Southwestern College Professional Studies

Online Healthcare Administration Degree Program

Success in healthcare administration and management is leveraged not only by mastery of healthcare business disciplines, but also by demonstration of leadership in a complex healthcare environment. Our online Healthcare Administration degree focuses on gaining knowledge and developing skills in healthcare leadership; administrative, human resource and financial management; healthcare economics; and healthcare policy, law and regulations. The Healthcare Administration curriculum seeks to provide learners with practical, marketable healthcare administration, management and leadership skills grounded in industry-accepted theories and practices to help them enter and/or progress in a competitive job market while building a solid theoretical foundation for potential graduate studies. With an online Healthcare Administration degree from Southwestern College Professional Studies, you will develop a portfolio project that demonstrates your knowledge, skills and abilities in this major discipline. Contact an admissions counselor today for more information.

Program Outcomes

Success in the healthcare administration and management is leveraged not only by mastery of healthcare business disciplines, but also by demonstration of leadership in a complex healthcare environment. The focus of this degree is on gaining knowledge and developing skills in healthcare leadership; administrative, human resource, and financial management; healthcare economics; and healthcare policy, law, and regulations. The healthcare administration curriculum will provide learners with practical, marketable healthcare administration, management, and leadership skills grounded in industry accepted theories and practices to help them enter and/or progress in a competitive job market, while building a solid theoretical foundation for potential graduate studies.

Program Outcomes:

1. Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of theories, concepts, practices, and terminology in healthcare leadership; administrative, human resource, and financial management; healthcare economics; and healthcare policy, law, and regulations.
2. Reveals ethical reasoning through the assessment of healthcare administrative problems or concerns, consideration of different perspectives and/or alternative solutions, and determination of conclusions and/or viable solutions.
3. Applies generally accepted methods and practices, technologies, and tools associated with healthcare leadership; administrative, human resource, and financial management; healthcare economics; and healthcare policy, law, and regulations.
4. Utilizes critical thinking and analysis through the accurate framing of healthcare administrative problems or concerns, thorough consideration of different perspectives and/or alternative solutions gained from expert insights and scholarly research within the degree and related fields of study, and presentation of defensible conclusions and/or selected solutions.
5. Employs effective broadly applicable and intellectual skills in professional oral and written communication, mathematical and quantitative literacy, information literacy, and creativity and innovation through the assessment and presentation of healthcare administrative problems or concerns, different perspectives and/or alternative solutions, and conclusions and/or viable solutions.
6. Applies the aforementioned knowledge, skills, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning in the conduct of an independently constructed project focused on the resolution of a complex healthcare administrative problem or concern.
7. Demonstrates the knowledge and skills to effectively lead people and healthcare administration processes.
8. Exhibits the aforementioned knowledge, skills, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning necessary for preparation for his or her chosen career path related to the healthcare administration field of study.

Required and Core Courses

Foundation Courses

CORE101 Developing Academic and Professional Strengths
ENGL101 Composition I
ENGL102 Composition II
CORE110 Information Literacy
MASC115 College Algebra (or other approved college mathematics)
CLO 415 Professional Communication

Major Courses

ACCT285 Principles of Accounting
HRD 345 Human Resource Management
HCA 305 Healthcare Law and Regulations
HCA 315 Economics of Healthcare
HCA 325 Policy Issues in Healthcare
HCA 410 Healthcare Information Systems
HCA 420 Management in Healthcare Services
HCA 430 Fiscal Management in Healthcare Services
CAPS491 Senior Capstone

Competency Courses

As a part of your degree program, you will be required to complete competency courses in the following areas:
• Exploratory Courses
• Institutional Outcomes

The remainder of the requirements to reach graduation will come from your Competency Courses. See an admissions counselor for specific transfer credit substitutions.

Course Descriptions

ACCT285 Principles of Accounting

This course will provide an introduction to accounting theory and procedures. Topics include master budgets and planning, financial statements, accounts receivable, and analyzing and recording transactions.

HRD 345 Managing Human Resources

Learners in this course study the development of the personnel management role, the organization of work, staffing the organization, developing human resources, creating a favorable work environment, management labor relations, compensation, and benefit administration.

HCA 305 Healthcare Law and Regulations

Public and private healthcare regulatory agencies and their governance are examined for their impact on healthcare services. Legal requirements for healthcare professionals,medical records, patient rights, and corporate responsibilities are studied. Standards and ethical dilemmas are explored.

HCA 315 Economics of Healthcare

This course examines the nature of health economics and the related public and private sector influences on healthcare systems. The healthcare markets and how healthcare services operate within the healthcare markets are examined.

HCA 325 Policy Issues in Healthcare

This course examines the challenges of health policy strategies; formulation, implementation, and evaluation of health care services; as well as regulatory policies that impact the healthcare industry. The impact of policy makers’ objectives, constraints, and conduct on patients, providers, and payers is studied. The various policy makers that influence healthcare in society are explored.

HCA 410 Healthcare Information Systems

The application and use of technology in healthcare settings is the primary focus of this course. Integration of technology into decision making, as well as examining the processes for selecting and implementing the use of technology and software in a variety of healthcare applications will be studied.

HCA 420 Management in Healthcare Services

This course discusses health service organizational structures and management theories and principles necessary for effective management in a complex health system.

HCA 430 Fiscal Management in Healthcare Services

This course provides an in-depth study of financial management of healthcare organizations. The financial management of health service organizations within free market economics is covered. Topics also include reimbursement mechanisms and their effect on healthcare provider organizations, managed care, capitation, and per case or per diagnosis payment, as well as how these financial strategies are utilized by third-party payers. Focus is on financial challenges associated with provision of indigent care, competition and market cost increases. Ratio analysis, cost analysis, working capital, capital budgeting and investment in relation to net present value and value added to the organization, and other financial management techniques are also discussed. Prerequisite: ACCT285

CAPS491 Senior Capstone

This course is for PS accounting, business administration, and healthcare administration majors. Learners will be required to develop a portfolio project that demonstrates their knowledge, skills, and abilities in their major discipline. Particular attention will be given to the presentation of evidence and artifacts from their major courses as well as recent research relevant to their specific program outcomes. The purpose of the final portfolio project is to document learner achievement and to ensure learning outcomes are met.

Admission Requirements

Entering learners must have earned at least 6 college credits from previous college coursework or ACE evaluated military training, a GPA of 2.0, and have three years of work experience. Transfer hours accepted for Professional Studies admittance should include English Composition I and II, and mathematics (college algebra preferred). These courses may be considered in transfer or completed at Southwestern College.

Contact a program representative to evaluate your options.

Graduation Requirements

A total of 124 credit hours must be earned to graduate. You must have at least 60 credit hours from a four-year university or college and at least 30 hours from Southwestern College (does not include prior learning experience credits). Of the 30 hours required from Southwestern, 15 of the last 30 hours earned toward your degree must be at Southwestern College. Contact your Academic Success Coach for more information.