Master of Science in Health Systems Administration
Linda Underhill, Graduate Program Chair
(585) 475-7359, lmuism@rit.edu
The MS program in health systems administration is designed to provide strategic skills for today’s health care management. Now, as never before, we are realizing the rapid transformation of health care. The pace of technology and innovation are changing how, when, and where health care is provided, and who is providing it. Concurrently, health care customers have high expectations for quality and responsiveness to their needs—delivered in a cost-effective manner.
To provide these strategic skills to health care management, the MS program builds on a foundation of courses in policy and law formation, health care economics, innovation, and leadership. Additional options are provided through course selections, building an integrated program that meets the individual challenges of participating students.
One advantage of this program is the online format. Students can pursue their degree while maintaining full-time employment in locations around the world. Another distinct advantage is the diversity of our student population, which allows for creative discussion and comprehension of global health care issues, and how these relate to the standards and practices of the American health care system. The ability to
share information and ideas, and to contrast and compare strategies, allows our students a level of creativity and scope of practice not found in the traditional classroom.
RIT provides excellent online learning support that leads the student through registration and use of distance learning tools. In addition, for select subject areas, the health systems administration program plans special learning sessions that blend presentation styles. This could be through attendance at seminars in locations throughout the country or at RIT. These formats provide a combination of both distance learning and interaction with presenters who provide a strategic view of health care delivery models.
Admission requirements
Admission requirements for the MS degree include:
- completion of a baccalaureate degree at a regionally accredited college or university,
- a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above (or superior endorsement),
- two letters of reference from individuals who have the opportunity to observe the applicant’s work output,
- official undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate transcripts, and
- participation in a telephone interview with the program chair.
Applicants also must have three or more years of experience in a health care or health-related organization as either a practitioner or manager. Applicants who do not meet this requirement may be asked to complete certain undergraduate health systems administration courses as a bridge for the content knowledge required for the graduate program and/or complete a graduate level internship in health care prior to graduation.
All credentials must be submitted and reviewed by faculty prior to the completion of 12 credit hours of graduate work in the program.
Degree requirements
The MS degree in health systems administration currently requires 48 quarter credit hours at the graduate level. The program can be completed in approximately two years by taking two courses per quarter. Students may take longer to complete the course work by reducing their workload to one course per quarter. However, students must complete their degree requirements within seven years of the date of the oldest course identified on their RIT course records. Students must maintain a 3.0 average throughout their academic career. Toward the end of their program of study, students will complete a business plan for an innovative topic related to their work environment. The paper is developed and written within a course that is taken during the last year of study for the degree. Upon matriculation, each student works with the program chair for advice and direction to develop a plan of study.
In addition, an executive leader option is available for those with more health care experience. Please contact the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services for more information about this option.
Curriculum
Required courses
0626-707 Data
Analysis/Metrics
0625-842 Breakthrough
Thinking, Creativity and Innovation
0635-840 Health Systems
Policy and Law
0635-820 Health Systems
Economics and Finance
0624-770 Service Leadership
Concentrations/Electives
Health Information
Resources
0635-715 Information
Systems for Health Administrators
0635-754 E-Health
0635-752 Clinical
Information Systems
0635-753 Health
Administration Application
Elements of Health Care
Leadership
0635-830 Health Systems
Planning
0635-882 Bioethics
0635-798 Aging in America
0625-842 Customer
Relationship Management
Senior Living
0635-716 Law and Policy in
Senior Living
0625-750 Elements of
Service
0626-891 Human Capital
Strategies
0625-842 Customer Relations
Management
Health Systems Finance
0635-815 Finance for
Operations
0635-881 Strategies for
Health Care Accountability
0635-881 Health Insurance
Reimbursement
0635-798 Risk Management
Students may fulfill electives from other concentrations or from other graduate courses offered in the School of Hospitality and Service Management with permission of their adviser and program chairs.
Executive leader option
The executive leader option of the MS program in health systems administration is designed for professionals with three to five years of managerial experience within their industry and who have earned a bachelor’s degree in health care, information technology, business, or education. The program’s interdisciplinary focus makes it attractive to those with bachelor’s degrees in related subjects who also have extensive experience in various sectors of health care such as senior living, pharmacy, food service, development, fundraising, marketing, and communications. Executive leader course work focuses on all aspects of strategic skill development in the areas of leadership and planning. Courses are offered in an online format or on site at Physician Regional Hospital in Naples, Fla. A focal point of the interaction with the Physician Regional Hospital is the healing hospitality leadership practices found in the hospital for the business of caring.
The program consists of nine unique courses that provide a total of 36 quarter credit hours. Up to 12 quarter credit hours are earned for health-care industry experience. An application-oriented approach is found in classroom projects and discussions.
0635-820 Health Systems
Economics and Finance
0635-830 Health Systems
Planning
0635-840 Health Systems
Policy and Law
0635-882 Bioethics
0624-770 Service
Leadership: Examining and Implementing Change
0635-798 Risk Management
0625-842 Customer
Relationship Management
0625-844 Breakthrough
Thinking
0626-735 Human Capital
Strategies
The executive leader option is offered on site at RIT or via online learning. Course delivery and scheduling are designed to alleviate significant disruptions to career, family, and other commitments. Students in the program will bring their personal computers to class and be able to use the RIT MyCourses Online System to access support services, as well as the library for research. On-site classes will run from Thursday afternoon through Monday morning. Although rigorous, the focused nature of the program provides constant motivation and assistance to help students succeed.
The program may be completed in an accelerated format, with students completing their studies in five academic quarters or over the course of two years. This format is designed to accommodate the working professional.