Health Systems Administration Certificate
Learn the fundamentals of the U.S. health care system, the organizations that delivery services, how various services are financed, and the management and leadership skills needed within these organizations to effectively serve individual patients and the larger community.
12%
Job growth
64K
Average annual salary
11M
Health care jobs past 12 months
$2.5B
2019 health care industry revenue
Overview for Health Systems Administration Certificate
There will be four million new jobs in the health care industry by 2026. Gain the skills you need to advance in the ever-growing health care field.
Health Systems Administration: A Critical, In-Demand Role in the Health Care Industry
The health systems administration certificate introduces you to the complexity of the U.S. health care system. You will learn how health care organizations plan for and deliver effective health care services, how various services are financed as well as other financial management strategies, and how to effectively lead these highly complex, mission-driven organizations that serve people throughout their lives.
Students working on undergraduate degrees in the health sciences or those considering a career within the health care industry, would benefit from this certificate program, as it provides an excellent orientation to the health care industry as a whole.
An Online Health Care Administration Certificate
Each of the certificate’s four courses are delivered online during the 14-week, fall and spring semesters. Most courses are taught by faculty who also teach in RIT's master of science degree in health systems management.
The health systems administration certificate is designed for three types individuals:
- Students who have completed their associate degree or are in the process of completing a bachelor’s degree who are considering careers in health care but desire an orientation to the U.S. health system;
- Working professionals, without a bachelor’s degree, who are interested in exploring the health care delivery system; and
- Professionals that have invested in clinical degrees, but their primary programs fell short of a completed bachelor’s degree who desire to understand the business side of health care.
There are three primary goals for the health systems administration certificate program:
- Understand the role of the U.S. health care system, how it compares to other countries systems, in achieving health and wellness;
- Appreciate the complexity of the system and the related organizations that respond to the needs of their communities and the populations within them; and
- Assess the leadership potential of those interested in careers within the design and delivery of high-quality health service systems.
Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Health Systems Administration Certificate
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
Health Systems Administration, certificate, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| HLTH-325 | Health Care Leadership Highly trained clinical and administrative professionals drive the nature of work in health care. The purpose of this course is to provide students the opportunity to study leadership theory as it is applied in health care organizations. Leadership theories and applications geared toward professionals working in health service organizations will be emphasized. Students will learn to apply leadership theories via case studies and issue analysis of their active work environments. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| HLTH-328 | Finance for Health Care Professionals This is an overview course that will provide an in-depth investigation of the financial workings in the health care industry. The course will be presented through the investigation of the operations of various health care settings – hospitals, physician practices, long term care facilities and home health care providers. The course covers all the essential functions in health care internal financial operations that would be experienced throughout the industry, except for the insurance companies. There are several examples involving physician practices, inpatient hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, etc. During the course the participants will carefully evaluate what the finance department is expected to accomplish. They will better understand the role of the clinical operations manager in the financial health of a health care organization. The course is designed to provide an approach that includes some terminology used in accounting, but more so those terms associated with finance. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| HLTH-330 | Health Care Planning And Program Development This course provides a review of the methodology of planning effectively for health care services. The use of data systems and the methods of forecasting, identifying, and analyzing problems are explored. The course will all address the process of strategic planning, setting priorities, developing projects and allocating resources. Students prepare actual application for new programs to regulatory agencies. Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| HLTH-508 | Integrated Health Systems and Population Health This course discusses the delivery system of health care in the US. Specifically, the course will review the current status of American health care including research into population demographics and health and the concept of wellness and prevention. Following this a review of international health care models will occur to consider best practice as alternative care models for consideration for the US. In addition, the students will develop, for their area of interest and expertise, a strategy for incremental or radical innovation in how we provide health care to our constituents. (A minimum of 3rd year standing is required to enroll.) Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 12 |
|
Note for online students
The frequency of required and elective course offerings in the online program will vary, semester by semester, and will not always match the information presented here. Online students are advised to seek guidance from the listed program contact when developing their individual program course schedule.
Admissions and Financial Aid
Applicants for the Health Systems Administration Certificate must be students in good standing in an undergraduate program at RIT, or hold an undergraduate degree from RIT. Contact your academic advisor or the program contact for more details.
Additional Information
Online Study Restrictions for Some International Students
Certain countries are subject to comprehensive embargoes under US Export Controls, which prohibit virtually ALL exports, imports, and other transactions without a license or other US Government authorization. Learners from the Crimea region of the Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria may not register for RIT online courses. Nor may individuals on the United States Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals or the United States Commerce Department’s table of Deny Orders. By registering for RIT online courses, you represent and warrant that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any such country or on any such list.
Contact
- Patricia Poteat
- Interim Program Director
- Health Systems Management
- College of Health Sciences and Technology
- 585‑475‑5848
- papism@rit.edu