Master of Science in Health Systems Management,
Master's International Joint Program with the Peace Corps

Point of Contact
PJ Maddox
Coordinator
Phone: 703-993-1982
Email: pmaddox@gmu.edu

Admissions Information
Founded: August 2004

News

We currently have a Peace Corps student in Mozambique. She is keeping a blog which updates us about her experiences at http://tpolk.blogspot.com.

Benefits

The Master of Science in Health Systems Management offers high quality academic preparation in health care management, policy analysis, health information systems, and assisted living/senior housing management. Courses are scheduled at the Fairfax Campus, and are offered evenings, weekends, and online. George Mason University is a public institution with excellent tuition rates for those who qualify for Virginia residency. Students benefit from the university’s proximity to Washington, DC, by taking classes from leading professors in health policy and from adjunct instructors working in government management or non-profit settings. The Northern Virginia Technology corridor provides an excellent background for students who wish to focus on information systems.

To learn more about the educational benefits of the Master's International program, visit the Master's International site.

Description

The Master’s International (MI), a joint program of Peace Corps and George Mason University, enables participants to prepare for Peace Corps Volunteer service while earning the MS in Health Systems Management. Participants apply separately to the Peace Corps and George Mason University to be accepted into the program. The 39-credit curriculum provides students with the skills and tools to work in the following capacities: leaders and executive-level managers in evolving health systems; health policy analysts; consultants and managers of electronic commerce and technology products and enterprises in the health system; and executive management of assisted living programs. An accelerated pathway is provided for Peace Corps Volunteers to complete 30 credit hours in one year (including summer sessions). Three semester hours will be earned as internship credits for the overseas Peace Corps Service. Students have the option to return to George Mason University for their final six credits or complete the remaining courses online.

For more information, visit http://www.peacecorps.gov/masters

Sample course plans are enclosed below:

HSM with concentration in Policy Analysis

Requirements

The following items are required for admission: completed Application for Graduate Admission; nonrefundable application fee; Application for Virginia In-State Rates for those students claiming eligibility for in-state tuition; original transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities; resume; and a letter of interest specifying study goals. Scores from standardized graduate admissions tests are not required but may be requested if the student does not have a graduate degree or has an undergraduate GPA less than 3.0. Applications for admission to the MS in Health Systems Management program are reviewed throughout the year for admission to either the fall or spring semester, although new students may take their initial courses during the summer sessions. Students accepted into the program but waiting for notification of acceptance from the Peace Corps may begin their master’s program, but will not be eligible for tuition support until they are accepted into the Peace Corps.

Advice to Students on Preparing a Strong Application

• An Overview of the Peace Corps Center for Field Assistance and Applied Research ("The Center"). (ppt)
• Aspiration Statement and Resume Format Guidelines (pdf)
• Example of a Strong Resume (doc)
• Example of a Weak Resume (doc)

The resume and aspiration statement are two documents that each acceptee must e-mail to their Country Desk Unit. The Country Desk staff then forwards these documents to the appropriate post. Please note that the format of the resume differs from the format of the resume that is originally submitted with the Peace Corps application. The resume an applicant writes for the Country Desk should be tailored to the acceptee’s assignment area and possible future projects.

The aspiration statement is also not the same thing as a motivation statement. A motivation statement is submitted with the Peace Corps application. A motivation essay consists of answering the following two questions:

• Your reasons for wanting to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer
• How these reasons are related to your past experiences and life goals

The motivation statement should be more general and should not focus on a specific country, region, or project. An application would be flagged if it included, “I want to serve in country X in order to do research on sea turtles.”

The aspiration statement is submitted after the applicant accepts his or her invitation. The aspiration statement should be tailored to the country and the assignment area. The instructions tell the acceptee to refer to the Volunteer Assignment Description (VAD) and Country Welcome Book as he or she is writing the aspiration statement and resume. 

The aspiration statement is more subjective. The acceptee should cover the five points (see attached instructions), but there isn’t a wrong and a right way to write an aspiration statement. Examples of aspiration statements can be found through an internet search.

If you have questions, please contact
PJ Maddox
Department of Health Administration and Policy
College of Health and Human Services
George Mason University
4400 University Dr, MS 1J3
Fairfax, VA 22030

Phone: 703-993-1929
Fax: 703-993-1953
Email: pmaddox@gmu.edu