At a glance
The new healthcare management program allows a student to build on their associate degree to complete a bachelor’s degree 100 percent online. This new degree completion program is designed for professionals who want to enhance their skills for promotions or additional employment opportunities.
Earning a bachelor’s degree as a working adult can sometimes be a challenge, especially for those employed in a health-related field.
That’s why Alfred State’s new healthcare management program allows a student to build on their associate degree to complete a bachelor’s degree 100 percent online. This new degree completion program is designed for professionals who want to enhance their skills for promotions or additional employment opportunities.
Mark Amman, program coordinator and chair of the Physical and Life Sciences Department, explained that the Bachelor of Technology in healthcare management is a flexible, online, upper-division program designed to allow a student or working professional who has earned an associate degree (AAS, AA, or AS) in a health-related area (or at least 60 credits toward such a degree) to complete a bachelor’s degree.
“Interested individuals are those who may currently be working in a laboratory, radiology, records, occupational therapy, surgical technology, paramedic, or ultrasound setting and are seeking advancement into management or administrative positions,” he said. “The program emphasizes the development of managerial skills through a set of core courses and a wide array of electives delivered in 7.5-week sessions.”
Electives include options in nursing, business administration, accounting, technology management, biology, marketing, health sciences, human services, and psychology. This degree will also provide an opportunity for students to continue their education toward an MBA to become a chief nursing officer (CNO), chief executive officer (CEO), or chief operating officer (COO).
Occupational opportunities for graduates of the program include health-related managerial positions in medical and health services departments, public relations and fundraising, administrative services, and training and development.
Dr. Skip Sullivan, president of Alfred State, said, “Our college continues to find ways to allow people the opportunity to advance their education and achieve their career goals. We are therefore delighted to now offer this flexible, online healthcare management major, and I thank everyone involved in its creation.”
Dr. Kristin Poppo, provost, said in hospitals across the country, successful employees are promoted into leadership positions with strong performance in their technical areas, but little experience in supervision, budgets, and the broader healthcare industry.
“In consultation with healthcare providers, Alfred State designed the healthcare management program to provide the skills and knowledge for technicians to be successful managers,” she said. “We are pleased to provide this program serving working adults to our region and state.”
Dr. Robert Curry, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, noted that the new Bachelor of Technology in healthcare management was developed with working healthcare professionals specifically in mind.
“The program is designed for maximum flexibility, with year-round short-term courses and multiple entry points,” he said, “and it will provide an excellent opportunity for those with a two-year healthcare-related degree to earn a four-year degree online.”