The Associate of Science degree in Healthcare Administration program prepares graduates for entry-level employment in a health care administration setting. This program is designed to meet the needs of individuals who desire to work in the allied health industry.

Courses for this program include:

• Introduction to Healthcare Administration - Introduces the student to the overall subject matter associated with Healthcare Administration. The course includes a comparison of healthcare systems around the world, legal and business issues in healthcare, financial management, the different settings in the healthcare environment, facility design, quality and patient safety, and organizing the physician practice. Other subjects including team member motivation and conflict management, leadership, human resources management, and communication are covered.

• Global Healthcare Environment - This course includes understanding global health problems, the role of international health agencies and differing forms of major healthcare systems around the world. Discussion of the role of the healthcare administrative/ management role and their impact on these healthcare systems is included

• Administrative Technology Skills - In administrative positions, supervisory or otherwise, requirements may be to prepare and present reports, maintain logs, and to track employee or patient data. Students require the skills and knowledge of the software and technology to prepare these required documents in today’s technological atmosphere. In this course, students will cover Access, PowerPoint, and Excel utilizing a hands-on and practical approach to complete projects that are customized to the student’s particular field

• Administrative Office Skills - A comprehensive introduction to administrative office management focusing on what office managers actually do on the job and the skills necessary to perform the administrative managers job such as dealing with organizational issues, evaluation of employees, communication, office environment, supervision, motivation, equipment and furniture, salaries, productivity, telecommunications, applications software, records management, quality and quantity control, and budgetary and cost control

• Professionalism in Healthcare Careers - A course designed to provide the student working in any health care field with the information to present a professional image and be successful in their chosen career. This course will enhance the student’s ability to obtain an administrative/supervisory position by providing them with the “soft skill” tools that are needed to perform in a professional, ethical, legal and competent manner

• Office Case Study - The student must analyze and research an issue or concern that was evident in their extern/clinical office or place of employment, and present a thorough plan detailing a resolution of this complexity. The student will be required to draw upon knowledge acquired throughout their entire program of study, as well as their extern/clinical and/or employment experience. The student will prepare and facilitate a public presentation of their issue, findings and ultimate solution to the issue. Preparation and presentation will include a “thesis” style APA formatted paper and PowerPoint presentation

• Sociology for Healthcare - Overview of sociology and its relation to health care touching on science, values, emotions, and tradition; the social distribution of health; society, health and health care; inequality and access to health care

• Information System for Healthcare - The Healthcare Information Technology course is designed to equip students with the knowledge necessary to successfully navigate Information Systems in the Healthcare Setting. The course will include an overview of Information technology, Healthcare Information Technology leadership roles, strategic planning, hardware, software, and communications. In addition, students will learn how to utilize electronic health records, patient scheduling, and office automations.

• Legal Aspects of Health Administration - Overview of health law issues. Government regulation including legal constraints; liability; negligence; patient rights; confidentiality; and corporate/administrative responsibility. Emphasis on business applications of health law

• Marketing for Health Services Organizations - This course is designed to develop competencies in the business skills and knowledge domain. Development of marketing strategies and analyses in a health care setting. Design of services to include pricing, communication, distribution channels, and client motivation and services

• Leadership in Healthcare Administration - Micro and macro organizational behavior theories will provide the theoretical foundation for critical study of effective leadership within organizations. The processes of communication, problem solving, critical thinking, conflict management, change management and decision making will be explored at an individual, group, and organizational level. The imperative for leaders to understand and properly manage people will be emphasized. Various models of leadership will be reviewed including leadership competencies. Globalization, diversity leadership, governance and cultural diversity will be examined. Additionally, participants will reflect upon and evaluate their individual leadership abilities, competencies, personal values, interpersonal and communication skills

• Interpersonal Relations - Provides skills and tools for health career students to communicate with patients, peers, superiors, and/or subordinates. Offers exploration of grief and loss, developmental milestones, addiction, professional ethics and law, as well as examining health care personnel as counselors and educators. Discusses tools for observing others, listening, sending and receiving accurate messages, influence of culture’s role in health and healing, and theories of human understanding

• Quantitative Principles - Provides overview of mathematics relating to business, economics, life sciences and social sciences. Provides students with varying degrees of mathematical experience with an overview of all areas of mathematics, to include elementary functions, finite mathematics, and some calculus

• Body Function and Terminology - An introductory course that presents the principles and facts of human physiology for the health care professional. An advanced offering of medical terminology completes this comprehensive course, providing both clinical and administrative office examples and cases in a realistic context for introduction of terms and definition

• Medical Ethics - A course designed to provide the health care professional with analytical and responsible decision-making skills utilizing ethical issues which are prevalent in a health care setting