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Health Management and Policy

The Department of Health Management and Policy educates health care professionals to assume leadership roles in an increasingly complex and dynamic health care system. Graduates hold key executive, academic, research, government, and consulting positions in all areas of health management and policy, both in the United States and abroad.

Graduate Programs

• Master of Health Administration
• Doctor of Philosophy in health services and policy

The department offers joint M.H.A. degree programs with the Tippie College of Business, the College of Law, and the Graduate College's School of Urban and Regional Planning; see "Joint M.H.A. Degrees" below. It also offers the policy subtrack for the Master of Public Health; see "M.P.H. Subtrack" below.

The department's degree programs rank among the foremost in the field. The M.H.A. is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.

Master of Health Administration

The Master of Health Administration requires 60 s.h. of graduate credit earned in two academic years of full-time study. The program prepares students for a wide variety of positions in health care management. It is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of issues encountered by health care delivery organizations, and strong business skills.  Graduates are well prepared to advance to senior executive roles in a variety of health care organizations.

Students work with their advisors to create a plan of study that incorporates required and elective course work that supports their career goals in areas such as operations management, managed care, or financial management. Required courses in management, economics, law, managerial finance, and financial accounting focus on health care applications. Students also may take course work in other University of Iowa departments and programs, such as business, urban and regional planning, and aging studies.

During the first year, students are introduced to the social, political, economic, and financial environments of health care organizations. The concepts, tools, and techniques necessary for effective management also are presented. During the second year, courses focus on in-depth health care applications of management concepts that integrate prior course work and develop skills in areas relating to students' special interests and career objectives.

Transfer credit and course waivers may be accepted, but all students are expected to complete a minimum of 54 s.h. at The University of Iowa during their course of study.

The Master of Health Administration requires the following course work.

CORE COURSES
 

ELECTIVES

Students choose 10 s.h. of elective course work, which must include 6 s.h. earned in Department of Health Management and Policy courses.

Summer Internships, Fellowships, Residencies

The department facilitates placement of M.H.A. students in required summer internships between the first and second years of study. Internships offer opportunities for practical experience interacting with executives in a health care setting. Internships are full-time positions that usually last 10-12 weeks and may carry up to 3 s.h. of credit. Students normally receive a salary or stipend, and in some cases, assistance with living arrangements.

Most M.H.A. students complement their academic training with a postgraduate fellowship or residency. Such experiences provide opportunities to observe, develop, and demonstrate management skills and to develop connections with colleagues. The department takes an active role in helping students identify and secure fellowship and residency positions.

Joint M.H.A. Degrees

The Department of Health Management and Policy offers joint degree programs with the Tippie College of Business, the College of Law, and the Graduate College's School of Urban and Regional Planning. Students interested in combining an M.H.A. with a master's or professional degree in another field should discuss their plans with both academic units and indicate their interest when they apply to the M.H.A. program.

Joint M.H.A./M.B.A.

The joint Master of Health Administration/Master of Business Administration requires a minimum of 75 s.h. of graduate credit. The program combines the traditional strengths of health management and policy with additional course work in management. Students usually complete the program in two and a half to three years. Separate application to each degree program is required; applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the joint degree program. For information about the M.B.A., see Master of Business Administration Program (Tippie College of Business) in the Catalog.

Joint M.H.A./J.D.

The joint Master of Health Administration/Juris Doctor requires 126 of postbaccalaureate credit. The program is highly individualized, allowing students to gain training in both health care management and law. Students usually complete the program in four years; they enroll only in law courses during the first year. Separate application to each degree program is required; applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the joint degree program. For information about the J.D., see College of Law in the Catalog.

Joint M.H.A./M.A. or M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning

The joint Master of Health Administration/Master of Arts or Master of Science in urban and regional planning requires 76 s.h. of graduate credit. The program gives students the opportunity to acquire expertise in community and health planning and prepares them to develop public policy alternatives that help improve the quality of life in cities and throughout regions. Students usually complete the program in three years. Separate application to each degree program is required; applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the joint degree program. For information about the graduate programs in planning, see Urban and Regional Planning (Graduate College) in the Catalog.

M.P.H. Subtrack

The Department of Health Management and Policy offers the policy subtrack for the Master of Public Health. The subtrack prepares individuals for careers in health policy analysis, system and organizational planning, and program evaluation. Graduates find positions in federal, state, and local government as well as in professional associations and private agencies. See Master of Public Health Program in the Catalog.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy program in health services and policy requires a minimum of 77 s.h. of graduate credit, which may include up to 30 s.h. earned for a master's degree. The program, established in 1950, was the nation's first doctoral program in health care management. It prepares students for careers in health services research, education, and policy leadership in universities, government agencies, and health organizations.

