Health Care Administration
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Online Degree Program

Introduction to Accounting reviews the basic approach to accounting with an emphasis on recording, measuring and communicating the accounting data of business. Basic accounting concepts will be explored, including the effects of transactions on financial statements, payroll accounting, accounting for professional and merchandising operations and state and federal income tax deductions.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and define commonly used accounting terms and key principles, and examine the role of accounting in business.
• Demonstrate an understanding of accounting practices, systems, and processes in a variety of organizational settings.
• Demonstrate an understanding of best practices in cost analysis, pricing, and financial statements.
• Examine accounting processes including budgeting, establishing standard costs, and accounting for fixed assets.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to accounting.

Principles of Economics demonstrates the relevance of economics through real-world business examples. The first part of the course presents microeconomic analysis such as consumer behavior, market structure, firm strategy, and corporate governance. The latter part of the course provides a comprehensive coverage of macroeconomic models, theory and policy issues including GDP, payroll employment, long-run growth, and business cycles.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and define the study of economics including commonly used terms and key principles.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of economics including microeconomic and macroeconomic foundations.
• Discuss the economic analysis, the function of the stock market, measuring GDP, market structure, and firm strategy.
• Analyze long-run economic growth, short-run economic fluctuations, and the importance of economic trends on the local, national, and global levels.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to economics.

Principles of Marketing examines the various functions of modern marketing including the market, product and price systems, distribution structure, and promotional activities. The course covers services, nonprofit and for-profit organization marketing including the planning, implementation, evaluation, and control of the marketing effort. Ethics in marketing and socially responsible global marketing are also explored.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define and describe the multiple factors related to the field of marketing.
• Analyze the various types of market opportunities.
• Examine concepts related to product, pricing, and distribution decisions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of promotion and communication strategies.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to marketing.

Business Law takes an interdisciplinary approach to law, using elements of law, political economy, international business, ethics, social responsibility, and management. This course examines law in a business context rather than in the abstract, employing the practical approach that using the law makes it easier to reach business objectives.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the various types of economic systems and discuss the role of the government in the American economy.
• Examine the legal and ethical issues related to business law in the U.S. and internationally.
• Demonstrate an understanding of torts, product liability, contracts, and antitrust law.
• Analyze future trends for America’s economic future.
• Examine the laws that protect consumers and the environment.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to business law.

International Business reviews the key concepts of international trade and the way it affects the nature of global economic activity. Concepts such as globalization, cultural and political environments, world financial environments, and global strategies are all explored to help students gain a global perspective and to be confident and familiar with international business operations.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Explain the value of international business and assess why it is important.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the world financial environment, and identify the major forces driving globalization.
• Understand the role of comparative environmental frameworks in international business.
• Illustrate the major theories and institutions relating to international business.
• Analyze the management of international operations including marketing and human resource management.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to international business.

Small Business Management presents an overview of entrepreneurship, including launching a new venture, managing an ongoing venture, financial planning, taxation, and other topics specific to entrepreneurs. Students will learn the necessary elements to successfully start, run, and manage a small business and be able to apply those concepts and ideas within their business careers, even if they do not choose the entrepreneurial route.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the basics and challenges of small business management including its role in the U.S. economy.
• Recognize the importance of strategic planning and early decisions in small business management.
• Describe key principles of financial and legal management.
• Explain aspects of marketing in small business in relation to products and services.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to small business management.

Operations Management introduces the theory and practice of operations management and explores the systems approach to tie information together. The course explores issues in operations strategy, development, and implementation. Students will be able to apply various management tools, such as inventory management and supply-chain management, to effectively contribute to managing business operations.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and define operations management and assess why it is important to businesses.
• Develop an understanding of product design and process management.
• Demonstrate an understanding of best practices related to process performance improvement, utilizing business forecasting, capacity planning, inventory management, and supply chain design.
• Analyze important issues relating to operations management including location, project management and trends influencing the field.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to operations management.

Introduction to Criminal Justice aims to provide students with a general understanding of the criminal justice system’s response to crime in society. It is important to note that the general theme of this course involves the delicate balance between community interests and individual rights that criminal justice decision-making requires. This theme will be explored by examining the criminal justice process in some detail, focusing on how the system is structured to respond to crime.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and define the study of criminal justice and examine the history of crime in America.
• Demonstrate an understanding of policing, its history, purpose, legal aspects, and challenges.
• Describe the process of adjudication including court systems, criminal trial and sentencing.
• Discuss the practice of corrections including probation, parole, prisons and jails, and examine future trends.
• Examine special issues in criminal justice related to globalization, juvenile justice, drugs and crime, terrorism, and multinational crime.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to criminal justice.

Procedures in the Justice System covers the fundamental principles and procedures employed in the investigation of crimes. The course connects criminal procedure cases to the real world through innovative instruction and encourages critical thinking. This course is designed to help students develop a working knowledge of the steps of investigation, beginning with the initial security of the crime scene and concluding with the presentation of evidence and proper testimony in court in such a way as to make the concepts easy to apply to any state’s specific procedural laws.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the foundations of criminal procedure and define the exclusionary rule.
• Examine the various components of search and seizure.
• Demonstrate an understanding of criminal procedures including interrogations, confessions, and identification procedures.
• Describe the different elements of formal proceedings.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to procedures in the justice system.

