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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Gillings School of Global Public Health
Health Policy and Management
1101 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, CB #7411
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7411
919-966-7350
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GILLINGS SCHOOL OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
170 Rosenau Hall | CB 7400 | 135 Dauer Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400 | 919.966.3215
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Home arrow Health Policy and Management arrow Degrees and certificates

Health Policy and Management

Degrees and certificates

Welcome to one of the world's leading Health Policy and Management departments. Consistently ranked by the U.S. News & World Report as one of the top Health Policy and Management 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, just scroll down. For more detailed information, select the "more information" link at the end of the description, select the link for the program you wish to see below, or use the menu items on the right.

  • Dual degrees
    • Master of Health Care Administration
    • Master of Science in Public Health


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


 
Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH)

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program in health policy and management develops responsible graduates who have the necessary knowledge, skills, and values to pursue successful careers in health services systems in the U.S. and abroad. The curriculum emphasizes an understanding of the organization of health care services; legal, ethical, and policy issues; and the effective management of human, financial, and health information resources. The internship experience, placed between the junior and senior years, provides students an opportunity to apply new skills, identify learning needs, and clarify personal career goals.

Graduates of the program obtain positions in a variety of health organizations, such as hospital systems, medical group practices, government agencies, research institutes, health insurance companies, and consulting firms, to name a few. Program graduates also have been successful in their pursuit of advanced degrees in a broad range of fields, including public health, accounting, law, medicine, dentistry, and business administration.

[more information]
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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 Management 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 with the Kenan-Flagler Business School, and the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Library and Information Science,  and the Department of City and Regional Planning.

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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 (e.g., JD, MD, DDS, PhD), or are in the process of completing a doctoral-level degree.

MPH 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.

[more information]
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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.

[more information]
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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.

[more information]
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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  June 1 and our SPRING session begins in December with a deadline of November 1. Thus, if you miss one deadline you still have an opportunity to apply to our next cohort without waiting an entire year.

[more information]
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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.

[more information]
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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.

[more information]

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


Doctoral programs

The doctoral programs in Health Policy and Management 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 Management'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.

[more information]
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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.

[more information]
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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. 

[more information]
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Dual degrees

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

[more information]
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The Health Policy and Management 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.

[more information]

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

Students in this program normally first matriculate into HPM, 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 HPM 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.

[more information]

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

Students in this program normally first matriculate into HPM, 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 HPM electives int he Spring term.  The student then takes a leave of absence from HPM 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/MCRP
Master of Healthcare Administration & Master of City and Regional Planning

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/MCRP
Master of Science in Public Health & Master of City and Regional Planning

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

Last updated May 28, 2009
 
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