Healthcare Administration and Management
| Chair | Secretary | Location | Department Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. David Jordan | Tanya Turner | 109 Patterson | 724-738-2280 |
WHAT CAN I DO WITH A HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT (HCAM) DEGREE?
An HCAM degree prepares you to assume a variety of rewarding positions within a vast and dynamic healthcare industry. You can also pursue an accelerated progression to become an occupational therapist, physical therapist, or physician assistant. Healthcare is our nation’s largest industry, which creates a significant demand for clinical and non-clinical administrators and managers. If you are interested in working in healthcare as a non-clinical professional, your career options include career paths in hospitals, health systems, physician group practices, healthcare and insurance service providers, managed care organizations, health care technology firms, medical sales, insurance companies and third-party administrators, durable medical equipment companies, rehabilitation and specialty hospitals, nursing and personal care homes, government agencies, and more.
HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT (HCAM) AT SRU
At SRU, the HCAM major offers eight concentrations. Regardless of your concentration, with an HCAM degree you will be prepared to begin your career in this fast-growing industry. If you want to work toward becoming a physical therapist, occupation therapist or physician assistant, you can meet the necessary prerequisites with either a traditional or accelerated HCAM program while developing an understanding of the healthcare industry. You will learn about the financing of healthcare, legal and regulatory environments, organizational dynamics, quality and continuous improvement, leadership, and much more that is essential for all healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals in all roles, including clinical, are increasingly expected to understand and provide some administrative functions.
CONCENTRATIONS (three and four year progressions)
- Financial Management
- Information Systems
- Leadership
- Legal Environment
- Long-term Care
- Medical Device Sales
- Marketing and Sales
- Quality and Risk Management
PRE-PROFESSIONAL (accelerated 3+ and traditional options)
- HCAM Pre-Occupational Therapy
- HCAM Pre-Physical Therapy
- HCAM Pre-Physician Assistant
WHY CHOOSE SRU HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT (HCAM)?
1. Variety: There are two paths you can take with an HCAM degree.
• Path 1: If you are interested in administration or management in America’s largest and fastest growing industry, but do not want to seek a clinical career.
• Path 2: If you are interested in preparing to pursue physical therapy, occupational therapy or physician assistant programs.
2. Opportunity: As the U.S. population is aging and the number of Americans with access to healthcare is expanding, the demand for industry professionals grows. Healthcare administrators and managers work with doctors, nurses and other health service professionals to enable the health care system to run smoothly and efficiently.
3. Versatile: Graduates benefit from a degree that is both an allied health and business credential. With a degree in HCAM you will have a variety of opportunities in this growing and rapidly changing industry. You will also develop important business knowledge, skills, and abilities that transcend the health care industry. While most graduates enjoy success in the healthcare industry, some choose non-healthcare careers in other business areas.
4. Advancement: HCAM is also ideal if you currently work in the health care industry and wish to pursue career advancement or a leadership role within your discipline.
5. Experienced faculty: You will be taught by faculty members, not graduate assistants, who bring real-life examples, research and/or industry experience to enhance the learning experience.
6. Network: We have developed a robust network of health care industry leaders who engage with our programs and students to maximize “real-life” experiential learning and career pathways. We also have engaged alumni who support our students in a variety of ways.
SRU HCAM students have completed internships at various locations including:
- AFLAC
- Allegheny Health Network
- Cleveland Clinic
- Concordia Lutheran Ministries
- Family Links
- Guardian Healthcare
- Heritage Valley Health System
- Highmark Health
- Independence Health System
- Interim Healthcare
- Nationwide Childrens Hosptal
- Nutritional Frontiers
- Presbyterian Senior Care Network
- Quality Life Services
- Stryker
- The Children's Institute
- UPMC
...and many more
CAREERS
Career options include positions in settings such as:
- Brokers and consultants
- Durable medical equipment companies
- Hospitals
- Health Systems
- Health care and insurance service providers
- Managed care organizations
- Health care technology firms
- Insurance companies and third-party administrators
- Rehabilitation and specialty hospitals
- Medical sales
- Pharmaceutical firms
- Nursing and personal care homes
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Long-term and personal care organizations
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
- SRU sponsors more than 200 clubs and associations including:
- Future Healthcare Leaders
- Pre-Occupational Therapy Association
- Pre-Physical Therapy Club
- Pre-Physician Assistant Club
- Finance and Economics Club
- American Marketing Association
- Alpha Kappa Psi
…and many more
You can also pursue a career as an Occupational Therapist, Physician Assistant, or Physical Therapist when coupled with the respective graduate program. In todays healthcare environment you will be highly valued with foundational knowledge and credentials in both business operations and patient care. Differentiate yourself!
