Brandeis University
The Heller School for Social Policy and Management
Since its founding in 1959 as the University's first professional school, The Heller School at Brandeis University has been committed to developing new knowledge and insights in the field of social policy and human services management. The Heller School is ranked in the top ten for schools of social policy by U.S. News and World Report Magazine and twelth for programs in health policy and management. Faculty members and students actively engage in examining policies and programs that respond to the changing needs of vulnerable individuals and social groups in society. Heller has pioneered in the policy areas of health; mental health; substance abuse; children, youth and families; aging; mental retardation and developmental disabilities; and work, inequality and social change. The faculty represents many social science disciplines and includes both scholars and practitioners. The School offers a Ph.D. in Social Policy, and a Master of Business Administration in Mission-Driven Management.
Programs of Study and Degrees
Ph.D. Program
The Ph.D. Program educates students for careers in research, teaching, social planning, administration, and policy analysis. The course of study is interdisciplinary, based on economics, sociology, and political science. Courses in social welfare, policy analysis, and research methods combine with those in substantive areas of interest for an integrated approach to social policy. Students must complete fifteen courses and a comprehensive paper in the social sciences as well as successfully defend, both orally and in writing, a policy research dissertation.
The M.B.A Mission-Driven Management
The M.B.A. Program trains leaders who manage a wide range of mission-driven organizations. The curriculum uniquely combines social policy with cutting-edge management education, cross-training students not only to identify the issues and needs of disadvantaged groups but to address those needs through effective and efficient program design and management within the complex and changing environment of health and human services. The M.B.A. Program offers the option of three specialized tracks - health care, policies and services for elders and people with disabilities or child, youth, and family services - allowing students interested in careers in a specific area of human services to pursue a course of study that emphasizes both management and analytical skills in a real-life context. The full-time, accelerated program takes fifteen months, beginning in June and finishing in August of the following year. Part-time options are also available.
The Ph.D. Program enrolls about 15 new students each fall who complete residency in two to three years. The M.B.A. Program enrolls about 40 students each year. Full-time M.B.A. students complete the program in fifteen months (June through August of the following year), a considerable advantage in cost and time over equivalent two-year programs. Part-time students finish in two to three years.
Research Facilities
Students benefit from association with an expert research staff in six policy centers conducting nationally significant projects in a wide range of areas. Heller course offerings reflect the work of the Schneider Institute for Health Policy, the Policy Center on Aging, the Institute for Sustainable Development, the Family and Child Policy Center, the Center for Hunger and Poverty, and the Nathan and Toby Starr Center for Mental Retardation. In addition to the work at the six centers, active research is conducted in mental health, substance abuse, and long-term care. Ph.D. students often secure research assistantships in the centers.
Cost of Study and Financial Aid
Costs of study are as follows: for the full-time Ph.D. Program, $32,999 per year; part-time Ph.D. is $2,943 per course; for the full-time, fifteen month M.B.A. program, $10,043 per semester (four semester program). Part-time M.B.A study is $2,993 per course.
The Heller School attempts to assist as many students as possible in securing financial aid. Candidates for admission are expected to explore a variety of outside funding sources, such as private scholarships, loans, G.I. bill benefits, and government loan programs. The School has a number of federally and privately sponsored grants in the fields of health, substance abuse, and children and families that provide tuition fellowships and monthly stipends for eligible students. In addition, the School has a limited number of need-based scholarships. In order to be eligible for financial aid or funding of any kind, a candidate must have both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile on file at the School. Forms may be obtained from the Office of Admissions. Aid decisions are made on the combined basis of financial need and academic merit. Part-time Ph.D. and M.B.A. students can apply for student loans by filing the FAFSA. The deadline for priority consideration for financial aid awards is February 15. University housing at Brandeis University is limited; most students rent nearby apartments.
How to Apply
Application forms and financial aid information can be obtained from the Office of Admissions. Students must submit a completed application, transcripts, recommendations, writing samples, resume and test scores (GMAT for M.B.A. students, and GRE or MAT scores for Ph.D. students). The application fee is $50. Ph.D. applicants must submit their materials by December 15 to start in September. M.B.A. full-time applicants must submit their materials by February 15 to begin in June. Applications to the part-time M.B.A. program must be submitted by June 1 for fall admission and November 1 for spring admission. Prospective applicants to either program are invited to attend information sessions held annually in the fall and winter.
Who to Contact
Office of Admissions
The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, MS 035
Brandeis University
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9110
Tel: 800-279-4105
Fax: (781) 736-3881
E-mail: HellerAdmissions@brandeis.edu
The Faculty and Research Staff
For a complete listing of current faculty and research staff, visit our website at http://heller.brandeis.edu.