Guidelinesfor Students

in

Master of Science in Health Care Administration

Academic Year 2014-2015

California State University Long Beach

College of Health and Human Services

Department of Health Care Administration

1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840

Phone (562) 985-5694 Fax (562) 985-5886

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION

Dear Graduate Student,

Congratulations on your admission to the Master of Science in Health Care Administration (MSHCA) program at California State University Long Beach (CSULB). Go BEACH!

These are exciting times for individuals who are interested in health care management careers. The health care industry is thriving with new innovations and cures, and substantial government funding has recently been channeled into our industry. Department of Labor statistics show that the employment of medical and health service managers is expected to increase by approximately 22.4 percent nationwide from 2010 to 2020 in order to keep up with the nation’s rising demand for clinicians and care givers, which will result in great opportunities for health care managers. The Master of Science in Health Care Administration at California State University, Long Beach will equip you with the tools of effective management and sound leadership that are needed to excel in this field.

The MSHCA program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and has an excellent reputation in Southern California with the strong support of top administrators of local hospitals and managed care organizations who serve on our Advisory Board. Within the last five years we revised our curriculum to keep up with the dynamic health care industry, and we are getting ready to make additional changes to emphasize long-term care in our curriculum.

Our broad yet focused approach to health care administration translates to an interdisciplinary program that combines business administration and health sciences into one comprehensive degree. Our success is greatly due to the health care providers and community organizations that contribute to our innovative curriculum and classroom instruction.

We are delighted to be your partners, professors, and mentors as you journey through the Health Care Administration (HCA) Programs at California State University, Long Beach, where we take pride in our diverse student body, relevant field research, excellence in teaching, and connectivity to the local and regional organizations where our work makes a difference.

On behalf of our core and executive faculty and staff, thank you for choosing our program. Welook forward to workingwithyou as you progress through this phase of your professional development.

Best wishes,

Tony Sinay, PhD

Chair, Department of Health Care Administration

Table of Contents

Faculty and Staff Directory ...... 4

Code of Ethics...... 6

Accreditation...... 6

Overview of the MHA Program...... 7

Mission of the MHA Program...... 8

Vision of the MHA Program...... 8

Admissions Criteria and Policies...... 8

Educational Goals and Competencies...... 10

Nondiscrimination Policy ...... 11

Sexual Harassment Policy...... 12

Student Grievance Policy ...... 15

Accommodation of Disability ...... 17

Campus Resources...... 18

Communication

Department to Student Contact ...... 20

Change of Address ...... 20

Class Scheduling ...... 20

Class Sequence

Traditional Program ...... 21

Accelerated Program ...... 23

Course Descriptions ...... 24

University Regulations for a Master’s Degree ...... 26

Academic Integrity, Plagiarism and Cheating...... 28

Credit for Transfer Graduate Work...... 31

Grade Requirement/Grading...... 31

Policy Regarding Academic Disqualification & Probation ...... 33

Disqualification Based on Grades ...... 36

Administrative Academic Probation ...... 36

Administrative Academic Disqualification ...... 36

Classroom Attendance ...... 37

Registration ...... 37

Graduate Enrollment Policies ...... 37

University Requirements for the Master’s Degree ...... 39

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) ...... 40

Time Limit for Completion...... 40

Advancement to Candidacy...... 40

Graduation Filing...... 41

Graduate Studies 700 ...... 41

Academic Workload...... 42

Thesis/Project FAQs...... 42

MyCSULB...... 42

Record Keeping ...... 42

Appendices

University Nondiscrimination Statement...... 43

Health Care Administration

Faculty and Staff Directory

Name / Office / Telephone / Email
Tony Sinay, Ph.D.
Department Chair, Accelerated
Program Director & Professor / HHS2-116 / 562-985-5304 /
Grace Reynolds, D.P.A.
Graduate Advisor & Associate
Professor / HHS1-FOA-5 / 562-985-5885 /
Natalie Whitehouse-Capuano,
MPH, MCHES
Accelerated Program Coordinator / HHS2- 120 / 562-985-5414 /
John Ciulik
Administrative Coordinator / HHS2-118 / 562-985-2056 /
Deby McGill
Administrative Coordinator / HHS2-118 / 562-985-5694 /
Full –Time Faculty
Veronica Acosta-Deprez, PhD,
MCHES
Professor / HHS2-FOA-12 / 562-985-7698 /
Erlyana Erlyana, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor / HHS1-FOA-7 / 562-985-5800 /
Janice Frates, Ph.D.
Professor / HHS1-FOA-4 / 562-985-5394 /
Brenda Freshman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor / HHS1-FOA-8 / 562-985-1982 /
Henry O’ Lawrence, Ph.D.
Professor / HHS1-FOA-1 / 562-985-8013 /
Sandhya Shimoga, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor / HHS1-FOA-6 / 562-985- /
Executive Faculty
Name / Office / Telephone / Email
Dana Brown, JD
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /
Rus Billimoria, MD, MPH,
CPHQ
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /
Kim Brant-Lucich, MBA, PMP,
PHIMSS
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /
Terence Cunningham, MHA,
FACHE
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /
Charles Del Campo, MBA
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /
Dan Fahey, Ph.D.
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /
Matthew J. Graeser, MSHCA
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /
Kim Kaiser, Ph.D.
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /
Ibtisam Khoury-Sirhan, MPH,
CHES
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /
James Lott, MBA
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /
Yvonne Rockwood, MBA,
MSHCA
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /
Robert E. Siemer, MS, JD
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /
Richard Tradewell, Ph.D.
Executive Faculty / 562-985-5694 /

