Health Care Management

The Department of Management and Economics at Springfield College offers graduate programs in Health Care Management and Health Care Management in Long-Term Facilities, both of which lead to the degree of master of science. The programs provide the student with the academic preparation and the practical skills required for, and an opportunity for personal growth in, challenging career opportunities in this still-growing sector of the American economy. The programs emphasize preparation for and/or advancement in the broad field of health care management. This includes supervisory and administrative work in a variety of health-related organizations and service systems. With the core courses designed to enhance the management skills and the detailed specifics of the health care industry, these programs will train the dedicated health care professionals required in today’s market.

Program Requirements

The program in Health Care Management requires fifty semester hours for the degree of master of science. A second track within the program is designed to prepare students more specifically to manage long-term health care facilities; this track involves a longer internship and requires fifty-four semester hours. The curriculum consists of core courses and elective credits. The courses chosen will complement and assist students in achieving their career goals.

The programs include courses in management and health care. Because the programs culminate in the degree of master of science, each student is required to complete several research and computer courses, and one additional graduate core course. Students will also complete an internship and a research project. The number of academic credits assigned to the fieldwork/internship component varies according to the track selected by the student. The elective component includes traditional three-semester-hour electives and a variety of one-semester hour graduate seminars which focus on current topics in health care management.

Core requirement

• RSCH 610 - Foundations and Methods of Research (CORE Course) Credits: 3 s.h

Program requirements (Total: 30 s.h.)

• ECON 600 - Economic Aspects of Healthcare Organizations Credits: 3 s.h
• HLTH 560 - Health-Related Aspects of Aging Credits: 3 s.h
• HLTH 580 - Health Program Planning and Design Credits: 3 s.h
• HLTH 614 - Administration of Health Programs Credits: 4 s.h
• HLTH 616 - Health Law Credits: 3 s.h
• MGTE 600 - Selected Applications of Accounting Credits: 3 s.h
• MGTE 610 - Financial Management of Healthcare Organizations Credits: 3 s.h
• MGTE 620 - Strategic Management of Healthcare Organizations Credits: 3 s.h
• MGTE 630 - Management in Long-Term Healthcare Organizations Credits: 3 s.h

• SOCI 625 - Gerontology Credits / Units: 3 s.h.

Research Courses (Total 8 s.h.)

* Refer to master’s degree requirements.

• RSCH 612 - Proposal Design Credits: 2 s.h
• RSCH 620 - Educational and Psychological Statistics I Credits: 3 s.h
• RSCH 626 - Research Project Credits: 2-4 s.h

Internship/Fieldwork experience 6 s.h.

Electives

6 s.h. chosen in consultation with academic advisor.

Fieldwork projects are planned to involve students in gaining experience in their chosen field and are selected with reference to the individual student’s interests and needs. Fieldwork placement is not limited to Massachusetts facilities and may take place at facilities such as hospitals, long-term health care organizations, mental health clinics, continuing care retirement communities, health insurance organizations, ambulatory care facilities, day care facilities for the elderly, nursing homes, acute care rehabilitation centers, hospices, physician group practices, walk-in medical facilities, home health organizations, regulatory agencies, and other health care or health care-related organizations.

Health selectives

Choose one from among the following three-semester-hour selective offerings:

• AEXS 675 - Stress Management Credits: 3 s.h
• CISC 620 - Microcomputer Applications in a Clinical Setting Credits: 3 s.h
• HLTH 560 - Health-Related Aspects of Aging Credits: 3 s.h
• HLTH 570 - Women’s Health Care Credits: 3 s.h
• MSSW 655 - Proposal Writing and Grant Acquisition Credits: 2 s.h

Management selectives

Choose one from among the following three-semester-hour selective offerings:

• HPER 679 - Personnel and Human Resource Management Credits: 3 s.h
• MGTE 605 - Managerial Supervision Credits: 3 s.h
• MGTE 618 - Advertising Credits: 3 s.h
• MGTE 630 - Management in Long-Term Healthcare Organizations Credits: 3 s.h
• MGTE 640 - Quantitative Methods Credits: 3 s.h
• MGTE 645 - Consumer Behavior Credits: 3 s.h

** Management Special Topics Courses

Choose three from the following one credit courses. These represent topics of current interest offered on a variable basis. The following are among the one credit offerings included as choices:

• Home Health Care
• Health Insurance
• Death and Dying
• Issues Related to Managing a Continuing Care Retirement Community
• Occupational Medicine
• Current Issues in Long-Term Health Care
• Managing an HMO
• Negotiation Skills
• Managed Care
• Multihospital Systems and Academic Medical Centers
• Health Policy
• Alternative Health Care Delivery Systems
• Facilities Planning
• Governance and Board Effectiveness
• Professional Skill Development
• National Health Reform Alternatives