University Catalog

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Objectives

The program in Health Care Administration is designed to provide graduate students an integrated, contemporary, and multidisciplinary education. Diverse topics are included in the curriculum, research and residences to provide:

1. An understanding of the modern health industry
2. Knowledge, skills and abilities to assume administrative roles in various organizations in the health industry
3. Opportunities to develop leadership skills
4. Interactions with diverse specialists in the health industry to evaluate and resolve administrative problems

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Admission

Admission to the M.S. in Health Care Administration (HCAD) program is based upon the completion of the general admission requirements of Graduate Admissions. For HCAD program admission a score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and record of one’s undergraduate academic performance are required. Students for whom English is not their native language must achieve a TOEFL score of at least 575 (paper-based) or 230 (computer-based).  Applicants are encouraged to submit with their application a resume that highlights professional and personal accomplishments, linguistic abilities, computer expertise and leadership experience. A standardized test score (GMAT or GRE) will not be used as the sole criterion for admitting applicants or the primary criterion for denying an applicant’s admission to the HCAD program.

Multiple criteria are used to make admission decisions. Quantitative measures include an applicant’s GMAT or GRE scores and grade point average as calculated by Graduate Admissions. These measures are integrated into a formula, or index, that multiplies the grade point average by 200 and adds the total GMAT score. Index factors are weighed equally at the outset of applicant evaluation. A graduate grade point average is used in the index when it is 3.0 or above and is based on at least 24 semester hours. For unconditional admission, the applicant’s composite total from the index must be 1050 or higher and items 1 through 5 above should strongly indicate potential for successful academic performance as a graduate health care administration student.

Along with grade point average and GMAT or GRE scores, admission criteria include the following:

1. GMAT or GRE sub scores (verbal and quantitative)
2. GMAT or GRE writing sample
3. Grades in specified undergraduate business and non-business courses (math, accounting, economics, statistics, for example)
4. Educational objectives and quality of written expression of the application essay
5. Letters of recommendation from three persons familiar with the applicant’s academic background and/or work experience
6. Undergraduate Major
7. General and specific program accreditation status of degree granting institution
8. Professional work experience
9. Professional certification or licensure
10. A personal interview, at the discretion of the program advisor

Unconditional Admission

The GMAT or GRE test may be waived for applicants with an earned graduate degree in an appropriate health care related discipline or profession.

The GMAT or GRE test may also be waived for applicants with five or more years of increasing responsibility in managerial, professional, and/or technical positions in the health care industry, and with a 3.0 grade point average on undergraduate work as calculated by Graduate Admissions; detailed work history required with application.

The GMAT or GRE test may also be waived for applicants who have (within the last 3 years) or will receive an undergraduate degree from UT Arlington with a GPA of 3.2 or higher, as calculated by the graduate school.

Students who are unconditionally admitted, have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 as calculated by the Graduate School (or 3.0 at the graduate level), and enroll for a minimum of six semester credit hours will be eligible for available fellowship and/or scholarship support. A standardized test score (GMAT or GRE) will not be used as the sole criterion or the primary criterion for determining fellowship and/or scholarship eligibility.

Probationary Admission

For an applicant with an index score below 1050, probationary admission may be available when at least three items of 1 through 5 above strongly indicate potential for successful academic performance as a graduate health care administration student. Items 6 through 10 will also be used to identify positive indicators for admission. Probationary admission requires the student to maintain a 3.00 grade point average for the first two semesters of enrollment. Additionally the student may be required to take deficiency courses.

Provisional, Deferred and Denied Admission

A provisional decision to admit may be granted when the applicant meets criteria for unconditional or probationary status but one or more applicant credentials are incomplete. A deferred decision may be made when an applicant’s file is not sufficiently complete to make an admit or deny decision.

For an applicant with an index score less than 1000 and other evidence that indicates lack of potential for academic success as a graduate health care administration student, admission will likely be denied. However, all applicant data will be carefully reviewed before an admission denial is made.

