Declare HSA as your Major

Any student admitted to JMU can declare HSA as his/her major and will be permitted to enroll in pre-requisite courses. Incoming freshman and transfer students may declare the HSA major at orientation. If you do not enter JMU as a HSA major and desire to change to HSA, you must complete a request for a “Major/Minor Change” in My Madison. To continue beyond the pre-requisite courses, students must apply and be fully admitted to the program. Declaring the HSA major does not guarantee admission to the HSA program.

Information for Transfer Students

Complete the HSA Pre-Requisites

In order to apply to be fully admitted to the HSA program, students must have completed or be currently enrolled in the following pre-requisite classes at the time of application and earn a grade of “C-” or higher:

• CIS 204*
• ECON 201
• HTH 354

For students who are currently enrolled in a pre-requisite course(s) at the time of application, admission will be contingent upon successfully completing all pre-requisite courses with a “C-“ or higher prior to the beginning of the semester to which the student is applying. Equivalent coursework taken at other schools will be accepted.

*COB 204 may substitute for CIS 204.

Submit the HSA Admission Application

Submit Your Application Online

View Information Session PowerPoint Slides

Students wishing to be fully admitted to the HSA major at JMU must apply in the semester during which the requirements will be met, usually in the spring of the sophomore year. Admission applications received after the sophomore year may result in the delay of graduation beyond the traditional four years.

Admissions application must include the following and be submitted electronically by the deadline.

1. Personal Essay (in Microsoft Word using the prompts below)
2. Unofficial JMU Transcript (PDF) from MyMadison

Your personal statement is your opportunity to highlight your background, interests, and decision to pursue a Health Services Administration degree at JMU. Most importantly, this is your opportunity to communicate your passion for the field of health administration and demonstrate your uniqueness as an applicant. You can also use your personal statement to explain any inconsistencies in other components of the application.
 
Personal essay should address the following questions:

• How would you describe what a health care administrator does to an individual unfamiliar with the field?
• What influenced your decision to pursue health administration as a major? Provide an example of an experience in health care (personal or professional) that contributed to your interest in the HSA major.
• What do you foresee will be the biggest challenge facing the health care administration field in the future?

Requirements:

• Personal essay should be a minimum of 250 words and a maximum of 500 words.
• Font: Times New Roman, 12 point, single spaced

Applicants must complete the entire application at one time. You are not permitted to begin the application and then return to submit it at a later time. Completion will require you to upload the following documents upon completion and submission:

Application deadline for Fall Admission: February 15
Application deadline for Spring Admission: September 15

Notification of Acceptance

Students will be notified of their acceptance into the program prior to the beginning of the class registration period for the subsequent semester. Admission to the HSA program is a competitive process in which a limited number of students are admitted each cycle. Meeting the criteria for application does not guarantee admission into the program. Students who are not admitted to the major on the first application cycle may reapply in subsequent semester(s) and are encouraged to counsel with the Program Director regarding their placement in the selection process and whether reapplying is advisable.

For More Information

All declared HSA students will be assigned a HSA major advisor, who can assist students with their course planning and answer any questions about the application process. For general inquiries about the program or admissions process, please contact the Interim Program Director, Dr. April Temple at templ2al@jmu.edu.