Health Services Administration, MS

Program code: HSAD-MS

The Master of Science in Health Services Administration degree will consist of 36 credits; 39 if the student completes a thesis. Courses will be offered by the Employment Relations and Health Services Administration, Nursing and Allied Health Professions, the MBA program and other departments. Students that anticipate continuing their education in a doctoral program could choose to complete a thesis instead of an elective course. The thesis would require 6 credit hours, bringing their degree total to 39 credits. These requirements meet the minimum master’s degree requirements of the School of Graduate Studies and Research. The Master in Health Services Administration would prepare students for a wide variety of leadership positions within health services organizations in not-forprofit, for-profit, and government settings. The role of a health services administrator includes the specialized application of employment relations knowledge, the improvement of individual and public health, and the improvement of health delivery systems. The program would provide students with an effective balance of coursework in health services, employee relations, and research methodology that would enable them to excel in this role.

Admission Criteria

Required:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning.

Minimum QPA of 3.0 if graduated with a BS or BA within five years of the application date. If the bachelor’s degree is older than five years, the minimum QPA required is 2.6.

Evidence of course work in statistics and research methodology and design.

One letter of recommendation. If bachelor’s degree was earned within five years, at least one letter must be from a faculty member or the dean/director of undergraduate program. If degree is older than five years, both letters must be from employers or professional colleagues. Personal letters of recommendation are not acceptable.

Satisfactory professional essay (minimum of two typewritten pages) to include a description of:

A significant professional accomplishment

Expectations of graduate study

Career goals

Program Requirements

ELR 631 - Human Resources Management in the Public Sector Credits: 3
or
HSAD 631 - Human Resources Management in the Public Sector Credits: 3
HSAD 605 - Epidemiology in Health Services Administration Credits: 3
HSAD 609 - Ethics and Social Issues in Healthcare Credits: 3
NURS 614 - Health Policy and Patient Advocacy Credits: 3
or
HSAD 614 - Health Policy Credits: 3
ELR 616 - Health Law Credits: 3
or
HSAD 616 - Health Law Credits: 3
ELR 619 - Research Methods in Human Resources and Employment and Labor Relations Credits: 3
or
HSAD 619 - Research Methods in Human Resources and Employment and Labor Relations Credits: 3
or
GSR 615 - Elements of Research Credits: 3
NURS 555 - Healthcare Informatics Credits: 3
or
HSAD 555 - Health Care Informatics Credits: 3
or
IFMG 640 - Information Systems Management Credits: 3
An approved course in Information Science
NURS 730 - Financial Management in Health Care Credits: 3
or
HSAD 730 - Financial Management in Health Care Credits: 3
or
FIN 630 - Corporate Finance and Valuation Credits: 3
An approved course in Finance
HSAD 761 - Health Services Capstone Credits: 3
or
NURS 732 - Organizational Behavior in Health Care Administration Credits: 3
ELR 698 - Internship Credits: 3 or 6

Elective 1: Organizational Behavior/Supervision - 3 cr.

ELR 751 - Conflict Resolution Credits: 3
ELR 612 - Labor Relations Practice and Administration Credits: 3
ELR 610 - Employee Rights under Law Credits: 3
MGMT 613 - Advances in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management Credits: 3
An approved course in Organizational Behavior or Supervision

Elective 2: Leadership Theory/Interpersonal Skills in Health Care - 3 cr.

NURS 619 - Leadership in Health Care Credits: 3
NURS 729 - Nursing Administration Credits: 3
ELR 640 - Negotiations Credits: 3
ELR 751 - Conflict Resolution Credits: 3

Elective 3: Additional Elective to Support Organizational Behavior,Supervision/Leadership Theory and Interpersonal Skills - 3 cr.

Elective from the courses listed above or another elective

Total: 36 cr. (or 39 cr. with Thesis option)

Students enrolled in the Master of Science in HSAD will complete 39 credits (with thesis) or 36 credits (without thesis) for the degree. All students will complete 33 graduate credits in HSAD core courses. They may finish out the program either with a 3-credit elective or with a 6-credit thesis option. Students may choose electives from IUP courses that are appropriate for their needs and interests as they work toward meeting the program objectives. Advisors will approve elective choices.