Health Services Policy and Management, M.H.A.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the M.H.A. traditional track should submit an application packet through the School of Public Health Application Service or the Health Administration, Management, and Policy Application Service unless advised otherwise by the department. Applications to the M.H.A. executive track should submit an application packet through the USC Graduate School.
All international applicants should contact the M.H.A. Program Director before applying.
Admissions Requirements
- A four-year baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution
- Baccalaureate degree grade point average of 3.00/4.00 or higher
- The GRE is not required for admission to the M.H.A. program. However, the program does offer a GRE/GMAT optional policy whereby students applying to the M.H.A. can submit a GRE or GMAT score for consideration. If the applicant opts to include their GRE/GMAT score for consideration during the admission process, their GRE/GMAT score must be submitted at the same time as the application for admission.
- For international applicants, a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - minimum score of 80 internet-based, 230 computer-based, or 570 paper-based - or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Course Type 2 exam - minimum overall band score of 6.5. This requirement may be waived for applicants that have earned a prior degree from a US institution or in an institution in a country where English is an official language.
- For executive track applicants, a minimum of three years of work experience in a health care setting is required. Applicants should also be currently employed in a health care setting.
Application Requirements
- Resume or CV
- Personal Statement: The personal statement is a great opportunity to express your unique qualifications, experiences, and reasons for applying to the M.H.A. program. Prepare your statement carefully by using details and specific examples to describe your distinctive qualities. Describe your academic interests, relevant work experiences, as well as academic/professional goals and objectives in the context of the questions listed below:
- Why are you applying to this program?
- How will this program contribute to your projected career?
- What is your experience working in teams and what can you contribute to a team?
- Is there any additional information that will help us evaluate your application?
- At least three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources
- Official transcripts from all schools or colleges previously attended
- Non-US institution transcripts must be verified by World Education Services (WES) or equivalent evaluation service. Please submit a comprehensive course-by-course evaluation (WES ICAP)
- GRE or GMAT scores (optional)
- Institution code: 5818 (U of South Carolina Columbia)
- GMAT ETS DI code: 5861; Program code Master of Health Administration JV2-JW-12
- TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for those whose native language is not English
- TOEFL: Scores should be submitted electronically using the USC Institutional code: 5818
- IELTS: Scores should be mailed directly to the USC Graduate School:
The Graduate School
University of South Carolina
1705 College Street, Suite 552
Columbia, SC 29208
- Applicants whose materials meet these criteria will be contacted to set up a 30-minute virtual information session with the M.H.A. Program Director.
Graduate Assistantship
All traditional track M.H.A. students are encouraged to work as graduate assistants in health service or public health organizations in the community to acquire work experience and enrich the learning process through on-the-job application of concepts and techniques learned in the classroom. To qualify for an assistantship, a student must be fully admitted to a degree program, be enrolled as a full-time student, and maintain a 3.00 GPA.
Combination Degrees
The Department of Health Services Policy and Management and the School of Law offer a coordinated program that leads to a J.D./M.H.A. degree. The requirements for the M.H.A. portion of the combination degree program are the same as shown above. The J.D. portion of the combination degree program is determined by the School of Law. Some courses do fulfill requirements for both portions of the combination degree. A combination degree program thus typically requires fewer semester hours in total than if the two programs were taken separately. Students seeking admission to combination degree programs must meet the admissions requirements of both programs. The M.H.A. requirements are listed above. The School of Law specifies the admission requirements for their program.
Profiles of Admitted Master’s Students
M.H.A.
For Fall 2022, there were 73 applicants; 38 were accepted while 16 enrolled. Enrollees’ overall mean undergraduate GPA was 3.46 on a 4.0 scale.
Traditional Track Degree Requirements (58 Hours)
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Management | 31 |
| Accounting and Finance | 9 |
| Biostatistics and Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| Public Health - PUBH 700* | 3 |
| Managerial Epidemiology and Statistics for Healthcare | 3 |
| Health Planning | 3 |
| Approved Elective** | 3 |
| Management Residency | 3 |
*PUBH 700 = 3 hours and is required for any M.H.A. student without a public health background (i.e., undergraduate degree in public health).
