Healthcare Leadership and Administration

363 Maxwell Hall
507.457.2315
Healthcare Leadership and Administration website
hla@winona.edu
Jennifer Mason, Program Director

Healthcare Leadership & Administration

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Healthcare Leadership and Administration (HLA) is a multidisciplinary online completion degree. The purpose of this degree is to meet the growing demand for competent and innovative leaders and managers in healthcare, allied health, health or wellness careers.

The Healthcare Leadership & Administration (HLA) completion degree program at Winona State University offers students a dynamic, multi-disciplinary curriculum delivered entirely online. HLA students receive individualized support from experienced advisors dedicated to helping students meet academic goals.

The HLA Program offers two options:

Health & Wellness Management Option

Health Leadership Option

Enter the field of health or wellness
Does not require previous experience in healthcare
Graduates often pursue careers in wellness education, community health or entry- level management
Requires an earned associate degree (AS, AAS, AA) prior to admission
Can be completed in 2-3 years
Consists of a multi-disciplinary curriculum

Advance in the field of healthcare
Required experience in a health-related field and/or a health-specific associate degree
Graduates often pursue careers in medical and health service management or leadership positions in their healthcare specialty area
Requires an earned associate degree (AS, AAS, AA) prior to admission
Can be completed in 2-3 years
Consists of a multi-disciplinary curriculum

Admission to both options is selective. Please see program admission requirements to help determine eligibility. Once ready to become an HLA student, apply for admission to Winona State University. After submitting an application to WSU, look for a follow-up email requesting supplemental application questions required specifically for the HLA program. Response to the supplemental application questions is required to be considered for admission to the program. Traditional on-campus students should consider Public Health - Health Administration (PHHA) - BS Major coordinated by Dr. Peter Sternberg in the HERS Department.

Who should pursue this degree?

The term allied health is used to identify a cluster of health professions and covers as many as 200 occupational titles, exclusive of physicians, nurses, and a handful of other professionals. Graduates of associate-level programs in the Allied Health Sciences as well as practitioners who work with physicians and members of the health care team to deliver high-quality patient care services are the primary candidates for the Pre-MS Healthcare Leadership (Undergraduate to Graduate Program) (PMHL) . Allied healthcare jobs include a variety of technologists and technicians, medical/surgical/dental assistants, radiographers, and therapists. Many entry-level management positions also exist in health, wellness, and healthcare facilities. Students without any healthcare experience or a technical healthcare skill may pursue the Healthcare Leadership & Administration: Health & Wellness Management (HWM) - BAS Major .

Graduates with either Healthcare Leadership and Administration degree may be employed as leaders or managers at hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, insurance or pharmaceutical companies or in government positions that focus on public health and policy issues.

Healthcare Leadership and Administration (HLA): Program Requirements for Online Major

Admission to the Baccalaureate Healthcare Leadership and Administration (HLA) Program

Admission Requirements

The HLA program is designed as an online completion degree for working adults. Therefore, the applicant must possess an associate (AAS, AS, or AA) degree from a regionally accredited college prior to admittance to the program.
The applicant must demonstrate that he or she has earned 60 or more credits (junior/senior standing) at the time of application or will do so prior to the start of HLA major coursework.
The applicant must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the time of application.
The applicant must demonstrate completion of the Winona State General Education Program (GEP) for graduation. Goal 1: Communication requirements and Goal 4: Math requirements need to be completed prior to first year of HLA coursework. More GEP information is available on the General Education Program (GEP) page. Please note that completion of these requirements may be achieved through transfer coursework and that the GEP requirements are waived for those who have earned an Associate of Arts (AA) degree. It is strongly recommended that the majority of GEP coursework is completed prior to starting HLA coursework.
Students must meet application requirements outlined in the Admissions section.

Additional Admission Considerations

HLA Leadership track applicants who meet all HLA program requirements and possess professional experience, paid or unpaid, in a healthcare-related field will receive priority in the admission process. Health & Wellness Management applicants do not need professional experience in healthcare-related field.
Students are expected to have the computer hardware and skills necessary for successful participation in online courses. Specific requirements and learning modules are available on the HLA website.

Admission Process

All applicants must complete the WSU Admissions process and the online HLA Pre-Application form. Specific instructions are detailed for transfer students under Admissions/Transfer Student Admission. Special admission status can also be granted to applicants who meet criteria for Adult Entry. Refer to the WSU catalog under Admissions/Special Admissions Categories/Adult Entry Students for requirements. Additional resources for adult students are available.

After receiving the Official Evaluation of Credit from the Office of Admissions, applicants should do the following:

Contact the HLA Program Director in the semester preceding enrollment for application materials, deadline dates, and general information.
Applicants will receive HLA program eligibility or acceptance information and will need to schedule an advising appointment.

Standards and Retention within the HLA Major

To satisfy the academic standards of the HLA major, students must:

Adhere to all WSU student policies including the Academic Integrity Policy and the Student Conduct Code.
Follow appropriate online etiquette that will facilitate communication between students and instructors. Please be respectful and courteous at all times in written or direct communications with instructors and fellow classmates. Behave as politely as one would in a regular classroom. Language that might come across as offensive, inappropriate or strong will not be tolerated in discussion posts, emails or any communication among all members of the course. For more specific rules on etiquette consult course materials.
Achieve a C grade or above in each required HLA course. Students are allowed to take an individual HLA course no more than twice. Students who are unable to successfully complete a HLA course with a C grade or better after two attempts will not be allowed to continue the HLA program.
Take all major courses for a letter grade.
HLA 300 Policy: Upon admission to the HLA program, students must take HLA 300 - Foundations of Healthcare and Online Learning. This is a foundation course for the HLA major and online learning that is offered every fall and often offered in the spring. If students do not pass HLA 300 in their first semester, they must meet with the program director before being permitted to progress in the program. Students must pass HLA 300 within their first two semesters of being an HLA student.
HLA Progression Policy: Students admitted to the HLA program must complete the program within three years of their first semester taking HLA courses. Plans of study follow either a two- or three-year progression sequence. To complete in three years, students average taking two courses per semester.
HLA Readmission Policy: Admitted HLA majors who do not take HLA core or elective courses for two consecutive semesters are considered inactive and must reapply to the program during the next admission cycle. Students who reapply will adhere to the most current admissions requirements, program policies and curriculum requirements.

Graduation Requirements

A total of 120 semester credits are needed to graduate with a baccalaureate degree from Winona State University. Graduation requirements include completion of WSU GEP requirements as well as all HLA major course requirements. Technical credits that have been approved in articulation and/or transfer may apply to the necessary 120 credits total.

At least 40 of the required 120 credits must be upper division (300/400-level). Also, at least 30 of the 120 credits needed for graduation must be earned at WSU during a student’s junior and senior year.

In order to qualify for graduation, HLA students must additionally:

Demonstrate a 2.5 GPA in HLA major coursework
Achieve a C grade or above in all courses that count toward the HLA major

For a checklist of WSU’s graduation requirements, see Academic Policies & University Requirements .

Programs

Bachelor of Applied Science