Bachelor of Science in Public Health Public Health with a Major in Health Services Administration (BSPH)

Webpage: http://www.odu.edu/commhealth/academics/undergraduate
Program Email: [bshshsa@odu.edu]
Program Director:  Dr. Maria Kronenburg

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) degree with a major in Health Services Administration (HSA) aims to provide students with current, relevant information and experiences that will enable them to function as entry-level health service administrators in local, state, and national arenas. Additionally, the program will prepare persons seeking advanced study in preparation for the MHA, MPH, MPP, MPA, and MS degrees and the foundation for PhD or MD educational career paths.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a major in the Health Services Administration Program will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance the administration and the delivery of health services through health care management and policy education. These graduates will serve as leaders for health care organizations in the public, private, and military organizations. The curriculum for the Health Services Administration major integrates a multidisciplinary approach that includes global and public health, health care finance, health services research, epidemiology, health care policy and management. Students will have the opportunity to gain practical health care management experience and drive innovation in health care policy.

Graduates of the program will be ready to serve as invaluable leaders in health care services.

The Health Services Administration major is available fully online, with the option to complete some courses on campus. 

Major Declaration: Health Services Administration Program

To officially declare a major in Health Services Administration (HSA), students must complete the following courses with a grade of C or better:  PUBH 200,  PUBH 320,  PUBH 335,  PUBH 390, and STAT 130M.

1. Students who have met all major declaration requirements and meet the minimum cumulative GPA (2.00) requirement will be referred by their advisor in the Health Sciences Advising Center/ODU Global Health Sciences advisor to the program director for major declaration and assignment to a program advisor. For additional information, please contact: Program Director (bshshsa@odu.edu) or College of Health Sciences Advising Center (hsadvising@odu.edu).

2. Students must be accepted to the program before enrolling in any 400-level required course.

Continuance and Readmission Policy

In addition to the Old Dominion University continuance policies in this catalog, the following policies are specific to all declared majors in the Health Services Administration (HSA) Program:

1. A grade of C (2.00) or better is required in all required major courses to continue in the program.
2. A student who earns a grade of C- or lower in a required major course will not be considered in good academic standing in the major and must retake the course in the next semester the course is offered.
3. A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better is required to continue in the HSA program.

Students who fail to meet the continuance requirements for the major will revert to intended degree, and an advising hold will be placed back on their account.  A meeting with the program director will be required to create a success plan before a student may enroll in additional courses.  

To be readmitted to the HSA program:

1. Students must meet with the program director to create a success plan. 
2. Students must successfully complete all major courses with a grade of C or higher, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better, and meet the program director again before the major will be redeclared.  Students are responsible for contacting the program director when all readmission requirements have been met. 
3. A student who is readmitted to the major may be required to take additional course work prior to or concurrent with readmission.

Internship

The internship (PUBH 468) is designed and implemented to ensure that students achieve the following objectives:

1. Practical experience in a health setting via exposure to an organization and/or community context that generates health activities.
2. Acquisition of practical skills via related field assignments that challenge students to utilize knowledge of competencies learned from the academic curriculum and improved understanding of the political, economic, social and organizational context within which health services administrative activities operate.

BSPH-HSA students must apply for approval to enroll in the Internship course. Internship is a planned, supervised and evaluated exercise that serves as a culminating experience for students pursuing the BSPH degree. A student may be eligible for the internship upon senior standing in the major (at least 90 credits completed and at least half of the major courses completed). Internships must be planned and approved in advance by the program internship coordinator. The internship course may be taken with other courses or up to the minimum full-time credit hours for the term.  The internship learning contract must be submitted for approval prior to the internship paperwork deadline: May 1 deadline to register for summer semester; August 1 deadline to register for the fall semester; January 1 deadline to register for the spring semester.

Internships should be sought and undertaken in an organization, agency, department or community that provides planning and/or services that are relevant to the core areas of health services administration. Any student who plans to organize an internship without the appropriate foundation may be at a disadvantage in the organizations in which internships are undertaken. All students must complete an internship within their major of Health Services Administration. The internship experience and course address the relevance of developing skills and competencies.

Some internship sites may require the student to complete a criminal background check, drug screenings, computer-based training, CPR certifications, proof of vaccination status, and/or any other pre-existing mandatory compliance requirements prior to beginning the internship. 

Students who have five or more years of supervisory, administrative, or management experience in a related field can apply for a Prior Learning ePortfolio Challenge which could replace the internship course.  A cover letter and resume will be required for the initial review.  Please contact the program internship coordinator or program director to discuss this option. 

 Requirements

Lower-Division General Education

Written Communication: grade of C or better required in both courses

Mathematics: STAT 130M required; must be completed with a grade of C or better prior to major declaration.

Information Literacy and Research: HLTH 120G preferred

Philosophy and Ethics: met in the major by PHIL 345E

Impact of Technology: met in the major by PUBH 485

Upper-Division General Education

Completion of the MGMT courses required for the major with a grade of C or higher results in a minor in management and meets upper-division general education.

Requirements for Graduation

Requirements for graduation include the following:

• Minimum of 120 credit hours.
• Minimum of 30 credit hours overall and 12 credit hours of upper-level courses in the major program from Old Dominion University.
• Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken.
• Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward the major.
• Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward a minor.
• Completion of ENGL 110C, ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C, and the writing intensive (W) course in the major with a grade of C or better. The W course must be taken at Old Dominion University.
• Completion of Senior Assessment.

Health Services Administration Major

To officially declare a major in Health Services Administration, students must complete the following courses with a grade of C or better: PUBH 200,  PUBH 320,  PUBH 335,  PUBH 390, and STAT 130M.

Students must be a declared major prior to starting 400-level major courses.  All courses required for the major must be completed with a grade of C or better.

**

Grade of C or better required.

 Electives

Elective credits may be needed to achieve the minimum 120 credit hours required for the degree.  Electives can be from any college.  Some electives that can be considered are PUBH 421, PUBH 422, and ENVH 448.

Degree Program Guide

The Degree Program Guide is a suggested curriculum to complete this degree program in four years.  It is just one of several plans that will work and is presented only as broad guidance to students. Each student is strongly encouraged to develop a customized plan in consultation with their academic advisor.  Additional information can also be found in Degree Works. 

**Grade of C or better required.