Health Administration and Human Resources Department
What We Do:
We prepare future leaders in health care and human resources to enter their chosen profession at the operational level and advance quickly in their careers.
Our department is committed to a learning environment that:
- Joins theory and practice
- Supports the importance of reflection and good judgement
- Encourages interdisciplinary teamwork
- Teaches students to look for opportunities to improve the quality of life for others
How We Stand Out:
- Real-world exposure through:
- Student membership of professional organizations
- Conference presentations
- Study abroad courses and opportunities
- Close partnerships with universities around the globe
- The University’s first joint MHA/MBA program
- Faculty with applied health care experiences
- A large international faculty with applied experience
- Values-based education based on Jesuit principles
We think about our community globally, not just locally. That’s why we have projects in several countries around the world, why we partner with other universities.
Daniel West Jr., Ph.D., professor and chair
Programs:
Undergraduate:
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- Prepares managers to plan, organize, direct, control or coordinate medicine and health services
- Job opportunities available in hospitals, clinics, nursing care facilities, physicians’ offices, insurance industries and free-standing health care facilities
- Human Resources, BS
- This is an interdisciplinary program that integrates knowledge from the human resources field, social and behavioral sciences, business and the liberal arts
Graduate:
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- Provide local, regional and international students with a comprehensive, practical and interdisciplinary set of core competencies, knowledge, skills and values for health administration jobs in a variety of organizations.
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- Offers a curriculum that was developed using the core HR body of knowledge
- Integrates the most up-to-date research
- Incorporates human resource best practices to illustrate how HR professionals achieve organizational goals
Both online programs are perfect for working professionals or people in the armed forces.
Meet Our Faculty:
Our faculty members serve as positive role models for students through networking, mentoring, advising, coaching, teaching and scholarship.
Full-time and adjunct faculty:
- Have served as former or current hospital CEOs
- Bring their wealth of practical experience into the classroom
- Serve as preceptors for fieldwork
In addition, we have both affiliated and permanent international faculty, enabling students to think globally and—consistent with our Jesuit mission—contribute in a meaningful way to build a better, broader world.
We encourage students to develop research ideas, participate in study abroad opportunities, attend national events and expand learning opportunities.
Just a few examples:
- Dr. Steve Szydlowski MBA ’00, MHA ’01 (Chairperson of Health Administration and Human Resources), who writes and speaks about global health issues, health care management and community health, has led study abroad efforts in Brazil and Eastern Europe, and the development of a global health specialization within the MHA program.
- Dr. Robert Spinelli (Undergraduate Health Administration Program Director) has helped grow the Health Administration (HADM) program. As program director he helped place 96% of HADM students after graduation. He has been employed in the health care field all of his professional career and spent 26 years as a Hospital/Health Care System CEO.
- Dr. Ken Zula (Online Graduate Human Resources Program Director) helped develop the Society for Human Resource Management competency based the Human Resources Online curriculum and achieved high placement rates for the Human Resources program. He has worked in the field of health care administration, nonprofit management and human resources for more than 12 years.
Inside the Classroom:
We recognize the importance of:
- Respecting the dignity of each individual
- Creating a positive learning environment
- Embracing diversity
- Encouraging innovation and change
- Distributing new knowledge and improved practices
Our small class sizes enable students to:
- Interact closely with one another in teams
- Interact with faculty who assign work that is case-based, which students draw on well into their careers
The small class size is great! You have time to interact with faculty and ask a lot of questions.
James Dalkiewicz G'16
Student Research:
Not only are we talking about outcomes and competencies from day one in this department, we encourage students to establish a strong professional identity while they’re still in school.
- Students join professional organizations such as the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
- Students are also enrolled in a unique program pairing them with professional mentors
- These things, in addition to a great alumni support network, give our HA/HR students a leg up when they graduate
Travel Courses & Study Abroad
We encourage our students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels to take travel courses and study abroad.
For example:
- Global Health Management course brings students on an immersive trip to Central Europe under the direction of Dr. Daniel West.
- Dr. Steve Szydlowski, Chairperson for Health Administration and Human Resources, leads study abroad opportunities in Slovakia
These are just a couple examples of the many available global experiences to be had here at 51°µÍø!
Read more about conference presentations and professional partnerships students form during the trip .
Gregory Shahum, Ph.D. '01, G'05 is the director of Genesis Rehab Center in a 1,000 bed hospital in Guangdong, China. "As a graduate of The 51°µÍø’s Master of Health Administration program, the fusion of innovative curriculum and experiential learning opportunities were immensely beneficial in my preparation to lead as an administrator at a large nursing home facility in Connecticut." Read more about him and his story, here.
Career Outcomes:
Our graduates have been selected as Fulbright Scholars, gone on to medical school, law school and worked for a variety of for- and nonprofit and governmental agencies. Some examples of places our students have gone on to work:
- Urgent Care Facilities
- Group Practice Administration
- Research Facilities
- Rehabilitation Facilities
- Long-term Care
- Private Physician Practice
- Advocacy Groups
- Health Insurance Companies
- Law Firms
- Community Clinics
- Federal and State Government
- Consulting Firms
Accreditation:
CAHME Accreditation – Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
Membership:
Full graduate membership with the Association of University Program in Health Administration (AUPHA)
