Mar 29, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2009-10 
    
Graduate Catalog 2009-10 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Certificate Program in Health Care Administration


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Advisor: Dr. James Visser 
Room 220E
Walwood Hall

The purpose of the Graduate Certificate in Health Care Administration is to enhance the capacity of its graduates to function effectively as managers in the health care system. The program includes the legal, financial, and policy dimensions of contemporary health care administration, critical management issues, strategic planning and evaluation, and critical issues in the delivery of health care services.

Admission Requirements


The criteria for admission to this certificate program are (a) a master’s or other graduate degree or (b) current admission to a graduate degree program or (c) a bachelor’s degree with 3.00 grade point average and substantial work experience in the management or delivery of health care services. Students may be admitted conditionally and later admitted to the program after evaluation of the first six credit hours. Students may transfer in a maximum of six (6) semester hours of graduate credit from another institution or from courses taken at Western Michigan University as a Guest student.

The following must be submitted in order to be considered for admission:

  1. The University’s Application for Graduate Admission, with the application fee.
  2. An official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended (except WMU). Even if the applicant is a graduate of WMU, an official transcript is required from each institution attended prior to, and after, WMU.
  3. The School of Public Affairs and Administration’s “Departmental Information Form” (DIF).
  4. A one-page biographical essay.
  5. A current resume.

Students will be admitted to this certificate program three times per year. The Admissions Committee will review applications in October to admit students for the Spring semester; in February to admit students for the Summer session; and in June to admit students for the Fall semester.

Program Requirements


Each student will satisfactorily complete a program consisting of six 3-credit-hour courses (18 hours). Students select one course from each of Areas I, II, III, IV and six hours from Area V.

Area I: Health Care Environment


Area II: Budgeting and Finance


  • PADM 6520 - Financial Management of Health Care Organizations Credits: 3 hours or
  • FIN 6620 - Health Care Financial Management Credits: 3 hours

Area III: Health Care Policy Development


Area IV: Administrative Issues in the Delivery of Health Care Services


Area V: Electives


  • PADM 6540 - Strategic Planning and Management in Health Care Organizations Credits: 3 hours
  • PADM 6570 - Management of Managed Care Organizations Credits: 3 hours
  • PADM 6780 - Program Evaluation Credits: 3 hours
  • LAW 6880 - Health Law Administration Credits: 3 hours
  • LAW 6890 - Legal Problems in Health Care Organizations Credits: 3 hours

Other courses by permission of the Advisor.

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