Degree Requirements

The M.S. Degree in Health Care Administration requires 39 hours of specified coursework. The thirteen courses are normally taken in the following sequence.

HCAD 5301	HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION I	3
HCAD 5337	ETHICS, LEADERSHIP, AND TEAMWORK	3
HCAD 5305	FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FOR HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY	3
HCAD 5306	MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING FOR HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY	3
HCAD 5316	HEALTHCARE FINANCE	3
HCAD 5310	HEALTH CARE LAW	3
HCAD 5350	HEALTH CARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS	3
HCAD 5315	STATISTICAL METHODS FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATORS	3
HCAD 5377	HEALTH CARE QUALITY ASSESSMENT	3
HCAD 5330	SERVICES MARKETING MANAGEMENT	3
HCAD 5333	ECONOMICS OF HEALTH	3
HCAD 5390	STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT FOR HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS	3
HCAD 5399	GRADUATE HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION INTERNSHIP	3
Total Hours		39

Together these courses provide the student with a general background in business and economics and industry relevant knowledge in all of the fundamental areas of managing health care organizations. The internship course requirement can be satisfied in either of two methods. The internship options are as follows:

Internship

The completion of an internship is a primary component of the program for students who do not have prior appropriate professional work experience in a health-related organization. The internship provides students the opportunity to acquire firsthand professional knowledge of and experience with the functioning of a health-related organization. The working internship requires the completion of 240 hours of approved work experience in a professional capacity and a final written report, related to the student’s internship exposure, supervised by a member of the faculty of the degree program. The MS HCAD Advisor will provide overall supervision and coordination of the internship.

Residence/Internship Substitute

A student who has substantial and acceptable work experience in a supervisory or professional position may qualify for the internship substitute. Work experience is approved by the MS HCAD Advisor. Accordingly, a student may request:

Option I

Design, conduct and complete a supervised research project, an effort equivalent in scope to three (3) hours of graduate research-oriented courses, that is highly relevant to the student’s intended future professional focus in lieu of a working internship; the project will be supervised by at least one member of the faculty of the degree program, or

Option II

Complete an approved graduate course with significant research content highly relevant for the student’s intended future professional field of specialty.

Integrated Degree Plans

Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in Health Care Administration

A five-year curriculum designed to prepare students for careers in health care administration. The curriculum also prepares students for medical school and advanced study. Students are required to take courses from life sciences, business and liberal arts, culminating in a five-year Master of Science Degree in Health Care Administration (HCAD), including a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. The curriculum is offered jointly by the College of Business and the College of Science. The BS in Biology will be conferred at the same time that the student is awarded the MS in Health Care Administration. If a student engaged in this joint degree program is not accepted into the HCAD graduate program, or enters the HCAD program and fails to complete the requirement for the master’s degree in HCAD, then in order to earn a BS in Biology, the student must take the same, full complement of courses required to earn the BS as taken by students not enrolled in the BIOL/HCAD joint program.

Students interested in this integrated undergraduate and graduate degree plan should consult with the Biology undergraduate advisor and the Health Care Administration Graduate Advisor.

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Graduate Certificate Program

Admission

The certificate program is available to any student who has been admitted into Graduate Studies at UT Arlington. The student should contact the Graduate Advisor to declare the intent to earn the certificate before enrolling in courses to satisfy certificate requirements.

Program of Study

The certificate requires the completion of at least 12 hours of courses. HCAD 5301 is required.

HCAD 5301	HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION I	3
Select at least three of the following:		9
HCAD 5316	HEALTHCARE FINANCE
or HCAD 5330	SERVICES MARKETING MANAGEMENT
or HCAD 5333	ECONOMICS OF HEALTH
or HCAD 5350	HEALTH CARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Total Hours		12

A grade of A or B must be received for all courses that can be applied to meet certificate requirements.

Change of program to the M.S. Health Care Administration Program

A student in the Certificate Program must apply for a change of program and meet all admission requirements to enter the M.S. Health Care Administration program.

Faculty

Faculty are listed in their respective departments.