This list of Accredited Health Administration Degree Programs in Alabama should serve as a starting point for people looking for degree programs in the medical administration field. The degrees included range from associate programs through graduate degrees, and would adapt to many careers. One of the programs (the bachelor’s degree in physical activity and health) would be a good choice for anyone wanting to open their own training center. There is also diversity in the way the degree programs are delivered: traditional classroom, hybrid or entirely online.
Alabama State University
College of Health Sciences
The university is a smaller school with around 5700 students. It ranked in the second tier in the US News and World Report ranking of regional schools. It is also ranked among historically black schools and universities. The school was founded in 1867 by nine freed slaves who managed to accumulate $500, and has offered educational value to African-American students in the years since. Student-to-faculty ratio is 16 to 1, and students are encouraged to collaborate with instructors in valuable research projects. The six-year graduation rate is 26 percent.
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
This degree blends the science of medicine and information technology through coursework that is focused on healthcare. Some of the areas covered in the program are applied statistics, information resources, and legislation and standards. Students also explore general liberal arts education in fine arts, sciences, mathematics and social sciences. Students do not take courses in the major until the sophomore year and significant classes in the major begin in the junior year. The 128 credit-hour degree path gives students a solid foundation in the career with courses on biology, medical terminology, healthcare financial management, information systems, pathophysiology, and research methodology. The degree is intended to enable graduates to obtain entry-level positions in health administration. Students establish a year-long affiliation with health information management departments within healthcare facilities.
Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education
Contact
College of Health Sciences
Alabama State University
915 South Jackson Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-229-5058
mtillis@alasu.edu
Auburn University
Undergraduate Programs
This school began as the East Alabama Male College in 1856. It is one of the largest universities in the south, and one of a handful of land, sea and space grant universities. US News and World Report ranked Auburn University as # 91 in the list of United States national universities. Its six-year graduation rate is 68 percent. Current enrollment is just a little less than 5,000 and the student-to-faculty ratio is 18:1. Tuition for Alabama residents is $281 per credit hour. For out-of-state students, tuition is $633 per credit hour.
BA in Physical Activity and Health (formerly Health Promotion)
The goal of this degree program, seated in the Education Department, is to give students the competency to become professionals in commercial and corporate fitness and cardiac rehabilitation facilities. The degree path consists of 42 credit hours in general studies including English, philosophy, natural, social and behavioral science and history. There are also 53 hours in the major and electives such as “Exercise Science” and “Physical Education and wellness.” Examples of other courses include “Health Promotion in the Workplace,” “Physical Activity and Public Health” and “Exercise prescriptions for Normal and Special Populations.” At the end of the 121 semester-hour degree program there is a twelve-hour internship. The school website advises students that it may not be possible to schedule all necessary classes in the sequence needed, so they should consult faculty advisors before completing their degree paths.
BS in Health Sciences Administration
Because this program is located in the Liberal Arts Department, it requires students to complete one year of a foreign language. They may also avail themselves of the study-abroad opportunity. Students are admitted by application only, after they have completed 30 semester hours of coursework. They must also have held a 2.3 GPA in a specified list of courses. There are the usual fundamental liberal arts classes which are taken mainly at the beginning of the program an d then the major courses. Some of these are: “Business Ethics,” “Medical Terminology,” “Calculus,” “Financial Accounting,” “Healthcare Policy” and “Human Resource Management.” There are 120 credit hours in the program including internships during the junior year and a capstone seminar. Before entering into an internship, students must complete all prerequisites.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges
Contact
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama 36849
334-844-4446
eduinfo@auburn.edu
http://bulletin.auburn.edu/undergraduate/collegeofeducation/
Oakwood University
School of Business and Adult Continuing Education
This school is a private, historically black university affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventist church. Tuition per semester (resident and non-resident) is $7,857. It offers a faith-based education to students. It has been rated by US News and World Report as #31 in the “Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the South” list. The school owns and operates radio station WJOU 90.1 FM. In 2009, Oakwood conferred an honorary doctorate upon Wintley Phipps, who is an internationally-recognized musician. Mr. Phipps also spoke at the commencement that year.
BBA Health Care Administration Concentration
Graduates in this program, according to the learning outcome, will “demonstrate ability to create and effectively execute written and oral reports using appropriate software.” Students are also expected to show skill in critical thinking and decision-making, and understand the economic forces that shape the global economy. All business students take the business core curriculum which is 42 credit hours. In addition, this degree program includes 69 concentration hours plus electives. To be admitted to the program, students must have completed 30 credit hours of basic courses including freshman composition and have a 2.0 GPA. To be eligible for graduation, students must pass a comprehensive exit examination. If they do not receive a passing score, they must enroll in spring review classes. There is also a required practicum of a minimum of 150 hours.
