Program Overview

Health Systems Administration Certificate

Overview

The health systems administration certificate introduces students to the complexity of the U.S. health care system. Students learn how health care organizations plan for and deliver effective health care services, how various services are financed, and how to effectively lead these highly complex, mission-driven organizations that serve people throughout their lives.

Curriculum

Health Systems Administration, Certificate, Typical Course Sequence

• HLTH-325: Health Care Leadership (3 credits)
  • Highly trained clinical and administrative professionals drive the nature of work in health care. This course provides students the opportunity to study leadership theory as it is applied in health care organizations.
• HLTH-328: Finance for Health Care Professionals (3 credits)
  • This course provides an in-depth investigation of the financial workings in the health care industry, covering essential functions in health care internal financial operations.
• HLTH-330: Health Care Planning And Program Development (3 credits)
  • This course provides a review of the methodology of planning effectively for health care services, including the use of data systems and methods of forecasting, identifying, and analyzing problems.
• HLTH-508: Integrated Health Systems and Population Health (3 credits)
  • This course discusses the delivery system of health care in the US, including research into population demographics and health, and the concept of wellness and prevention.

Total Semester Credit Hours: 12

Program Goals

The health systems administration certificate program has three primary goals:

1. Understand the role of the U.S. health care system in achieving health and wellness.
2. Appreciate the complexity of the system and the related organizations that respond to the needs of their communities and the populations within them.
3. Assess the leadership potential of those interested in careers within the design and delivery of high-quality health service systems.

Target Audience

The health systems administration certificate is designed for three types of individuals:

• Students who have completed their associate degree or are in the process of completing a bachelor’s degree who are considering careers in health care but desire an orientation to the U.S. health system.
• Working professionals, without a bachelor’s degree, who are interested in exploring the health care delivery system.
• Professionals that have invested in clinical degrees, but their primary programs fell short of a completed bachelor’s degree who desire to understand the business side of health care.