Today we turn our attention to options for studying healthcare in business school, with a particular emphasis on Wharton’s Health Care Management Major and Duke’s Health Sector Management Program, the two oldest and best known healthcare programs among U.S. business schools.

Wharton’s major draws its faculty from the business, medical and nursing schools, as well as from practicing healthcare professionals, ensuring an interdisciplinary approach to the issues in the field. The Health Care Management major differs from other majors at Wharton in that students must choose the major in their initial application to the school instead of in their second year. Health Care Management further differs in that it aggressively integrates professional development and field work into the major.

For instance, all Health Care majors are required to complete a Field Application Project (FAP). In the FAP, teams of students spend a semester working with an industry partner to solve real world problems in the healthcare field. Given the amount of time these projects can take, students must work carefully to balance classes around the demands of their projects.

At Fuqua, students enter the HSM program from a variety of backgrounds; though the program does not require prior health sector experience, it does look for a strong commitment to the healthcare field among all participants. As with Wharton’s Health Care Management major, application to Fuqua’s HSM program is through the MBA admissions process, with HSM applicants asked to indicate their interest in pursuing the HSM Certificate in a special section of the application.

Once enrolled, Duke HSM students spend the first year completing the standard core curriculum before beginning the coursework that leads to the HSM Certificate. To earn the Certificate, HSM students take three HSM core courses and three healthcare electives. All six HSM courses count as elective credits towards the MBA degree requirements. This is a slightly heavier courseload than required by Wharton’s healthcare program, which asks students to complete two foundations courses and three healthcare electives.

Despite the prominence of the Wharton and Duke programs, they are far from the only option for MBA applicants seeking a career in healthcare. For instance, Columbia now offers the Health Care and Pharmaceutical Management program, Kellogg offers a major in Health Industry Management, and HBS hosts the Healthcare Initiative. Those business schools that do not offer formal healthcare concentrations tend to have a student club and/or a student-organized conference dedicated to supporting interest in the field, so regardless of the program, healthcare minded applicants should find plenty of resources.

For more on healthcare options, majors, student clubs or conferences, be sure to check out the Clear Admit School Guides.

For those who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare and want to learn more about the different programs and opportunities available at each school, check out the Clear Admit Career Guide: Healthcare.

Entitled “Blazing New Trails: The Growing Need for MBAs in Sports,” this year’s conference will address the many challenges that face business leaders in the $213 billion sports industry. Key industry figures are scheduled to participate in a range of panels addressing such topics as the globalization of sports, entrepreneurship opportunities in sports, sports sponsorships and MBA careers in sports.

Chris Granger, a senior marketing executive at the National Basketball Association, and Kevin Plank, chairman and CEO of Under Armour, will deliver keynote addresses. Chief executives and directors of sponsorship and marketing from ESPN, the Cleveland Indians, the Chicago Bears, USA Triathlon, Bank of America, Wilson Sporting Goods and others will number among the many schedule panelists.

To learn more about the 2010 Kellogg Sports Business Conference, click here.

Let’s take a look at a few of the options for students seeking a Master’s degree in conjunction with their MBA, as well as the admissions requirements governing these degrees.

Like most leading MBA programs, Columbia Business School offers dual degree programs through which students earn another degree concurrently with their MBA (e.g., Master’s in International and Public Affairs, Master’s in Social Services). Applicants are required to apply to and receive admission to both programs and may apply to both programs simultaneously or to the second program if they are less than halfway through their studies at the first school.

Students in a dual degree program at Columbia register at one school per term and may take courses in either program in each term, as long as they meet each school’s course, residence, and sequencing requirements. CBS recommends that candidates complete the first two terms of the MBA program consecutively to maintain the integrity and full benefits of the cluster system.

Similar systems are in place at Chicago, which offers two joint MBA/MA programs, at HBS, which offers concurrent degrees with the Kennedy School of Government, and at Stanford, where there are joint MBA/MA options. A few business schools offer slightly different options for students interested in joint degree study. For instance, Kellogg does not offer a set list of MBA/MA programs, instead opting to allow students to create their own joint program through application to their two programs of interest. Meanwhile, although Tuck and Wharton offer dual degrees on their own campuses, each also teams up with other universities (including Tufts, the Kennedy School, and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies) to offer a more extensive list of dual degree programs.

While dual degree students make up a relatively small percentage of the overall MBA population, some admissions officers report that combination degrees are becoming increasingly popular as students seek to customize their educations and take advantage of the opportunity to earn two degrees in less time, and for less money, than if they pursued separate programs. For MBA applicants interested in applying their business education to fields such as public policy, education, social work, the environment, public health, international policy or another specialized field, a joint degree program can offer both the area expertise and business knowledge needed for a successful career.

To learn more about MBA/MA dual degree options, be sure to check out the Dual Degrees section of the Clear Admit School Guides!

“This year’s Super Bowl featured several effective ads, making the Review an exciting learning experience for the students,” Tim Calkins, a Kellogg clinical marketing professor who leads the event, said in a statement. “The overarching goal for Super Bowl advertisers is a successful ad that resonates with their target audience. Based on our framework, Google really embraced the key elements of a winning Super Bowl commercial with both its sentimental and practical execution,” he continued.