**The elective must be a graduate level course. Three (or six if PUBH 700 is not required) hours of elective credit are required for graduation.
Traditional Track Courses
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| HSPM 710 | Introduction to the US Health Care System | 3 |
| HSPM 733 | Health Care Management Accounting | 3 |
| HSPM 765 | Leadership in Health Care Organizations | 1 |
| HSPM 769 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| HSPM 775 | Managerial Epidemiology and Statistics in Healthcare | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| HSPM 712 | Health Economics | 3 |
| HSPM 716 | Quantitative Methods for Health Administration | 3 |
| HSPM 718 | Health Planning | 3 |
| HSPM 731 | Health Care Finance I | 3 |
| PUBH 700 | Perspectives in Public Health (or other approved elective) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| Summer Session I | ||
| HSPM 713 | Information Systems in Health Administration | 3 |
| HSPM 766 | Health Services Administration I | 3 |
| Summer Session II | ||
| HSPM 776 | Physician Practice Management | 3 |
| Elective in Summer Session II or Full Summer Session | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| HSPM 724 | Health Law | 3 |
| HSPM 770 | Decision Making For Health Care Executives | 3 |
| HSPM 732 | Health Care Finance II | 3 |
| HSPM 774 | Quality Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| HSPM 777 | Healthcare Policy and Principles of Health Insurance | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| HSPM 797 | Management Residency | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 58 | |
Executive Track Degree Requirements (45 hours)
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Management | 24 |
| Accounting and Finance | 6 |
| Biostatistics and Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| Public Health - PUBH 700* | 3 |
| Health Planning | 3 |
| Approved Elective** | 3 |
| Management Residency/Comparative Global Health Systems | 3 |
*PUBH 700 = 3 hours and is required for any MHA student without a public health background (i.e., undergraduate degree in public health).
**The elective must be a graduate level course. Three (or six if PUBH 700 is not required) hours of elective credit are required for graduation.
Executive Track Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HSPM 712 | Health Economics | 3 |
| HSPM 713 | Information Systems in Health Administration | 3 |
| HSPM 716 | Quantitative Methods for Health Administration | 3 |
| HSPM 718 | Health Planning | 3 |
| HSPM 724 | Health Law | 3 |
| HSPM 731 | Health Care Finance I | 3 |
| HSPM 732 | Health Care Finance II | 3 |
| HSPM 766 | Health Services Administration I | 3 |
| HSPM 770 | Decision Making For Health Care Executives | 3 |
| HSPM 774 | Quality Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| HSPM 776 | Physician Practice Management | 3 |
| HSPM 777 | Healthcare Policy and Principles of Health Insurance | 3 |
| HSPM 797 | Management Residency (Comparative Global Health Systems) | 3 |
| PUBH 700 | Perspectives in Public Health (or other approved elective) | 3 |
| HSPM 778 | Health Care Marketing (or other approved elective) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |
Executive Track Operations
Executive track classes are held on select weekends: Saturday 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM and Sunday 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM, five weekends per semester. Participants graduate at the end of spring of third year (May graduation). New cohorts are admitted every year.
Possible Rotation I
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| HSPM 718 | Health Planning | 3 |
| HSPM 766 | Health Services Administration I | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| HSPM 712 | Health Economics | 3 |
| HSPM 731 | Health Care Finance I | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| PUBH 700 | Perspectives in Public Health | 3 |
| HSPM 778 | Health Care Marketing | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| HSPM 724 | Health Law | 3 |
| HSPM 732 | Health Care Finance II | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| HSPM 713 | Information Systems in Health Administration | 3 |
| HSPM 716 | Quantitative Methods for Health Administration | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| HSPM 797 | Management Residency (Comparative Global Health Systems) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| HSPM 774 | Quality Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| HSPM 777 | Healthcare Policy and Principles of Health Insurance | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| HSPM 770 | Decision Making For Health Care Executives | 3 |
| HSPM 776 | Physician Practice Management | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |
Management Residency Requirements – Both Tracks
M.H.A. candidates must complete and submit an acceptable written report on the management residency. Approval of the report must be by the faculty advisor, a second reader, and the preceptor at the residency site for traditional track students. An oral presentation of the report is required alongside approval of the document for students in both tracks. Students must also complete and submit departmental and school evaluations.