Syllabus

Master of Healthcare Administration

HCA 601 Introduction to Health Administration (Spring A 2025)

Credits - 3

Description

This course provides an overview of the history, challenges, and opportunities facing healthcare administrators today. Topics will include the ongoing transition from a pay-for-services model of healthcare delivery to accountable care networks, emerging public health and healthcare partnerships, and the need for analytics that can address the particular characteristics of big health data.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Program Outcomes addressed by this course:

• Graduates will understand the American healthcare system and the effects technology and data have had on it.
• Graduates will understand the complex system of legal and regulatory compliance that governs the healthcare system.
• Graduates will apply technology and the healthcare quality framework to meet the goals of the triple aim of improving the patient experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing the per capita cost of health care.

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of HIN 601, the student will demonstrate the ability to:

• Analyze how the American healthcare system is different from other countries and how changes in American culture have affected the healthcare system.
• Examine how changes in focus on the quality of care, population health, and reducing the cost of care impact healthcare delivery systems.
• Analyze access and the financial burdens of care for underserved populations.
• Examine the role and impact of medical technology on healthcare.
• Evaluate significant policies that have shaped the American healthcare system.
• Discuss future trends and opportunities to improve healthcare delivery.
• Evaluate a problem in a specific healthcare setting and recommend solutions supported by peer-reviewed literature.

Assignments

Please note that all times in the syllabus and in Blackboard refer to Eastern Time. The discussion board and assignment links for each week will open at the start of the week for submissions.

Discussion Board Posts: These assignments will assess your ability to clearly and accurately apply concepts from your readings and from your own experiences.  Each week you are expected to submit an initial post and comment on at least 2 other students’ posts. You need to follow APA guidelines for citing any sources you may reference in either your initial post or your response to others. Refer to the Discussion Rubric and discussion question for submission guidelines. Please be sure to follow the individual directions provided with each Discussion Board Prompt, as the requirements may vary from Discussion Board to Discussion Board.

Initial post: You should submit your initial post by 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Your initial post should be approximately 500 words. 

Response to others: You should comment on at least 2 other students’ posts by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Your comments to others should be thorough, thoughtful, and they should offer some new content. Do not merely respond with “I agree” or “I disagree.” Engage directly with the ideas of your classmates and briefly mention which part of the post you are responding to.

APA Style Self-Check Quiz: Throughout this program, you will submit written assignments using APA Style and formatting. In week 1, you will watch a tutorial on APA Style and complete a five-question quiz. The quiz questions are based on the tutorial. You must answer all 5 quiz questions correctly to gain access to your week 1 Discussion questions and RefWorks assignment. You will have 3 attempts to get all 5 questions correct. Please contact your instructor if you have not gained access to this week’s assignments after 3 quiz attempts.

RefWorks: In Week 1, you will get started using an important tool from the UNE Library that will support you in learning, research, and scholarship throughout this graduate program. Create a RefWorks account and submit a screenshot of the All Documents page with at least one saved resource.

Slide Presentation: In week 2, you will demonstrate your understanding of the U.S. healthcare system by creating a 5-10 slide presentation exploring one of the topic choices provided.

Data Visualization: In week 3, you will explore the healthcare payor models in your state and create a pie or bar chart to communicate your healthcare data findings. A one-page written document offering your perspective and considering the socio-economic impact to your state will accompany your chart.

Key Assignments: The culminating final project for this course is a 5-6 page research paper. You will focus on a challenge or problem in a defined healthcare setting of your choice such as ambulatory care, critical care, lab service, etc. You will identify a potential solution based on peer-reviewed literature and the knowledge and skills gained from your coursework. This assignment introduces you to academic writing and peer-reviewed literature searches, a skill needed to be successful in your graduate program.

You will create and submit the parts that go into writing a research paper in weeks 3 through 5. Each assignment will build upon the previous part and you will receive instructor feedback. Your final project research paper will integrate the feedback received on each component.

Topic and Research Question: In week 3, you will submit a word document with your topic and research question. For your topic, you will choose a challenge or problem in a defined healthcare setting (ambulatory care, critical care, lab service, etc.). Your research question will include the potential solution that may help solve the identified problem. Your research question guides your search for peer-reviewed literature on the topic and potential solution.

Annotated Bibliography: In week 4, you will start gathering, summarizing, and examining peer-reviewed articles that are relevant to your topic and research question. From these articles, you will select 5, one of which directly addresses your topic’s defined healthcare delivery setting, the other four should be related to the topic or research question. You will create an annotated bibliography.

Research Paper Outline or Mind-map: In week 5, you will organize your thoughts around the final paper and submit an outline or mind-map.

Final Project Research Paper: In week 7, you will submit an APA formatted research paper between 5-6 pages long that fully integrates the Instructor feedback received on previous assignments and addresses your chosen topic and research question.

All assignments use scoring rubrics to assess student performance. Thoroughly review the rubric and assignment instructions for guidance on what’s required for each assignment.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assessment Item	Possible Points	Percent of Total Grade
Discussion Boards (8 @ 3 points each)	24	24 %
APA Style Self-Check Quiz	5	5%
RefWorks	8	8 %
Slide Presentation	8	8 %
Data Visualization	8	8 %
Topic & Research Question	8	8 %
Annotated Bibliography	8	8 %
Research Paper Outline or Mind Map	8	8 %
Final Project Research Paper	23	23 %
Total	100 points	100 %

Grade Scale

Grade	Points Grade	Point Average (GPA)
A	94 – 100%	4.00
A-	90 – 93%	3.75
B+	87 – 89%	3.50
B	84 – 86%	3.00
B-	80 – 83%	2.75
C+	77 – 79%	2.50
C	74 – 76%	2.00
C-	70 – 73%	1.75
D	64 – 69%	1.00
F	00 – 63%	0.00