Executive Master of Healthcare Administration
Our Curriculum
The UNC Executive MHA curriculum is designed to create the next generation of healthcare leaders, all while you continue to work full-time. In the first year, students immerse themselves in healthcare as a system and how the fundamentals of healthcare business – healthcare accounting, policy, economics, and leadership - come together to create the healthcare system as we know it. Students return in the second year to dive deeper through courses in healthcare strategy, data analysis, law, and finance – culminating in an applied Capstone experience. In every term, students take a journaling course where they spend intentional time synthesizing the learnings of the semester and considering how those learnings apply to their current work contexts.
The Executive MHA program is intentionally designed, by Tar Heels and for Tar Heels, to give you the best of both worlds – top-tier online academics paired with curated in-person experiences that build cohort connectedness and enhance the learning experience. Executive MHAs take the bulk of their coursework virtually, engaging with materials through Canvas and live sessions through Zoom. Seven times throughout the two-year degree program, students come together in-person, in Chapel Hill, to connect with their cohort, to network, to meet faculty, and to engage in learning experiences that can only happen when you’re together. We believe our combination of online convenience, in-person connectedness, and the magic of Chapel Hill is the “secret sauce” of the program’s success. But don’t ask us if it’s tomato- or vinegar-based, we’ll never tell!
Philosophy of Teaching
UNC MHA professors have high standards and are eager to support you in reaching them. Professors create a welcoming and engaging classroom environment through targeted lectures, guest speakers, case studies, team exercises, and applied scenarios. All of these experiences are designed to leverage your real-world, applied understanding of a discipline. The value of team-based activities in the Executive MHA academic experience cannot be overstated. You will elevate your competency through engaging with the lived and learned professional experiences of your peers.
Philosophy of Grading
While grading is a fundamental part of monitoring your progress in the program, it is certainly not the most important part of your program experience. As a program, we are intentional about focusing on the learning process. As part of that commitment to the learning process, the UNC MHA does not assign letter grades and instead aligns with the UNC Graduate School grading policy which assigns grades using the following scale:
• High Pass (H)
• Pass (P)
• Low Pass (L)
• Fail (F)
Admissions and Applications
• Minimum requirements necessary for application to Executive MHA Program:
• An undergraduate degree with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher (4.0 grading scale)
• Current employment in a full-time position related to healthcare at application and throughout time in program.
• Applicants are advised to prepare in microeconomics, accounting, and statistics.
• International applicants are required to submit a Financial Certificate.
Application Deadlines:
•Click this link to see an updated list of application deadlines.
Required Application Materials
•Completion of online Graduate School application. Applications for the next academic year are available in August.
•Nonrefundable application fee. In some instances the application fee may be waived; please see the Graduate School’s Application Fee Waiver page for information on eligibility.
•Transcripts. One complete (not selected courses), unofficial transcript from each university attended must be uploaded within the application. If offered admission, one paper official transcript for each university attended will be required. If you have questions or need more information about preparing transcripts, please see the Graduate School’s transcript information here
•Three recommenders and their email addresses. These will be collected within the Graduate School application.
•Personal statement. Within the Graduate School application, please upload a two page, double-spaced statement addressing the following:
• How will this degree program at UNC-CH contribute to your projected career?
• What is your experience working in teams and what can you contribute to a team?
• How will your lived experiences and strengths contribute to a positive learning environment?
• Please provide any additional information that will help us to evaluate your application.
•The GRE is not required, and scores will not be reviewed if they are submitted.
• Select applicants will be invited to a virtual interview.
International Students
In addition to the materials above, international students must submit TOEFL or IELTS score that are no more than 2 years old. To submit, use UNC’s institution code: #5816. For more information about these tests, see the Graduate School’s TOEFL and IELTS instruction page.
Check your Application Status
•You may monitor the status of your application by logging into your account and following the instructions.
Prospective Student Information
•Click here to see additional information for prospective students, from the UNC Graduate School.
Admitted Students Information
•Admitted students can click here for relevant resources and important action items they’ll need to address before arriving in Chapel Hill.
FAQs
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Can I see the academic calendar?
2024-25 Academic Calendar
Is an interview required?
Select applicants will be invited for a virtual interview.
This program requires in-person sessions. When do those happen?
The in-person sessions, what we call onsites, will occur on the following dates in the upcoming academic year:
• August 2025
• December 2025
• May 2026
Don’t see an answer to your question?
Contact Kim Sieler, Executive MHA Academic Coordinator: krsieler@email.unc.edu
What is the most recent retention rate for this program?
The 2022 Retention rate for the Executive MHA: 100%
What is the graduation rate for the program?
The 2023 Graduation rate for the Executive MHA: 94%
Can I see a student handbook that includes a sample plan of study for the program?
Yes, the student handbook can be found here.
Amanda Mittelstadt
Amanda Mittelstadt, Executive MHA Cohort 72, is the Director of the Willed Body Program at High Point University in NC. Amanda's academic interests include strategic planning and leadership development. Amanda enjoys spending quality time with her husband, son, and two pups on local nature trails in her free time.
Students fund their education through a combination of sources including loans, fellowships and awards, assistantships and grants. Several.awards and scholarships are supported by generous contributions from donors to the School and University who value the current and future contributions of our students.
- UNC’s MHA program has among the lowest per-credit costs of any peer program. As you consider offers from other schools, think through the following:
- What would be the total tuition cost for each program I’m considering given their tuition rate and the number of credit hours required?
- Does each program I’m considering charge a flat-tuition rate for full-time graduate students? UNC charges full-time graduate students for 9-credit hours per semester, whether they take 9 or 16 credit hours in that term.
Support Our Department
At this pivotal time, we call on our alumni and friends to support us as we work to empower a new generation of transformative leaders who will build the healthcare system of the future. Support students directly in going to conferences.
