Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Slippery Rock University

HCAM, Bachelor of Science (BS) - Concentration in Leadership / Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU) (3+2)

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Business Technology and Analytics: Students will articulate an applied understanding of key quality improvement metrics and methods to support evidence-based practice guidelines including:
    • Demonstrate knowledge, skills and abilities to plan for and ensure the security, integrity, and privacy of data and confidentiality of the end user.
    • Demonstrate an ability to identify, aggregate, and summarize technical information for technical and non-technical personnel.
    • (UG 02, UG 10)
  • Communication and Relationship Management: Students will demonstrate the ability to interact and communicate effectively by:
    • Presenting information in oral and written formats.
    • Collaborating effectively with others.
    • (UG 01, UG 05, UG 08, UG 09)
  • Financial Management and Economic Reasoning: Students will demonstrate:
    • An ability to analyze, quantify, evaluate and determine the sound allocation of financial resources.
    • An ability to apply economic concepts for efficient allocation of scarce resources.
    • (UG 02, UG 04)
  • Healthcare Legal Environment and Ethics: Students will be able to:
    • Recognize will ethical dilemmas in healthcare.
    • Recognize key healthcare legal and regulatory environment parameters.
    • Demonstrate discern viable options for ethical guided decision-making processes.
    • Demonstrate applied legal and regulatory reasoning.
    • (UG 02, UG 05, UG 07, UG 08, UG 09)
  • Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment: Students will demonstrate an accurate understanding of:
    • Health care system structures.
    • Reimbursement/payment models.
    • Factors associated with population health.
    • (UG 02, UG 09)
  • Organizational Dynamics: Students will articulate an applied understanding of:
    • Organizational mission, vision, and culture.
    • Behaviors associated with organizational commitment and job performance.
    • (UG 05, UG 07, UG 08, UG 09)

What are your options?

Pre-Physician Assistant SRU 3+2: Earn a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies in five years rather than six. In the first three years, you complete your major courses and prerequisites for the SRU PA program. At the end of your second year, you apply for admission into the SRU PA program. If accepted, your first year in the SRU PA program meets the remaining requirements for your undergraduate degree. If not accepted, you continue to complete your undergraduate degree and can reapply to the program. The accelerated option is for incoming freshmen only.

Pre-Physician Assistant (SRU Traditional): Complete the requirements for your major and the prerequisites for the SRU PA program and apply to the SRU PA program in your senior year.

Academic Policies for Students in the Health Care Administration and Management (HCAM) Major

Effective for students entering the major Fall 2017 and after

  1. Policy for achieving and maintaining “Sufficient Academic Performance”1
    1. At the end of the semester in which a student has earned 40 credits (and every semester thereafter), the Major and Overall GPA will be reviewed:
      1. A student must earn a 2.50 Major GPA to achieve “Sufficient Academic Performance” and continue in the HCAM major.
      2. A student earning below a 2.50 in the Major GPA at any time after earning 40 credits will be placed on a “one semester probation.”2 He/she must increase his/her GPA to 2.50 or higher by the end of the “one semester probation” or be permanently removed from the HCAM major. The student will be notified by email of his/her status following the “one semester probation.” A student who has not achieved “Sufficient Academic Performance” will have his/her major changed to Exploratory.
      3. A student can be placed on a “one semester probation” a maximum of two times as an HCAM major. He/she will be permanently removed from the HCAM major if his/her Major GPA drops below a 2.50 a third time.
      4. A student on a “one semester probation” may not enroll in required 400 Level Courses unless he/she is repeating the course(s).
    2. A transfer student who enters from another university or a Slippery Rock University student who changes his/her major to HCAM:
      1. With 40 or more earned credits will have a one-semester extension before his/her Major GPA are reviewed to determine if he/she has achieved “Sufficient Academic Performance”.
      2. With less than 40 earned credits will follow Policy I. A above.
    3. An incoming FYRST student earning college credits prior to entering SRU may reach 40 credits before completing two semesters at SRU. In this case, the review to determine “Sufficient Academic Performance” will not begin until the student has completed two semesters as a student in the HCAM major.
  2. Policy for earning acceptable grades in Required 400 Level Courses
    1. A student must earn a grade of “C” or better in Required 400 Level Courses.
    2. A student will not be permitted to begin an internship unless he/she has “Sufficient Academic Performance” and he/she has earned a grade of “C” or better in Required 400 Level Courses.
    3. A student must also earn a grade of “C” or better in HCAM 305HCAM 400HCAM 4103HCAM 430 and MIS 403 before he/she is allowed to take HCAM 4994 and HCAM 4504.
  3. Policy for changing to the HCAM major
    1. A Slippery Rock University student wishing to change his/her major to Health Care Administration and Management must have an overall GPA of 2.00.
  4. Additional costs associated with the HCAM major
    1. A student in the HCAM major is required to maintain a current Student Professional Liability Insurance and meet any immunization or physical requirements set forth by an internship employer while enrolled in HCAM 450 at his/her own cost.
1

