Department of Public Health, Health Administration and Health Sciences (PHHAHS)

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Elizabeth Brown, PhD, MSPH, Associate Professor, and Department Chair
Avon Williams Campus, 4th Floor
(615) 963-7367

Health Care Administration and Planning

Faculty: Charles Brown, Jemal Gishe, Alexis Heaston, Wendelyn Inman, Owen Johnson, Francis Pleban, Miranda Sanford-Terry, and Tokesha Warner

General Statement

The Health Care Administration and Planning (HCAP) program is designed to prepare individuals for leadership roles in the healthcare field. The curriculum includes health management, business, decision-making, and health planning instruction. An emphasis is on management and decision-making techniques which lead to effectiveness and efficiency in a supervisory position.

The BS degree in Health Care Administration and Planning is awarded after completing a minimum of 120 semester hours satisfactorily.  This includes one summer field placement at the end of the junior year: the one credit hour capstone course, and completing 30 semester hours of coursework in the major. Graduates are prepared to assume entry-level management positions in various healthcare settings or to continue their education in a variety of disciplines in master’s degree programs.

Admission Requirements

Students who wish to pursue the HCAP major must first be accepted for admission to Tennessee State University. 

Applications for admission to the Program are accepted from students who have completed the first two years of prerequisites (including transfer credits). The HCAP Admissions Committee will consider applications from candidates who present the following qualifications:

Acceptance to Tennessee State University

1. Completion of first-year HCAP curriculum with a grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale). Consideration will be given to relevant work experience when considering applicants who fall below this requirement.
2. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who have known the applicant for at least two years (time lengths will be waived for recommendations from employers).
3. An interview with the Admissions Committee or an out-of-town agency designated by the Committee.
4. A personal goals statement 
5. A recent transcript

Retention Policy

The Health Care Administration and Planning retention policy is as follows:  

1. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
2. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all major courses, supporting Science, Business, English, and Mathematics courses. Failure to maintain a “C” in any of these courses will result in repeating the course the next semester. The course is offered with the approval of the Advisor.
3. Students who earn a grade less than a “C” in HCAP courses for more than one semester will be dismissed from the program.
4. Students who have been dismissed from the HCAP program may apply for readmission. Students who request readmission should present evidence to the Admissions Committee of substantial change in circumstances warranting reconsideration.
5. If a student transfers from another institution or academic program, each course that was taken will be assessed individually.

Criminal Background Check

A criminal background check may be a requirement at some affiliated clinical sites for training. Based on the results of the background check, an affiliated clinical site may determine that they will not accept a student as a student intern within their facility. This could result in a student’s inability to complete the requirements of the HCAP program. In addition, a criminal background check may preclude licensure or employment. 

Programs

• Health Care Administration & Planning, B.S.
• Health Sciences, General Concentration, B.S.
• Health Sciences, Physical Sciences Concentration, B.S.
• Health Sciences, Public Health Concentration, B.S.
• Health Sciences, Therapeutic Studies Concentration, B.S.

Courses

• HCAP 2010 - Introduction to Health Care Organization (3)
• HCAP 2011 - Writing Essentials in the Health Care Organization (1)
• HCAP 2100 - Approaches to Planning in Health Care (3)
• HCAP 3100 - Health Care Economics (3)
• HCAP 3200 - Introduction to Facilities Law (3)
• HCAP 3310 - Sociology of Health, Illness, and Disease (3)
• HCAP 3800 - Introduction to Public Health (3)
• HCAP 3900 - Communication and Technical Writing (3)
• HCAP 4000 - Field Placement (1-6)
• HCAP 4010 - Field Placement Capstone Course (1)
• HCAP 4200 - Health Care Management I (3)
• HCAP 4500 - Health Care Finance (3)
• HCAP 4700 - Long-Term Care Administration (3)
• HCAP 4800 - Principles of Managed Care Organizations (3)
• HCAP 4900 - Health Care Research (3)

• HCAP/HLSC 4930 - Senior Seminar in Health Sciences - (1)

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