Healthcare Administration & Informatics (Undergraduate)

Faculty

Carol J. Ratcliffe, Chair, Professor
Courtney N. Haun, Assistant Professor; Undergraduate Program Director
Lakesha Kinnerson, Assistant Professor; Coordinator, Health Information Management
Dennis O. McCay, Assistant Professor
David Robbins, Assistant Professor; Director, Health Informatics and Analytics

Mission

The mission of the bachelor of science in healthcare administration program is to train service-minded leaders who have a broad perspective by providing a foundation in healthcare executive competencies through an inter-professional curriculum for entry-level management positions.

The mission of the health informatics and analytics program is to prepare highly qualified health informatics and analytics professionals through faith-based academic coursework and community outreach designed to foster lifelong learning, attainment of personal career goals and high moral and ethical competency so that practitioners will be of service to patients, health care providers, others in their community and throughout the world.

Vision

The Department of Healthcare Administration and Informatics aspires to prepare practice-ready graduates through innovation and quality teaching and learning in local, national, and international populations with a commitment to service-minded leaders.

Values

Samford’s Department of Healthcare Administration and Informatics 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 and health informatics education.
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.

Certification

The bachelor of science in healthcare administration program is currently in its self-study year and will be standing for certification during the 2022 cycle with the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA).

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors
Health Informatics & Analytics Major (B.S.)
Health Informatics & Analytics w/a Concentration in Sports Injury Prevention Analytics (B.S.)
Healthcare Administration Major (B.S.)

Minors
Health Informatics & Analytics Minor
Healthcare Administration Minor
Healthcare Compliance Minor *

Accelerated Bachelor-to-Graduate Pathway Programs
Fast Track Master of Healthcare Administration (B.S./M.H.C.A.) with a B.S. in Healthcare Administration
Fast-Track Master of Science in Health Informatics & Analytics (M.S.H.I.) with a B.S. in Health Informatics & Analytics
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The Department of Healthcare Administration and Informatics offers a major in health informatics and analytics, with an optional concentration in sports injury prevention analytics, and a major in healthcare administration, both leading to a bachelor of science degree (B.S.).

The department also offers two fast-track versions: one for students pursuing both the B.S. and M.H.C.A. in healthcare administration and one for students pursuing both the B.S. and M.S.H.I. in health informatics and analytics. With the fast-track options, students have the opportunity to earn their B.S. and master’s degrees in just five years of study.

The department also offers a fast-track version for students pursuing both the bachelor’s degree and the master of healthcare administration (M.H.C.A.) or the master of science in health informatics and analytics (M.S.H.I.). With the fast-track options, undergraduate students have the opportunity to earn their B.S. and master’s degrees in just five years of study.

The department also offers minors in health informatics and analytics and healthcare administration.
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*This program is under review and subject to change/closure/replacement. It is currently closed to new admits.

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

General Education Distribution Requirements are noted in the individual degree tables. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, see General Education Overview in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.

Healthcare Administration (B.S.)

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 and a composite score of 21 on the ACT or 1000 on the SAT.

Progression Policies

In order to progress in the healthcare administration program, students must abide by the degree-specific progression policies. Students who fail to meet the requirements of the progression policy will be placed on probation or terminated from the program.

Students must:

Have a completed Health Data Record (with all required immunizations) according to university policy an prior to beginning the HCAD and HIIM Internship course.
Test negative on drug screens and pass background checks.
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above on the last 60 hours of coursework. Students who fall below the minimum GPA requirement will be placed on probation for one academic semester to remediate any coursework and/or return to good academic standing. The summer semester does not count against the student but may be used to take coursework to increase the overall GPA.
Make a grade of C or better in each required major course. Note: A grade of C- or lower constitutes a failure in all required HCAD or HIIM courses.
A student will be allowed to take a failed program major course only one additional time.
A student who fails (C- or lower) the same program major course will be terminated from the healthcare administration program.

Fast-Track Master of Healthcare Administration (B.S./M.H.C.A.)

Admission Requirements

Students must apply for the program in the spring of their freshman year. Applications are accepted from students who have an exceptionally high school GPA, ACT score, and freshman-year GPA. Accepted students will be required to maintain a certain GPA to remain in the program. Students who are accepted into the program begin graduate coursework in the fourth year of study and complete both degrees in five (5) years. Students may earn up to twelve (12) graduate hours that will count toward completing the baccalaureate degree.

Specific Admission Requirements:

High school GPA of 3.50 or higher.
Earned a minimum of 3.50 cumulative GPA on all work done at Samford University.
ACT score of 26 or higher.
Three letters of reference (at least two from faculty members at Samford University).

Application Process:

Submit an application in the spring of the freshman year.
Faculty interview.

Progression Policies

Students granted admission into the Fast-Track Master of Healthcare Administration program must maintain a minimum GPA to remain in the program and enroll in graduate courses in the fourth year.
1. GPA of 3.40 after 65 semester hours (end of sophomore year)
2. GPA of 3.30 after 101 semester hours (end of junior year)
Students must make at least a B or better in the first semester of all graduate course work.
Make a grade of C or better in each required HCAD course. Note: A grade of C- or lower constitutes a failure in all required HCAD courses.
A student will be allowed to take a failed HCAD course only one additional time.
Students who fail to meet the progression requirements for the Fast-Track Master of Healthcare Administration program will be converted to the B.S. in healthcare administration program if the student chooses to remain in the program and has not been otherwise terminated from it.

Programs

Major

Minor

Accelerated Bachelor-to-Graduate Pathway Program

Fast Track Master of Healthcare Administration (B.S./M.H.C.A.)

Courses

Health Informatics & Information Management

Healthcare Administration