Accreditation
Southern Association of the Commission on Colleges
Department of Education of the General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church
Association of Collegiate Business Schools
Contact
Business and Information Systems
McKee B and T Building
Oakwood University
7000 Adventist Blvd NW
Huntsville, AL 35896
256-726-7070
admission@oakwood.edu
http://www.oakwood.edu/academics/academic-departments/business-a-information-systems
University of Alabama
Culverhouse College of Commerce
This university was founded in 1831 as Alabama’s first public college. The Culverhouse College of Commerce undergraduate program is rated by US News and World Report as one of the top two or three percent of public business programs in the nation. The graduate school ranks #31 among MBA programs in the US. Tuition for both graduate and undergraduate programs is $4950. In the 2013-2014 school year there were 1252 full-time instructors which made the student-to-faculty ratio 21:1. One of the goals of Culverhouse is to produce ethical and socially responsible business people.
Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management
This is one of only 73 programs in North America certified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration. Courses in the degree program include “Introduction to Health Systems,” “Management of Healthcare Organizations,” “Survey of Issues in Healthcare Management,” “Principles of Long-term Care,” “Principles of Ambulatory Care Management” and other classes. The first year is spent in foundational and liberal arts classes; the major doesn’t begin until the end of the sophomore year, or until after the student has earned 61 credit hours. At the end of the degree program there is an internship and seniors take independent study and a course on the legal aspects of Healthcare. The program includes a minimum of 120 credit hours, but may have as many as 140 depending upon prerequisites and concentrations. The Healthcare management is 12 additional credit hours, making the program 132 hours.
Master of Healthcare Services Administration
This graduate program is rated #5 by US News and World Report. The goal of the degree is to prepare people to assume leadership positions in healthcare organizations. The program is offered in two formats. The residential program is intended for those students who have just completed an undergraduate degree in health administration. It can be taken alone, or with other complementary programs to allow for a dual degree. The residential master’s degree also is offered as a five-year fast track program that allows students to earn their bachelor’s degree in three years and their master’s in two. That format requires some summer courses. The other track for the master’s degree is the Executive MSHA which is intended for people with an undergraduate degree in healthcare administration and five years of work experience in the field. It is offered online and in hybrid formats. Students are required to attend campus eight days, three times a year. The estimated cost of the master’s degree is $25,200 annually.
Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health degree is for students who want to specialize in an area of public health. The concentrations available are: Clinical Research, Environmental Health, Epidemiology and Outcomes Research. All students in the program must take coursework in biostatistics and epidemiology and complete a research project or thesis. Students are required to take a minimum of 15 hours of methodological and specialties courses, and are encouraged to enroll in other public health core classes to get a breadth and depth to their degree. This program is also offered in the fast-track program that allows students to earn their undergraduate and their master’s degrees in five years.
Accreditation
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
Culverhouse School of Management
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
205-348-6183
JMOYER@CBA.UA.EDU
http://www.ua.edu/catalogs/catalog10/502559.html
(and for the Birmingham campus where the graduate degrees are offered)
UAB Graduate School
LHL G03
1720 2nd Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294-0013
205-934-8227
gradschool@uab.edu
http://www.uab.edu/shp/hsa/msha
Virginia College
This school is actually a chain of campuses. It is owned by The Education Corporation of America and is accredited to award diplomas, certificates, associate and undergraduate degrees as well as graduate degrees. Although the school maintains a brick-and-mortar presence in many cities, its focus is on online and distance learning. The degrees are career-oriented, which means that they only include courses necessary for the goal profession. Virginia College offers career counseling and job placement services. Tuition for the school is $16,600 per year and it does not vary by residence.
Associate Degree in Medical Office Administration
This program teaches students to perform administrative duties in a medical office or clinic. It is offered in a traditional classroom setting or online. The 96 credit-hour program includes courses in medical terminology, medical law and ethics, medical transcription, medical records systems, accounting, business office automation and customer service. Twenty –four of the credits are in liberal arts courses. At the end of the program, students complete an externship in a medical office, doctor’s office or other healthcare facility under the supervision of a physician, a nurse or a health services professional. Estimated cost for the associate degree program is $37,060. The degree path is listed as taking 88 weeks, but only 26 percent of students finished in that time. The job placement rate for students graduating from this program is 55 percent.
Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Management
This degree program is offered only online, and can be completed full or part time. It is intended for people who want to complete an undergraduate degree in health sciences administration to obtain an entry-level management position in the field or for career mobility. There are 184 credit hours required to graduate. Of these, students may transfer up to 90 from another school. Eight of the credit hours are in foundation classes, fifty-six are in general education, sixty are in the concentration core and sixty are in concentration electives. The program is designed to be completed in 154 weeks, and 62 percent of students finish in that time. Tuition for the degree is $70, 940.
Accreditation
Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
Contact
Virginia College
488 Palisades Blvd.
Birmingham, AL 35209
205-802-1200
Email through website
http://www.vc.edu/campus/birmingham-alabama-college.cfm#programlist
After reading this compilation of programs, students should choose the ones they wish to pursue and then go to the school website for more detailed information. Health care administration is a diverse field and has many career options, from office administration to facility administration. Students can save much time and effort by narrowing their search using this list of Accredited Health Administration Degree Programs in Alabama.
Another great resource:
Top 10 Best Online Masters in Health Administration Degree Programs 2013
