About the HSA Program at JMU

The primary mission of the Health Services Administration (HSA) Program is to prepare its graduates for entry-level positions in the health care industry. This is accomplished by building on a foundation of liberal arts to encompass knowledge and skills required of the contemporary health services manager. Included in this education is instruction in the ethical underpinnings and public policy insights necessary for a manager to function professionally.

The Health Services Administration Program prepares students for both line and staff positions in health and health-related organizations. The JMU HSA Program has been in existence since 1991, and graduates have been very successful in obtaining professional employment in the health services industry and gaining acceptance to graduate schools. HSA graduates are now working in professional positions including retirement communities, nursing homes, health maintenance organizations, physician health organizations, physician recruiting firms, hospitals, medical centers, group practices,and consulting firms. Several of the program graduates have passed the federal and state licensing examination for nursing home administrators and are serving in administrative capacities in nursing homes and in retirement communities.

A secondary mission statement of the health services administration program is that of preparing undergraduate students for graduate program studies in health services administration. The health services administration faculty members realize that to hold mid-level and senior-level administrative positions, a masters degree is required. The faculty members therefore encourage students to examine possibilities for MHA, MPH, and or MBA programs in the discipline. Several of our alumni have either completed or are in the process of completing graduate programs. The have attended or are attending such schools as the Medical College of Virginia, Arizona State University, Pennsylvania State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Medical College of South Carolina.

Continuing change within he healthcare system has created numerous opportunities for individuals to carry out administrative functions within diverse health care organizations.. The Health Services Administration Program prepares students for entry-level positions in health services organizations and, secondarily, provides students with a solid foundation for graduate study in health services administration or other professional programs. Required courses include courses in the College of Business (which enable all students to obtain a minor in General Business), gerontology, health sciences and health administration. The required courses in health sciences and health administration include Health Care Systems, Health Administration, Health Values, Health Economics, Funding in Health Care, Health Program Planning, Epidemiology, Managed Care and Seminar in HSA. Elective courses include Hospital Administration, Long Term Care Administration, Ambulatory care Administration, Health Care Marketing, Health Politics and Policy, and Comparative International Health Systems. The program also requires an 8 week Internship in a health care organization during the senior year, which provides a transition from the classroom to the real world of health services administration.

In 1998, the program received approval as a Full Member Program in the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), the highest honor for undergraduate programs in health services administration in the U.S.

Students in the program also benefit from membership in the Student Chapter of American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHESA) and the Student Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Administrators (ACHCA), which provides opportunities to participate in social, educational and community service activities. In each of the last three years, a JMU Health Services Administration student has placed first in a national essay competition among undergraduate ACHE Student Chapters.

Program graduates have assumed positions in diverse health care organizations, including physician practices, hospitals and hospital systems, long-term care facilities, retirement communities, managed care organizations, ambulatory care facilities, recruitment firms, consulting firms and government agencies. Program graduates serve as a key resource for students in the program.

Health Services Administration is not an open concentration. Students are required to complete an application for admission to the program, and have the application approved by the Program Director. Admission criteria are available from the Program Director.

For additional information about the program, contact any of the program faculty:

Dr. Jon Thompson, Program Director, 138 Modular, 568-3472

Dr. Anthony Bopp, 140 Modular, 568-2832

Dr. David Cockley, 139 Modular, 568-2834

Dr. Thomas Syre, 137 Modular, 568-3642

The health services administration program is not an open concentration; students must meet specific criteria for admission to the program. Check in Program Requirements for the criteria.