Frequently Asked Questions

The Department of Health Management & Policy has been ranked #1 by US News and World Report since 1993. Why?

A key reason is our alumni. Michigan has one of the best and most effective alumni networks of any school of public health in the country. We've been training health managers and policy makers for more than 50 years, and have alumni in top administrative and policy positions throughout the world. Our alumni hold positions in every sector of American health care and health policy. What's more, they have a long record of helping and supporting new graduates. It's no surprise that Michigan graduates lead the field in job placements.

What brought these alumni to Michigan in the first place?

It's our faculty. Michigan has been at the forefront of developments in health policy and management for half a century. We were instrumental in establishing the prototype for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. We've been a leader in defining, measuring, and assuring health care quality. Michigan's faculty has depth in health economics, health financing, information systems, health policy and management. We also partner with other programs on the Michigan campus to offer joint degrees in such areas as business, law, medicine, and public policy. We offer interdepartmental concentrations in Reproductive and Women's Health, Public Health Genetics and Global Health.

Can I work while I am attending classes?
We discourage part time work during the first semester because the academic workload is high, and many students find it difficult to keep up with the pace. However, if you do well at mid-terms, you can start looking. Most of our students who want part-time jobs find them, particularly in the second year. The positions vary, but generally pay $10-$12 an hour and one or two days work a week is feasible. U.S. citizens who qualify on financial need criteria can participate in work study programs, where their salary cost is subsidize to expand work opportunities. Foreign nationals can hold non-work study jobs and they compete well when their English is good and they have undergraduate mastery of the subject or skill.

What about summer internship opportunities?

They're a key component of every student's education at Michigan. We see to it that each and every student in our department gets an internship that involves a specific project in a high-quality organization, usually mentored by one of our alumni.

Is there a good student-faculty interaction?

This is a student-friendly environment. We encourage student-faculty interaction both in and out of the classroom. Students have opportunities to work with faculty on research and community-based activities.

What about jobs after graduation?
Our students are actively sought by the leading organizations in our field. Each year we place our graduates in key positions in health care delivery, consulting, government, and trade associations.

What if I already have a good job in a health field and simply want to further my education?
Through our Executive Master's Program , you can keep working at your job and get your degree at the same time. You come here for one four-day weekend each month (Thursday through Sunday) for two years. What makes our OJ/OC program the best in the country is that we've been doing it successfully for more than 25 years. We pioneered the concept of OJ/OC teaching. And our on-campus and off-campus curricula are the same: same courses, same great faculty and alumni network, same expectations of excellence. Only the internship is omitted, but in its place you'll do a variety of projects using your job setting as a laboratory.

How do you maintain the department's high quality?
We are committed to constantly improving the quality of our curriculum. We actively seek feedback on courses from students and advisors as well as faculty. During an annual faculty retreat we distribute the results of course evaluations. On those rare occasions when a course isn't working the way we expect, we appoint a task force to find out what's wrong and fix it. We're constantly adapting our curriculum to the changing health environment. One of the reasons our faculty are so effective in the classroom is because the examples they use are very current. And that's because they are all engaged at the very highest levels in research on the major issues in health management and policy.

How do I know if Michigan is right for me?
Look at our faculty, research, and course summaries. We strongly encourage applicants to have an on-campus interview. It's the best way to determine whether Michigan is right for you, and vice versa. Our faculty members look forward to meeting prospective students. Students who enroll in Michigan are, to a person, excellent. If you're sincerely committed to health care management or policy, and you're ready to compete with the best, check us out.

Are you accredited?
Our program is accredited by the Accrediting Commission on Education in Health Services Administration for the Master of Health Services Administration program and the Commission on Education and Public Health for the Master of Public Health program.

What is the difference between the Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) degrees?
Please see the web page entitled Comparison Between the MHSA and MPH Degrees.

Printed from http://www.sph.umich.edu/hmp/faq_hmp.html on July 25, 2008