The University of Chicago’s
Graduate Program in Health Administration and PolicyGPHAP is a certificate program, which operates in conjunction with the graduate master's programs of the participating University of Chicago graduate schools: School of Social Service Administration (SSA), Graduate School of Business (GSB), or the Harris School of Public Policy Studies (HPPA).
Did you know that the University of Chicago is home to the nation’s first graduate program in health administration?
Founded in 1934 at the Graduate School of Business (GSB), the Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy (GPHAP) has an impressive legacy of providing students with the preparation and competitive advantage they need to be leaders in the healthcare field. Today, with more than 1000 alumni, GPHAP continues this tradition as an interdisciplinary program that draws students from GSB, the Harris Graduate School of Public Policy and The School of Social Service Administration.
Preparing Individuals for Careers in a Complex and Changing Field
The program aims to provide the conceptual frameworks and analytical skills needed to ensure students graduate prepared to be effective in a broad range of healthcare careers. With a strong foundation in economics, organizational behavior, policy and financial management, the core curriculum is complemented by internships and co-curricular activities.Because of its interdisciplinary nature, GPHAP also provides a unique opportunity to develop relationships with students, faculty, and alumni throughout the university and the professional world.
Students frequently comment that regardless of their specific area of interest, GPHAP’s interdisciplinary focus provides them with foundation for thinking about the healthcare system that is invaluable to their future work.Students who successfully complete the program will be awarded a Certificate in Health Administration and Policy in addition to their masters degree. This certificate sends a strong signal to potential employers regarding a student’s commitment and expertise in healthcare.
Recent graduates of the program have successfully entered a wide range of healthcare careers, including:
- Hospital administration
- Healthcare policy and advocacy
- Healthcare consulting
- Community and public healthcare centers
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Managed care organizations
- World health organizations
- Entrepreneurial endeavors
Diverse Faculty and Student Body
By drawing on faculty from public policy, social work, law and health studies, GPHAP has assembled rich and diverse intellectual resources for students interested in healthcare management and policy. This interdisciplinary approach addresses the healthcare industry’s need for individuals with vision and judgment to face various economic, ethical, and social issues as well as the financial demands of the complex field. As healthcare professionals encounter new challenges, the connection between administration and policy becomes stronger. Managers need to understand healthcare policy just as policymakers need to understand the operating environment of healthcare providers.One of GPHAP’s strengths is that its diverse student body tends to reflect the array of healthcare sectors in our economy and society. Comprised of individuals form GSB, SSA and Harris, GPHAP creates a unique learning environment that better prepares students to navigate an increasingly complex healthcare industry. GPHAP is designed to foster a cohort effect with each graduating class, building relationships among students that last years after graduation.
Program Requirements
Building on the core training provided by the participating schools, GPHAP students must complete a series of academic, practical and co-curricular requirements. With the exception of the finance requirement for Clinical SSA students, all GHPAP courses must be health related, including two required courses, Health Services Systems and Special Problems in Health Care Management. For more detailed information, please visit our website at http://gphap.uchicago.edu/curriculumupdated.shtmlProgram Fellowships and Other Opportunities
As a part of GPHAP, students are also eligible for opportunities such as fellowships, research assistantships, and internships, all of which are designed to develop leadership skills and augment academic credentials. For more information, please see the Fellowships Section on our website at http://gphap.uchicago.edu/fellowships.shtml. Please note that applications for the Ray E. Brown Recruitment Fellowship are due with the general GPHAP application on July 15, 2008.GPHAP students also benefit from a range of exclusive program activities including special events to help students explore a variety of career options, alumni networking events and notification of health related workshops and seminars on and off campus.
Who Should Apply?
Only students accepted to one of the participating masters programs can apply.Having been admitted to the University of Chicago, GPHAP considers you academically qualified for admissions into the program. GPHAP’s admission process is intended to identify and recruit well qualified students who are committed to pursuing careers in healthcare and who have academic goals that are well matched by the program. Students’ backgrounds vary, some coming to the program with years of healthcare experience and others new to the field. Students who are most successful in the program have both a passion for health care and an appreciation for interdisciplinary approaches.
If you think GPHAP can help you meet your goals, please visit http://gphap.uchicago.edu/admissions.shtml to learn more about the application process and to download an application. The initial application deadline is July 15, 2008.
To learn more about the program, feel free to contact Mary Stonor Saunders, Program Director at mstonor@uchicago.edu or Benjamin Capps, Administrative Assistant, at benjamincapps@uchicago.edu.
Admission Requirements
The admissions objective of The Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy is to identify and recruit well qualified candidates who are committed to pursuing careers in healthcare or health-related fields; and to foster a well-balanced, interdisciplinary GPHAP student body.
GPHAP candidates must:
1. Be accepted as a first-year student at one of the aforementioned participating schools.
2. Have previous experience in a health-care field or an expressed commitment to pursue a career in health care.
3. Have the ability to meet academic, co-curricular and field experience requirements.Admission Process
Incoming students should submit a complete application to the GPHAP Program Director by July 15, 2008, either by email or regular mail:
GPHAP Applications
The University of Chicago
969 E. 60th Street
Chicago, IL 60637 USAApplications received by the deadline will be notified mid to late August. Applications recieved after the deadline will be considered on a rolling basis, as space permits.
A complete application includes:
1. Completed application form, available here in [MSWORD] and [Adobe PDF] formats,
2. a resume or curriculum vita, and
3. a 2-3 page personal statement describing: a) past experience in the health-care field, b) areas of interest in health care, including future goals, and c) how GPHAP will help the applicant to achieve his or her goals.In addition, students who are interested can be considered for the Ray E. Brown Recruitment Fellowship. One fellowship for each of the participating schools is awarded each year. <<MORE>> Please note: application instructions for the Brown Recruitment Fellowship are attached to the GPHAP general application above.