management curriculum strength and provides, in addition, a series of courses that familiarizes the student with unique aspects and issues of the health care industry. The MHA degree is designed to provide strong preparation in the management disciplines, a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare sector, and an opportunity to pursue an area of concentration.

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Master Program Director
Bruce Fried, PhD
(919) 966-7355
Email Dr. Fried


Executive Master’s Programs

Executive MHA and Executive MPH Programs Ranked #1 by Modern Physician magazine    

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking a small, select number of incredibly bright and motivated working health care professionals in the U.S. and abroad for admission into our top-ranked, rigorous Executive MHA and Executive MPH programs. If you think you can meet our standards, please begin the application process.

PLEASE NOTE: We run one cohort of Executive MHA and Executive MPH students (about 30-40 students) about every six months. The FALL session begins in August with a deadline of  July 1st and our SPRING session begins in December with a deadline of November 1st. Thus, if you miss one deadline you still have an opportunity to apply to our next cohort without waiting an entire year.

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 Master of Health Care Administration

The Executive MHA program is aimed at working, mid-career professionals seeking the top executive positions in healthcare. Leading to a Master in Healthcare Administration (MHA), the curriculum consists of "clusters" in public health, financial management, general management, analytics, systems -- culminating in the development and presentation of an integrated business plan.

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Master of Public Health

The Executive MPH program is aimed at working professionals seeking top executive positions in public health and leads to a Master of Public Health (MPH). The curriculum consists of "clusters" in public health, financial and general management, analysis and systems -- culminating in the development and presentation of an integrated business plan.

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Executive Master's Program Director
Jim Porto, PhD, MPA
(919) 966-7354
Email Dr. Porto


Doctoral programs

The doctoral programs in Health Policy and Administration at the University of North Carolina are designed to provide students with the competencies they need for successful careers in health policy research or health administration leadership. As a result of our program, students develop scholarly expertise, rigorous research skills, confidence in their teaching and a high standard of professionalism that is unmatched.

Two programs are offered:

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Department of Health Policy and Administration’s PhD program combines rigorous training in research methodology with a disciplinary-based education to provide the academic foundation and research experience to become creative and independent researchers.

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PhD Program Director
Morris Weinberger, PhD
(919) 966-7385 
Email Dr. Weinberger

Doctoral program in health leadership (DrPH)

The only program of its kind in the country, the Doctoral Program in Health Leadership (DrPH) prepares working healthcare professionals to become top leaders. This highly competitive, distance learning program uses the latest Internet technology to connect distinguished faculty and students in an unparalleled educational environment.

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DrPH Program Director
Suzanne Havala-Hobbs, DrPH
(919) 843-4621 
Email Dr. Havala-Hobbs


Certificate in Community Preparedness and Disaster Management (CPDM) 

The Community Preparedness and Disaster Management Certificate Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill provides community leaders, emergency management personnel and other disaster responders with the latest information and knowledge of management systems used to prepare for natural and man-made disasters, including bioterrorism. 

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Dual degrees

The Health Policy and Administration department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers six dual degree programs. Under these programs students simultaneously pursue two specified study programs.

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PLEASE NOTE: These programs are limited to students accepted by the relevant cooperating program at Chapel Hill or Duke University.

The Health Policy and Administration department offers the following dual degree programs:


Master of Healthcare Administration

MHA/MBA
Master of Healthcare Administration & Master of Business Administration

The MHA/MBA program provides an opportunity for a select group of students to obtain both the fundamental set of health services management skills as well as the specialized training provided by the MBA program.

The MHA program provides broad based training to enable graduates to assume a variety of health services management roles.  Students obtain a conceptual and practical foundation in health economics, information systems, operations research, healthcare human resources management, law, and the values and perspectives of public health.  There is a strong demand int he field for well-trained managers who understand the characteristics of the health care system.

The MBA program prepares individuals for management careers in both the public and the private sector.  This program enables individuals to focus on specific content areas such as marketing and finance.  Individuals with specialized management skills, while also having an grounding in health services, are in considerable demand in healthcare organizations.

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MHA/MSIS
Master of Healthcare Administration & Master of Science in Information Science

Students in this program normally first matriculate into HPAA, taking most of their first-year course work.  Some of the coure courses in this first year woudl count for dual credit.  The student then takes a leave of absence from HPAA courses and matriculates in the SILS during the second year.  The third year woudl be divided between both programs.  Summer woudl be occupied by internships required for both programs--with one summer devoted to each program.

