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Table 1 Graduate degree program accreditation and scope of study

Accreditation Body and Accredited Programs List

Discipline/Degree

Scope of Study

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. 6 https://www. aacsb.edu/accreditation/

Broad range of topics relevant to any business, such as accounting, finance, management, marketing, economics.

accredited-schools?F_ Accreditation 5 Business

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

Council on the Accreditation of Health Management Accreditation. 7 https://cahme.org/healthcare management-education accreditation/students/search for-an-accredited-program/ Association of Accredited Public Health Programs. 8 http://www. aaphps.org/aaphp-member programs.html Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration. 9 https:// accreditation.naspaa.org/ resources/roster-of-accredited programs/ Few, accreditation varies across programs

Business topics limited in scope to management of health systems and hospitals.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Topics related to management of community health services, such as population health and prevention. Management of governmental or quasi-governmental health related services.

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Master of Medical Management (MMM)

Advanced management skills for physician executives.

your interests relate to inpatient facilities, the MHA may be for you. The MPH degree may be best if you are interested in publicly funded community mental health pro grams. If you aspire to a leadership position related to mental health services in correctional facilities, the MPA may be a good choice. Experienced physician execu tives may opt for the MMM degree. Or you may explore the options and decide not to pursue a graduate degree, or at least, not to pursue a graduate degree right now.

IS ACCREDITATION IMPORTANT?

Many graduate programs are accredited by disciplinary societies. Some programs are not accredited. Accreditation is an important consideration because it is the pri mary means for ensuring and improving the quality of higher education institutions and programs. 10 Not all graduate leadership programs are created equal; reputation matters. Professional colleagues and others will take note of the degree and the insti tution awarding the degree. Higher status is afforded to accredited programs. Even higher status is afforded to graduate degrees from elite universities. Other programs have found a niche catering to working adults. They are marketed heavily and stress flexibility and convenience. The cost of graduate study is similar whether the pro gram is accredited or not accredited. Over time, some nonaccredited programs become accredited. Until that time, enrolling in a nonaccredited program may have potentially negative consequences in terms of how the degree is perceived by others. Documentation of successful completion comes in the form of a diploma.