Health Care Management and Administration Degree Programs at The University of Scranton
The University of Scranton appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Master’s in Healthcare Management Online / Online MBA Healthcare Administration.
Through its Health Administration and Human Resources Department, the University of Scranton offers four degree programs: two for undergrads and two for graduate students. Each program allows students to join professional organizations and associations to make contacts in the healthcare administration field. Students can also work with other colleges and enroll in study abroad programs.
The main program for undergrads is the university’s health administration (HDMA) program. It allows students to participate in programs through the Association of University Programs in Health Administration and to do internships in and around Scranton. Though the university requires that students do one internship for three credits, it gives them the option of doing a second. They can work for organizations and facilities such as the Jefferson Health System or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Students can enroll in the generalist program or sign up for the long-term care administration program. The university also allows students to get a graduate degree in one additional year of study. A similar program offers students the chance to study human resources in depth, though this program includes general business courses and doesn’t focus on healthcare administration.
One of the options for graduate students is a health administration (MHA) degree. This accredited program is open to online students and those who want to study on the Scranton campus. It includes fieldwork in the form of an eight-month internship that asks students to do a minimum of 1,000 hours of work. Students will earn a total of 44 credits through their internships and classes that include Health Care Organization and Administration, Health Services and Systems, Health Care Law and Health Care Planning and Marketing.
Graduate students can enroll in a dual degree program and earn both an MHA and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). This program includes more credits because students take courses from two different departments. They will still do fieldwork and gain some healthcare and general management experience. The university offers a Master of Science in Human Resources for students who want to spend more time studying business management than healthcare management.
About The University of Scranton
Named for the Pennsylvania city of the same name, the University of Scranton is a private university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and the Society of Jesuits. The Society of Jesuits worked in the city to establish St. Thomas College, which opened in 1888. This college quickly grew as it added new opportunities for students, including athletic teams and organizations such as a college yearbook. Students could earn both bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees from this college. It would adopt the University of Scranton name in 1938 after becoming a full university.
Many of the departments on the campus now have honors societies that allow students to join and gain access to new opportunities when they maintain a high grade point average. Students can also join associations that give them access to networking events and special programs. The Princeton Review added the university to its lists of the best dorm rooms, the best college food and the best colleges in general. According to The Huffington Post, the University of Scranton also ranks among the friendliest of college campuses in the country.
The University of Scranton Accreditation Details
With accreditation for both the university and its degree programs, the University of Scranton makes it easy for students to get the financial help they need and to prepare for the future. The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) granted full accreditation to the university’s graduate programs in healthcare administration. This Pennsylvania university also has regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which lets students apply for any of the government financial aid they might need.
The University of Scranton Application Requirements
Prospective freshmen can use the Common Application to apply to the university without paying an application fee. The early action deadline is November 15, but the regular decision deadline for all other students is December 15. Scranton will send decision letters in the middle of January and begin notifying students of their financial aid packages. Students only need to submit their high school transcripts. Some programs ask for an ACT/SAT score but others do not. Students can check the university’s website to see if their programs require this score. The university encourages students to provide a test score if they think it will set them apart from others applying to the school.
Students applying to a healthcare management degree program must meet the specific requirements of that program and of the university’s graduate school. The MHA program has a deadline of May 1 for the fall semester. If there is space left in the program, the university will accept worthy candidates up through the beginning of August. Though Scranton does not charge an application fee, it asks all students to submit an online application and then provide their official transcripts. They will also need to submit three letters of recommendation.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergrads pay $44,132 each year to attend the University of Scranton. If they take more than 18 credits, they pay an additional fee of $1,132 for each credit. Students will find that housing costs start at $4,388 per semester and that they’ll pay at least $2,200 a semester for a meal plan. Part-time undergrads who take fewer than 12 credit hours pay $913 per credit hour. Incoming graduate students pay $965 per credit hour. The university’s guaranteed tuition policy freezes their costs at the rate they pay in their first year until they finish their degrees.
To help graduate students, the university offers assistantships through different departments. Students must apply for one of these positions by the beginning of February. They receive financial help as long as they maintain a grade point average at or above 3.0. Graduate students can also get private loans through some lenders and federal loans through the FAFSA. The FAFSA can help undergrads get financial aid for the coming year too. It helps the university determine whether the student should get loans and grants or enroll in its work-study program. The University of Scranton offers financial aid resources online for any student with an interest in one of its healthcare administration or management programs.