Master of Health Care Administration menu
Below you will find a detailed outline of the steps required to apply for admission to the master of health care administration program at Des Moines University. Please review the calendar below for upcoming application deadlines and term start dates.
| Term | Application deadline | Registration Deadline | Term Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2013 | July 1, 2013 | August, 2013 | September 9, 2013 |
| Spring 2014 | October 1, 2013 | December, 2013 | January, 2014 |
Required documents for M.H.A. application
- Submit the online application and pay $60 application fee.
- A current resume
Submit a resume with detailed work history - Official transcripts
You must plan to request official transcripts from all colleges and universities where you have enrolled in undergraduate or graduate coursework. This includes all community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, graduate schools, etc. Credits that appear on another institution’s transcript as transfer credit are not considered complete – you must have official transcripts submitted from the original institution where coursework was completed. - Prepare two (2) admission essays to address the questions listed below:
- Admission essay #1
What do you bring to the field of health care administration?
Why do you want to earn an M.H.A. from DMU, and what do you expect from the program?
What is your strategy for meeting the requirements of the program and balancing this with outside demands?
Describe your ideal learning environment. - Admission essay #2
Describe a challenging situation you’ve encountered, how you handled it and what you learned from the experience.
- Admission essay #1
- Submit at least 1 letter of recommendation
Please plan to request letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your performance in an academic or professional setting, and your leadership potential. Other recommendations may include professors, colleagues or fellow members of community or professional organizations.
All application materials must be submitted directly to DMU at the following address:
DMU – MHA Admission
3200 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50312
Email: mhaadmit@dmu.edu
Phone: 515-271-1538
Fax: 515-271-7083
Admission review
Applications are accepted throughout the year and reviewed following posted deadlines. New students are only admitted to the fall and spring semesters. Applications received after deadlines may be reviewed on a case by case basis. Individuals may be eligible to apply and enroll in select coursework as a non-degree seeking student prior to submitting or completing a full application file. Applicants are encouraged to contact us directly with questions regarding the timing of their application and to verify receipt of materials.
Admission decisions
Admission decisions are typically delivered within 30 days of the posted deadlines. If admitted, a non-refundable $250.00 tuition seat deposit is required, securing a seat in the program. Deposits are used to establish student tuition accounts and are credited toward the cost of tuition for the first term. Newly accepted students will also receive additional information regarding course registration, faculty advisors and financial aid.
Non-degree seeking students
Individuals may be eligible to enroll in select courses as a non-degree seeking student. Credit completed as a non-degree status student may be considered for degree requirements.
View non-degree course information
Transfer credit
Students with previously earned graduate credit may apply for transfer of up to 12 semester hours of coursework. Transfer coursework is subject to approval of the Dean and/or Program Director, and will only be reviewed if it was completed within the past 4 years at a grade of B or better. Students must apply for transfer credit within one term of enrolling in a master’s degree at DMU. Requests for transfer credit will only be processed once an applicant is admitted to the degree program.
International students
To be eligible for admission, you must be either a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. Applicants in Permanent Resident “pending” status are not eligible for admission. If you are an international student, please refer to our international student information pages.
If you are a U.S. Citizen or legal permanent resident with a degree from a non-U.S. institution, additional documentation is required for admission consideration:
- Foreign transcript evaluation
Coursework taken at foreign institutions must be evaluated for U.S. equivalence by one of the following evaluation services, and an official copy must be sent from the service directly to Des Moines University. A course-by-course evaluation is required, and your application will not be complete or verified until this is received. Evaluations are accepted from the following services only: - TOEFL
Applicants with degrees completed in languages other than English must submit TOEFL scores to be considered for admission. Applicants may be required to submit documentation verifying their instruction was delivered in English. Required minimum score of: Paper exam = 600, computer exam = 250, internet exam = 100.
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