Code of Ethics

The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Code of Ethicsincludes standards or ethical behavior for healthcare executives. It requires that all professional healthcare executives promote and maintain high standards of ethical behavior in the field of health care. The Department of Health Care Administration has adopted the ACHE Code of Ethics (Appendix B) as the standard that students in the HCA program are expected to adhere to. Any violations to the Code of Ethics may result in termination of the student from the program.

Accreditation

The traditional and accelerated graduate program at CSULB is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) since 2002.

CAHME is an “interdisciplinary group of educational, professional, clinical, and commercial organizations is devoted to accountability and quality improvement of education for healthcare management and administration professionals. CAHME serves the public by promoting, evaluating, and improving the quality of graduate healthcare management education in the United States and Canada” (CAHME, 2014, para. 1).

“CAHME is the only organization recognized to grant accreditation to individual academic programs offering a professional master's degree in healthcare management education and is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation” (CAHME, 2014, para. 2). Full accreditation is a lengthy process and is essential for all graduate health care programs.

Overview of the MHA Program

California State University, Long Beach offers comprehensive, convenient and affordable programs in graduate study in the dynamic field of health care administration. Health care administration students learn about the business side of health care. Graduates work as analysts, administrative support staff, customer service, managers, consultants, information specialists in many different kinds of organizations (both public and private), independent business owners in hospitals, managed care organizations (HMOs and PPOs), insurance companies, and governmental health agencies.

The curriculum features a strong core of courses in the essential functions of management, with electives that allow students to pursue particular interests such as specialized courses in long term care administration, hospital management, managed care, and medical group practice management. Our Faculty are recognized experts and executive practitioners of leading southern California healthcare organizations, which leads to numerous opportunities for networking and employment.

The MSHCA program requires completion of 45 credit hours over the course of study. Graduate classes are offered in late afternoon and evening for traditional students and Saturday and online for the accelerated students. The graduate program is designed for persons with a variety of undergraduate experiences who give evidence of interest and potential for success in health care management or research. The accelerated program combines online and in-person weekend graduate instruction; its more intensive pace allows students, who are primarily managers and clinicians, to complete a master’s degree in less thantwo years. Modern Healthcare ranked CSULB No. 17 overall among the nation’s top business schools for physician executives (“By the Numbers”, 2014).

Mission of the MHA Program

The mission of the CSULB Health Care Administration Department is to prepare professionals to manage, lead and improve a changing health care system. Our graduate and undergraduate programs are designed, and continually strive to improve their efforts, to meet the needs of the dynamic Southern California health care system, and to emphasize culturally appropriate patient-centered service delivery systems.

The Vision of the Master's Program

To be known for excellence in health administration education, scholarship and service to the community. The Values of the MS Program are:

  • Student-centered education
  • Academic reputation
  • Class integrated with fieldwork
  • Full-time and practicing executive faculty model
  • Individual academic advising and degree planning
  • Use of distance education technology
  • Small class size
  • Support of American College of Healthcare Executives

Admissions Criteria and Policies

The Health Care Administration department at California State University Long Beach has two graduate level MSHCA programs. There is the traditional program where classes meet on the semester schedule and class times begin at either 4:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. and all classes meet in person. There is also an accelerated MSHCA program that is based on the quarter system and is year around. A new cohort begins each September and attends Saturday classes (8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and participates in one on-line course each quarter. The accelerated program is for those with three or more years of professional experience in the health care field. Both programs are fully accredited by CAHME.

Admission to the Master of Health Care Administration program is limited to the fall semester each academic year; we do not offer spring or summer admissions. Once the program is filled, eligible students who have been reviewed may be placed on a waiting list. Applications received after the application deadline may not be reviewed. Be sure to check the website for updated information about the programs.

The MSHCA Program Admission Committee welcomes applicants that can demonstrate high academic achievement and potential. The requirements for admissions are as follows:

  • Completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher (3.0 or higher is preferred).
  • Completion of a CSUmentor application available online at csumentor.
  • Official set of transcripts sent to CSULB Admissions and Records.
  • Acomplete department application packet including personal statement, resume, three sealed letters of recommendation, GRE or GMAT score (if you are applying for the traditional program. Applicants with a lower GPA may be considered based on meeting certain other criteria.
  • Students are required to have passed financial accounting, microeconomics, and statistics.
  • For accelerated program GRE or GMAT scores are strongly recommended if GPA is below 3.0.
  • TOEFL score of 550 for international students.

