Health Services Administration (B.S.)

The Bachelor of Science degree in Health Services Administration (HLSA) is a major for students interested in the management, business, and policy aspects of health care. The program is designed to develop in students the knowledge, skills, and values required for the wide range of positions available in this important field.

General Information

The Bachelor of Science degree in Health Services Administration offers preparation for entry level positions in the business and management side of the expanding health care industry, as well as preparation for graduate study. The program integrates courses from the fields of health sciences and business administration, and is designed to develop in students the knowledge, skills, and values required for the wide range of positions available in this important field.

The program is flexible to meet the demands of a wide variety of student types and career goals. Besides providing the tools necessary for people wishing to enter the field, the program offers an excellent opportunity for those already in the health care field, whether clinical or non-clinical, to leverage their experiences into management positions. Additionally, the program provides a foundation for graduate study in health administration, public health, business, and other related fields.

The program focuses on the relationship between theory and practice through the identification and resolution of problems unique to health care. Practical experiences, including the optional Applied Learning Experience course, allow students the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge gained in the classroom to the field of practice.

Graduates of the Health Services Administration program have found employment in a large number of health care areas, including but not limited to hospitals (i.e., nursing, finance, personnel, public relations, and patient relations), long term care facilities (nursing homes & assisted living), clinical administrators/ practice managers (physician and other professional offices), community and public health, and other non-profit health care related agencies, hospice organizations, managed care and insurance companies, pharmaceutical sales, health care marketing, and home health agencies.

The program currently offers concentrations in:

Practice/Clinical Management, which prepares students to manage the organization and operation of the business aspects of a health care provider’s office (including those of physicians, dentists, hospitals, clinics, and others).

Long Term Care Administration, which prepares students for employment opportunities in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, group homes, and hospices.

 

Public Health Management, which provides students with the knowledge and skills to develop and administer programs aimed at bettering public health and wellness. Students prepare for careers in health promotion within government agencies and nonprofit community organizations, medical institutions, academic institutions and other related entities.

Sports and Fitness Management, which prepares students for a variety of entry and mid-level management positions within the broad field of health and fitness (such as sports promotion, corporate wellness, personal training, health promotion, and sports club management.) It also serves as a foundation for students wishing to pursue graduate work in fields such as sports medicine, exercise physiology, physical and occupational therapy, and athletic training.

Pre-Professional Management Program, which prepares students to enter the Master of Science in Management in the School of Business. Students lacking one or more Foundation Course Requirements may satisfy this requirement by taking the course(s) from the School of Business (offered in the traditional and online format) or be allowed to satisfy the requirement by taking and passing specific Ivy Software courses. Ivy Software course are taken online and at the students own pace. For more information about Ivy Software courses see www.ivysoftware.com. Each case must be coordinated and approved by the School of Business.

General Requirements and Procedures for Admission to the HLSA Program

  1. Be accepted to Middle Georgia State University.
  2. Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.25 or better.
  3. Complete a Health Services Administration program application.

An associate degree is not required for admission to the program. Students who have NOT completed an Associate Degree Program must complete a minimum of 30 hours of major electives, including a minimum of 15 hours of upper division HLSA coursework to equal 120 hours total.

Students who HAVE completed an Associate Degree in an Allied Health Career Program, and after review by the HLSA Program Director and Department Chair, must complete a minimum 9 hours of electives in order to complete 39 hours of upper division coursework and equal 120 hours minimum total.

Curriculum for Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration

The Health Services Administration degree requires 60 credit hours beyond the associate degree or its equivalent. A grade of at least a “C” is required in all 3000-4000 level HLSA courses used to meet the Health Services Administration degree requirements.

Core Curriculum (Credit: 42 hours)

Area A: Essential Skills (Credit: 9 hours)

ENGL 1101English Composition I

3 credits

ENGL 1102English Composition II

3 credits

Area A Math Elective

3 credits

Note: Courses required for Area A must be completed within the first 30 hours.

Area B: Institutional Options (Credit: 4 hours)

Perspectives Elective

4 credits

Area C: Humanities/Fine Arts (Credit: 6 hours)

Literature Elective

3 credits

Area C Elective

3 credits

Area D: Science, Math, and Technology (Credit: 11-12 hours)

Required (Credit: 3 hours)
MATH 1401Elementary Statistics

3 credits

OR

MATH 1401HHonors Elementary Statistics

3 credits

Choose 8-hours from the following classes:
Anthropology
ANTH 1102Introduction to Anthropology

3 credits

Astronomy

ASTR 1010KAstronomy of the Solar System

4 credits

ASTR 1020KStellar and Galactic Astronomy

4 credits


Biology
BIOL 1001KIntroductory Biology I

4 credits

BIOL 1002KIntroductory Biology II

4 credits

BIOL 1011KIntroduction to Biology

4 credits

BIOL 1114KAnatomy and Physiology I

4 credits

BIOL 1124KAnatomy and Physiology II

4 credits

BIOL 1134KMicrobiology for Health Sciences

4 credits

BIOL 1150Field Studies in Biology

3 credits

BIOL 1160KIntroduction to Fungi

4 credits

BIOL 1332KIntroduction to Insects

4 credits

BIOL 2107KPrinciples of Biology I

4 credits

BIOL 2108KPrinciples of Biology II

4 credits

Chemistry
CHEM 1151KSurvey of Chemistry I

4 credits

CHEM 1152KSurvey of Chemistry II

4 credits

CHEM 1211KPrinciples of Chemistry I

4 credits

CHEM 1212KPrinciples of Chemistry II

4 credits

CHEM 2211KOrganic Chemistry I

4 credits

CHEM 2212KOrganic Chemistry II

4 credits

CHEM 2999Special Topics in Chemistry

2 credits

Geology
GEOL 1011KIntroductory Geosciences I

4 credits

GEOL 1125KPhysical Geology

4 credits

GEOL 1126KHistorical Geology

4 credits

GEOL 1130KIntroduction to Georgia Geology

4 credits

 