Don’t forget to inquire about international student travel and study abroad opportunities!
We have sponsored student experiences for trips to Italy, Greece, Ireland, Antigua, and many more…
Faculty
Amy Cashdollar
Instructor
Health Care Admin & Management
B.S., Edinboro University
M.S., LaRoche College
D.B.A., California Intercontinental University
John Cotter
Instructor
Health Care Admin & Management
Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University
M.A., SUNY of Buffalo
B.A., Canisius College
Natalie Dick
Assistant Professor
Health Care Admin & Management
M.H.A., University of Pittsburgh
B.A., Penn State University
David Jordan
Professor
Health Care Admin & Management
Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University
M.B.A., University of Pittsburgh
B.S., University of Pittsburgh
Programs
Majors
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Financial Management
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Information Systems
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Leadership
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Leadership - Online
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Leadership / Pre-Occupational Therapy (SRU) (3+3)
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Leadership / Pre-Occupational Therapy (SRU) (Traditional)
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Leadership / Pre-Physical Therapy (SRU) (3+3)
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Leadership / Pre-Physical Therapy (SRU) (Traditional)
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Leadership / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (3+2)
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Leadership / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (Traditional)
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Legal Environment
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Long-Term Care
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Marketing and Sales
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Medical Device Sales
- HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Quality and Risk Management
Minors
Courses
HCAM Courses
Foundations of Academic Discovery serves as the entry point to the Rock Integrated Studies Program. With its strong faculty-student interaction, the course promotes intellectual inquiry, critical and creative thinking, and academic excellence. Through varied content, the course introduces students to academic discourse and information literacy while exploring topics such as diversity and inclusion and global awareness. This course will set students along the path to becoming engaged with issues and scholarship important to a 21st century education while they learn about themselves and their place in the world.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
Enrollment limited to students with a semester level of Freshman 1 or Freshman 2.
Enrollment limited to students with the ROCK STUDIES 2 STUDENT or ROCK STUDIES STUDENT attributes.
A unique and specifically focused course within the general purview of a department which intends to offer it on a "one time only" basis and not as a permanent part of the department's curriculum.
Credits: 1-3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
A workshop is a program which is usually of short duration, narrow in scope, often non-traditional in content and format and on a timely topic.
Prerequisite: HCAM 230D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 1-6
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
A Selected Topics course is a normal, departmental offering which is directly related to the discipline, but because of its specialized nature, may not be able to be offered on a yearly basis by the department.
Prerequisite: HCAM 230D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 1-3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
Introduction to Population Health examines the social determinants of health, diverse population groups’ interface with a continuum of healthcare services, and fundamental issues of health equity. This course will focus on how population heath is a function of multiple interconnected healthcare system participants.
Credits: 3
This course offers an overview of the U.S. healthcare delivery system and challenges that confront the industry. It examines legal, technological, economic, political, ethical, and social forces that impact the healthcare industry. Students will learn about the delivery of healthcare services in various settings, as well as the role of government, professional agencies, and other industry related organizations. The allocation of scarce healthcare resources is examined through the lenses of social awareness, civic responsibility, and quasi-market forces. This course also equips students to become informed healthcare consumers and introduces them to healthcare employment opportunities.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall & Spring Terms, Offered Summer Terms
Thematic Thread(s): Citizenship & Social Problems, Institutions & Human Innovations, Transfer Thread Completion Course
This course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of medical language. Emphasis is placed on basic medical word construction and language derivation related to health care.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
Thematic Thread(s): Conservation, Technology & Imagination, Human Diversity & Well-Being, Institutions & Human Innovations, Transfer Thread Completion Course
This course examines Managed Care Organizations, insurance plans, Consumer Directed Health Care plans, and Health Care Exchanges. Students will explore the influence of managed health care and the various forms of health care insurance on the organization and delivery of health services in the United States are explored.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall & Spring Terms
A unique and specifically focused course within the general purview of a department which intends to offer it on a "one time only" basis and not as a permanent part of the department's curriculum.