“Sufficient Academic Performance” is defined as having a Major GPA of 2.50 or higher. The Major GPA is comprised of Required Basic Courses, Required 300 and 400 Level HCAM Courses. Please see My Rock Audit for specific courses.

2

“One semester probation” is defined as the initial semester after which “Sufficient Academic Performance” was not achieved and the first occurring summer.

3

If taken – HCAM 410 is an elective for non 3+2 PA or 3+3 PT majors

4

If required – not required for 3+2 PA or 3+3 PT majors

Related Links

Healthcare Administration and Management - Pre-Physician Assistant, BS Program Page

Healthcare Administration Department Page

Professional Licensure/Certification Page

Curriculum Guide

GPA Requirement

1st Major: HCAM

  • Overall GPA: 2.0 or higher
  • Major GPA (includes Major Requirements): 2.0 or higher

2 nd Major: Pre-PA SRU 3+2 HCAM

  • Overall GPA: 3.25 or higher

Summary*

Rock Studies 2 Requirements44
Other Basic Requirements0-3
Computer Competency0-3
Major Requirements36
Electives40

* All undergraduate degree programs require a minimum of 120 credits. Some courses meet multiple requirements, but are only counted once toward the 120 credit total required to graduate. However, because this is a pre-professional program, credits taken during the 1st year of the graduate program are applied toward the undergraduate credit hours to meet the 120 credits required for your undergraduate degree.

Rock Studies 2 Requirements

The Rock
SUBJ 139Foundations of Academic Discovery 13
ENGL 102Critical Writing3
ENGL 104Critical Reading3
STAT 152Elementary Statistics I3
Select one of the following:3
Civil Discourse: Theory & Practice
Ethics and Civil Discourse
Civil Discourse and Democracy
Subtotal15
Integrated Inquiry
Creative and Aesthetic Inquiry
Select 3 Credits3
Humanities Inquiry
Select 3 Credits3
Social Science Inquiry
Select 3 Credits3
Physical & Natural Sciences Inquiry
BIOL 209Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
CHEM 107General Chemistry I3
CHEM 111General Chemistry I Lab1
Subtotal17
Thematic Thread
Select 12 Credits 212
Required Thematic Thread Coursework:
Principles of Microeconomics (Must be included as part of the 12 Thematic Thread credits)
Introduction to Psychology (Must be included as part of the 12 Thematic Thread credits)
Total Hours44
1

Course offered in multiple subjects; cannot take course in first major subject.

2

One course from each category; six credits must be 300-level or above; no more than 4 credits from one subject area; specific courses required in first major, regardless of prefix of course, cannot be used to satisfy thread requirements; any course with same prefix as first major cannot be used to satisfy thread requirements, even if it is not a course in the first major.

Basic Math Requirement

Check with your adviser or a current degree audit report to see if you have been exempted from this course. The credit earned in this course will not be counted toward the 120 credit hour minimum needed to earn a degree.

Complete one of the following:0-3
Meet required minimum SAT or ACT math score OR
Beginning Algebra
Total Hours0-3

Computer Competency

Demonstrate "computer competency" by one of the following:0-3
Pass Computer Competency Exam OR
Select one of the following at SRU or another post-secondary institution:
Introduction to Computing for Liberal Arts
Computer Concepts
Introduction to Computing and Programming
Technology for Wellness
Total Hours0-3

DIVERSITY,  EQUITY,  AND INCLUSION REQUIREMENT

Students must take and pass a course with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) designation prior to graduation.  Students can meet this requirement by taking any DEI - designated course in any program at any time during their undergraduate career. 

