Healthcare Management, BS

The Healthcare Management (HCM) program at Winston-Salem State University is an upper division program which leads to a Bachelor of Science degree (BSHCM). The upper division of the program is designed to provide students with basic entry level skills and professional behaviors in a curriculum that combines business, health sciences, and health care management education. It prepares students with skills to plan, lead, direct, organize, and supervise by achieving academic, practical, global understanding, and cultural competencies in business, healthcare, and healthcare related activities.

Healthcare management is a growing, diverse field of study that offers flexibility, potential for advancement with additional experience and further education, and offers the chance for graduates to have a positive influence on the healthcare of individuals and communities. Graduates have opportunities to work at entry-level positions in these types of settings: assisted-living facilities, community and government agencies, health insurance companies, hospital departments, long term care facilities, small clinics, and other related industries. As important, the program stresses professionalism on and off campus through oral, electronic, and written communication, managerial skills, positive and thoughtful attitude, and business-relevant appearance.

 Objectives

The Department will emphasize strongly the development of effective communication through writing across the curriculum, presentation platforms, ethical behavior, and interpersonal skills generally expected in healthcare organizations. A strong health sciences core will familiarize students with the health care delivery system; major disease processes, including epidemiological methods; medical terminology; the causes and effects of disparities; community and rural health services, chronic and long-term illnesses, and global issues. The healthcare management core will provide students with applied leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills required in today’s healthcare organizations. A solid health business core will inform students about healthcare economics, organizational behavior, finance and policy, and human resources. 

 The graduates of this Department will be prepared to: 

1. communicate effectively
2. demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors
3. demonstrate sensitivity to disparities, cultural and individual differences
4. demonstrate effective critical thinking and problem-solving skills
5. determine organizational, team, and leadership requirements for effective people and client   management
6. assess own strengths and areas needed to improve
7. be knowledgeable in courses related to health sciences, healthcare and business management
8. perform at entry-level in healthcare related activities bound by undergraduate courses in liberal arts, health sciences, healthcare and business management 

Academic Requirements

 Course Requirements

All course requirements are established by the individual professor or instructor and are delineated in the course syllabus. However, opportunities may arise that deem it necessary and beneficial to the students either to enrich the course or promote the profession that may require re-scheduling or adjusting in order to take advantage of these experiences. 

Admission Requirements

• Must meet with an advisor in the Healthcare Management Program in the School of Health Sciences
• Should complete general education core requirements and pre-requisite courses
• Must earn a “C” or better to have a GPA of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0.
• Must apply to university and the program
• Interview
• Essay
• Three letters of recommendation

Professional Requirements

• Ethical Behavior
• Business Etiquette
• Motivation, Initiative, and  Flexibility
• Cultural Sensitivity
• Self-assessment
• Time and Organizational Management Skills
• Semester-long internship mandatory and will include the following: Criminal Background Check; Initial and Random Drug Testing; Medical/ Immunization Records

Advising

• Advising Mandatory
• Plan of Study Required
• Advising Opportunities
• Student Support Services located in the FL Atkins Building
• HCM Faculty in the FL Atkins Building