Return to Full Graphic Website

University of North Florida, Brooks College of Health, Health Administration Program Website

Home Page

News:

Location The University of North Florida is located seven miles inland from the Atlantic ocean and twelve miles southeast of downtown Jacksonville, Florida. The university is set in a 13,000 acre nature preserve which has a unique system of nature trails is designated as a bird sanctuary. The trails are open to visitors and serve as a learning laboratory for university classes and students from local schools.

Community Resources UNF's MHA program has the distinct advantage of being located in a area with a large, vibrant health care community. Eleven hospitals, over 50 skilled nursing facilities, several large medical group practices, including the Mayo Clinic, and a large military outpatient clinic are easily accessible from UNF's Campus. Additionally, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and other major insurers are located in Jacksonville. These organizations provide educational and employment opportunities for students and graduates. Leaders from the local healthcare community serve on the program Advisory Board and contribute time and resources to the MHA program.

Contact Information University of North Florida Department of Public Health Health Administration Program 1 UNF Drive Jacksonville, FL 32224 Phone: 904 620-2840 Facsimile: 904 620-2848

Faculty Program Director JoAnn Nolin, J.D.     E-mail Gerald Colvin, DrPH     E-mail D. Rob Haley, PhD     E-mail Jeffrey Harrison, PhD Home Page E-mail Reid Oetjen, PhD     E-mail Mei Zhao, PhD     E-mail Executive in Residence Donald Hutton, MHA, FACHE

Academic Programs

Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)

The Department of Public Health offers programs culminating in a Bachelor of Health Administration degree. This degree is designed to prepare graduates for entry-level administrative postions in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, mental health organizations, insurance companies, public agencies, and many other types of health care organizations. It also serves to help enhance careers of students already working in the health services industry.

The primary goal of the health administration undergraduate program is to provide students with the entry skills needed by health administrators and management professionals. Students interested in long term care management may select course work and an internship that will allow them to qualify to take the Florida Nursing Home Administrator's licensing examination. An opportunity to pursue other special interests is provided with selection of 9-12 hours of elective course work.

Student Learning Outcomes
A graduate of the BHA program will be able to:

Content/discipline specific knowledge and skills: Health Services Management

• Apply basic concepts of business, organizational behavior, law and management theory as they relate to administration and governing of health services organization
• Demonstrate knowledge of changing population demographics in the United States, and the impact of those changes on operation of healthcare organizations
• Identify health management and human resource needs in diverse healthcare settings

Critical thinking skills

• Assess quality of both business practices and health care delivery focusing on outcomes measurements and methods for process improvement
• Model ethical behavior and professional accountability in decision making
• Establish goals for future personal and professional growth through commitment to lifelong learning

Communication skills

• Demonstrate effective, written and oral communication skills
• Develop and execute professional presentations
• Work effectively in group settings

BHA Plan of Study

Admission Policy Master of Health Administration Program

Curriculum Goals

The curricula in the Master of Health Administration degree program are designed to provide the following:

• A body of knowledge, understanding, skills and values relevant to health administration core competencies and the Program's mission.
• Coursework in the content areas that applies knowledge and skills to management of the environment, processes of patient care, and population health.
• An introduction to the professional, ethical and societal issues associated with the management, delivery and financing of health services.
• A general background in liberal education, including a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of written and oral communication skills.
• Opportunities to combine written, oral, and technical skills in program coursework.
• A balanced mix of theory and practice in coursework and required field experiences.

Expected Student Outcomes

MHA students will:

• apply theory and demonstrate knowledge and skills in the management of health services and resources in diverse organizational environments
• apply leadership principles in development of effective strategies for achieving professional and organizational objectives, and model professional values, ethical behavior and cultural competence
• manage information including the collection, statistical and non-statistical analysis, and summarization of management and health data for decision-making.
• apply legal and ethical analysis to business and clinical decision-making.
• assess quality of both business practices and health care delivery focusing on outcomes measurements, process/outcome relationships, and methods for process improvement.
• develop, organize, synthesize and articulate ideas and information in written, oral and electronic formats.

Real World Applications

UNF's Health Care Administration Program has designed its curriculum to provide an integration of classroom instruction and practical, real world experience. Some of the ways the Program integrates knowledge, theory and practical skills include:

• Field based projects and activities
• Use of comprehensive case studies focused on systems problems, strategic planning and management
• Employment of an Executive-in-Residence who directs the activity of the Healthcare Leadership Institute and brings extensive executive management experience to the classroom.
• Use of health care professionals across the health services industry as class speakers
• Design of a curriculum focused on competencies essential to development of competent managers, administrators and leaders in the health services field
• Use of the suggestions and recommendations of an Advisory Committee made up of local health care executives
• Employment of a highly competent faculty, all of whom have real-world experience in the health care workplace
• Required practicum or residency experience in a health care setting

Master of Health Administration Plan of Study

Prerequisites
MAN3025 Administrative Management
ACG 2021 Financial Accounting or ACG 5005 Introduction to Accounting

The Master of Health Administration program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Management Education (CAHME).