March 29, 2024

Master’s in Healthcare Management Degrees in South Carolina – U

South Carolina has typically relied on agriculture and industrial output for the base of their economy, however health care is now the largest growing areas of employment in the state. With the changes in requirements for health care coverage, combined with an aging population, the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts above average growth for employment in the health care sector. Health care managers have the responsibilities of directing, planning and coordinating health care services in a variety of settings. There are many top-level accredited universities and colleges with master’s and doctoral Level programs in health care management and administration in South Carolina. Those pursuing advanced degrees in health care management and administration will be those prepared to meet this growing sector of the job market.

University of South Carolina – Columbia Campus

The Arnold School of Public Health

Founded in 1801 as South Carolina College, the University of South Carolina (most commonly known as USC) is a public coed research university that is located in Columbia, South Carolina. USC is the largest university in the University of South Carolina system with an enrollment of more than 34,000 students on the 359-acre main campus. USC offers more than 350 programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from fourteen colleges and schools. Additionally, USC has several thousand students enrolled in programs at surrounding technical colleges. Schools include business, engineering, law, medicine, pharmacy, and social work. In 2016, US News and World Reports ranked the University of South Carolina Columbia Campus as the 108th best National University. Established in 1975, The Arnold School of Public Health is the 19th best School of Public Health in the nation with a mission to “improve health locally and globally through research, education and outreach programs focusing on disability, disease prevention, environmental health and health services in diverse communities.”

Master of Health Administration

The curriculum for the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program prepares students careers managing in health services organizations both in private and public sectors, ranging from direct service providers (hospitals, clinics, long-term care) through the adjuvant industries. In addition to core public health disciplines, the 58-credit MHA program provides coursework in management, accounting, information technology, quantitative methods, finance, leadership, and evaluation and planning in healthcare organizations. The MHA program is available in a full-time and part-time format (for working professionals). Most courses are available in the late afternoon and evening, allowing students working full time to attend within constraints of work obligations. Graduates of the program are prepared to enter careers in Healthcare institutions including primary care, hospitals, long-term care organizations and health insurance companies in jobs including finance and business development, operations management, information technology management, quality of care management, human resources, community relations and field programs and a variety of other roles.

Master of Public Health

The Master of Public Health in General Public Health (General MPH) provides a curriculum providing academic experiences needed to understand and appreciate the broad range of concepts in public health, issues and opportunities. Coursework for the program provides a core understanding of public health disciplines rather than specific training in a specific area. The program requires completion of a minimum of 42 credit hours including 15 credits of core public health courses including:

  • Introduction to Epidemiology
  • Concepts and Methods of Epidemiology
  • Introductory Biostatistics
  • Concepts and Methods of Biostatistics
  • Concepts of Environmental Health Sciences
  • Approaches and Concepts for Public Health Administration
  • Concepts & Methods in Health Promotion

Students must complete 15 credits of special interest in public health courses in at least three public health core disciplines, 6 credits of electives and completion of a 6-credit practicum in public health.

Master of Science in Public health

The Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) degree is designed for those who wish to acquire skills necessary for doing research in public health. Students in the MSPH program can elect a concentration in either Biostatistics or Epidemiology. Competencies for graduates of the MSHPH in Epidemiology includes the following abilities:

  • Demonstrate ability to apply epidemiologic methods in identification of the determinants of disease and other health conditions
  • Show a broad understanding of diversity and culture, ethical principles, program planning and systems thinking
  • Effective written and oral communication skills for presenting public health information and epidemiologic data to the scientific community
  • MSPH program graduates will have adequate knowledge in bio-statistical procedures as well as be competent in information technologies and data management required for successful completion of epidemiologic studies

A minimum of 43 credit hours is required for the Master of Science in Public Health with a major in Epidemiology including the following: 3 credits of Core Public Health, 22 credits of Department Core, 9 credits of Major Courses, 3 credits of Electives and 6 credits of a required Thesis. Competencies for the Graduates of MSPH in Biostatistics include the following abilities:

  • Exhibit mastery of traditional and newly developed statistical techniques (to including multivariable methods for continuous and categorical data analysis)
  • Demonstrate skills to evaluate given health related problems, and to identify appropriate statistical technique for analysis
  • Show ability to use a variety of statistical software packages, to create and maintain databases, and to analyze data
  • Interpret results of statistical analysis and communicate interpretations in comprehendible manner
  • Exhibit expertise in applying analytic epidemiologic methods used to investigating health conditions
  • Understand and evaluate current issues and problems in biostatistics
  • Work independently on a research problem outside of the classroom setting
  • Modify and extend existing statistical techniques in answering question posed by health related situations and synthesizing result in research paper

A minimum of 44 credit hours is required for the Master of Science in Public Health with a major in Biostatistics including the following: 3 credits of ASPH Core, 17 credits of Department Core, 15 credits Major Courses, 3 credits of Electives and 6 credits of a required Thesis.

Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Health Dual Degree

The Arnold School of Pubic Health in conjunction with the University of South Carolina offer the Doctor of Medicine / Master of Public Health (MD/MPH) dual degree program. The program is designed to prepare future physicians for the challenges of managed care, practicing evidence-based medicine, providing effective preventive medicine for their patients, and administering medical offices and federal, state, and community health organizations. The dual program provides academic experiences required in understanding the broad range of public health concepts, issues and opportunities while simultaneously pursuing a medical degree. To be accepted into the dual MPH/MD program, students must apply and be accepted into each program separately. Completion of the program takes five years and must be finished within six years.

The Master of Public Health

The Master of Public Health (MPH) program focuses on the five core disciplines of public health including biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health science,
health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences. Graduates of the MPH program are prepared to enter careers in health and public health offices in state and federal government, at hospitals and healthcare centers regionally, nationally and internationally, and at health and public health oriented businesses, and non-profit organizations. The MPH program is offered in full-time format for regular students on a part-time basis or through the distance learning option. The MPH Program of Study includes 45 credit hours including:

  • 15 credits of MPH Core
  • 12 credits of Public Health Management
  • 9 credits Planning, Public Health Law and Policy
  • 3 credits Community Assessment
  • 6 Public Health Residency

Juris Doctor/Master of Health Administration

The dual degree in health administration and law is designed for students who wish to pursue study in law as applied to issues in health care settings. The dual degree leads to a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Health Administration through an innovative and integrated curriculum to be completed over a four-year period. The completion of this dual degree will allow graduates to compete successfully for positions in the complex and exciting health care field. Curriculum requirements for the 58 credit program requires 25 credits of Management, 9 credits of Accounting and Finance, 6 credits of Biostatistics and Quantitative Methods, and 3 credits of Epidemiology. Curriculum Requirements for the 90 credit Juris Doctor including 42 credits of core coursework (courses determined by the Law School), 48 credits of Electives Courses determined by the Law School. To be accepted in the dual degree program candidates must meet the admission requirements for both the School of Law and for the MHA program of the Arnold School of Public Health.

Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health

The curriculum for the Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health (MSW-MPH) program is specifically designed for social workers involved in the health delivery system that want to pursue careers in a broader, population-based system. This includes social work in the administration of health delivery systems and participation in the health policy process at local, state, and national levels. The MSW/MPH program is available in a full-time or part-time format. Students may earn the MSW prior to completing the MPH (they are not simultaneous degrees) and continue their studies at the School of Public Health requiring completion of at least 32 credits in residence. No courses outside of the School of Public Health will count toward the MPH, including courses taken at other Boston University schools and colleges. The MSW/MPH dual degree provides students with the knowledge and expertise in both public health and social work. Curriculum Requirements for the dual program requires 87 credits and includes:

  • 15 credits of Social Work Foundation Courses
  • 15 credits of Social Work Courses
  • 33 credits of Public Health Courses
  • 24 credits of Advanced Social Work Courses

Pharmaceutical Doctor/Master of Public Health Dual Degree

The Arnold School of Public Health and the South Carolina College of Pharmacy offers students the opportunity to pursue a Pharmaceutical Doctor and a Master of Public Health Dual Degree (PharmD/MPH). Students with a bachelor’s degree or more than 90 hours toward the PharmD degree may apply to the program. The MPH degree program allows students with the skills and knowledge to become competent, passionate professionals facing the dynamic challenges within public health. They will be qualified to work in neighborhoods and with populations throughout the US and the world to broaden the occupational and professional opportunities of the prospective graduate in community, industry, or institutional practice. Curriculum for the dual degree program prepares public health professionals who are prepared to confront complex health issues, such as improving access to healthcare, controlling infectious diseases, and reducing environmental hazards, violence, substance abuse, and injury.

Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC)

Contact
University of South Carolina
The Arnold School of Public Health
921 Assembly Street
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Columbia, South Carolina 29208
(803) 777-5032
E-Mail: [email protected]
Program Website

University of South Carolina – Upstate Campus

The College of Arts and Science

Founded in 1967, the University of South Carolina Upstate (USC Upstate) is a public coeducational university located in Spartanburg South Carolina. It was formerly known as the University of South Carolina Spartanburg, changing its name in June of 2004. The University of South Carolina Upstate is one the fastest growing university in South Carolina and offers undergraduate programs in liberal arts, business, nursing and teacher education and graduate programs in education, nursing and informatics. USC Upstate is one of four four-year schools that make up the University of South Carolina System. Current enrollment is more than 6,000 students on the 330-acre main campus. In 2016, US News and World Reports ranked the University of South Carolina—Upstate as the 33rd best Southern Regional College. The College of Arts and Sciences is comprised of four divisions, four departments and four centers.

Master of Science in Health Informatics – Health Information Management Track

The curriculum for the Master of Science in Informatics includes a study of how information is generated, acquired, stored, retrieved, managed, utilized and exploited. Coursework includes information technology, computer technology, business, management and communication. The program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours (beyond the baccalaureate degree) including eight required courses (24 credits) and six credits in a thesis or independent study. Students in the MS in Informatics can choose a specific area of specialization including Health Information Management (HIM) and Information Resource Management (IRM). Graduates of the MS in Informatics will be competent in the following abilities:

  • Predict and plan information management systems, solutions, structures and processes
  • Safeguard legal and regulatory compliancy
  • Utilize information management resources in analyzing and transforming information into a competitive advantage for businesses or organizations

Four core courses are required for both tracks, and four additional courses are required for each track. Courses for the Health Information Management track include: Advanced Knowledge Inference Systems, Information Resource Management, System Innovation, Information Architecture, Public Health Statistics, Healthcare IT Vendor Management, Compliance in the Healthcare Industry, Strategic Planning for Healthcare Information Management Systems, Independent Graduate Study in Informatics, Thesis Preparation and Special Topics in Graduate Informatics. (1-6 hours)

Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC)

Contact
University of South Carolina – Upstate Campus
The College of Arts and Science
Donna Sandor – Department of Informatics
800 University Way
Media Building, 2nd Floor
Spartanburg, SC 29303
(864) 503-5432
E-Mail: [email protected]

University of South Carolina – Upstate Campus

The School of Nursing

Founded in 1967, the University of South Carolina Upstate (USC-Upstate) campus is located in Spartanburg South Carolina and is home to the Mary Black School of Nursing. The School of Nursing at USC Upstate, is one of the most highly regarded nursing institutions in the southeast and supports one of the largest Bachelor of Science in Nursing (the program includes pre-licensure) and RN-BSN nursing programs in the state. The Nursing School also offers a Master of Science in Nursing. USC Upstate offers traditional in class instruction, distance learning and inter-institutional articulation accommodating students diverse in background, age, race, ethnicity, educational experiences and needs. The nursing program has a strong foundation of partnerships with the community, including health care organizations and health care providers in Upstate South Carolina.

Master of Science in Nursing, Clinical Leadership Specialization

The Mary Black School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with a concentration area of Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL). The Clinical Nurse Leader is an advanced generalist overseeing care coordination and who will be providing direct patient care in complex situations. Students in the program learn the skills required to evaluate patient outcomes, assess cohort risk and make decisions changing care plans as is required. For entry into the MSN program students must be RN’s who are graduates of accredited Bachelor of Science programs in Nursing. Graduates of the MSN in Clinical Leadership will have the skills to enter leadership careers in professional nursing practice in a variety of settings. Registered nurses (meeting admission requirements for the program) may complete the program in two years in full time study. Students who elect part-time study may take three years to complete the program. Most courses for the program are available online with the exception of clinical courses. Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be eligible for CNL certification through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC)
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Contact
University of South Carolina Upstate
The Mary Black School of Nursing
800 University Way
Spartanburg, South Carolina 29303
864-503-5440
E-Mail Form [email protected]

Because there are a growing number of job opportunities for those educated in operations and administration in the expanding healthcare sector, the demand is predicted to continue to grow well into the year 2020 (according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics). Those with bachelor’s degree in health care management may find some entry-level positions in healthcare management, however the majority of mid or top level positions require a minimum of a master’s degree. There are many choices for master’s programs in health care management in colleges and universities throughout South Carolina. Those pursuing graduate degrees in health care will find lucrative and rewarding careers as administrators and managements in the health care sector.