Major Requirements

  • If you choose to pursue Pre-Physician Assistant (PA) SRU 3+2 Health Care Administration and Management and are not accepted into the PA program, then the following additional HCAM courses are required to complete a first major of Health Care Administration and Management (HCAM). You will be required to successfully complete the HCAM capstone course (HCAM 499), HCAM internship (HCAM 450) - Plus - courses necessary to satisfy the Leadership concentration. Please see the HCAM curriculum guide.
Required Basic Courses
ACCT 209Financial Accounting 13
HCAM 200Introduction to Population Health 13
or HLTH 210 Introduction to Public Health
HCAM 230US Healthcare Systems 13
HCAM 375 Ethics & Legal Fundamentals for the Health Professions 1,23
MIS 210Productivity Software 13
Subtotal15
Required Upper Level Courses (21 credits if accepted to SRU PA Program)
Must have achieved “Sufficient Academic Performance” to take these courses. Mustearn a “C” or better in all of the following ACCT, HCAM, MIS and PHIL courses:
HCAM 265Introduction to Insurance and Managed Care3
HCAM 305Fundamentals of Healthcare Quality and Safety 1,33
HCAM 360Healthcare Organizational Dynamics 1,33
HCAM 400Legal Environment of Healthcare 1,33
or ACCT 400 Legal Environment of Healthcare
HCAM 430Finance for Healthcare Organizations 1,33
HCAM 470Healthcare Practice Management3
HCAM 480Healthcare Value-Based Reimbursement and Process Improvement 13
Subtotal21
Total Hours36
1

Course counts for 50% of Major requirements and Major GPA.

2

Course can be counted as a Rock Studies 2 Requirement, but earns credit only once toward your 120-credits total.

3

See adviser for 600 level course options.

*

Some courses may require pre-requisites. Please see course descriptions to determine if there are any pre-requisites for that specific course.

Additional Physician Assistant Prerequisite Courses

BIOL 114Biology II: Foundations of Molecules, Genes and Cells with Lab4
BIOL 309Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
BIOL 210Medical Microbiology with Lab3
or BIOL 330 Microbiology/Lab
BIOL 250Genetics with Lab4
CHEM 201Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 108General Chemistry II3
CHEM 112General Chemistry II Lab1
EXSC 250Medical Terminology3
or HCAM 250 Medical Terminology for Healthcare Administrators
Total Hours25

Co-curricular and Experiential Learning

Students are encouraged to explore additional curricular and co-curricular opportunities. There is a strong correlation between long-term student success and participation in the following types of programs and activities:

  1. International study programs (short-term, semester, and year-long)
  2. High-Impact Practice (HIP) designated classes
  3. Student-faculty research
  4. Student leadership development
  5. Service-learning classes
  6. Career education and development
  7. Internships
  8. Volunteering in healthcare industry related settings
  9. Job Shadowing

Physician Assistant Studies (Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies)
Prerequisite Admission Requirements – Pre- Physician Assistant 3+2

For Application Requirements

Please refer to Slippery Rock University’s Physician Assistant Studies (Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies) website for requirements:http://www.sru.edu/pa

Rock Studies 2

Prerequisite Courses - SRU Physician Assistant
BIOL 114Biology II: Foundations of Molecules, Genes and Cells with Lab4
BIOL 210Medical Microbiology with Lab3
or BIOL 330 Microbiology/Lab
BIOL 209Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
BIOL 309Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
BIOL 250Genetics with Lab4
CHEM 107
CHEM 111
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab
4
CHEM 108
CHEM 112
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Lab
4
CHEM 201Organic Chemistry I3
EXSC 250Medical Terminology3
or HCAM 250 Medical Terminology for Healthcare Administrators
PSYC 105Introduction to Psychology3
Inferential Statistics Course 3
Biostatistics and Experimental Design with Lab
Elementary Statistics I
Total Hours39

Pre-Physician Assistant SRU 3+2 Requirements

If any of these requirements are not met, the 3+2 designation will be removed from the student’s record:

  1. A 3.25 or higher overall GPA must be maintained by the student.
  2. The student can only be enrolled in the Pre-Physician Assistant SRU 3+2 program for a maximum of three (3) years, full-time continuous enrollment (fall/spring).

Provision

Should a Pre-Physician Assistant SRU 3+2 student be unsuccessful in completing the 1st two semesters (summer or fall) of the Physician Assistant Program and wants to complete the original undergraduate degree, it is solely up to the discretion of the undergraduate program Department Chair to determine which, if any, Physician Assistant courses will count toward the completion of his/her undergraduate degree. In addition, students must complete any unfulfilled requirements of their undergraduate major. Students may still apply to the Physician Assistant Studies Program with an earned Bachelor’s degree.

