Healthcare Leadership Courses

Course requirements by program

For course sequence, request a program calendar. Credits are listed in parentheses.

Programs:

B.A. in Healthcare Leadership requires completion of all courses (40 semester credits).
Certificate in Healthcare Leadership requires completion of HCLP360, HCLP375, HCLP465, HCLP480, and ORGL320 (17 semester credits).

GENS413P: Modern World: Trends and Forces Impacting Organizations (3)

Survey of technological, economic, political, cultural, and religious trends as well as forces shaping our global and personal futures. Exploration of alternative Christian worldviews and modes of thinking and learning that might be useful in responding to these challenges.

HCLP345: Writing and Research for Healthcare Professionals (3)

Principles and processes of research in healthcare include literature review, research design, data collection techniques, statistical analysis, and professional writing in generating new knowledge through the preparation of proposal, reports, and publications. Focus is on the essential strategy and skills required for written communication in the healthcare industry, with a major focus on medical documentation and reports that reflect writing styles unique to the medical profession. Exploration of methods to simplify and facilitate learners’ grammar and writing skills.

HCLP360: Interpersonal Communication Skills for Healthcare Professionals (3)

Introduction to communication theory in the organizational setting with an examination of interpersonal interaction in dyads and groups. Also focuses on listening skills, decision making, and conflict resolution processes in profit and nonprofit organizations.

HCLP375: Healthcare Information Technology (3)

Introduction to the concepts and practices of healthcare informatics. Examination of emerging informatics technologies and processes including consumer informatics, the internet, tele-medicine, electronic medical records, and information exchange. Exploration of methods in which healthcare informatics could transform healthcare delivery and impact the marketplace, organizations, and individuals.

HCLP425: Culturally Diverse Healthcare Leadership (3)

Examination of culture and its impact on the provision of healthcare services. Emphasis is on understanding how social and cultural beliefs and behaviors impact the practice of healthcare management. Synthesizes theories about domestic competence, cultural diversity and cross-cultural competence, individualism and collectivism, and the contingency theory of leadership with social justice issues in order to address healthcare.

HCLP465: Healthcare Financial Accounting and Budgeting (3)

Focus is on the use of accounting data to support informed decision making, fundamental principles of finance, accounting, operational budgeting, capital budgeting, and budgeting for the short- and long-term are presented. Concepts of full time equivalent, personnel costs, cost allocation, activity based cost accounting, fixed and variable costs, and fiscal accountability are examined. Techniques for break-even analysis are presented, and budget negotiation skills and basic decision models are introduced. The focus is on financial principles and decision making with tools to help managers understand the financial aspects of running their departments or organizations.

HCLP480: Healthcare Organizational Law and Ethics (4)

Introduction to the study of professional ethics. Distinctions between law and ethics are considered. Learners discuss various models of ethical decision-making. Medical ethics are examined in relation to the practice of healthcare management. Emerging ethical issues are explored from a healthcare management perspective. The following issues are also addressed: employment law, licensing and credentialing of staff, medical malpractice, advanced directives, corporate compliance, and current issues and trends in healthcare law.

HCLP490: Healthcare Leadership and Change (2)

Consideration of various components of change and transformation in relation to leading, managing, and following in healthcare organizations. Examination of the role of the healthcare leader in promoting an environment that allows for the well-being of the individual as well as the organization. Designed as a senior seminar in which learners integrate and synthesize their learning experiences in the program.

ORGL300: Adult Development and Learning (2)

Study of adult development theories in order for learners to better understand the areas of adult psychological, spiritual/faith, and cognitive development, and to provide a developmental context for the study of leadership. Additional emphasis is on self-understanding and learning styles. Graded on an S/U basis.

ORGL320: Theories of Organizations and Leadership (4)

Foundation for exploring theories related to two major topics: the role and function of leadership and the characteristics of an organization. Overview of how organizations are formed; the role of individuals in establishing and maintaining organizations; and the function of groups, teams, and departments. Exploration of the role of a leader in relation to organizational structure, culture, goals, and purposes. Identification of critical issues related to ethics, values, diversity, and social justice that affect leadership decisions.

ORGL400: Principles of Leading and Managing (3)

Examination of principles of authority, power, politics, decision making, and influence. Consideration of questions such as “What is leadership?” and “What makes a good leader?” Exploration of differences between leadership and management and the role of follower. Examination of the impact of leader/manager behavior on the organization.

ORGL462: Integrated Principles of Leadership (4)

Focus is on an integrated paradigm that brings together the broad field of leadership. Examination of real versus perceived issues, in real time, with discussion considering the impact of ethics and trust. Study of the implications of management’s “best practices” and how these practices impact morale, employee contribution, and organizational effectiveness. Prerequisite: ORGL400.

THEO415: Understanding Worldviews (3)

Study of the basic elements of a Christian philosophy of life including comparison with other life philosophies and application to life in contemporary organizations and professions.