Health Administration (HA)
Master of Science in Health Administration degree from the University of St. Francis was initiated in 1980 to prepare health care professionals for management in the dynamic health care field. It is the institution's goal to provide a quality program of challenging content to meet the ever-changing demands of the profession.
The program is designed for students who have knowledge and experience in specific areas of health care and are seeking a broader understanding of the field. While the program is offered in a convenient format, the content is rigorous. The curriculum includes both the theories of management and its practical application in the health care field. The graduate program emphasizes administration in general rather than a concentration within a specialty.
Each student in the program has a unique philosophy and career goal but shares with other students a common belief in the importance of possessing sound administrative skills. To this end, the resources of the University of St. Francis are available so that the student will be able to undertake a systematic, critical and open-minded investigation of literature and data for the solution of challenging problems.
A student entering a graduate program is preparing for an increasingly significant role in today's society. With the realization, the Graduate Studies Program and its curriculum is based not only on professional technical competence but also on the professional's ethic of service.
The typical student in this program has been employed in health care organization for a number of years. The student is upwardly mobile and expects this education to enhance his or her abilities within the health services organization.
Therefore, development of a broad range of administrative knowledge and skills is the goal of the graduate program. Specific objectives of the curriculum and student outcomes are as follows:
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To provide qualified persons with the skills
of professional administrators.
- To
provide the breadth of insight that can only
come from in-depth study of this discipline.
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To give a humanistic dimension to the education
of administrators of health services organizations.
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To encourage scholarship in solving the problems
of health services organizations.
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To cultivate the ability to think cogently and
to apply tools to decision-making.
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To develop knowledge and skills in particular
managerial functions.
- To
develop an awareness that effective leadership
requires empathic understanding of the needs
and motivations of individuals within an organization.
- To achieve a professional perspective beyond immediate responsibilities of the total administrative role, integrating concepts and decision-making tools into a framework of administrative expertise.
BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM
Candidates will find the study of administration in health to be an enhancement of their professional careers as well as a source of personal satisfaction. Society in general will likewise benefit by health care administrators who have a knowledge of scholarship and research, an understanding of effective management theory and practice, and insight into the social, legal, and ethical responsibilities of health care professionals.
The number and types of health care delivery systems and institutional settings make for diverse management employment possibilities including but not limited to the following:
| hospitals | health maintenance organizations | voluntary health agencies |
| rehabilitation centers | long-term care organizations | public health |
| community health care centers | health insurance programs | health research/evaluation |
| architectural firms | consulting firms | teaching |
| regulatory agencies | health services analysts | health planning systems |
| home health agencies | mental health agencies |
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
To be considered for admission, a student must have at least two years of significant experience in the health care field and a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university and a minimum 2.75 GPA.
Computer competency in word processing and spreadsheets is required.