Who is this program appropriate for?

People interested in attaining a Master of Science degree in Health Systems Administration are often entry level managers within a health care setting who are seeking to develop and expand their career potential through the attainment of a Master of Science degree. The specialty knowledge most students posses is either through licensure or certification related to health care- i.e. nurses, physicians, financial managers, pharmacists, quality assurance managers, dietitians, and/or health care directors of specific services or coordinators of care. Related professions who enter the program include Information Technologists, staffing coordinators, sales representatives or educators. Inquire about your background and interest and its potential with the program chair to determine if this degree would benefit your career orientation.

With the employment growth potential in health care, professionals from other disciplines often inquire about the ability to enter the health care employment market utilizing this degree to credential themselves. Inquire from the program chair if your content knowledge lends itself to transitioning into the health care arena.

The academic  requirements for admission into graduate school include at least a 3.0 grade point average in undergraduate study. Experience in the health care field is a plus as is having a clear idea of the area of health care one would like to apply their management skills in. 

How long does it take to complete the Master of Science degree?

The length of time for a student to complete their degree relies upon the student. Every course in the HSA program, with the exception of Senior Living , is offered once per year, during one of the four quarters the Institute provides per academic year. Students can pursue from one to three courses per quarter dependant upon their personal achievement plan. Given the realities of working professionals most students take one course per quarter, which allows them to meet the degree requirements over a 2-3 year time span. For those students in the Executive Leader program the degree can be completed in one year of accelerated learning.

What does the program cost and what financing options are available?

The charges for this program are per credit hour; the specific charges per credit are determined by the Institute and are established annually.  A Masters of Science degree requires 48 credits be taken to complete the degree requirements. Please refer to the RIT web site www.rit.edu for information on the current charges per credit hour. Often a student's employer will pay for all or a portion of graduate education. If this is not the case financing can be arranged privately by the student or with the assistance of the RIT's financial aid office at 585-475-2186. The HSA program provides some scholarship funding for those who request it.  Applicants indicate upon their graduate application their interest in receiving scholarship funding when they apply to the program. Scholarship funding provided by the university is mean to supplement the cost of tuition, textbooks and so on and does not subsidize the entire cost of the degree program. 

Can students receive credit for past graduate courses or work experience?

The HSA program will review and consider awarding up to 12 credits for prior graduate studies which relate to the health care profession. Transcripts from other schools are required to accompany the graduate application. It is appropriate to ask the Program Chair for a credit review when notified of acceptance into the program. Credit for life experience is also possible for health care professionals with significant industry experience. This requires a discussion with the program chair, after acceptance into the program, to determine if this can happen. Part of the decision to accept experience as credits requires the student to submit industry experience documentation pertaining to specific subject areas. There is a fee associated with receiving credit by experience. This will be explained to the student during discussion of this option.

The maximum credit, which can be applied to the Master of Science program for prior graduate courses OR industry experience is 12 credits.

How can you obtain more information about the program?

The most accurate and up to date information about the HSA program and course offerings is at this web site. The control panels within the web site will lead to detailed information about the specifics of the program and studying at RIT. Literature can be obtained from the graduate admissions office that will provide information about the Rochester Institute of Technology and the support services the university provides to on-campus and distance learners. Inquire at gradinfo@rit.edu for this information to be sent. For specific questions about the program please contact the HSA Program Chair:

Linda Underhill, Ph.D., RD
Linda.Underhill@rit.edu
George Eastman Building, 4th floor
14 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, New York 14623
Telephone 585-475-7359               

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July 29, 2008