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MHA/MSLS
Master of Healthcare Administration & Master of Science in Library Science

Students in this program normally first matriculate into HPAA, taking most of their first year course work.  Some of the core courses in this first year would count for dual credit.  The second year consists primarily of SILS core courses, in addition to a few approved HPAA electives int he Spring term.  The student then takes a leave of absence from HPAA courses and matriculates in the SILS during the second year.  The third year would be divided between both programs.  Summer would be occupied by internships required for both programs--with one summer devoted to each program.

[more information]

MHA/MRP
Master of Healthcare Administration & Master of Regional Planning

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Master of Public Health

MPH/DDS
Master of Public Health & Doctor of Dental Surgery

MPH/JD
Master of Public Health & Juris Doctor 

The primary purpose of the Juris Doctor and Master of Public Health (MPH/JD) degree is to allow students to pursue a specialized career in health law, or to pursue a more intensive and supervised program of course work and research related to medicine and health care while completing the law school curriculum. The combined degrees of Master of Public Health and Juris Doctor may be earned in four years by enrollment in the dual program of the Department of Health Policy and Administration and the School of Law.

During the year of residence at the Department of Health Policy and Administration, MPH/JD students undertake a course of study designed to meet their background, particular interests, and chosen area of specialty. They also initiate a research project under the supervision of one of the program faculty. In addition, during their second or third years at the School of Law, dual degree students participate in School of Public Health courses and other activities. Following their Department of Health Policy and Administration coursework, they spend at least one of their summers in a selected field training experience, working in a state or federal agency, serving as counsel in a hospital or other health care institution, working with a law firm that has a substantial health law practice, or working in some other appropriate field training setting. Many dual degree students also receive course credit for additional writing or field training experiences under the supervision of faculty and affiliates.

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MPH/MD
Master of Public Health & Doctor of Medicine
The Schools of Medicine and Public Health and the Graduate School of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have approved a combined program leading to the MPH/MD degree, which may be completed in shorter time than if the two degree programs were pursued separately.

In this program, selected medical students in the School of Medicine may earn up to 15 hours of academic credit towards a Master's Degree in the Department of Health Policy and Administration (HPAA) and receive elective credit in the School of Medicine for this work. In addition, the medical student must enroll in the department full time for at least two semesters in order to complete the requirements for the Master's Degree in Public Health. Medical students considering this combined degree program must be accepted in the department through formal application for admission. Formal admission must be secured from the Graduate School.

At least six months before the medical student intends to register in the HPAA, he or she must make a formal application for enrollment. In this semester, the student will enroll in the department for 15 hours credit (probably five courses). Depending on the Public Health program selected, the medical student may need to register for additional field training or to meet other departmental requirements.

After acceptance and matriculation in the School of Medicine, interested students should take the following steps:

  • Consult with Medical School advisor for the combined MPH/MD program.
  • Interview with the Registrar in HPAA concerning acceptance into the program.
  • Apply for admission to HPAA through the Graduate School.
  • Upon conferral of admission by the Graduate School, arrange with elective advisors in the School of Medicine and HPAA to take appropriate courses in the Department of Health Policy and Administration for which dual credit may be granted (up to 15 semester hours).
  • Obtain leave of absence for one semester (or more, if necessary) from the School of Medicine through the Associate Dean for Student Affairs in that School.
  • Complete all degree requirements for the Master's Degree as specified by the Department of Health Policy and Administration and the Graduate School.
  • Complete all requirements for the MD degree as specified by the School of Medicine.

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MPH/PhD
Master of Public Health & Doctor of Philosophy

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Master of Science in Public Health

MSPH/MBA
Master of Science in Public Health & Master of Business Adminstration

MSPH/MSIS
Master of Science in Public Health & Master of Science in Information Science

MSPH/MSLS
Master of Science in Public Health & Master of Science in Library Science

MSPH/MRP
Master of Science in Public Health & Master of Regional Planning

 


Content for this page provided by the Department of Health Policy and Administration. If you have further questions about admission requirements or programs, please contact the respective program director (contact information above) or the HPAA Student Services Office. For technical questions or problems with the online admissions form, contact the Graduate School.

Last updated April 14, 2008
 

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