school of health professions 2019 - 2020 Catalog

Graduate Certificate in Health Systems Policy and Management (CRHS)

Program Description

A Graduate Certificate in Health Systems Policy and Management (CRHS) is available for working professionals who would like to expand their knowledge and further their education in health systems policy and management without pursuing a full graduate degree in healthcare administration. It is a fully online, 12-semester hour program.

Admission to the Program

The CRHS certificate program begins three times a year, in the Summer, Fall and Spring. The application period will open on January 1st for Summer and Fall and on August 1st for Spring. The deadline for the receipt of the application, supporting documentation, and application fee is April 1st for Summer, July 1st for Fall and December 1st for Spring.

Application Process

To be considered for admission, applicants must have one of the following qualifications:

  1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum overall GPA of 2.7 or minimum overall GPA of 2.7 in the last 60 semester hours of courses, OR

  2. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5, AND at least three years of professional or executive work experience, OR

  3. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5, AND at least 9 semester hours of graduate education from an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 3.0, OR

  4. Graduate degree from an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 2.7.

The following are considered in the admissions process:

  • All official college transcripts
  • Acceptable grade point average
  • Professional healthcare or executive experience

Applications may be submitted at anytime; however, applications are considered approximately 3 months prior to the beginning of each term. It is in the best interest of the applicant to apply as early as possible. Applicants should understand that fulfillment of the basic requirements does not guarantee admission.

CRHS Curriculum

Students admitted to the CRHS program will be required to complete 12 semester hours with passing grades and a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or better to meet the certificate requirements.


REQUIRED COURSES
HPHA 5310      Health Law & Ethics
HPHA 5312      Strategic Planning & Marketing in Healthcare
HPHA 5313      Healthcare Economics & Policy


ELECTIVES*
HPHA 5306      Healthcare Delivery System
HPHA 5321      Healthcare Operations & Supply Chain Management
*Students must complete one of the electives.

  • HPHA 5306 Healthcare Delivery System (3:6:0,O)

    This course provides an introduction to healthcare services, offering students an overview of the U.S. healthcare delivery system and the important components of the system. The course will examine the healthcare delivery system broadly and explore contemporary issues affecting the institutions that provide healthcare and are designed to protect the health of the American public. The course will cover the historical development of the U.S. healthcare system, the changing roles of healthcare providers, major health programs, determinants of health, disparities in health, and healthcare finance. The goal of the course is to provide students with the necessary skills to be effective participants in efforts to improve the U.S. healthcare system.

  • HPHA 5310 Health Law and Ethics (3:6:0,O)

    This course provides an overview of legal, regulatory, and ethical issues in healthcare. Topics include patient consent, privacy, confidentiality, torts, contract law, corporate liability, malpractice, antitrust, fraud and abuse, and key federal regulations. Students will analyze and discuss legal and ethical considerations in providing health services and learn to apply these considerations in decision making as a healthcare administrator.

  • HPHA 5312 Strategic Planning & Marketing in Healthcare (3:6:0,O)

    The purpose of this class is to integrate key aspects of strategic planning and marketing in healthcare. The class examines strategic planning techniques, concepts, and practices, as well as leadership responsibilities regarding the creation of mission, vision, goals, and objective statements. The course integrates marketing with strategic planning such that the key elements of marketing and the complementary roles of public relations, advertising and sales are captured in the organizational analysis.

  • HPHA 5313 Healthcare Economics and Policy (3:6:0,O)

    The course introduces the concepts of economic theory and analysis within the health services industry focusing on healthcare consumption, supply and demand, healthcare resource allocation, and the impact of health policy on the delivery of healthcare in the U.S.

  • HPHA 5321 Healthcare Operations & Supply Chain Management

    This course examines operational issues in healthcare management. Healthcare operations topics include systems analysis, forecasting, facility location and design models, decision analysis techniques, inventory control, CQI and statistical quality control. The course also integrates key components of supply chain management, including strategic sourcing and purchasing, acquisition, logistics, inventory management, and point of use applications, providing understanding, knowledge and evaluation models to operate and manage an organization's enterprise resource planning and management system.