Health Sciences Management Certificate

Are you a healthcare professional who would like to move into a more advanced role in leadership, management or administration? The Health Sciences Management Certificate will prepare you with the skills, knowledge and experience you need to open new doors in your career.

Centering on real-world healthcare challenges, coursework covers the core competencies recognized by the Healthcare Leadership Alliance of the American College of Healthcare Executives, ensuring you gain a thorough understanding of healthcare administration and the business of medicine.

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You’ll learn from faculty who are industry-seasoned experts in their respective areas and engage in rich discussions with classmates who bring diverse perspectives and experiences. Courses, which cover issues ranging from the universal, such as leadership, quality improvement and ethics, to the more nuanced, like health information systems and healthcare finance, offer you the breadth of insight needed to be successful in an administrative or leadership position. You will walk away ready to tackle challenges in today’s healthcare industry. 

Key Takeaways

• Graduate Certificate; 18 credits/ 6 courses
• Start dates: August, January, June
• Flexible, hybrid format including synchronous and asynchronous classes
• On average, students take one to two courses per term, including the summer, and take 18 - 24 months to complete the certificate
• Gain a deep understanding of the business of healthcare through an affordable program
• Learn strategies to drive efficiency and deliver innovative solutions
• Build your network while you learn from clinicians and experts in long-term care, healthcare administration and business management
   

SCPS’s program offers advantages:

• Flexible programming: with core courses offered regularly, you can stay on your desired learning journey.
• One tuition rate: you’ll pay the same tuition whether you reside in Virginia or out-of-state.
• Learn from Faculty who are experts in their industries and are experienced in teaching. They understand the demands adult learners need to juggle and structure courses so you can balance your personal and professional life while learning.
• Synchronous learning opportunities: you’ll join online classes and can ask questions, dig deeper and learn from instructors and classmates.
   

Key Industry Information:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor: Medical and Health Services Managers.

Tuition & Fees

• Estimated Cost: $611 per credit hour or $10,998 for the entire program. Students pay per course, per semester. Tuition is the same in-state and out-of-state.
• This program is not eligible for financial aid but may be covered by your employer’s education benefits program. 
• You may take advantage of an optional, interest-free semester-based payment plan offered by the University to help spread the cost of eligible charges over monthly payment.
• Additional fees may apply, including course materials. Tuition rates are adjusted annually.

Tuition Details

Scholarships

New and returning students in certificate or degree programs in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies are eligible to apply for the Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship Program. 

Admission Requirements & Deadlines

DEADLINE INFORMATION

• To begin in the fall (August): application must be submitted by July 1
• To begin in the spring (January): application must be submitted by November 1
• To begin in the summer (May): application must be submitted by April 1

APPLICATION INFORMATION

This is a graduate-level certificate course. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree.

Students with the following qualifications will be given admission preference:

• Bachelor’s degree in one of the approved majors: an allied health care field, natural sciences, health sciences, social sciences, or business/commerce, 

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in any major with 2 years of work experience in the health care field
• Preferred GPA of 3.0

TO APPLY:

1. Complete an online application, including:
   1. Submit your unofficial transcripts. Offers of admission are not binding until official transcripts are received and verified.
   2. Application for Virginia In-State Education Privileges to establish residency.

START YOUR APPLICATION

Required Courses (4)

PSHM 5020 MANAGEMENT OF HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS

Focuses on the management concepts, theories, responsibilities, functions, and leadership skills for managers in health care organizations (HCOs). Students will evaluate and analyze health care operations, the health care environment, and issues in management and leadership. Students will apply managerial skills and strategies to improve performance, quality, and decision making in HCOs. 

PSHM 5300 POPULATION HEALTH: PROGRAMS, POLICIES & EPIDEMIOLOGY

Focuses on the unique integration of public health and health care systems. Provides students with key knowledge and skills to effectively promote health and prevent disease, while navigating public health and health care challenges. Emphasizes the identification of populations at risk, evidence-based care, care coordination, patient and community engagement, and reporting of outcomes.  

PSHM 5700 ECONOMICS & FINANCE OF HEALTHCARE

Provides basic overview of economic and financial management concepts in health care. Introduces important economic concepts and issues in health care, including market factors, production, costs, labor issues, and economic evaluation. Provides an overview of basic financial management principles, capital planning and financing, financial statements, and budgeting in health care organizations. Prerequisite: admission to graduate certificate.  

PSHM 5805 HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS & APPLICATIONS

Examines how informatics in the health care industry improves patient care, health outcomes, efficiency, quality, and evidence-based decision making. Evaluates challenges and strategies for health care managers in implementing health information systems and their costs, benefits, and impacts in health care organizations. Analyzes key issues in data management, security, privacy, and confidentiality. Prerequisite: admission to graduate certificate.  

Elective Courses (2)

PSHM 5010 HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT: APPLYING CONCEPTS TO PRACTICE

Provides introduction to health care management to promote competency development in the field. Integrates theory and practice through course presentations, readings, online discussions, experiential exercises, case studies, and written assignments. Emphasizes the application of critical thinking, problem solving, and design skills within multi-disciplinary environment to health care practice.  

PSHM 5080 LEGAL & ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING IN HEALTHCARE

Focuses on principles and theories of law related to health care delivery, management, and administration. Examines the applications of laws on health care liability prevention and risks facing managers. Explores legal and ethical issues in health care systems. Investigates the health care administrator as decision maker, leader, and moral agent. Evaluates situations with potential ethical/legal implications. 

PSHM 5600 SERVICE EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE: QUALITY IMPROVEMENT & CUSTOMER SERVICE

Explores the concepts and organizational factors impacting service delivery and quality management in health care. Examines service excellence processes/resources to improve customer service and quality. Applies strategies to address challenges in quality and service management. Focuses on the concepts, theories, and applications to improve decision making in quality and customer service. Prerequisite: admission to graduate certificate. 

PSHM 5650 AMERICAN HEALTHCARE: CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES

Provides foundational overview of the structure/function of US health care system, including challenges and opportunities to develop competence in health care management. Promotes critical discussion of history and current status of health care delivery systems. Examines challenges facing providers, patients, and policy makers, and uses current events to explore health care controversies. Prerequisite: admission to graduate certificate. 

PSHM 5750 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR & LEADERSHIP IN HEALTHCARE

Moves through individual, group, and organizational levels of behavior, drawing on concepts and practices from the field of Organizational Behavior (OB). Provides a basic understanding of one's own and others' behavior, particularly in teams, and enhances students' ability to communicate and work effectively with others. Focuses on core leadership skills. Prerequisites: admission to graduate certificate and completion of PSHM 5010 or 5020.  

HR 5025 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

This course expands the full body of knowledge of Human Resources Management and surveys the impact of the HRM function and its influence upon the organization as a whole. The course will look at the strategic impact of talent management and the labor force on organizations in the 21st century. It will review the challenges senior leaders face in hiring top talent, and engaging, motivating and retaining the best and brightest employees.

IT 5220 STRATEGIC BUSINESS VALUE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Focuses on how to assess the value of IT investments and align technical strategies with business strategies. Introduces Porter's Five Forces Model, the value chain, technology payoff metrics, and risk analysis. Explores ways to leverage disruptive technologies for competitive advantage. Application of various models and frameworks is achieved through assignment. Prerequisite: admission to graduate certificate or instructor permission. 

The information contained on this web site is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements.