Admissions

Admission requirements for the MHA program

MHA students in class

The MHA program only accepts students into the program to start in the Fall semester. Applications are accepted until July 1 of each year or until the incoming class is full. Up to twenty-five students are admitted into each class modality (i.e., online and residential), annually. During the application process, applicants will declare whether they want to pursue the entire program in the hybrid online synchronous program or the residential on-campus program. The hybrid program is only open to students residing in the United States since all classes are held live, virtually in U.S. Central Time Zone and there is an in-person, on-campus requirement for which students must travel to San Antonio, Texas three times throughout the 21-month program.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following documents to complete their application:

  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work,
  • A statement of purpose explaining why the applicant desires to pursue an MHA and why at UIW, and
  • One letter of recommendation. The letter of recommendation should be from an individual who knows the applicant quite well, preferably from a workplace supervisor or professor.

Application Review

Once the application file is complete, it will be evaluated by the MHA Program Director. Qualified applicants will then be invited to participate in a virtual interview conducted by at least two members of the MHA admissions committee. While an interview is required, it does not guarantee admission into the Program.

Applicants who are accepted into the MHA program will be required to complete a background check prior to the start of classes. Additional information will be provided in the acceptance letter.

Note, there are no prerequisite courses required to enter the MHA Program, nor is any specific undergraduate major required, but completion of an undergraduate degree is required.

International students must demonstrate proof of English proficiency in accordance with UIW English proficiency standards. See UIW English proficiency standards for details.

Admission Criteria

The MHA Program admission criteria have been changed as of February 2025 and are applicable to the incoming Fall 2025 cohort. The GRE or GMAT exam score is no longer required. Additionally, the tier levels 1 through 3 have been replaced with either unconditional or conditional admission as described below. 

Unconditional Admission: Applicants who earned a cumulative GPA of 2.80 or higher for their baccalaureate degree (or other graduate-level degree) may be offered unconditional admission.

Conditional Admission: Applicants who earned a cumulative GPA of less than 2.8 but at least a 2.5 for their baccalaureate degree (or other graduate-level degree) may be offered a conditional admission. If offered a conditional admission, the student must earn a B- or better on the four first semester courses to remain in the program. If they earn a C, they may retake the course(s) one time in the following year to continue through the program (note, MHA courses are only offered once per year).

Exceptions: Applicants who earned less than a 2.5 GPA on their baccalaureate degree, but have demonstrated success in college coursework subsequently, may be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Consideration will be based on the circumstances for the low undergraduate GPA and length of time since it was earned, work experience, and the admission committee's overall assessment of the applicant's ability to successfully complete the MHA program.