Online Special Topics in Healthcare Administration Certificate
Develop foundational competencies to put you on track for a rewarding health sciences career.
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Request InfoSpecial Topics in Healthcare Administration Certificate Overview
Prepare to begin or advance your career in the growing health sciences field by seeking your Special Topics in Healthcare Administration Undergraduate Certificate through the University of West Florida. This online program focuses on competencies relevant to coordinating care for older adults, contributing to clinical trials and planning responses to medical challenges. Plus, you can learn about electronic clinical records systems used by medical records professionals.
UWF designed the Special Topics in Healthcare Administration Undergraduate Certificate program to provide a health science foundation for those who may not be ready to embark on the journey to a full bachelor’s degree. If you decide to continue your education after earning your undergraduate certificate, credits from this program are transferable to UWF’s online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program.
You can pursue the Special Topics in Healthcare Administration Undergraduate Certificate in a convenient online format that lets you continue working while completing the coursework. Get started now to finish in as little as one year.
Candidates for the Special Topics in Healthcare Administration Program Include:
- Students seeking an undergraduate certificate to build knowledge of clinical trials, electronic medical records, medical disaster management and gerontology
- Early-career adults who want to acquire foundational knowledge for pursuing healthcare administration careers
- Health sciences professionals who are interested in refining their comprehension of concepts to get on track for leadership positions
You Will Be Able To:
- Apply appropriate concepts, principles and regulations in analyzing and evaluating issues in healthcare administration
- Examine the effectiveness of the United States healthcare system and healthcare professionals caring for special populations
Refer to UWF Cost of Attendance Estimates and Financial Literacy for more information on UWF costs and financial aid.
Courses and Requirements
You will complete 12 credit hours to earn your Special Topics in Healthcare Administration Undergraduate Certificate online with UWF. The program includes four courses.
- HSA 4703 - Coordinating Clinical Trials
3 Credit Hours
Coordinating Clinical Trials
This course provides an overview of clinical trial operations for learners of any academic field. Subject matter focuses on the history and regulatory guidance surrounding human subjects in drug trials, including current standards of Good Clinical Practices (GCP). Course emphasizes administrative functions required in real-world clinical research, such as informed consent, protocol review, study documentation and research staff roles and responsibilities. Course also covers the storage, shipment and safety issues concerning pharmaceutical drugs and biologic materials. Students participate in a virtual "Mock Study" to demonstrate comprehension of course materials and ability to work as a clinical team.
- HSA 4193 - Electronic Clinical Record Systems
3 Credit Hours
Electronic Clinical Record Systems
This course explores the use and evaluation of commercially available electronic medical record systems. Healthcare workflow issues will be addressed as well as billing, collections, HIPAA and scheduling. Offered concurrently with HSA 5198; graduate students will be assigned additional work.
- HSC 4404 - Medical Disaster Management
3 Credit Hours
Medical Disaster Management
Introduces students to facets of natural and technological disasters while integrating public health research designs and practices. Class lectures and discussions utilize recent and historical case studies as a basis for developing the critical thinking and leadership skills needed by healthcare professionals in crisis situations. International, domestic and regional settings are addressed, as well as the social, economic and political aspects of disaster planning, preparedness, and mitigation. Basic public health concepts and methodologies as they relate to course material. Permission is required.
- GEY 4001 - Gerontology
3 Credit Hours
Gerontology
This course addresses the biological impacts of the aging process on the older adult; it enhances the knowledge and understanding of biological changes associated with aging in humans and their manifestations for healthcare professionals who work with older adults; it addresses many biopsychosocial issues older adults may face in society today and in the future.
- HSA 4703 - Coordinating Clinical Trials
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission into the University of West Florida’s online Special Topics in Healthcare Administration Undergraduate Certificate program, you must be admitted to the University as an undergraduate, non-degree seeking student.
How to Apply
To begin the online Special Topics in Healthcare Administration Undergraduate Certificate program, interested students need to fill out an Undergraduate Non-degree Seeking Application. Once accepted as a non-degree seeking student, students should contact the Department of Health Sciences and Administration and speak to an advisor about course availability and scheduling. Then, complete the online Undergraduate Certificate Declaration Form on MyUWF.
Have questions about this program or the admissions process? Contact our undergraduate admissions team at admissions@uwf.edu. If you are a current UWF student, please reach out to the department’s academic advisor.
Costs & Financial Aid
Military Students
UWF proudly serves active duty U.S. military members and veterans. As UWF has been a participant of the Yellow Ribbon Program since 2011, you could be eligible to receive free tuition with your military benefits.
See How We Can Serve YouFinancial Aid
Funding your college education should not empty your wallet. We offer various financial aid options for our online students, including loans, scholarships and grants for degree-seeking students.
Learn More About Financial AidCareer Outcomes
The online Special Topics in Healthcare Administration Undergraduate Certificate program delivers fundamental knowledge that aligns with multiple healthcare career paths.
* Salary and job outlook information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Medical Records Specialists
Medical records specialists play a vital role in improving patient care, as they manage and organize medical records in hospitals, physician offices, assisted living facilities and other healthcare settings. The patient records they gather and maintain help doctors and nurses document medical diagnoses, treatments and data for insurance claims. The median annual salary for medical records specialists was $46,660 in May 2021, and their employment is projected to grow by 7% from 2021 to 2031.
Medical Group Practice Office Managers
These medical and health services managers plan and direct operations within physician offices and other medical group practices. In May 2021, the median salary for these professionals was $98,230 per year. Projections indicate the employment of all medical and health services management professionals will grow by 28% from 2021 to 2031 — more than 5 times the average for all jobs.
Assisted Living Facility Administrators
Assisted living facility administrators and other nursing home managers oversee the admission and care of residents and the finances and staffing of the overall facility. The median annual salary for these roles was $83,550 in May 2021. These positions fit into the medical and health services management category, which is projected to grow by 28% from 2021 to 2031.