Calkins was referring to a strategic academic framework known as ADPLAN, developed by Kellogg faculty, an acronym that instructs viewers to grade ads based on Attention, Distinction, Positioning, Linkage, Amplification and Net equity.

Thought not alone in obtaining an “A” grade – other top scorers included Denny’s, Audi, Volkswagon, Dodge and Snickers – Google edged out the competition just enough to win the 2010 review. But by claiming three of the top five spots, automakers also surprised reviewers with their ability to cut through the clutter with memorable ads, according to the post-game report from Kellogg. 

Despite lots of pre-game buzz, other advertisers fell flat, the reviewers found. Focus on the Family, with its spot devoted to anti-abortion sentiment, and the U.S. Census, which used government dollars to procure some of the most expensive television advertising available, both came up short when measured according to the strategic framework. Honda and Bridgestone also received low marks.

But even for the winning companies, there is still work ahead. “Companies now need to leverage the buzz to increase their ROI,” Derek Rucker, Kellogg associate professor of marketing, who also leads the review, said in a statement. “Turning the advertising into consumer action is the next step and the best companies know that. The marketing departments will be working overtime for that reason,” he added.

For a full list of the rankings, click here.

Are you interested in a career in marketing? Check out the Clear Admit Marketing and Brand Management Career Guide for valuable information on choosing the MBA program that’s right for you.

For the next few weeks, any interview report submitted for an MBA program in the Clear Admit Wiki is eligible for a $10 Amazon gift certificate!  In other words, all you have to do is send us your interview field report for inclusion in the Wiki and we’ll send you a $10 Amazon gift certificate.   While any contributor can win, you must send your interview report to wiki@clearadmit.com to be eligible; we’ll post it to the Wiki and notify the winners by e-mail (Limit: one iTunes or Amazon gift card per person).

The most helpful and informative reports usually include the following information:

1. Date/Admissions Round
2. Description of visit and/or interview atmosphere
3. Type of interview (alum vs. adcom, blind vs. application-based)
4. List of interview questions
5. Commentary (What did you think of the interview? What surprised you? What didn’t surprise you? What might you conclude about the school based on this experience?)

Applicants who would like to supplement the information available on the Wiki can check out our Clear Admit Interview Guides, which provide school-specific insight and strategic about admissions interviews.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Clear Admit Wiki and helped fellow applicants prepare for MBA admissions interviews this season!

However, two of the leading MBA programs best known for their strong sense of community are also two of the schools that have actively expanded the number of on-campus housing opportunities for MBA students. Let’s take a closer look at housing options offered by Tuck and Kellogg.

Tuck’s Whittemore Hall offers private living accommodations, social areas, group study rooms, a business resource center and an exercise facility with locker rooms. Buchanan Hall provides additional housing for first-year students, as well as group study rooms and a lounge area. Students entering Tuck with partners or children often choose to live in Sachem Village, a duplex and townhome community for Dartmouth’s graduate students.

Tuck also recently expanded its residential options with two additional residences, Achtmeyer and Pineau-Valencienne Halls. Together, these residences provide 85 single-occupancy rooms, with group kitchens and lounges on each floor. Located just west of Whittemore Hall, these buildings offer a number of places for students to gather. These halls are part of the new living and learning center that officially opened at Tuck in January 2009.

At Kellogg, of the 30% of MBA students who choose to live on campus, most settle into the seven-story McManus Living/Learning Center. Both single and married students may choose from single or double studios, and one- or two-bedroom apartments. With study rooms, a computer lab, lounges, a workout room and a game room, McManus is designed to facilitate socializing and out-of-classroom learning. The McManus Living/Learning Center is just a three block walk from the Jacobs Center, making it one of the most convenient housing options for Kellogg students.

Students at both Tuck and Kellogg report that the opportunity to live with classmates extends students’ social circles and enhances the sense of a shared campus community. For more information on the housing options at Tuck, Kellogg, or other leading business schools, be sure to check out the Life On Campus sections of the Clear Admit School Guides!

For the next few weeks, any interview report submitted for an MBA program in the Clear Admit Wiki is eligible for a $10 iTunes gift certificate!  In other words, all you have to do is send us your interview field report for inclusion in the Wiki and we’ll send you a $10 iTunes gift certificate.   While any contributor can win, you must send your interview report to wiki@clearadmit.com to be eligible; we’ll post it to the Wiki and notify the winners by e-mail (Limit: one gift card per person).

The most helpful and informative reports usually include the following information:

1. Date/Admissions Round
2. Description of visit and/or interview atmosphere
3. Type of interview (alum vs. adcom, blind vs. application-based)
4. List of interview questions
5. Commentary (What did you think of the interview? What surprised you? What didn’t surprise you? What might you conclude about the school based on this experience?)

Applicants who would like to supplement the information available on the Wiki can check out our Clear Admit Interview Guides, which provide school-specific insight and strategic about admissions interviews.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Clear Admit Wiki and helped fellow applicants prepare for MBA admissions interviews this season!

