Dartmouth College

What you'll study

This master's focuses on the organisational, financial and policy dimensions of healthcare delivery. Core themes typically include health systems and policy, healthcare operations and quality improvement, financial management and economics for health services, health informatics and data analytics, leadership and change management, and ethics and legal issues in healthcare.

• Health Systems & Policy: comparative health systems, regulation, payer-provider relationships and population health approaches.
• Operations & Quality Improvement: process improvement methods (eg Lean, Six Sigma concepts), patient safety, care redesign and performance measurement.
• Finance & Economics: budgeting and financial management for healthcare organisations, reimbursement models and cost-effectiveness analysis.
• Data & Informatics: applied biostatistics, health informatics, use of electronic health records and analytics for decision-making.
• Leadership & Management: organisational behaviour, strategic planning, negotiation and human resources in clinical settings.
• Applied Project or Practicum: a capstone project or practicum placement with a healthcare organisation to apply classroom learning to a real operational challenge.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a recognised bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typical requirements include a transcript of academic records, a curriculum vitae or résumé, a personal statement describing professional goals and fit with the programme, and two or more academic or professional references. Practical experience in healthcare, public health, policy, administration or a related field is valued and can strengthen an application.

Standardised tests such as the GRE are sometimes optional and depend on the programme's admissions policy; international applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency if their prior education was not in English. Admissions committees assess applicants holistically, considering academic preparation, professional experience and the clarity of career objectives.

Career prospects

Graduates move into leadership and operational roles across the healthcare sector. Common career paths include hospital or health system administration, clinic or practice management, roles in quality improvement and patient safety, healthcare consultancy, policy and programme management within government or NGOs, and product or project management within health technology firms.

Alumni frequently work in settings such as academic medical centres, integrated delivery systems, community hospitals, health insurers, consulting firms, public health agencies and health-tech companies. The practicum or capstone project also provides evidence of applied experience that employers value.

Why study at Dartmouth College

Dartmouth offers an intimate learning environment with interdisciplinary access to medical, health policy and quantitative resources. Students benefit from collaboration with faculty engaged in health services research, close ties to clinical partners for practicum placements, and a cohort-based model that emphasises mentorship and team-based learning.

The college's location and institutional connections provide opportunities for experiential projects with regional health providers and for engagement with national networks through research centres and alumni. The programme emphasises translating evidence into practice, preparing graduates to lead improvements in healthcare delivery and organisational performance.