Prerequisites

Economics 101 (microeconomics)

Accounting 201 (financial accounting)

Statistics

Prerequisites can be taken at community colleges and do not have to be completed in order to apply to the program. Any pre-requisites you may be required to take are outlined in your acceptance letter and subsequent admission agreement, which you signed and returned to the program coordinator. If pre-requisite course work is completed at another institution, you must submit your transcript to show proof of course completion.

MSHCA Traditional Program Requirements

The minimum grade point average (GPA) requirement for the MSHCA graduate study program is 3.0 based upon your Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. GPA is determined by the last 60 units of undergraduate study. Undergraduate preparation should include course work in financial accounting, microeconomics, and statistics.The minimum university requirement for the TOEFL score is 550 (for international students). The GMAT/GRE score is evaluated in comparison to the strength of the entire application. The total score should represent a good balance between the quantitative and verbal sections. Please note: the GRE/GMAT should have been taken during the last two years. Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

MSHCA Accelerated Program Requirements

The MSHCA Accelerated Program also requires a 3.0 GPA and minimum TOEFL score of 550 (for international students). A minimum of three years of experience in a health care or health-related organization or business environment is also required. Undergraduate preparation should include course work in financial accounting, microeconomics, and statistics.MSHCA-AP applicants are not required to take the GRE/GMAT.

Final admission to the degree program is determined by the Department of Health Care and the Director of the M.S. Program in Health Care Administration. Application to the University does not guarantee acceptance into the M.S. Degree in Health Care Administration.Students must be accepted to both the University and to the MSHCA program in order to matriculate.

Educational Goals and Competencies

In today’s environment, health care managers must achieve and continually improve specific competencies in and out of school and also thorough their work experience. Our departmental mission statement emphasizes training and educating professionals for health care management jobs, either entry or more advanced level positions, with the following goals:

  • Offer a curriculum that supports and matches the needs of the health care industry and meets accreditation standards.
  • Attract and retain well qualified students with a variety of substantive, challenging, affordable and convenient degree programs.
  • Conduct, facilitate and disseminate health services research through external and intramural funding.
  • Develop and maintain strong ties with HCA alumni, the practitioner community, the University and the College of Health and Human Services.
  • Serve as a resource for University governance and the industry as volunteers and consultants to promote the efficient and effective operation of the University, health care and professional organizations.

Competencies

The Program has identified a set of competencies in response to industry demands and accrediting agencies’ movement towards competency based health care management education. Graduates of HCA degree programs will achieve and demonstrate the following competencies:

  • Health care knowledge
  • Leadership
  • Presentation skills (oral communication)
  • Written communication skills
  • Career marketability
  • Teamwork
  • Managing change
  • Conceptual skills
  • Managerial decision making
  • Ethical decision making
  • Information management
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Independence
  • Creativity and critical thinking
  • Analytical skills
  • Planning
  • Advocacy
  • Conflict management

Nondiscrimination Policy

Race, Ethnicity, Color, National Origin, Genetic Information, Age, Religion, and Veteran Status

Pursuant to Executive Order 1074, California State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, nationality, disability, genetic information, gender/sex (including gender identity and gender expression), sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, as well as Veteran Status in its programs and activities, including admission and access.

Disability

Pursuant to Executive Order 1089 and 1074, California State University does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs and activities, including admission and access. Larisa E. Hamada, the Director of Equity & Diversity, has been designated to coordinate the efforts of California State University, Long Beach, to comply with all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability.

Sex/Gender/Gender Identity/Gender Expression/Sexual Orientation

The California State University does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity or sexual orientation in its programs and activities, including admission and access. Federal and state laws, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, prohibit such discrimination. The California State University is committed to providing equal opportunities to CSU students in all campus programs, including intercollegiate athletics.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects all people regardless of their gender or gender identity from sex discrimination, which includes sexual harassment and violence:

  • Sexual discrimination means an adverse act of sexual discrimination (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) that is perpetrated against an individual on a basis prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., and its implementing regulations, 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IX); California Education Code §66250 et seq., and/or California Government Code §11135.
  • Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that includes, but is not limited to, sexual violence, sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, indecent exposure and other verbal, nonverbal or physical unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, where such conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that its effect, whether or not intended, could be considered by a reasonable person in the shoes of the individual, and is in fact considered by the individual, as limiting the individual's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or opportunities offered by the university. Sexual harassment also includes gender-based harassment, which may include acts of verbal, non-verbal or physical aggression, intimidation or hostility based on sex or sex-stereotyping, even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature.
  • Sexual violence means physical sexual acts (such as unwelcome sexual touching, sexual assault, sexual battery and rape) perpetrated against an individual without consent or against an individual who is incapable of giving consent due to that individual's use of drugs or alcohol, or disability.
  • See further information in CSULB's sexual violence prevention and education statement, which includes facts and myths about sexual violence at

Larisa E. Hamada, the Director of campus Equity & Diversity, has been designated to coordinate the efforts of California State University, Long Beach, to comply with all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination on these bases. Inquiries concerning compliance may be presented to this person at: , 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840, (562) 985-8256.