Master of Science in Healthcare Quality and Safety

Who Should Apply

The Master of Science in Healthcare Quality and Safety program is designed for clinicians and clinical administrators looking to design and lead strategic initiatives in quality improvement, risk management, and patient safety within their home institutions or health systems. Our students come to us from all over the world, typically bringing at least three years of clinical experience as physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists, and allied health care professionals as well as administrators in safety, quality, clinical informatics, risk management, and health leadership.

Applicants should hold an advanced degree, such as a master’s degree or beyond. Applicants without an advanced degree but with extensive experience in quality and safety will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Typical applicants have at least three years of clinical experience.

Ideal candidates include:

• Allied health care professionals
• Dentists
• Nurse practitioners
• Pharmacists
• Physicians
• Registered nurses

Applications will be reviewed and considered based on a combination of both experience and education. Students accepted into the program must demonstrate, through training and clinical experience in health care quality and safety, the potential to learn in a challenging educational environment.

Visit our admissions page for additional information or email mhqs@hms.harvard.edu.

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be well-positioned to pursue leadership roles including director of patient safety, assistant or associate quality officer, and director of patient relations and risk.