Master of Science in Health Services Administration and Master of Public Health Dual Degree Program (MS/HSA—MPH.)
Evelio Velis, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor and Program Director
Program Overview
The Master of Science in Health Services Administration and Master of Public Health dual degree program (MS/HSA—MPH) is a graduate education program offered through the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The program consists of a total of nineteen required courses and one Field Experience in the area of Public Health. Students are required to successfully complete a total of 60 credit hours to fulfill the requirements for the H.S.A.—MPH Dual degree.
The MS/HSA—MPH dual master’s degree curriculum is structured to include coursework in a number of health disciplines. A foundation in Public Health and Health Services Administration collectively offers diverse career opportunities in federal, state, private, and not-for-profit health care environments. The MS/HSA—MPH dual degree program will prepare students for positions in program and services development, research, leadership, management, and administration.
Mission and Philosophy
The MS/HSA—MPH dual degree Program offers a high-quality educational experience which reflects the missions of Barry University and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The program’s mission is to provide an educational experience which results in transformational leaders with a background in public health for national and international health care organizations. The Program will provide students with opportunities to learn the analytical and organizational skills necessary to solve complex problems and collaborate with other professionals to meet the public health needs of a multicultural community in a safe and ethical manner. Additionally, students will explore the concept of social justice and strategies for combating health disparities nationally and internationally.
Program Purpose
In addition to meeting the purposes of the MS/HSA program, the dual degree program seeks to:
- Prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and manage public health challenges, reduce global health disparities, and promote health care as a fundamental right of all human beings; and
- Prepare graduates as leaders in disease prevention and health promotion for the local, national, and global -communities.
Goals of the Curriculum
In addition to the goals of the MS/HSA program, graduates who successfully complete the dual degree program will be able to:
- Analyze and apply the best available research evidence to identify and manage public health challenges (Public Health Translational Research); and
- Create strategies which reduce disparities in the delivery of health care and promote health locally, nationally, and globally. (Public Health Focus).
Student Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the dual degree program will meet the student learning outcomes of the MS/HSA Program and also be able to:
- Collaborate with community groups to assess the health status of populations, identify problems, plan and implement solutions, and evaluate outcomes;
- Construct a plan to identify opportunities and obtain funding for programs that support a public health initiative;
- Create collaborative strategies to overcome disparities in the delivery of health care to diverse and underserved communities; and
- Demonstrate an ability to influence policy development which promotes health as a fundamental right of every human being.
Admission Requirements/Admission Process
See admission requirements and process for MS/HSA
Progression Requirements
Please refer to the MS/HSA program section for more information.
Graduation Requirements
To graduate, candidates for the degree of Master of Science in Health Services Administration and Master of Public Health (MS/HSA—MPH) must:
- Satisfactorily complete the program of study;
- Attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and have no more than two courses with less than a grade of B;
- Successfully present and defend, before a faculty panel, a comprehensive research business project as part of the capstone courses (i.e., HSA-690 Strategic Planning Capstone and MPH-697 Special Topics in Healthcare Capstone); the project’s topic must be selected by both the student and his/her academic advisor; the project’s content and student presentation will be graded based on competencies development program’s strategic model;
- Complete degree requirements within seven years of the date the student is fully accepted as a degree-seeking student for study in the graduate program;
- File an application for the degree with the University registrar on the appropriate form signed by your academic advisor from the College of Health Sciences; and
- Complete Field Experience in Public Health (MPH-567), which is required of all degree-seeking individuals.
Grading Policy
The following grades may be recorded for a course:
| A |
= |
90–100 points |
| B |
= |
80–89.99 points |
| C |
= |
70–79.99 points |
| F |
= |
Below 70 points |
| I |
= |
Incomplete (changes to F if work is not completed by the prescribed time) |
| IP |
= |
In Progress (incomplete internship, project); students have six months to complete the course requirements or the grade will be converted to an F. |
| W |
= |
Withdrew from course before the withdrawal deadline. |
*An ‘I’ grade is not automatically given for absence from class or incomplete work. An ‘I’ grade will need to be requested in writing by the student to the course instructor when course assignments have not been satisfactorily completed. A substantial portion of the required coursework and assignments/assessments, as determined by the faculty member, should be complete to qualify for an ‘I’ grade. Students who are granted an ‘I’ grade in a course must complete all the course requirements by the date set by the Registrar’s Office. An ‘I’ grade becomes an F if assignments are not completed.
Transfer Credits
Acceptance of transfer credits is at the discretion of the program director. A maximum of six graduate credits may be transferred from a regionally accredited or internationally recognized institution of higher education at the time of matriculation. Only courses with a final grade of B or higher will be considered for transfer. Transfer credits must meet the criteria established by Barry University.
Master of Science in Health Services Administration and Master of Public Health (60 credits)
Students interested in the dual degree will follow all of the procedural steps previously described in this section of the catalog.
Semester I (9 credits)
| HSA-511 | HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS AND ADMINISTRATION | 3 |
| HSA-520 | MANAGERIAL EPIDEMIOLOGY | 3 |
| MPH-513 | ENVIRON &OCCUPATION HLTH | 3 |
Semester II (9 credits)
Semester III (9 credits)
Semester IV (9 credits)
| HSA-541 | QUALITY IMPROVEMENT & EVIDENCE BASED | 3 |
| HSA-620 | HEALTH CARE BUDGETING & FIN MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| MPH-567 | SUPERVISED FIELD EXPERIENCE PUBLIC HLTH | 3 |
Semester V (9 credits)
| HSA-650 | RESEARCH APPLICATION IN HEALTH SERVICES | 3 |
| HSA-667 | HEALTH CARE LEADERSHIP | 3 |
| MPH-652 | DIVERSITY IN WORKPLACE | 3 |
Semester VI (9 credits)
| HSA-668 | HEALTH CARE HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| HSA-676 | INFORMATICS & HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| MPH-697 | SPECIAL TOPICS-CAPSTONE MPH | 3 |
Semester VII (6 credits)