The objective of this program is to combine the MHSA degree offered by the Department of Health Policy and Management and the Master of Science degree offered by the School of Nursing. This joint program is intended to provide the student who plans to engage in the Organizational Leadership track within the School of Nursing with the opportunity to acquire training in the convergent fields of nursing and health services administration.
The relationship between health services administration and nursing is close, and it is not surprising to find many individuals with nursing backgrounds in top health care management positions. Moreover, it is becoming important for nurses, especially at senior levels, to have a fundamental understanding of financial management and accounting, human resources management, operations management, and health policy and administration. Both the School of Nursing and Department of Health Policy and Management are seeing increasing numbers of nurses who wish to acquire education and skills in health administration/leadership. For several years, the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing has been the most represented undergraduate degree for students entering the MHSA program. Combining the MHSA and MS degrees will provide additional career options for master's level nursing students who wish to pursue a career in health care or organizational leadership.
To be admitted to the combined MS/MHSA program, a student must meet the admission requirements of both the School of Nursing and the Department of Health Policy and Management. Application materials must be completed in both the School of Nursing and the Department of Health Policy and Management, and filed by the appropriate admission deadlines.
A student who decides to enter the program after beginning his/her first year in the School of Nursing or in the regular MHSA program should review their plans with the organizational leadership advisor in the School of Nursing and the advisor in the Department of Health Policy and Management as soon as possible. No student may enter the joint program after completing the equivalent of two full-time semesters (18 credit hours) in either the Nursing or MHSA curriculum.
Diplomas are awarded concurrently by each School/Department after the student has completed the joint degree program requirements.
The joint MS/MHSA program is open only to those individuals who have earned a nursing baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and whose undergraduate academic record indicates that the applicant has the capacity to complete the joint degree program.
All students in the combined program must complete a total of 60 graduate credit hours: 31 credit hours in Health Policy & Management, and 29 hours in the School of Nursing.
Students enrolled in the joint program must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average for all course work. A cumulative grade point average below 3.0 will result in dismissal from the joint program.
Students enrolling in the joint program will be assigned an advisor in both the School of Nursing and Department of Health Services Administration. Advisors will be assigned when the student is admitted to the joint program.
Any course substitutions or curriculum modifications must be approved by both the School of Nursing and Department of Health Services Administration.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NRSG 748 | Theories for Practice & Research | 3 |
| NRSG 754 | Health Care Research | 3 |
| NRSG 755 | Healthcare Professionalism: Issues & Roles | 3 |
| NRSG 820 | Organizational Communication & Program Planning | 2 |
| NRSG 826 | Global Perspectives & Diversity in Health Care | 2 |
| NRSG 880 | Organizational Foundations for Leading Change | 2 |
| NRSG 881 | Applied Budgeting & Finance | 3 |
NRSG 882 or NRSG 883 |
Achieving Quality, Safety & Efficiency orComplexity Approaches to Improve Organizational Effectiveness |
3 |
| NRSG 885 | Evaluation & Analysis of Healthcare Effectiveness | 2 |
| NRSG 886 | Practicum in Organizational Leadership | 3 |
| NRSG 898 | Research Application in Nursing | 2 |
| Total Nursing Hours - Joint Program | 29 |
|
| Total Hours for MS Degree | 37 |
|
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HP&M 810 | The Healthcare System | 3 |
| HP&M 822 | Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| HP&M 831 | Reimbursement & Fiscal Policy | 2 |
| HP&M 833 | Governance, Ethics & Health Law | 3 |
| HP&M 837 | Health Policy | 3 |
| HP&M 844 | Communication for the Healthcare Executive | 2 |
| HP&M 846 | Managing Information Systems & Technology | 3 |
| HP&M 848 | Desigining Healthcare Oragnizations | 3 |
| HP&M 852 | Strategy Development & Marketing | 3 |
| HP&M 854 | Human Resources & Workforce Development | 3 |
| HP&M 858 | Health & Social Behavior | 2 |
| HP&M 861 | Capstone Seminar | 1 |
| Total Health Policy and Management Hours for Joint Program | 31 |
|
| Total Hours Required for MHSA Degree | 54 |
|
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