Credits: 1-3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
A workshop is a program which is usually of short duration, narrow in scope, often non-traditional in content and format and on a timely topic.
Prerequisite: HCAM 230D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 1-6
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
A Selected Topics course is a normal, departmental offering which is directly related to the discipline, but because of its specialized nature, may not be able to be offered on a yearly basis by the department.
Prerequisite: HCAM 230D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 1-3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
This course examines health care systems from other countries in contrast to the United States system of health care. Students will be introduced to larger global perspectives about healthcare systems. Comparisons of healthcare systems' infrastructures, finance systems, level of government involvement, and key metrics of health outcomes will be discussed along with the interconnected socio-political issues across diverse populations.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Spring Terms
Thematic Thread(s): Institutions & Human Innovations, Transfer Thread Completion Course, United Stated in Global Context
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
Through this course, students will identify drivers of value in health care and identify major challenges to value-based care. Students will examine various healthcare value-based reimbursement programs and develop leadership strategies to improve quality and reduce costs in health care.
Prerequisites: HCAM 230D and HCAM 265*D (may be taken concurrently).
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall Terms
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
This course provides an overview of US health care policy in the postwar period. The course will examine the problems of health care costs, access, and quality in depth, consider alternative approaches to health care reform and use a comparative method to examine the health policies of other advanced industrialized countries. In addition, the course aims to introduce students to health policy analysis as an applied social science discipline.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
This course examines current topics in healthcare from the interests of various constituencies and organizations. It is designed to introduce students to the identification and study of current economic, regulatory, operational issues, and emerging trends impacting the healthcare industry. Matters of healthcare policy, healthcare reform, current clinical and non-clinical healthcare developments, policy process, and advocacy will also be examined.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Summer & Winter Terms
Thematic Thread(s): Institutions & Human Innovations, Transfer Thread Completion Course, United Stated in Global Context
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
This course introduces concepts associated with organizational dynamics in the healthcare industry. Students will examine content from individual, team, and organizational perspectives. Organizational dynamics are examined to provide a better understanding of how to deliver value within a competitive and changing healthcare industry.
Prerequisite: HCAM 230D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Spring Terms, Offered Winter Terms
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
This course connects theoretical foundations of ethics with practical legal issues facing health care leaders. The course will define the role of the health care provider, payer, consumers, delivery systems, and regulatory bodies in addressing challenges presented by health care law and ethics.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall & Spring Terms
Thematic Thread(s): Human Diversity & Well-Being, Transfer Thread Completion Course, United Stated in Global Context
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
This course expands students’ understanding of content from HCAM 265, Introduction to Insurance and Managed Care. Students will explore foundational concepts of insurance and dynamic interrelationships associated with supply and demand-side controls, cost structures, cost containment, adverse selection, moral hazard, and related policies. Non-health insurance programs, underwriting, and claims management will also be introduced.
Prerequisites: HCAM 230C and HCAM 265C
C Requires minimum grade of C.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Spring Terms, Offered Summer Terms Odd
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2, Sophomore 1 or Sophomore 2 may not enroll.
A unique and specifically focused course within the general purview of a department which intends to offer it on a "one time only" basis and not as a permanent part of the department's curriculum.
Credits: 1-3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
A workshop is a program which is usually of short duration, narrow in scope, often non-traditional in content and format and on a timely topic.
Prerequisite: HCAM 230D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 1-6
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
A Selected Topics course is a normal, departmental offering which is directly related to the discipline, but because of its specialized nature, may not be able to be offered on a yearly basis by the department.
Prerequisite: HCAM 230D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 1-3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
Legal Environment of Healthcare acquaints future healthcare managers with legal issues relating to government, patients, healthcare employees, and contractors. This course surveys a wide variety of legal concepts, terms, and common-sense tips for entry-level healthcare organization employees.
