Health Care Management Certificate Program
The Health Care Management (HCM) Certificate Program offers a curriculum designed to develop strategic management and leadership skills applicable to the health care industry.
Recognizing that the health care sector is dramatically different from other industries, this program will introduce participants to advanced business concepts, evaluation techniques and strategic thinking so participants can lead effectively, improve quality, increase productivity and better manage organizational costs.
Co-sponsored by WSU's Raj Soin College of Business (RSCoB) and the Boonshoft School of Medicine, the HCM Certificate Program is designed for physicians, nurses and other health care providers; administrators; and others who could benefit from master's-level business courses focused specifically on the health care sector.
Upon completion, graduates are awarded a Certificate in Health Care Management.
Considering a Master’s Degree in Business or Public Health?
HCM Certificate Program graduates who wish to enhance their educational investment further are encouraged to apply to either the AACSB International-accredited Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Program at the Raj Soin College of Business or the CEPH-accredited Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) Program at the WSU Graduate School. Course credits from the HCM Certificate Program are transferable to both of these WSU master's programs.
Program of Study
To achieve the certificate, students need to enroll in the certificate program and then successfully complete the following three courses:
- PPH 7050: Health Systems & Policy — 3 credit hours
This course will introduce students to the theory, concepts and practice of managing health resources in both traditional health service and public health settings. Sessions will include presentations on patient behavior, managed care, the insurance industry, health provider theory, law and quality. - PPH 7510: Strategic Leadership in Health Care — 3 credit hours
This course will introduce students to concepts, principles and practices of strategic management in multiple health care settings. Principles of organizational behavior and culture will be examined and techniques in negotiation, leadership and strategic analysis will be applied. - FIN 7500: Financial Management of Health Service Organizations — 3 credit hours
This course starts with an introduction to basic financial management concepts and delves into health care-specific topics, including accounting and financial statement interpretation; risk, return and time value of money; capital decision making; operational and capital budgeting; risk analysis; tactical alternative analysis; and forecasting.
Application Process
To be admitted to the program, students must first be accepted into the Wright State University (WSU) College of Graduate Programs and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Minimum graduate school requirements include an earned bachelor’s and/or advanced graduate degree from an accredited college or university.
If you are not currently enrolled at WSU, you must apply online as a graduate non-degree-seeking student through the WSU College of Graduate Programs and complete the Certificate application (see link below). During the online application process, you will have an opportunity to select the Health Care Management Certificate Program and to submit required documents.
If you are a current graduate student enrolled at WSU, please complete the online application for the Health Care Management Certificate only (see link below). You will not need to apply to the WSU College of Graduate Programs.
All applicants should submit the online Health Care Management Certificate Program application along with a one- to two-page personal statement describing their professional background and interest in the program.
(Note: WSU degree students pursuing a concentration with the same curricular requirements are not eligible for the program since the achievement of a graduate degree with a concentration supersedes the certificate.)
Who Pursues a Certificate in Health Care Management?
Here are some typical participant profiles:
- A physician interested in learning strategic management techniques and leadership.
- A hospital nurse manager looking to increase management skills with courses in health care finance, economics and strategy.
- A physician working as a medical director for a health care organization who would like to increase understanding of the economics of health care and principles of health care finance.
- A health system administrator seeking the management expertise needed to take on greater financial and managerial responsibilities within the organization.
- A specialty-group practice manager wishing to learn more about implementing population based health programs and improving negotiation skills.
- Non-health care professionals who have recently transitioned or are interested in transitioning to a position in health care administration.
For More Information
Review Certificate Student Handbook
For questions regarding admissions or administration, please contact Laura Marker, Program Coordinator, by phone at (937) 775-1306 or by email at laura.marker@wright.edu.
Comments from Current and Past Participants
- Just what I needed in my career! The HCM Certificate Program has helped me gain more knowledge so that I can have some understanding and control over forces that drive health care and my practice.
—Hemant Shah, M.D., Pulmonary Medicine of Dayton - The program has helped me to better understand the complicated interactions among all the players in the delivery of healthcare including government. I have been surprised how much diverse information I have been exposed to through the excellent lecturers and experts in various fields that I otherwise wouldn't have known.
—David Smith, M.D., Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services
