The Health Administration Program

Dr. Diane Duin, Director
APS 107, (406) 896-5830
healthadministration@msubillings.edu
www.msubillings.edu/CAHP/hadm/

Faculty

Brad Beauvais, ABD; Laura Dimmler, MPA, ABD; LaNora Dixon, RN, MHA; Diane Duin, PhD; Jonathan Engel, PhD; Deana Fuller, MBA/MIS; James Goes, PhD; Stewart Kirkpatrick, JD; Sheila K. McGinnis, PhD; Mary Helen McSweeney, PhD; Jim Paul, PhD, Pamela Paustian, MSM, RHIA; Zara Sette, JD; Patrice Spath, RHIT

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science in Health Administration (BSHA)

Master of Health Administration (MHA) (see Graduate Catalog)

Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS), Health Administration Concentration

Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies (BSLS), Health Administration Concentration

Additional Health Administration Concentrations offered in Long Term Care and Case Management

Mission of the Program

The mission of the Health Administration Program at Montana State University Billings is to educate and prepare individuals to be health care leaders who can meet the challenges of health care in our region, advance the quality of care delivered to all, and meet anticipated workforce needs in a variety of positions in health administration.  All courses are available online.  The Program enhances the depth and quality of education at MSU Billings through internships and research partnerships in the health community.

During the program, students will develop core competencies in these areas:

• General Management:  Understand and apply general management concepts regarding the organization of work, finance, economics, and decision-making by working with and through people to achieve organizational goals.
• Health Industry and Policy:  Understand the formal and informal context, constituencies, and influence processes which affect health organizations and the health industry.
• Leadership:  Envision, motivate, communicate and support achievement of organizational strategy.
• Communication:  Listen, learn and respond effectively to the ideas and thoughts of others and present information clearly.
• Critical Thinking:  Analyze and evaluate thinking with a view to improving it.

Careers in Health Administration

Careers in health administration include a wide range of management and administrative positions in health-related organizations and health service delivery systems. They include hospitals, ambulatory care, physician group practices, laboratories, pharmacies, social service agencies, long term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, home health organizations, managed care plans, regulatory agencies, and health insurance companies. The Program is designed to meet the rapidly evolving demands of a dynamic industry.

Advising Information

Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester to confirm that their Plan of Study is accurate and complete.  If necessary, changes and updates should be made in order to ensure that Program requirements can be completed in a timely manner.  Faculty advisors work with students to explore appropriate internships that will support the student’s interests and career objectives.

Academic advising services for all students are provided through the Advising Center on McMullen Hall first floor west.  Once students have declared Health Administration as their degree program, they will be assigned to a Health Administration faculty member for upper-division advising.  Upper-division advising files for all Health Administration students are maintained by the Program.  Although advisors are available to assist students in designing their Plans of Study, students are ultimately responsible for planning and meeting degree requirements.

Health Administration Internships

The Health Administration Program provides an internship in which students are required to observe and practice in the field of health administration.  The Bachelor of Science in Health Administration (BSHA) degree program culminates in a three credit senior internship.  The purpose of the internship is for the health manager-in-training to apply the conceptual foundation and competencies learned in the classroom and develop skills in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, organizational management, human resources, outcomes evaluation, and critical thinking, as well as technical areas.

The field experience is an internship following junior year and entails 480 contact hours in which the student functions as a manager-in-training.  On-site health administration mentors and MSU Billings Health Administration faculty supervise the internship.

Admission to the B.S.H.A.

All students seeking admission to the Health Administration program are required to file an application for admission to the program.  All students must meet the following requirements for admission to the Health Administration major:

1. a minimum of 48 credits completed
2. a minimum 2.5 grade point average
3. satisfactory completion of *WRIT 101, *M 143, ACTG 201, ACTG 202, *ECNS 201, *STAT 216, or their equivalents, with a grade point of 2.0 or better.

*May satisfy Academic Foundations requirements.

Student application materials are available from the Health Administration Program (APS 107, 406-896-5830) or online at www.msubillings.edu/hadm/.

Program Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration, students are required to earn a grade of C or better in all Health Administration, business, and required courses.

Health Administration students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.5 will be counseled about raising their grades or choosing another major, and will be unable to continue in the program until their cumulative GPA is 2.5 or better.