Master of Science in Health Sciences in the Field of Healthcare Quality

The master of science in health sciences in the field of healthcare quality program is an interdisciplinary program designed for healthcare professionals who want to advance their careers and become leaders in healthcare quality and patient safety.

The competency-based curriculum is informed by the National Center for Healthcare Leadership and the National Association for Healthcare Quality. It includes 20 competencies, ranging from patient safety, quality, and health informatics to leadership theories, critical thinking, and analysis. Toward the end of the program, a Capstone project allows for high-level integration of the program’s competencies. Throughout the program, student competency attainment is assessed at different points in time. 

As one of the first two healthcare quality programs to receive national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, the program is designed to meet an emerging demand for quality and patient safety specialists who have the capacity and competence to grow and sustain a culture of continuous improvement at all levels and within every sector of the healthcare delivery system. Through a rigorous curriculum and an active-learning environment, the program helps prepare graduates for quality and patient safety leadership, management, and research positions within healthcare organizations or policy agencies. Upon completion of this program, students can expect to:

• Evaluate appropriate quality improvement patient safety, leadership, organizational change, and research theories/standards applicable to healthcare.
• Develop quality and patient safety improvement initiatives.
• Assess information technology systems to determine the level of support for quality improvement.
• Formulate organizational change plans to sustain a quality-focused culture.

Adminssion Requirements

Article	Requirement
Admissions Deadlines:	Fall – June 15
	Spring - October 15
	Summer - March 1
	The application and all supporting documentation (fees, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, transcripts) must be received by the deadline in order for the application to be reviewed.
Standardized Test Scores:	Not required
Recommendations required:	Two (2) recommendations
Prior Academic Records:	Transcripts required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Transcripts must be forwarded in their original sealed envelopes.
	If academic records are in a language other than English, a certified English language translation must be provided in addition to the original transcripts; translations alone will not be accepted.
	Official transcripts from institutions outside the U.S. must be accompanied by an official transcript evaluation from an accredited independent evaluating agency. Please be sure you request a detailed evaluation that includes all course titles, credit hours, grades, U.S. degree equivalency, grade-point averages (GPA), and date of degree conferral. Please see the list of acceptable foreign credential evaluation services (https://www.naces.org/members).
Statement of Purpose:	Please include a 250 - 500 word essay describing your reasons for undertaking study at the George Washington University, your academic objectives, career goals, and related qualifications, including collegiate, professional, and community activities, relevant to your program of interest. Include any substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application form.
International Applicants:	Please review International Applicant Information (https://graduate.admissions.gwu.edu/international-student-application-requirements) carefully for details on required documents and English language requirements.
	PLEASE NOTE that the Health Sciences programs require the following minimum English language test scores for admission:
	- Academic IETLS: an overall band score of 7.0 with no individual band score below 6.0; or
	- TOEFL: 600 on paper-based or 100 on Internet-based; or
	- Academic PTE: 68

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

Health Sciences Office of Online Admissions
851 Trafalgar Court
Suite 420 West
Maitland, FL 3275

Alternatively, official electronic transcripts can be sent to acsonline@gwu.edu

Contact for questions:

hsphora@gwu.edu
202-994-0384 (phone)
202-994-0870 (fax)
9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 36 credits in required courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required
Graduate research courses
HSCI 6263	Biostatistics Translational Research
HSCI 6264	Epidemiology Translational Research
Professional courses
COHM 6235	Leadership Development in Healthcare Systems
COHM 6245	Strategic and Operational Decision Making for Health Care Leaders
Health care quality courses
HCQ 6200	Introduction to Healthcare Quality *
HCQ 6201	Building a Quality Culture
HCQ 6202	Health Care Quality Landscape
HCQ 6203	Quality Improvement Science
HCQ 6204	Health Care Quality Analysis
HCQ 6205	Patient Safety Systems
HCQ 6206	Health Information, Quality and Outcomes
HCQ 6275	Leadership and Change
*Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) credential accepted as equivalent.