Admission Requirements

• Master of Healthcare Administration

Degree Requirements

• Master of Healthcare Administration

Mailing Address:
MHA Program
Division of Health Policy and Administration
School of Public Health (MC 923)
1603 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60612-4394

Campus Location: 778A SPHPI
Program Code: 20FS4060MHA
Telephone: (312) 996-7816
E-mail: mha@uic.edu
Web Site: http://www.uic.edu/sph/mha
Program Coordinator: Benn Greenspan
Director of Graduate Studies: Sylvia Furner

The School of Public Health (SPH), with support from the College of Business Administration (CBA), offers a two-year graduate program leading to the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA). The Master of Healthcare Administration is a program designed for students who have chosen a management career in health services organizations such as hospitals, community-based ambulatory care centers, managed-care plans, the health supply chain, and long-term care providers. These students will receive an educational program that combines competence in management with an in-depth knowledge of the healthcare sector and of the management issues it faces. Required core courses emphasize accounting, economics, finance, human resources, informatics, marketing, and management. Courses in CBA are an integral component of the MHA program. The program coordinates practical experience through the MHA Preceptorship with medical centers, hospitals, long-term care organizations, and ambulatory care centers.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Healthcare Administration 

• Baccalaureate Degree Required.
• Grade Point Average 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study and for all cumulative graduate work previously taken.
• Tests Required All MHA applicants must submit GRE verbal and quantitative or GMAT scores taken within five years. GRE or GMAT scores should typically be 70th percentile or better. Applicants can use a demonstrated record of success in management in a health services organization to compensate for somewhat lower scores on the GRE or GMAT. Applicants with advanced professional degrees may have this requirement waived.
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
  • TOEFL 585–600 (paper-based), plus Test of Written English scores in the range of 5–6; 230–240 (computer-based), no Test of Written English scores required; 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
  • IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.
• Letters of Recommendation Three required, preferably from instructors or employers.
• Personal Statement Required; addressing the applicant’s goals for graduate study and career development.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Healthcare Administration         

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 60.
• Course Work Required Courses: ACTG 500, BSTT 400, EPID 400, FIN 500, HPA 403, HPA 410, HPA 417, HPA 434, HPA 441, HPA 451, HPA 463, HPA 465, HPA 470, HPA 490, HPA 495, HPA 496, HPA 525, HPA 551, MGMT 553.
• Comprehensive Examination None.
• Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options A capstone project (HPA 496) is required. No other options are available.
• Other Requirements Each student must complete a preceptorship (HPA 495). Credit will be granted for completion of the tasks in the published preceptor syllabus, and submission of an acceptable portfolio that is the primary academic product of the MHA Preceptorship.