Admission requirements

Applications are accepted throughout the year, and new students are admitted each fall and spring semester.

All applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission to the M.H.A. program:

  • A bachelors degree from a regionally accredited college or university
  • A completed application file

Recommended experience

The M.H.A. program at Des Moines University is designed for early to mid-level professionals interested in advancing their careers in a health care management setting. Applicants should have experience in health care management, preferably leadership experience, which can be demonstrated throughout the application materials.

Recommended courses

Students are expected to have strong writing and compositions skills, as well as the basic technical computer skills to perform graduate level coursework. Other courses which may be beneficial to students in pursuit of the degree include accounting, statistics and economics.

Required M.H.A. application documents

See how to apply for a complete list of requirements:

  • Completed online application & $50 fee
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Two (2) Admission Essays
  • Three (3) Letters of Recommendation

Applications will also be accepted through HAMPCAS, the new centralized application service for programs in health care management.

You may contact the Enrollment Management office at DMU directly at mhaadmit@dmu.edu for questions regarding the process.

Application timeline

Applications are accepted throughout the year and are reviewed following the deadlines. New students are admitted twice each year: for the fall semester (August start date) and spring semester (January start date).  Please review the calendar below for upcoming application deadlines and term start dates and contact us with any questions.

Term Application Deadline Notification of Admission Decision Registration Deadline Term Start Date
Fall 2012 May 1, 2012 June 2012 August 13, 2012 August 20, 2012
Spring 2013 October 2012 Mid October 2012 December, 2012 January 2013

Learn more about the newly designed M.H.A. curriculum.

Non-U.S. citizens

To be eligible for admission, you must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. Applicants who are legal permanent residents of the U.S. will be required to provide a copy of their permanent resident card (“green card”) prior to admission.

Permanent residency status “pending,” is not eligible for admission.

If you are an international student, please refer to our international student information pages.

Accommodations in Education Policy

The University complies with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Iowa Civil Rights Act and other laws relating to the Accommodations of disabilities in its educational programming.

View the Accommodations in Education Policy

Technology and computer use

Technology is incorporated throughout the program to support your education. It is a key component of the curriculum in both on-campus and online learning. Applicants should be familiar with the technology requirements.