University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

What you'll study

This programme combines core health sciences with administrative and management coursework to prepare students to work in hospitals, clinics, public health agencies and other healthcare settings. Typical modules cover:

• Introduction to Health Systems: structure of US healthcare delivery, financing, and the roles of public and private sectors.
• Medical Terminology and Clinical Foundations: clinical vocabulary, basic anatomy and disease processes to support communication with clinical staff.
• Health Law and Ethics: privacy (including HIPAA principles), regulatory compliance, ethical decision‑making in healthcare.
• Healthcare Financial Management: budgeting, reimbursement methods, billing and coding fundamentals, and cost analysis.
• Health Information Systems and Informatics: electronic health records, data standards, basic health data analytics and quality improvement.
• Organisational Behaviour and Leadership in Health Care: team management, human resources, conflict resolution and leadership skills tailored to clinical environments.
• Operations and Service Delivery: scheduling, patient flow, supply chain and facility management.
• Research Methods and Applied Projects: statistics for health services, programme evaluation and an independent or supervised capstone project.
• Practicum / Internship: supervised placement in a hospital, clinic or health organisation to apply administrative skills in real settings.

Students may also take elective modules from public health, business, information science and law to tailor their degree to interests such as health informatics, policy or management.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to have a high school diploma (or equivalent) with a solid academic record. Typical expectations include strong grades in quantitative and science subjects such as biology, mathematics and English. UNC Chapel Hill reviews applications holistically, so successful applicants normally present:

• A competitive overall secondary school transcript with evidence of academic rigour;
• Preparation in science and mathematics at the secondary level (for example biology and algebra);
• Personal statement that outlines interest in healthcare administration and relevant experiences;
• One or more academic or professional references, and any documented extracurricular or volunteer experience in healthcare or community service.

Standardised tests and other materials are reviewed according to the University’s current admissions policies; applicants should consult UNC Chapel Hill Admissions for the most up‑to‑date list of requirements and any transfer credit policies if applying from another institution.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for administrative and management roles across the healthcare sector. Common entry roles include:

• Medical office manager or practice administrator;
• Clinical administrative assistant or department coordinator in hospitals and clinics;
• Billing, coding and revenue cycle specialist;
• Health information coordinator and records manager;
• Quality improvement or patient access coordinator;
• Analyst roles in health systems, insurers or government health agencies.

With experience, graduates may move into departmental leadership, operations management, policy roles or consultancy. Many alumni also progress to postgraduate study such as a Master of Health Administration (MHA), Master of Public Health (MPH) or MBA to advance into senior leadership positions.

Why study at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC Chapel Hill provides access to a major public research university with strong ties to clinical and public health practice. Students benefit from:

• Connections with UNC Health and affiliated hospitals, which create practicum and employment opportunities;
• Interdisciplinary options across public health, business and information science to tailor skills to evolving healthcare needs;
• Faculty who engage in applied health services research and quality improvement work, offering mentorship and research placement opportunities;
• Career services and alumni networks in the regional healthcare sector that support internships, job placement and professional development.

The programme emphasises practical skills, professional practice and an understanding of healthcare systems, equipping graduates to contribute immediately in administrative roles and to build leadership careers in the health sector.