Health Services Administration: Robert Morris University Health Services Administration | Robert Morris University

Undergraduate

Health Services Administration

The insurance and health care delivery system reforms passed as part of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 have added to an already high demand for skilled managers in acute care hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, long-term care organizations, community-based service providers and other ancillary enterprises. Today’s professionals must be prepared to direct person-centered integrated care delivery systems, navigate increasingly complex private and public regulatory environments, manage creative workplace environments and foster the efficient and effective adoption of new technologies by health care practitioners.

RMU's Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health Services Administration degree program (online only) is designed to prepare individuals to gain entry and advance as leaders in a wide variety of health care organizations. The B.S. in Health Services Administration equips individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead organizations in providing better health care for individuals, fostering better health for the population and lowering per-capita costs through improvement. The program integrates theory with timely and relevant case study examples to support individuals in developing a comprehensive and practical understanding of the health care industry.

RMU's program was ranked #5 in The Best Colleges' Top 10 Bachelor of Health Management and Health Administration Degree Programs of 2011-12.

Program objectives:

  • Prepare graduates who will provide leadership in health care organizations in the 21st century.
  • Develop skills that enhance graduates’ ability to succeed.
  • Produce graduates who are valued by employers for their ability to deal with politics, nuances and complexities of the health care system.
  • Turn out graduates who understand health care finance and efficient use of resources.
  • Help graduates develop their ability to motivate and lead highly trained technical people who provide patient care.
  • Give graduates a knowledge base that allows them a broader choice of career options in health care administration.
  • Provide students with an experience that encourages them to integrate theory with their practical experience.

The Health Services Administration degree program offers a wide range of career options. Graduates may find jobs in the administration of hospitals, physicians' offices, clinics, long-term care or managed care facilities, rehabilitation services, pharmaceutical sales, or even a government setting.

Nationally, health care is a $1.7 trillion industry, or nearly 16 percent of the U.S. gross national product. As the "Baby Boomer" generation approaches retirement, a new generation of managers will be needed to lead the largest-ever expansion of the health care industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow faster than the average in the coming years.

The demand for qualified health care managers in western Pennsylvania is strong and will continue to grow, as approximately 18 percent of the region's population is over the age of 65. As a result, health care is one of the region's major industries. The region is home to one of the nation's largest health insurance companies, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and one of the nation's most prominent teaching hospitals, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). There are 73 hospitals in western Pennsylvania plus a substantial number of long-term care facilities and home-health agencies.

Below is a typical four-year course of study for health services administration students, including major requirements and electives. Your own schedule will vary based on your own interests. 

FRESHMAN/Fall Semester FRESHMAN/Spring Semester
Intro to Health Systems Health Services Admin II
Health Services Admin I Intro to Mg. Care
Math Reasoning with App. Survey of Economics
Communication Skills I Communication Skills II

General Psychology
SOPHOMORE/Fall Semester SOPHOMORE/Spring Semester
Health Care Financial Admin Strategic Plan Health Care
Fundamentals of Health Policy Communication Skills IV
Communication Skills III Marketing Health Serv. Org.
Principles of Sociology Elective
Elective Elective
Elective Elective
JUNIOR/Fall Semester JUNIOR/Spring Semester
Human Resources Admin Basic Principles of Health Econ.
Healthcare Law & Ethics Consumer Health Issues 
History/Political Science     Elective
Elective                     Elective
Elective Elective
Summer Term
Health Care Info Systems  
Math Reasoning with App.  
General Psychology  
Research Healthcare Pro.  
SENIOR/Fall Semester SENIOR/Spring Semester
Research Healthcare  Pro. Thesis Healthcare
Thesis Healthcare  English Literature        
Ethics Healthcare  Admin         Health Care Info Systems
Elective Humanities: Art and Music
Elective Elective
Elective  

 

Robert Morris University signed a memorandum of understanding with Suzhou Health College formalizing a collaboration with the organizations in May 2009. Through the memorandum of understanding, the organizations agreed to develop joint academic exchanges of mutual interest, including the promotion and coordination of cooperative actions.

In 2009 the first group of RMU students and faculty traveled to China and visited schools and health care centers in Suzhou and Nanjing and had the opportunity to explore the rich culture of several Chinese regions. This travel was part of a 3-credit elective course offered in the spring. The second group of students and faculty traveled to China in May 2010 and the trip included cultural and educational opportunities in Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanjing and Beijing.
The delivery of online programs supports the overall strategic plan of Robert Morris University by demonstrating our commitment to the continuous improvement of Academic Programs. Through the use of an electronic Learning Management System (LMS), RMU enhances its ability to analyze student learning assessment and program outcomes, and uses a Teacher-Scholar model that supports faculty development in teaching. These initiatives  provide the foundation of knowledge and practical skill sets designed to help our graduates succeed in the real world.

The School of Nursing and Health Sciences faculty and staff are committed to offering RMU students academic excellence with a professional focus. They are professionals who emphasize engaged learning and promote a global prospective. Above all, we believe that individuals matter, and because of this, we are changing the lives of our students.

Scholarships are available based upon academic achievement. 

For freshmen, high school grade point average and ACT/SAT scores are used. For transfer students, the cumulative grade point average of all college courses is used. Scholarships range from $1000 per year up to full tuition. (To calculate your scholarship eligibility, click here.)

Higher education is an investment in your future. 

At Robert Morris University, we will work closely with you to show you how to finance your education through a combination of need-based financial aid, scholarships, and financing strategies to make your education attainable. RMU has one of the lowest tuition rates of all private institutions in the state, but we know that financing your education can be complicated, and your family might need help in understanding your options. 

Talk to us—we can help! 
Email us at finaid@rmu.edu

  • Call us toll free at 800-762-0097
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