Compare HPM Degree Programs
MPH with Concentration in Health Policy
Residential MHA
Executive (online) MHA
MSPH
Who should apply?
Students interested in affecting policy change, working for governmental organizations, advocacy groups, non-profit organizations, or contract research organizations that focus on policy analyses.
Early to midcareer students wishing to pursue management careers in health systems, hospitals, consulting firms, managed care organizations, insurance firms, non-governmental organizations, medical group practices, government agencies and other healthcare-based settings.
Clinicians and mid-career health administrators (3+ years of full-time healthcare experience) wishing to advance their careers in health systems, hospitals, consulting firms, managed care organizations, insurance firms, non-governmental organizations, medical group practices, government agencies and other healthcare-based settings.
Students who aspire to research, analysis, and evaluation careers in the public and private sector.
What is the broad focus of the program?
Students learn the skills to design, implement and evaluate health care and public health policies in a variety of settings, and to advocate for and lead changes in a policy setting.
The MHA degree is designed to provide strong preparation in the management disciplines, a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare sector, experiential elements, and an opportunity to pursue an area of concentration.
The Executive MHA degree is designed to further develop skills in leadership and analytic skills to support increasing level of responsibilities in the healthcare sector.
The MSPH program is designed to develop quantitative research and analytical skills of early and midcareer professionals. Students obtain a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare system, research and analytic methods with services and health policy research.
What kind of coursework will students be taking?
Students will gain a broad understanding of public health disciplines, and take courses focused on the U.S. health system, policy analyses and advocacy skills, leadership, and financial management.
Students will gain a broad understanding of public health and health policy. MHA specific courses will focus on leadership, financial management, strategy, statistics, operations research, and quality improvement.
Students will gain a deep understanding of public health and health policy. MHA specific courses will focus on leadership, financial management, strategy, statistics, operations research, and quality improvement.
Students will gain a broad understanding of public health disciplines. Degree courses are focused on research methods, statistics, health economics, decision science and economic evaluation methods.
Is work experience required?
Preferred but not required
Yes
Yes
Yes
Are prerequisites required for admission?
No
We recommend basic knowledge in statistics, microeconomics and accounting.
We recommend basic knowledge in statistics, microeconomics and accounting.
We recommend basic knowledge in statistics and microeconomics.
What are my career opportunities?
Top companies, universities, health care systems, nonprofit organizations and government agencies
Administrative fellowships and residencies, hospitals and health systems, health insurers, and consulting firms.
Placement stats
Placement stats
Mid-level leadership roles (Department, Unit leader) and clinical leaderships roles in hospitals and health systems.
Analyst, Researcher, Consulting firms, contract research organizations, federal and state government entities, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, health insurers, and international health organizations.
Placement stats
Placement stats
Can I work full time while enrolled in this program?
No. HPM has an executive MHA program and executive DrPH in health leadership as appropriate for those who want to remain working full time.
No. HPM has an executive MHA program and executive DrPH in health leadership as appropriate for those who want to remain working full time.
Yes, The Executive MHA program is designed for full time working professionals.
No. HPM has an executive MHA program and executive DrPH in health leadership as appropriate for those who want to remain working full time.
Required Credit Hours to Graduate
42 credits
60 credits
49 credits
60 credits
Where can I find more information?
Who can I contact with more questions?
Adia Ware, Lead Academic Coordinator, aware@.unc.edu
Yolonda Childs, Academic Coordinator, HPM Residential MHA Degree Program, childsyo@unc.edu
Kim Sieler, Academic Coordinator, HPM Executive MHA Degree Program, krsieler@email.unc.edu
Yolonda Childs, Academic Coordinator, HPM MSPH Degree Program, childsyo@unc.edu
