For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

Penn State's online MHA program is suitable for individuals of diverse backgrounds and requires no prerequisite course work. However, for your admission to the program, it is preferred that you have work experience in health care.

Application Materials
 

A completed application (including a nonrefundable application fee) — Your application must be submitted electronically following the directions provided in the application.

The online MHA program requires a personal statement and two short essays as part of the application process.

Personal Statement — Describe your personal, academic, and professional background. Why did you become interested in the health care industry? Where do you foresee yourself in the future and how will the online MHA degree contribute to your career goals? Please feel free to share any unique or distinctive details about your life story — including events or individuals who have influenced you — that will help the admissions committee set you apart from other applicants. (Please limit your answer to no more than 1,000 words.)

Essay 1 — Describe two specific goals you set for yourself and how successful you were in meeting them. What factors led to your accomplishment of each of these goals? (Please limit your answer to no more than 500 words.)

Essay 2 — Describe a time when you set aside your own priorities to help someone at work. What were the circumstances? How did you assist them? What was the result? (Please limit your answer to no more than 500 words.)

Résumé — A listing of your professional experience

Two references — You will need to initiate the process through the online application by entering names and email addresses of two references. Those individuals will each receive an email asking them to complete a brief online recommendation specifically regarding your commitment to the health care profession and potential for success in an online program. Please inform all references that they must submit the form for your application to be complete.

Interview — The admissions committee will review all completed application materials and determine if an applicant will be asked to participate in a brief interview, via Skype or in-person, to assess the potential for success in an online program and the profession.

Official Test Scores — GRE or GMAT scores are required. Applicants with five or more years of working experience (some health care work experience is preferred) do not need to submit standardized test scores.

English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with some exceptions. Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School "How to Apply" page.

Two official transcripts — You must provide two copies of official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution that you attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters you completed. (Penn State even has a convenient transcript request form. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State.) Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Mail transcripts to:

Master of Health Administration Program
Department of Health Policy and Administration
The Pennsylvania State University
118 Keller Building
University Park PA 16802-6500
Phone: 814-863-4821
Fax: 814-863-7372
Email: hpagrad@psu.edu

Applying to the Master's Degree
 

1. Read the admissions requirements.
2. Begin the Graduate School application.
   1. On the "Admissions and Program Information Portal" page, choose "Apply Now."
   2. When you get to the "Campus, Major, Degree, and Semester" page:
      1. Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus.
      2. Choose "HEALTH POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION" as the major.
      3. Choose “M H A” as the degree.