These and other questions will be at the heart of the sixth annual Kellogg School of Management Super Bowl Advertising Review. On game day – February 7, 2010 – students at the business school widely regarded as tops in the field of marketing will pick apart the much-hyped Super Bowl advertisements, judging them based on their potential to drive sales, their impact on companies’ bottom lines and their power to improve brand awareness.

Kellogg marketing professors Derek Rucker and Tim Calkins will oversee students as they dissect this year’s Super Bowl advertising in real time. The students, including members of the Kellogg Marketing Club, will rate the advertisers using a set of academic criteria known as ADPLAN, an acronym for Attention, Distinction, Positioning, Linkage, Amplification and Net equity.

Using ADPLAN, they will examine the qualities that define a successful Super Bowl ad, identify new advertising trends for Super Bowl 2010 and contemplate how marketers can best leverage Super Bowl buzz to increase their return on investment.

Based on these and other academic criteria, the Kellogg students will produce a final ranking of the most and least effective advertisements aired during television’s most-watched event. Leading up to the event, Professors Calkins and Rucker will blog about Super Bowl advertising, providing ongoing commentary and insight, at http://kelloggsuperbowlreview.wordpress.com.

To learn more about the sixth annual Kellogg School Super Bowl Advertising Review, click here.

Snyder’s news comes just 10 days after Harvard Business School’s Dean Jay Light announced that he, too, will step down in June, ending a 40-year tenure on the HBS faculty. Meanwhile, officials at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management are conducting a search of their own to find a successor to Dean Dipak Jain, who stepped down in September. 

Chicago Booth’s Snyder will leave before the end of his second five-year term as dean, which would have finished in June 2011. “Given the strong state of our school and what we have accomplished, I believe now is the right time for the school to search for its next dean,” Snyder wrote in a letter to the Chicago Booth community. “On the personal side, I look forward to taking some time to reflect on the challenges facing management education, analyze some major public policy issues and consider my future,” he continued.

In a separate letter to the community, Chicago Booth President Robert Zimmer and Provost Thomas Rosenbaum praised Snyder’s dedication and all he has achieved over the past near decade. They credited him with helping to draw many of the world’s leading faculty to Chicago and doubling the number of endowed professorships at the school, while also maintaining the highest retention rate for senior faculty in five decades.

Also under Snyder’s leadership, student scholarship assistance has more than tripled, the dean and provost wrote. The school’s global footprint, too, has expanded to include a planned campus expansion in Singapore, a new campus in London and a key role in the University’s new Center in China. Meanwhile, at home on the Hyde Park campus, Chicago Booth moved its central operations into a dramatic new building.

Who will fill all of these open deans’ positions is sure to have the business school community buzzing, the FT noted. At HBS, which has always appointed its deans from within, the two current frontrunners are Rakesh Khurana and Nitin Nohria. The dean’s search committee at Kellogg is slated to propose candidates to the president and provost in early 2010, and interim dean, Sunil Chopra, is considered a potential frontrunner, the FT reported.

Meanwhile, Chicago Booth will establish its own dean’s search committee in the next few weeks, the president and provost wrote.

On November 11th, Chef Graham Elliot Bowles hosted Kellogg marketing professor Andrew Razeghi’s “Introduction of New Marketing and Services” class at his eponymous graham elliot restaurant in Chicago. Bowles, the youngest four-star chef in the nation and a recent contestant on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef Masters,” began his career working at renowned Chicago restaurants Charlie Trotter’s and Tru before launching his solo venture in 2008.

As he served each course, Bowles shared a little about his inspiration. “We like to reconstruct dishes,” he said as laid out a traditional Thanksgiving dinner of roasted heritage turkey with chestnut mousse, sage stuffing, creamy casserole and cranberry chutney. “We like to take an idea, knock it down and build it back up. We want to try to elevate everything that people understand,” he continued. 

Another dish, Wisconsin cheddar risotto, was inspired by a road trip to Chicago’s northern neighbor state, Bowles told the Kellogg students. Featuring a blend of artisan bratwurst, green apples, and glazed onions, it was topped with Cheez-it crackers and served with cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.

Four-star cuisine doesn’t have to be pretentious or stick to a prescribed set of rules, Bowles told the students. “It’s very much a gray area. It’s all open to personal interpretation,” he said. Another lesson he’s learned is the importance of maintaining a democratic process at his restaurant, which means taking into account the opinions and responsibilities of everyone from dishwasher to sous chef.

Razeghi, who is a close friend of Bowles, pointed out that the chef’s thoughts on business are relevant well outside the culinary field. Great marketing involves communicating a unique vision, he said. “It’s about understanding who your audience is and having a conversation with them that speaks to them. I really admire how [Bowles] does that,” he said.

The students seemed to agree. “I like that he said that everyone here matters – even the guy that sweeps the floor,” said Stephen Windsor ’11. “That idea is very relevant in business. Everyone working in your company isn’t going to be necessarily working on your team, but they still matter.”

For more on this story, click here.