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Health Policy and Management FAQs Executive Master's FAQs
Health Policy and Management FAQs Executive Master's FAQs 
| Executive Master's FAQs |
Executive Master's (MHA, MPH) Frequently Asked Questions
We are a top-ranked program in a dynamic environment; in order to remain that way, we need to change as the health care industry changes. This does not mean constant change, but it does mean periodic concentrated self-assessment and retooling to meet new needs and demands. Our goal is for health care professionals to be able to earn a highly valued degree in less time, with minimum disruption to their full-time work. Will you admit once or twice a year in the redesigned Executive Master's programs? We admit one time a year, in the fall. We will admit between 40-50 students per cohort. What are the changes to the curriculum? The Gillings School of Global Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), and the MHA is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Management Education (CAHME), so the foundations of the curricula did not change. These curricula are grounded in a firm base of 25 leadership, policy, management, and professional competencies that provide the framework for integrated coursework that is responsive to current and projected future demands of the health care industry. The redesign outcomes include:
No, you are required to attend three on-campus residencies per year. Please refer to the calendar for exact dates. Who
are the Executive MHA and Executive MPH programs designed for?
The Executive MHA program is aimed at working, mid-career professionals seeking executive positions in health care and leads to a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA). The Executive MPH program is aimed at working, midcareer professionals seeking executive positions in public health and leads to a Master of Public Health (MPH). Qualified candidates must have at least three years of prior experience in the health or human services profession. The Executive MHA and Executive MPH programs are housed in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which is currently ranked third in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The program is also ranked #2 by Modern Physician magazine. What is the admission deadline? For enrollment in the Fall 2012 program, your application must be submitted by May 8, 2012. Must I currently be in a managerial
position in order to enroll in the program?
No, it's not required. However, it is strongly recommended that you either currently have management/supervisory experience OR anticipate moving into a management role. What other admissions criteria must I meet besides working in the health care field or having a doctorate degree? You must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (any field of study) and a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. You must also have GRE or GMAT scores that are less than five years old (50th percentile recommended). What if I have a low GRE or GMAT score? We recommend that you take an in-class or online preparatory course and then retake the test. HPM has a relationship with PrepSuccess, a provider of preparatory courses, which are offered at a substantially lower cost than the major providers. For more information, visit http://www.prepsuccess.com/ What
basic knowledge or background is required? Enrolling students should have some basic knowledge of elementary accounting, college algebra, statistics, and microeconomics. Applicants without this background should consider enrolling in appropriate courses (including online and self-study opportunities). What computer hardware and software knowledge and access are required?
Enrolling students are required to have access to an IBM-compatible
personal computer. In addition, students are required to have high-speed
Internet access. Students should also be proficient in word processing and
spreadsheet functions.
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How
long does it take to complete the program?
24 months. Must I complete a thesis? No. Students must complete the Capstone Course and the approved thesis substitute--either a Business Plan or Technical Paper. The intended outcome
for those who bring more management experience is postgraduate employment in
the health care industry with more, or more significant, management
responsibility than that held previously. For those with more limited
management experience, the intended outcome is a responsible health care
management position, which for some of those who already hold full-time
positions may entail a change of organization. back to top If I already have my MBA, is this program a duplication of efforts? Probably. However, the Executive MHA and Executive MPH programs have a much greater concentration of coursework in health care, health policy, and public health. If I already have a master's degree, do I have to take the GRE over again? Only if it's been more than five years since you last took it. (The administrators of GRE and GMAT tests do not report results older than five years.) Is there anything I should know about the demands of this program? Yes. This is a rigorous program. As a result, both you and your employer must recognize the demands of the program. Because of the nature of the new lock-step format and lack
of elective courses, transfer credits will typically not be accepted for the
executive master's programs. If you have taken a specific Gillings School
of Global Public Health core course, that may qualify to transfer into the
executive master of public health program, pending program director
approval.
What if I want to speak to someone directly about the program? For information about admission requirements, contact Kim Sieler, Assistant Registrar, For details about
the course work, contact Jim Porto, Executive Master's Program Director, PhD,
MPA at jporto@email.unc.edu or (919) 966-7354. To stay in touch with our department, please visit our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages: Content for this page provided by the Department of Health Policy and Management. Please contact the webmaster with any questions or comments. |
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| Last updated February 29, 2012 | ||