Health Care Administration Certificate
The certificate in health administration is designed for health care workers who hold non-administrative degrees and for administrative degree holders who have no health care experience and may wish to seek employment in health care.
In the case of current health care workers who have health care related degrees, exposure to certificate courses should increase their skill set and position them for advancement into or within management.
For students with administrative related undergraduate degrees (e.g., Business or Public Administration) the certificate courses will expose the student to the uniqueness of the health care field.
Program Goals
The certificate program will provide both sets of students with the knowledge and skills needed for employment and success in health care administration. Specifically, candidates who successfully complete the certificate should be able to:
- Understand the organizational structure of health care organizations
- Know how reimbursement systems function
- Explain the basics of third party payment
- Appreciate how legal and regulatory constraints affect the operation, management, and financing of health care organizations
- Understand the role played by information technology in managing health care
Course Sequence
The Health Care Administration Certificate is available to all students holding a baccalaureate degree. While the certificate program can be started at any time, beginning in the summer or fall is advised due to program sequencing. Students who have not previously passed a graduate health care systems course should first complete COHE 6000 unless beginning in the summer. The certificate requires successful completion of 15 s.h. from the following courses:
Foundations (3 semester credit hours from the following)
- COHE 6000*: Health Care Systems and Problems (3 – Summer 1, Fall, Spring)
- HIMA 6060: Health Informatics (3 – Fall and Spring)
* Students who have already taken the equivalent of COHE 6000, are advised to take HIMA 6060.
Core Courses (12 semester credit hours)
- COHE 6300: Health Law (3 – Summer 1)
- COHE 6310+: Health Care Accounting and Financial Administration (3 – Fall)
- COHE 6600: Management of Health Care Operations (3 – Spring)
- COHE 6620: Health Care Strategic Planning and Management (3 – Spring)
+ MBA students must take COHE 6610: Financial Management of Health Care Organizations (3, Fall)
Certificate students may transfer credits to other graduate programs, but acceptance into the certificate program does not guarantee acceptance into other programs.
Students need to apply for certificate graduation during their last semester of courses. Students will not be allowed to repeat a failed course.
Admission Information
To enroll in classes, you must apply for admission to the ECU Graduate School, have official transcripts sent, and pay an application fee. There are no standardized tests required; however, you must have a minimum 2.75 GPA in either undergraduate or graduate studies.
Students who are currently in a graduate degree program at ECU who wish to add a certificate may do so by submitting an ‘Add a Certificate’ form. This form can be accessed via the Graduate School Forms site (click the ‘Request to add a certificate’ link and complete the sharepoint form).
Contact Information
For more information, please contact Dr. O. Elijah Asagbra (program director) – contact details.