Physics
PHYS 1011KPhysical Science I

4 credits

PHYS 1012KPhysical Science II

4 credits

PHYS 1111KIntroductory Physics I

4 credits

PHYS 1112KIntroductory Physics II

4 credits

OR

PHYS 2211KPrinciples of Physics I

4 credits

PHYS 2212KPrinciples of Physics II

4 credits

PHYS 2999Special Topics in Physics

1 credits

Note: If students choose to take a four-hour course, then one hour of credit from this course will count in Area F where applicable. Students must have the necessary prerequisite for any course they choose.

Area E: Social Sciences (Credit: 12 hours)

HIST 2111United States History to 1865

3 credits

OR

HIST 2112United States History since 1865

3 credits

 

POLS 1101American Government

3 credits

Area E Elective

3 credits

Area E Elective

3 credits

Area F: Lower Division Major Requirements (Credit: 18 hours)

For students who have NOT completed an Associate Degree Program Major Field— Lower Division.

Required courses (Credit: 12 hours)
ACCT 2000Survey of Accounting

3 credits

HS 2000Medical Terminology

3 credits

 

BUSA 2201Business Information Applications

3 credits

OR

ITEC 2201Business Information Applications

3 credits

 

PSYC 2103Introduction to Human Development

3 credits

Approved Electives (Credit: 6 hours)

Students must choose 2 courses or 6 credit hours to complete AREA F Requirements. 

 

Upper Division Course Requirements (Credit: 60 hours)

The upper division course requirements consist of 30 hours of upper division core classes and 30 hours of upper division electives.

A grade of "C" or higher is required in all HLSA major courses.

A baccalaureate degree program must require at least 21 semester hours of upper division course work in the major field and at least 39 semester hours of upper division work overall. 

Required Core (Credit: 30 hours)

HLSA 3000Research Methods for Health Sciences

3 credits

HLSA 3100Leadership in Health Care

3 credits

HLSA 3310American Health Care System

3 credits

HLSA 3320Health Care Management

3 credits

HLSA 3360Quality Management and Improvement

3 credits

HLSA 3380Health Communications

3 credits

HLSA 4100Human Resource Management in Health Care

3 credits

HLSA 4410Health Law & Ethics

3 credits

HLSA 4470Design & Management

3 credits

HLSA 4480Health Care Financial Management

3 credits

Upper Division Electives Requirements (Credit: 30 Hours)

Students choose either 10 courses (credit: 30 hours) of upper division electives OR at least one of the following concentrations.

Concentrations


Clinical/Practice Management
HLSA 4425Ambulatory Care Services

3 credits

HLSA 4435Managed Care

3 credits

HLSA 4463Case Management Concepts and Services

3 credits

 

HLSA 4450Applied Learning Experience

3 credits

OR

HLSA 4452Health Service Administration Capstone

3 credits

 

18 hours of approved electives

Long Term Care Administration
HLSA 4420Long Term Care Administration

3 credits

 

HLSA 4450Applied Learning Experience

3 credits

OR

HLSA 4452Health Service Administration Capstone

3 credits

 

HLSA 4475Regulatory Aspects of Long Term Care

3 credits

SOCI 3150Gerontology

3 credits

18 hours of approved electives

Pre-Professional Management

Students lacking one or more Foundation Course Requirements may satisfy this requirement by taking the course(s) from the School of Business (offered in the traditional and online format) or be allowed to satisfy the requirement by taking and passing specific Ivy Software courses. Ivy Software courses are taken online and at the students' own pace. For more information about Ivy Software courses see www.ivysoftware.com. Each case must be coordinated and approved by the School of Business. 

ACCT 2101Principles of Accounting I

3 credits

ACCT 2102Principles of Accounting II

3 credits

BUSA 2105Communicating in the Business Environment

3 credits

ECON 2106Principles of Microeconomics

3 credits

MGMT 3101Business Statistics

3 credits

MGMT 3141Principles of Management

3 credits

12 hours of approved electives


Public Health Management

HLSA 3350Public Health & Epidemiology

3 credits

HLSA 3900Health Promotion and Education

3 credits

HLSA 4000Special Topics in Health Care

1 - 6 credits

HLSA 4000Special Topics in Health Care

1 - 6 credits

 

HLSA 4450Applied Learning Experience

3 credits

OR

HLSA 4452Health Service Administration Capstone

3 credits

 

15 hours of approved electives

HLSA 4000 is a special topics course that must be repeated with a different topic.

Sports and Fitness Management
HLSA 3400Introduction to Sport and Fitness Management

3 credits

HLSA 3410Introduction to Exercise Science

3 credits

HLSA 3420Nutrition and Wellness

3 credits

HLSA 3430Sports Facility Planning and Event Management

3 credits

HLSA 3435Sports Marketing

3 credits

 

HLSA 4450Applied Learning Experience

3 credits

OR

HLSA 4452Health Service Administration Capstone

3 credits

 

12 hours of approved electives

Total Hours: 120