The master of health services administration (MHSA) prepares students for careers as administrators or
staff in the dynamic and diverse health care field, including positions in institutions and agencies involved in providing, financing, regulating, or insuring health care. The program provides specialized knowledge and management skills needed to understand and meet the leadership needs of complex, rapidly changing systems for health care services delivery.
The curriculum is arranged in well-structured developmental sequence that builds administrative skills reflecting the latest in management and health care theory and practice. It explores a variety of theoretical and conceptual frameworks for understanding health administration, as well as class-based experiential activities that provide practical application in health institutions.
Most courses are offered in the evenings to accommodate the program's mix of full and part time students except for limited courses offered through Web CT.
The required Health Administration Residency or Management Project provides valuable real-world experience in applying administrative skills to management problems and opportunities in health care organizations. In addition, the program encourages, and coordinates a paid, post-degree, one-year administrative Fellowship in a healthcare organization that fits the student's career path.
UAMS's MHSA program is one of 70 nationally accredited programs in the U.S., and the only one in Arkansas, that is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). It is also a full member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.
Application and Eligibility Requirements
The curriculum of the Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA)
Program in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health begins in the Fall
semester; however, Spring admission is considered for US citizens or
permanent resident aliens only.
The application requirements are:
• Completed application through SOPHAS or HAMPCAS. Applications for this program are now
processed though SOPHAS or
HAMPCAS Use
SOPHAS if you plan to apply to several MHSA programs, and those programs are
part of a College of Public Health at the universities to which you are
applying; otherwise, use HAMPCAS. You can apply to either one, but only
apply to one application service.
• Official transcripts of all academic work sent directly from every
institution attended to SOPHAS/HAMPCAS regardless of degree awarded or transfer
credits shown on subsequent transcripts. Applicants must input every course
on each transcript into their SOPHAS/HAMPCAS application online.
All transcripts from foreign countries must be translated and
evaluated by either Education Credential Evaluators, Inc. (www.ece.org)
or World Education Services (www.wes.org.) An official copy of the
evaluation must be submitted to SOPHAS. Applicants must possess the
minimum of a U.S. baccalaureate degree equivalent to be considered for
admission. Applicants who anticipate completion of their undergraduate
degree soon after the admissions deadline may apply for conditional
admission. If granted conditional admission, a final transcript from the
student’s baccalaureate institution must be received by the Office of
Student Services prior to the date of registration of the admitted
semester.
If you are an international applicant, please also see Admission
Requirements for International Students for more information. Please note
the MHSA Program admits international applicants for the Fall semester only
with a completed application packet deadline of March 1st.
• For the MHSA Program, the cumulative grade point average must be at
least 2.75 (4.0 scale) overall or 3.0 (4.0 scale) in the last 60 hours to be
considered for admission.
• Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management
Admission Test (GMAT) scores. The test must have been taken within the five
(5) years immediately preceding the application deadline of the requested
semester of admission. Official scores must be received directly from the
testing agency (www.ETS.org.) and sent to SOPHAS. The GRE university code
for COPH is 6512. The GMAT code is OSF-3L-74.
Successful applicants in the MHSA program typically earn a score in
excess of 1000 on the combined verbal and quantitative portions of the
GRE or in excess of 550 on the GMAT(old format). Applicants who score in
the top 50th percentile are preferred. This percentile applies to
the new GRE scoring as well.
• In addition to the SOPHAS application fee which is paid online, a
non-refundable application processing fee (check or money order) made
payable to the UAMS College of Public Health must be mailed to:
UAMS COPH
4301 W. Markham St., Slot #820
Little Rock, AR 72205-7199
Check the current fee due at our website:
Tuition and Fees. Students
who are currently enrolled and taking classes full-time in another UAMS
college are not required to submit the application fee, but must submit
all other required materials.
• Personal statement or letter of interest (500 to 700 words) detailing
reasons for seeking this degree including previous work experience, career
goals, and objectives.
• Current resume
• Two references (processed by SOPHAS/HAMPCAS).
• In admission reviews, first consideration is given to Arkansas
residents. In recognition of the support of COPH programs by private and
federal organizations, highly qualified applicants who are residents of
another state or citizens of a foreign country may compete for admission.
For the MHSA Program, those whose native language is not English and/or who
do not have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited US college
or university are required to submit the following minimum scores.
Type of
TOEFL Exam
Minimum
Score
Paper based
exam
580
Internet
based exam
90
The test must have been taken within the two (2) years immediately
preceding the application deadline of the requested semester for
admission. An official test score received directly from the testing
agency (www.ETS.org) is required before any action is taken on an
application. Copies will not be accepted. At this time, the TOEFL code
for COPH is R6901. Please see Application and Eligibility Requirements
for International Students for more information.
• For international students only-COPH (mailing address above) not SOPHAS
must receive an official letter on bank letterhead from the student’s
financial institution proving sufficient funds for the program of study
prior to the application deadline. See Application and Eligibility
Requirements for International Students for amounts and mailing
instructions.
• Interview with program faculty for selected applicants. This is
scheduled after all application materials are received and criteria are
satisfied.
At this time, the MHSA Program does not have a specific deadline for
completed application packets, but applicants are encouraged to provide all
materials as soon as possible and preferably before the end of the Spring
semester for Fall admission.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure the application is
complete and received by SOPHAS as required by the deadline.
Applicants who are accepted may defer admission for a maximum of one
calendar year. Acceptance is defined as enrolling with COPH.
For more information concerning the program contact:
Health Services Administration Program
Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health
Department of Health Policy and Management
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4301 W. Markham Slot #820
Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205-7199
(501) 526-6643
Information on financial aid can be obtained in the UAMS Student
Financial Services Office, 4301 West Markham, # 601, Little Rock, AR 72205
or by calling (501) 686-5451. Students may also visit the UAMS financial aid
website at
http://www.uams.edu/studentfinancialservices/. In order to receive
financial aid, students must be fully admitted to a degree program of the
Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health.
In our program placement with a healthcare institution
referred to as a Healthcare Management Assistantship, typically receive a tuition reimbursement and a monthly stipend. Full-time students in these placements work 20 hours per week, usually in an area that enhances their educational goals.
Some of the sites that have participated in the Healthcare Management
Assistantship program include:
Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Arkansas Cardiology, PA
Arkansas Children's Hospital
Arkansas Department of Health
Arkansas Heart Hospital
Center for Rural Hospitals-UAMS
Central Arkansas Veterans Administration Hospital Conway Regional Medical Center
Department of Health Administration
Genesis Cancer Center
Hot Springs County Hospital
Heart Clinic of Arkansas
Little Rock Pediatric Clinic
NovaSys Health Network
Practice Plus (MSO)
Qual Choice of Arkansas, Inc. (HMO)
Medical College Physicians Group
Practice Plus Inc. (MSO)
Qual Choice of Arkansas Inc.
Rebsamen Regional Medical Center
Saline Memorial Hospital
St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center
University Affiliates Program
University Hospital - UAMS
Upon graduation, the program assists students in finding employment or
fellowships in health institutions or agencies. Contact
Mr.Stephen Foti, External Coordinator
for more information.
For information on grants, loans, scholarships, and other financial aid opportunities, contact the
UAMS Student Financial Aid Office, 4301 W. Markham St. #601, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199, 501-686-5451