Prerequisites: HCAM 230C and HCAM 275C
C Requires minimum grade of C.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall Terms Even, Offered Spring Terms, Offered Winter Terms Odd
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2, Sophomore 1 or Sophomore 2 may not enroll.
This course will examine leadership principles necessary to be effective in a continuously changing health care industry. Concepts covered include cultural competency, patient and family centered care, community outreach, coalition building, teamwork effectiveness, and leading within an environment of change in the US health care system.
Prerequisites: HCAM 230D and (HCAM 360D or MGMT 351D)
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall Terms
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2, Sophomore 1 or Sophomore 2 may not enroll.
This course covers the application of marketing concepts, tools and techniques to marketing problems, emphasizing strategic thinking, and analysis in a healthcare environment. Students will gain perspective on how a healthcare marketing function links to the overall business system.
Prerequisite: MRKT 230D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
This course will examine long-term care organizations and care in the United States. Students examine external and internal long-term environments, the organization and delivery of services, administration, management, and leadership of long-term care organizations.
Prerequisites: HCAM 230D and (HCAM 360D or MGMT 351D) and HCAM 265D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Spring Terms
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2, Sophomore 1 or Sophomore 2 may not enroll.
This course is designed to build on accounting and financial management strategies used in profit and not-for-profit healthcare organizations. It will expose students to the practical application and theoretical constructs necessary to manage finances in a variety of healthcare organizations.
Prerequisites: HCAM 230D and ACCT 209D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall Terms
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
This internship provides students with an opportunity to apply theory to practice and develop competencies through a work-related experience in a profit, or not-for-profit, healthcare related organization.
Prerequisites: HCAM 230D and HCAM 360D and HCAM 265D and HCAM 400D and (HCAM 405 (may be taken concurrently)D or HCAM 305*D) (may be taken concurrently).
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 1-12
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Summer & Winter Terms
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
This course will prepare students with the fundamental knowledge needed to manage various types of healthcare practices. This includes topics such as differentiating between types of medical practices; accreditation, credentialing and licensing; regulatory compliance, compensation, productivity and provider contracting; billing & the lifecycle of a claim; patient experience & referral analysis; quality & utilization management; coordination of care; and innovation in care, payment and organizational models.
Prerequisite: HCAM 360D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 3
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2, Sophomore 1 or Sophomore 2 may not enroll.
This course details drivers of value in health care and identifies major challenges to value-based care. Students will examine and apply various healthcare value-based reimbursement programs and leadership strategies to improve quality and reduce costs in health care.
Prerequisites: HCAM 305C or HCAM 405C
C Requires minimum grade of C.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall & Spring Terms
Enrollment limited to students with a semester level of Junior 1, Junior 2, Senior 1 or Senior 2.
In-depth reading and/or research with the guidance of a faculty member in an area selected by the student. Prerequisites: 12 credits in major courses, application and permission of the instructor, departmental chairperson and dean of the college where the study will be conducted. Independent Study courses give students the opportunity to pursue research and/or studies that are not part of the university's traditional course offerings. Students work one on one or in small groups with faculty guidance and are typically required to submit a final paper or project as determined by the supervising professor.
Credits: 1-3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2 or Sophomore 1 may not enroll.
A workshop is a program which is usually of short duration, narrow in scope, often non-traditional in content and format and on a timely basis.
Prerequisite: HCAM 230D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 1-6
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
A Selected Topics course is a normal, departmental offering which is directly related to the discipline, but because of its specialized nature, may not be able to be offered on a yearly basis by the department.
Prerequisite: HCAM 230D
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 1-3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered as Needed
This course examines health care theories that focus on the key concepts of individual and population health, access to health care, cost of health care, quality of health care, and health care organization structures and processes. Students will research areas of interest based on these theoretical concepts.
Prerequisites: HCAM 230D and HCAM 360D and HCAM 400*D and (HCAM 405 (may be taken concurrently)D or HCAM 305*D) (may be taken concurrently).
D Requires minimum grade of D.
Credits: 3
Term(s) Typically Offered: Offered Fall & Spring Terms
Students with a semester level of Freshman 1, Freshman 2, Junior 1, Junior 2, Sophomore 1 or Sophomore 2 may not enroll.