A dual MHA/MPA degree option is available for students in the Sloan Program in Health Administration (Sloan) and the MPA Program. This option enables students to complete both degrees in three years while eliminating duplicative course work. The goal of this dual degree program is to enable students to combine training in public administration with training in the tools of management and their applications to health administration, the organization of the health care sector, health policy, and public health.

The MPA Program provides young professionals with a set of generic public management and analytical skills, as well as broader understanding of the politics of public policy in both domestic and international contexts. Sloan trains early careerists to apply management and organizational expertise to the advancement of healthcare delivery and the health and well-being of people, families, and communities. Graduates work for hospitals and health systems, management consulting firms, insurance and pharmaceutical companies and a range of other organizations involved in health and healthcare. The dual MHA/MPA program will allow students with career objectives in the healthcare sector focused on health policy to obtain the generic and specialized training required to succeed as healthcare managers and analysts offering leadership in policy-oriented positions both domestically and abroad.

Degree Requirements

The Cornell MHA/MPA program is a three-year, 90-credit dual program with 45 credits counting toward the MPA and 45 credits counting toward the MHA where selected core and elective courses will be double counted as appropriate to fulfill respective program requirements. Students spend their first year at the MPA Program. They then begin taking courses in the Sloan Program in their second year while also continuing to take some MPA courses. An MPA internship occurs between their first and second year. A Sloan internship occurs between their second and third year. During their second year, students complete the MPA Capstone Course and in their third year, students complete all elective requirements and the Sloan Capstone Course. During their second and third year, all students are required each semester to attend the Sloan Colloquium series, which brings leading industry practitioners to campus, and participate in related field trips. Approval by the Sloan Program is required for all courses counting towards Sloan elective credits. Approval by the MPA Program is required for all courses counting towards MPA elective credits. Students are assigned advisors in both schools at the time of matriculation who continue to advise them throughout their time in the program.

Admission Requirements

Students in the dual MHA/MPA program must be separately admitted to both the Sloan MHA Program and the MPA Program. Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other. The application process is highly selective and no more than 3 highly qualified students will be admitted to the dual program each year. Due to the intensive, specialized nature of this program, a minimum of 1-2 years of prior, relevant experience will be expected of all applicants to this program. Competitive applicants will score in the 80th percentile on the GRE and have a GPA of 3.50 or greater.

The Sloan Program has a commitment to advancing diversity, inclusion, access, equity and excellence in graduate education. Our admissions committee is focused on making graduate study at Cornell more accessible to all students, but especially to those identifying with backgrounds historically underrepresented in graduate education. All applications are welcome.

Students who are interested in applying to the dual MHA/MPA program should contact Thomas O’Toole, Ph.D., Executive Director of the MPA Program, tjo22@cornell.edu, to discuss eligibility.