Important Curriculum Guide Notes

This Curriculum Guide is provided to help SRU students and prospective students better understand their intended major curriculum. Enrolled SRU students should note that the My Rock Audit may place already-earned and/or in progress courses in different, yet valid, curriculum categories. Enrolled SRU students should use the My Rock Audit Report and materials and information provided by their faculty advisers to ensure accurate progress towards degree completion. The information on this guide is current as of the date listed. Students are responsible for curriculum requirements at the time of enrollment at the University.

PASSHE - Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Institutions

HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION & MANAGEMENT - BS (2346)
Concentration in Leadership 3+2 Pre-PA (LHSP) (23PA)
Effective: Summer 2022
Revised 10.10.2023
UCC 09.05.2023

Recommended Three-Year Plan

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
HCAM 230 US Healthcare Systems 3
CHEM 107
CHEM 111
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab **
4
ENGL 102 Critical Writing ** 3
ESAP 101 FYRST Seminar 1 1
MIS 210 Productivity Software 3
SUBJ 139Foundations of Academic Discovery 1 ** 3
 Hours17
Spring
HCAM 265 Introduction to Insurance and Managed Care 3
CHEM 108
General Chemistry II
or General Chemistry II Lab
1-3
COMM 200 Civil Discourse: Theory & Practice ** 3
ENGL 104 Critical Reading ** 3
EXSC 250 Medical Terminology 3
 Hours13-15
Second Year
Fall
HCAM 305 Fundamentals of Healthcare Quality and Safety 3
HCAM 375 Ethics & Legal Fundamentals for the Health Professions 3
BIOL 114 Biology II: Foundations of Molecules, Genes and Cells with Lab 4
BIOL 216 Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab ** 3
CPSC 100 Introduction to Computing for Liberal Arts 1
PSYC 105 Introduction to Psychology ** 3
Declare a Thematic Thread 2
 Hours17
Spring
HCAM 360 Healthcare Organizational Dynamics 3
ACCT 209 Financial Accounting 3
BIOL 217 Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab 3
BIOL 250 Genetics with Lab 4
HLTH 210
Introduction to Public Health
or Introduction to Population Health
3
STAT 152 Elementary Statistics I ** 3
**Additional fees will apply if student takes over 18 credits.
 Hours19
Third Year
Fall
HCAM 470 Healthcare Practice Management 3
HCAM 430 Finance for Healthcare Organizations 3
CHEM 201 Organic Chemistry I 3
ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics (Thematic Thread Requirement) 3
Thematic Thread Requirement ** 3
Social Science Inquiry 3
 Hours18
Spring
HCAM 400
Legal Environment of Healthcare
or Legal Environment of Healthcare
3
HCAM 480 Healthcare Value-Based Reimbursement and Process Improvement 3
BIOL 210/330 Medical Microbiology with Lab 3
Creative & Aesthetic Inquiry ** 3
Humanities Inquiry ** 3
Thematic Thread Requirement 4 3
 Hours18
Fourth Year
Fall
Senior Year: If not accepted into SRU PA 3
HCAM 499 Health Care Theory and Research Capstone Seminar 3
HCAM 450 Internship-Health Care Administration & Management 3-12
MGMT 320 Operations Management 3
 Hours9-18
Spring
Senior Year: If not accepted into SRU PA 3
MGMT 354 Human Resources Management 3
HCAM Leadership Concentration Elective 3
Free Elective (Recommended HCAM or in Minor) 3
 Hours9
 Total Hours**120-131
*

Course offered in multiple subjects; cannot take course in first major subject.

1

Students are encouraged to take ESAP 101 as a Free Elective.

2

Work with your Academic Adviser to declare a Thematic Thread by the end of your fall semester in your second year.

3

Senior Year- If not accepted into SRU PA Program: If you choose to pursue Health Care Administration and Management 3+2 Pre-Physician Assistant program and are not accepted into the graduate SRU Physician Assistant program, then additional coursework is required, please refer to the Health Care Administration and Management, Leadership Concentration Curriculum Guide.  

4

Suggest student take one of the following: HIST 364 OR RCTH 364OR PE 342 OR PSYC 244

**

Rock Studies 2 Program

** This document is meant to serve as a guide. Some planners may show more than 120 credits because faculty have created flexibility in choosing courses.  However, only 120 credits are required to obtain a degree. Please consult with your academic adviser and refer to your curriculum guide prior to registering for courses. This plan should be reviewed, and verified, by you and your academic adviser at least once each academic year. 

MAJOR CODE: 2346 (LSHP/23PA)
Revised 10.10.2023