The program is oriented toward applied, interdisciplinary research. Students develop mastery of theories and research methodologies necessary to study the complex American health system.  Students work closely with faculty mentors on research projects and develop research design and methodology skills through course work and an apprenticeship model of training.

The program's faculty members are committed to interdisciplinary scholarly inquiry and research. Individual plans of study allow students to prepare for specific careers, and small class size encourages frequent student-faculty interaction, including participation in research projects as well as scholarly publications.

The Doctor of Philosophy in health services and policy requires the following work.

CORE COURSES

Ph.D. students take course work in core content areas covering health care systems, health economics, health outcomes, and health policy. Courses in research design and statistical analysis are required. Credit may be awarded for guided and independent research project work.  Students may waive specific courses, depending on their background.

EXAMINATIONS

All Ph.D. students must pass a preliminary examination that tests the student's mastery of core material covered during the first year in the department, including American health systems and health services research methods.

Students take the comprehensive examination at or near the end of their formal course work. The comprehensive exam focuses on the student's specific area of research and theoretical interest.

DISSERTATION

Doctoral candidates prepare dissertations based on original research that tests, extends, or applies concepts or principles to a problem in health care. Students may choose to complete a traditional dissertation or may complete a dissertation based on three publishable papers.

Admission

Applicants to the M.H.A. program must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. No specific undergraduate major is required, but prospective applicants are strongly advised to complete introductory courses in accounting, economics, and statistics and to gain facility in using spreadsheet and presentation software. A cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.00 is expected. M.H.A. program applicants must submit scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test (a combined verbal and quantitative score of 1100 or above is preferred) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (a score of 600 or above is preferred); official MCAT, VAT, LSAT, or DAT scores are accepted in place of GRE or GMAT scores. Previous work experience in health care is desirable.

Applicants to the Ph.D. program must have a bachelor's or master's degree. Experience in health care and a master's degree in health administration, public health, or health planning are excellent preparation for the program. A graduate degree in social science, management, economics, or law is acceptable, depending on the applicant's background and career goals. A cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.25 is usually required. All Ph.D. applicants must submit GRE scores (a combined verbal and quantitative score of 1100 or above is preferred).

All applicants must submit academic transcripts, a resume, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of objectives form (contact the Department of Health Management and Policy).

Applicants whose first language is not English and who do not hold a baccalaureate or more advanced degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada (except Quebec), Australia, or New Zealand must score at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants who score 550-599 (paper-based), 213-249 (computer-based), or 81-99 (Internet-based) are required to take English fluency courses. Applicants who score below those ranges are not considered for admission.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

Students begin the program in fall semester. Campus visits are encouraged, and personal interviews are required before admission. The admissions committee conducts telephone interviews with applicants unable to interview on campus.

Financial Support

A variety of financial assistance is available, including scholarships and awards, student loans, and research assistantships. Every effort is made to provide financial support to students who demonstrate need and maintain satisfactory academic standards. Some awards are offered in recognition of outstanding academic performance and experience, regardless of need.

Research assistantships generally are awarded on the basis of student merit and the department's need. Assistantships afford valuable experience in health services research and management projects. Research assistants work 10-20 hours per week and must apply for reappointment each year. Research assistantships provide a stipend and some tuition assistance and entitle students to resident tuition.

Opportunities also exist for part-time employment both on and off campus. For information and financial aid application forms, contact the University's Office of Student Financial Aid.

Resources

The Center for Health Policy and Research, the research arm of the Department of Health Management and Policy, is a University-wide interdisciplinary research facility. Faculty members from the Carver College of Medicine, the Tippie College of Business, and the Colleges of Dentistry, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health serve as investigators in a variety of studies at the center. Graduate students assist with ongoing research projects.

Primary project funding for the center comes from the National Institute of Health (NIH), the State of Iowa, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) as well as from foundations and private organizations.

The center also sponsors educational activities and promotes collaboration among health organizations through frequent exchanges with professional and provider associations, policy and planning groups, insurance organizations, health delivery institutions, and other members of the health services research community. 

Alumni Relations

An active alumni association with more than 1,000 members supports the program in a number of ways, including scholarships, consultation on curriculum, continuing education, research, and fund development. Alumni serve as visiting faculty, consultants, mentors, and preceptors for summer internships, residencies, and fellowships. The alumni association also provides a network for graduates entering the profession.

Graduates maintain their Iowa connection and learn about news of their classmates, the department, and faculty members and students through the Alumni Newsletter.

The Department of Health Management and Policy and its alumni association jointly sponsor the Annual Iowa Healthcare Executive Symposium each fall. Renowned speakers from across the country present a variety of symposium topics. Health care leaders, alumni, educators, students, and friends of the department attend the symposium, which offers students a high quality educational experience in addition to the opportunity to network with faculty and alumni.

Courses