Healthcare Administration & Informatics (Undergraduate)

Faculty

Carol J. Ratcliffe, Chair, Professor
David Robbins, Associate Professor; Director, Health Informatics and Analytics Graduate Program
Courtney N. Haun, Assistant Professor; Director, Healthcare Administration Undergraduate Program
Dennis O. McCay, Assistant Professor

Mission

The mission of the Department of Healthcare Administration program is to prepare service-minded leaders and health professionals in a Christ-centered environment through competency-based, interprofessional education that is comitted to excellence.

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 Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics and Analytics program is to prepare health informatics and analytics professionals in a Christ-centered environment through an interprofessional cirriculum focused on critical thinking and data driven decision making to improve outcomes and promote health equity.

Vision

We aspire to prepare influential and visionary healthcare professionals who make a positive impact on their communities.

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 certified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA).

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors
Health Informatics and 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 and 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.A.) 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 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.A.).* 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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*IMPORTANT NOTE: These programs are under review and subject to change/closure/replacement. They are 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.); Health Informatics and Analytics (B.S.)*

Admission Requirements (Healthcare Administration program only)

Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75.

Progression Policies (applicable to both department majors)

In order to progress in either the healthcare administration or the health informatics and analytics 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 and 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. The curriculum is an interprofessional model and required program courses begin with the prefix HCAD, HIIM, PHLT, ACCT, ECON, GEOG, NUTR, and KINE for the program majors, minors, and concentration.
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 program.

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*IMPORTANT NOTE: The B.S. in Health Informatics & Analytics is under review and subject to change/closure/replacement. It is currently closed to new admits.

Fast-Track Master of Healthcare Administration (B.S./M.H.C.A.);
Fast-Track Master of Science in Health Informatics and Analytics (B.S./M.S.H.I.A)*

Admission Requirements

Students must apply for the fast-track 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 18 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 or the Fast-Track Master of Science in Health Informatics and Analytics* 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. The curriculum is an interprofessional model and required program courses begin with the prefix HCAD, HIIM, PHLT, ACCT, ECON, and GEOG for the program majors.
A student will be allowed to take a failed HCAD course only one additional time.
Students who fail to meet the progression requirements for either fast-track program will be converted to the bachelor’s program only, if the student chooses to remain in the program and has not been otherwise terminated from it.

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*IMPORTANT NOTE: The Fast-Track Master of Science in Health Informatics & Analytics is under review and subject to change/closure/replacement. It is currently closed to new admits.

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