Graduate Healthcare Administration

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Faculty

Carol J. Ratcliffe, Chair, Professor
Dennis O. McCay, Assistant Professor

Mission

The mission of the bachelor of science in healthcare administration program is to create servant leaders using a high caliber and innovative curriculum to prepare students to pursue positions in the field of healthcare administration or admission into a graduate program.

The mission of the master of healthcare administration program is to prepare individuals for career transitions in healthcare management careers which foster patient-centered and ethical care.

Vision

The Department of Healthcare Administration’s vision is to prepare practice-ready graduates through innovation and quality teaching and learning with a commitment to servant leadership in local and international underserved populations.

Values

Samford’s Department of Healthcare Administration considers the following values central to its success:

• Christian-Based Education: We are committed to integrating our Christian faith and beliefs in our delivery of healthcare administration education.
• Servant Leadership: We are committed to leading through our service. The faculty and students strive to model dynamic leadership that puts others first. We strive to contribute to the benefit of the local and global community as both faculty and students.
• Excellence: We pursue excellence within the department through opportunities for achievement in scholarship, service and research.
• Practice-Readiness: We are committed to preparing students who are ready to practice upon graduation.
• Respect for diversity: We are committed to respecting the differences in others by learning to appreciate the different cultures of the populations that we serve.
• Integrity: We are committed to operating in an environment that values honesty, fairness and the highest ethical standards to sustain a community of trust.
• Empowerment: We encourage personal accountability for success through shared governance in academic pursuits.

Accreditation

The master of healthcare administration will apply for candidacy with the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) once the second cohort is admitted. After meeting candidacy requirements, the program will apply for an initial accreditation.

Graduate Programs and Requirements

Degree/Major
Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.C.A.)
          Healthcare Administration (M.H.C.A.)  

Minors
Graduate Healthcare Administration Minor 
Graduate Healthcare Administration Quality Minor  

Joint Degree (Undergraduate+Graduate)
Fast-Track Master of Healthcare Administration (B.S./M.H.C.A.)  

The Department of Healthcare Administration offers the master of healthcare administration degree, as well as a fast-track version for students pursuing both the bachelor’s degree and the master of healthcare administration. The department also offers two graduate minors, one in healthcare administration and one in healthcare administration quality.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must:

1. Possess a baccalaureate degree in healthcare administration or business management from a regionally-accredited college or university.
2. Possess a baccalaureate degree in any field from a regionally-accredited college or university. Must also currently work in healthcare or have at least three years of prior healthcare experience, and have a B or better in an accounting course and statistics course.
3. Have a minimum overall 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale or a minimum 3.20 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.
4. The GRE is not required; however, an applicant who does not meet the GPA requirement may submit a GRE score, taken within the last five years, demonstrating a minimum earned score of: Verbal 153; Quantitative 144; Analytical 4.0.
5. Submit three letters of reference through the application system. At least one reference must be from a work supervisor or manager and one from a current/previous professor.
6. International applicants or American citizens who learned English as a second language must score at least 550 (paper), 213 (computer) or 80 (Internet) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 6.5 International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Score.
7. Submit a video interview. A link will be provided upon submission of the application.

Exceptions to any admission requirements will be handled on an individual basis. If accepted, a non-refundable fee of $500 is required to secure admission into the program. The fee is applied to the first semester’s tuition.

For more on the admission/application process, see the following website: https://www.samford.edu/publichealth/master-of-healthcare-administration.

Progression Policies

In order to progress in the graduate program in health administration, the student must:

1. Test negative on drug screens and pass background checks.
2. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above on all course work.
3. Make no more than two C’s in a required course. Students may only retake a course once to earn a B or better grade. Note: Retaking a course may cause an interruption in the student’s matriculation in terms of scheduling courses.
4. Students who fail to maintain a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA in any semester will be placed on academic probation for the next semester. Students who remain on academic probation for two semesters will be terminated from the M.H.C.A. program.
5. Students must be aware that any violation of the Healthcare Administration Student Handbook may result in immediate dismissal from the M.H.C.A. program.
6. Students retain the right to appeal dismissal/termination decision via the grievance procedure outlined in the Healthcare Administration Student Handbook.

Transfer Credit

Students may petition to transfer up to 12 graduate credits for the M.H.C.A. The course must be equivalent to a similar course in the curriculum and the student must have earned a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better in the course in order for credits to be eligible for transfer. Credits earned more than 10 years from the date of application to the graduate program are ineligible for transfer consideration. Such coursework must be equivalent for a full semester’s work and be supported by official transcripts. Acceptance of such credit is solely the authority of the program director.

Time-to-Degree Completion Plan

The program is designed to be completed in five semesters of full-time study. The part-time plan of study is designed to be completed in seven semesters.

Programs

• Healthcare Administration (M.H.C.A.)

• Graduate Healthcare Administration Minor
• Graduate Healthcare Administration Quality Minor

Courses

• MHCA 500 - Healthcare Systems (3)
• MHCA 501 - Healthcare Statistics and Research Methods (3)
• MHCA 502 - Healthcare Information and Informatics Management (3)
• MHCA 503 - Healthcare Management (3)
• MHCA 510 - Healthcare Financial Management and Budgeting (3)
• MHCA 511 - Healthcare Policy and Law (3)
• MHCA 512 - Healthcare Economics (3)
• MHCA 520 - Healthcare Project Management (3)
• MHCA 521 - Healthcare Human Resource Management (3)
• MHCA 522 - Healthcare Leadership and Professionalism (3)
• MHCA 600 - Healthcare Patient Safety and Quality (3)
• MHCA 601 - Healthcare Ethics (3)
• MHCA 602 - Healthcare Organizational Dynamics and Governance (3)
• MHCA 603 - Healthcare Management (3)
• MHCA 610 - Healthcare Strategic Management and Marketing (3)
• MHCA 611 - Healthcare Administration Graduate Capstone (3)
• MHCA 612 - Healthcare Administration Graduate Internship (3)
• MHCA 613 - Healthcare Administration Advanced Leadership Practice (3)
• MHCA 614 - Healthcare Financial Management and Budgeting (3)
• MHCA 619 - Health Policy and Law (3)
• MHCA 622 - Healthcare Economics (3)
• MHCA 699 - Independent Study (1-3)