VCU College of Health Professions

Advanced study in health administration and aging studies is available through a dual degree and certificate program co-sponsored by the Department of Health Administration and the Department of Gerontology in the College of Health Professions.

The program allows students to earn a Master of Health Administration and Certificate in Aging Studies with a minimum of 71 credits rather than the 74 credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately. Enrolling in both programs lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to earning both degrees. See the dual degree course requirements.

Admission Requirements / How to Apply

Students must meet the admission requirements for each program. Admission into one program does not guarantee admission into the other.

The Certificate in Aging Studies program is open to qualified students who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university or the equivalent and who have met all general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School.

Learn about admission requirements for the MHA.

Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhuman." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

The VCU Certificate Program in Health Equity is a four-course program designed to prepare you to become a healthcare leader who is equipped to advance health equity, including social determinants of health, that contribute to health disparities in the U.S. and help you identify and advocate for strategies to reduce these disparities. This program is designed for practicing healthcare leaders, clinicians, non-profit professionals, and others who hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a relevant area. Current graduate students are also encouraged to apply.

You will be prepared to lead with an ethical framework to advance health equity. You will learn how health care organizations and public entities are funding efforts to address unconscious bias, patient-centered care and the social determinants of health, such as housing, food insecurity and environmental conditions, as well as increased access to health care as a means to reduce health disparities. You will be prepared to critically analyze, design and implement strategies to enhance health equity. Courses are taught by an interdisciplinary team of VCU faculty.

Admissions Requirements / How to Apply

View the admission requirements in the Graduate Bulletin and submit your graduate application through the VCU Graduate School.

The Certificate in Health Care Financial Management is a five-course program designed to help you apply financial concepts to your work in health care organizations. This program is designed for clinicians, practicing health care leaders, MHA and MSHA students, and others who hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a relevant area. Some courses can be applied towards both the MHA/MSHA degrees and the certificate. Other current graduate students with an interest in healthcare finance are also encouraged to apply.

Admissions Requirements / How to Apply

The following admission requirements apply to all applicants (other than those currently enrolled in the MHA or MSHA degree programs at VCU).  Applicants interested in pursuing the Certificate in Health Care Financial Management are required to:

• Submit a completed application and pay the application fee.
• Have earned an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. university or college (or its equivalent from a foreign institution based upon a four-year program) with a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA.
• Provide an official undergraduate transcript from all schools attended.
• Provide three letters of recommendation (at least one academic reference).
• Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Submit a statement of purpose outlining career goals (less than 500 words).

Students currently enrolled in the MHA or MSHA degree program are required to:

• Submit a completed application and the application fee.
• Submit a statement of purpose outlining career goals (less than 500 words).
• Be in good academic standing in their current program of study.

Students who have not earned a baccalaureate degree in the U.S. must submit an official transcript evaluation from a recognized foreign educational credentials evaluation service accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers as well as proof of English proficiency. International students must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language, International English Language Testing System academic exam or Pearson Test of English meeting the minimum requirements that follow:

A Test of English as a Foreign Language minimum composite score of 100 for the Internet-based test or 600 for the paper-based score; an International English language Testing System score minimum of 6.5 on the academic exam; or Pearson: 59 overall score

A score of 68 or higher on the VCU English Language Program Compression test (Students who do not achieve a score of 68 will be placed in the appropriate level of English language proficiency courses.)

Submit your graduate application through the VCU Graduate School.

Courses:

• HADE 602 or HADM 602 Health System Organization, Financing and Performance (3 credits)
• HADE 606 or HADM 606 Health Care Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
• HADE 607 or HADM 607 Financial Management in Health Care Organizations (3 credits)
• HADE 608 or HADM 608 Seminar in Health Care Finance (3 credits)
• HADE 651 Applications in Health Care Financial Management (3 credits)*

The Graduate Certificate in Sustainability, Health, and Health Care is a program that provides students with foundational knowledge about the interplay between climate change, human health, and the healthcare industry. Students will learn how the consequences of climate change and the diverse ways in which healthcare facilities contribute to carbon emissions, waste, and air pollution, as well as steps public and private organizations are taking to mitigate these effects. Students will be prepared to contribute to actions that respond to the impact of climate change on patients and communities, increase the resilience of health care facilities, and mitigate the impact of the industry on climate change. Graduates will be able to analyze specific problems, propose solutions, and outline implementation strategies that influence sustainable practices within healthcare organizations.

Admissions Requirements / How to Apply

The following admission requirements apply to all applicants (other than those currently enrolled in the MHA or MSHA degree programs at VCU).  Applicants interested in pursuing the Certificate in Sustainability, Health, and Healthcare are required to:

• Submit a completed application and pay the application fee.
• Have earned an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. university or college (or its equivalent from a foreign institution based upon a four-year program) with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA.
• Provide an official undergraduate transcript from all schools attended.
• Provide three letters of recommendation (at least one academic reference).
• Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Submit a statement of purpose outlining career goals.

Students currently enrolled in the MHA or MSHA degree program are required to:

• Submit a completed application and the application fee.
• Submit a statement of purpose outlining career goals (less than 500 words).
• Be in good academic standing in their current program of study.

Students who have not earned a baccalaureate degree in the U.S. must submit an official transcript evaluation from a recognized foreign educational credentials evaluation service accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers as well as proof of English proficiency. International students must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language, International English Language Testing System academic exam or Pearson Test of English meeting the minimum requirements that follow:

A Test of English as a Foreign Language minimum composite score of 100 for the Internet-based test or 600 for the paper-based score; an International English language Testing System score minimum of 6.5 on the academic exam; or Pearson: 59 overall score

A score of 68 or higher on the VCU English Language Program Compression test (Students who do not achieve a score of 68 will be placed in the appropriate level of English language proficiency courses.)

Submit your graduate application through the VCU Graduate School.

Courses:

• HADM 615: Health Care Politics and Policy (3 credits) - in-person
• HADM 630: Sustainability, Health, and Health Care: Foundations (3 credits) - online
• HADM 632: Applications of Sustainability, Health, and Health Care (3 credits) - online
• HADM 646: Health Care Organization and Leadership (3 credits) - in-person