Admissions

At the Department of Health Administration, admissions is all about the right fit. We want you to figure out if VCU is the right place for your background, career goals, learning style and personal interests. We encourage you to attend an Information Seminar, explore the Current Students section of this site, and contact us with any questions.

There are six core components of the application, three of which must be directly submitted to the VCU Graduate School and three of which must be directly submitted to the Department of Health Administration. In addition, applicants must also successfully complete an on-campus interview. We offer interviews by invitation only, based on a full review of your six-part application. The six components of the application, the interview, and the prerequisites are detailed below.

International student? TOEFL is required. Please apply directly through the Office of International Education.

Graduate School Application Materials

The completed application, official transcript, and standardized test scores must be submitted directly to the Graduate School.

Online Application: You must submit the online application required for admission to the VCU Graduate School. Click here to begin.

Transcript: Your transcript should show a conferred or in-progress baccalaureate or graduate degree from a fully accredited college or university. An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale in undergraduate work and/or evidence of achievement in a substantial amount of graduate-level work is required.

Standardized test scores: All applicants must demonstrate a satisfactory score of at least 50th percentile on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT). The GRE code is 5570.

Department of Health Administration Materials

The resume, personal statement, and three letters of recommendation must be submitted directly to the Department of Health Administration to the attention of Ms. Suzanne Havasy, Program Coordinator.

Resume: Your resume should demonstrate evidence of personal achievement, scholarship, intellectual ability and professional promise for a career in health administration.

Personal Statement: Your personal statement is your opportunity to highlight your background, interests, plans, and decision to pursue a MHA degree. Most importantly, this is your opportunity to communicate your passion for the field of health administration and demonstrate your uniqueness. Applicants can also use the personal statement to explain any inconsistencies in other components of the application. There are no specific guidelines or length for the personal statement.

Three Letters of Recommendation: You must submit three letters of recommendation, preferably from academic and/or work supervisors. Each letter must accompany the form provided by the Graduate School.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite course work must be completed before enrollment in the Program. To be eligible for admission, course work must include basic preparation in economics, accounting, and statistics as well as working knowledge of college-level algebra. Required prerequisite courses must be from an accredited university or college and have been earned with a grade of C or higher within 5 years of application, as follows:

• one college-level course (three credits) in financial accounting;
• one college-level course (three credits) in microeconomics; and
• one college-level course (three credits) in statistics.

Prerequisite Courses Offered at VCU

Interview

Eligible applicants will be invited to an on-campus interview day. The day includes meeting with three members of the Admissions Committee (consisting of faculty, students, and alumni/ae), question and answer sessions with current students, and a tour of the Grant House.

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