Health Care Management (M.S.)

The dynamics of managed competition and the continued restructuring of federal health care programs have altered the traditional fee-for-service delivery and payment system for health care in all segments of the health care industry (hospitals, physician services, suppliers, insurers, payors, and human resources). These ongoing changes will demand individuals with advanced skills to manage and direct in this dynamic environment.

The School of Business Administration offers a Master of Science in Health Care Management (HCM) to provide an advanced level of understanding of the financing, managing, and changing reimbursement processes; and of the future national policy goals and their legal implications for the United States' health care system. The HCM program has candidate status from the Accrediting Commission for Education in Health Services Administration (ACEHSA).

Students who complete the program will be able to demonstrate an understanding and application of the following:

the basic elements of health care management from physician provider to human resource purchaser;
the rules of operation in a managed care environment, from HMOs to total vertical integration, and how those rules affect the role of each segment in the health care management matrix;
the role of long-term care in an environment that is changing from nursing homes to assisted living;
the effect of national health policy changes on the health care environment;
the effect and impact of legislation, regulations, and case decisions on health care delivery;
the interaction of this complex health care environment with future management, strategic decision making, revenue sources, costs of services, financial planning, and outcomes measurements.

Upon completion of this program, the graduate will have the skills and knowledge needed to effectively meet the management needs of this vital industry.

Note: The School of Business Administration strongly recommends that candidates have at least two years of work experience before applying.

Graduate students may transfer up to 12 credits of graduate coursework from an accredited institution.

Degree Requirements

Completion of the HCM program requires 36 semester credits that consist of 21 credits of HCM core requirements and 15 credits of management core courses. If a student can demonstrate a depth of prior experience and/or education in a required content area, electives may be substituted for required courses.

HCM Core Requirements

HCM/NUA 510 Health Care Management
HCM/NUA 520 Health Care Reimbursement Systems or HCM 525 Health Care Management—Long-Term Care
HCM/NUA 535 Health Care Policy and Ethics
HCM/NUA 550 Health Care Finance
HCM 555 Health Care Strategic Planning and Marketing
HCM 565 Health Care Cases and Project
LA/NUA 540 Health Care Law

Management Core

ECO 590 Health Care Economics
HRM 530 Foundations of Human Resource Management
IM 503 Conceptual Foundations of Information Management
NU 590 Health Care Data Analysis
NU 591 Health Care Research