Forensic Science explores the forensic investigation process and procedures. Students will learn how to identify, gather, and analyze multiple types of evidence through contemporary case studies. This course is designed to make the subject of forensic science comprehensible to a wide variety of students who are, or plan to be, aligned with the forensic science profession.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define forensic science and criminalistics including commonly used terms and key concepts.
• Examine factors related to the various types of evidence related to forensics.
• Describe and examine best practices of collection and preservation of evidence.
• Assess the role of forensic science in terrorism including aspects of cybercrime, computer forensics, cyberterrorism, classification of explosives, and detecting weapons of mass destruction.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to forensic science.

Consumer Behavior explores not only the act of buying, but it also investigates how having—or not having—a product, service, idea, or experience affects our lives, how we view ourselves, and how we view others. This course examines consumer behavior as an ongoing process and includes discussions about current marketing trends—how consumers and technology have affected marketing, and how new marketing has affected consumers and their social environment.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the foundations and process of consumer behavior, and discuss the main perspectives on research in consumer behavior.
• Examine the internal influences on consumer behavior.
• Analyze the factors that lead to consumers choosing and using products.
• Evaluate consumers in their social and cultural settings.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to consumer behavior.

Advertising and Promotions will allow students to see a collective picture of integrated marketing communications. Focus is placed on business-to-business marketing concepts, international marketing discussions, brand management, and various advertising and promotional tactics. This is an integrated approach with a solid advertising core.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe and examine the foundations and role of advertising, promotion, and marketing.
• Analyze the communications process and examine the role of consumers, ad agencies, and other marketing communication organizations.
• Evaluate objectives and budgeting for integrated marketing communications programs and describe the process of development.
• Demonstrate an understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and control in measuring program effectiveness.
• Examine regulations, global applications, social, ethical and economic issues related to advertising and promotions.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to advertising and promotions.

Marketing Management presents marketing management as a core business activity involving everyone in the firm, not just the marketing department, and is structured to improve individual, unit, and organizational performance as it continually adapts and adjusts to the marketplace of the 21st century. Topics covered include: the major challenges facing marketing today; virtual, digital, and social marketing management; analytics, metrics, and measurements available through new technologies; customer-centric and service marketing orientations; branding and brand equity; and global, ethical, legal, and sustainable marketing practices.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define marketing and marketing management and discuss the core marketing concepts.
• Explain the importance of connecting with customers through personal and relationship selling and creating long-term loyalty relationships.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the key elements used to build a strong brand.
• Examine best practices for creating, delivering, and communicating value.
• Evaluate the issues related to managing marketing for long-term success.
• Address the best practices for global, ethical, and sustainable marketing.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to marketing management.

Social Media Marketing explores the growing popularity of using digital technologies to reach consumers. This course aims to further students’ working knowledge on the four zones of social media (community, publishing, entertainment, and commerce). The course explores how social media can be employed to build brands, conduct business, support causes, rally the masses, and forge and maintain relationships.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Summarize the process of social media marketing strategies, and describe key concepts related to this process.
• Examine social media consumers and the dynamics of online communities.
• Analyze the four zones of social media including social community, publishing, entertainment, and commerce.
• Examine social media data management and measurement.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to social media marketing.

Introduction to Psychology introduces the methods and findings of contemporary psychology. Emphasizing the need for scientific and critical thinking, topics include a survey of biology and behavior, sensory process, human development, perception, learning and motivation. Emotion, personality, psychological disorders, therapy and social interaction are also examined to provide students with a solid understanding of the facts, principles, and theories which make up the field of psychology.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define psychology including the history and evolution of the field.
• Describe the major theories, aspects, and perspectives of psychology includng research, physiological, developmental, learning theories, sensation and perception.
• Demonstrate an understanding of processes related to thinking, intelligence, emotion, personality, and psychological disorders.
• Discuss the various psychological approaches to treatment and therapy.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to the field of psychology.

Psychology of Gender examines the biological, cultural, and historical factors that influence the development of gender roles and identities. Stereotypes of masculinity and femininity are examined, and the impact that these ideas have on our lives at the personal, social, and institutional levels are explored.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define sex, gender and gender identity, and discuss how gender movements have shaped history.
• Examine biological, social, cognitive, emotional, and communicative factors related to gender development.
• Evaluate issues related to gender stereotyping, discrimination, and power.
• Describe the factors related to gender that affect health and wellbeing.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to the psychology of gender.

Developmental Psychology introduces students to the scientific study of patterns of change and stability that occur as we move through the process of human development from conception to death. Various theories of development will be presented and an emphasis on physical, emotional, cognitive, and psychosocial changes throughout the lifespan will be discussed.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define human development, discuss how it is studied, and examine the major theories and stages of development from infancy to late adulthood.
• Examine the genetic, environmental, and physical factors related to the varying developmental stages.
• Evaluate the factors of sensation, perception, cognition, memory, learning, intelligence, creativity, and language related to the varying developmental stages.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the self, personality, social and moral development, gender roles, sexuality, emotions, attachment, and relationships related to the varying developmental stages.
• Demonstrate an understanding of unique factors related to developmental psychology, psychopathology, death, and bereavement.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to developmental psychology.

Social Psychology offers students an in-depth look at how people come to understand themselves and others in a social context, with considerable emphasis on society’s role in social psychology. Each chapter in this course will introduce students to key individuals within the realm of social psychology whose research has made a significant contribution to the field.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define the field of social psychology and describe its foundations, key terms, and theories.
• Examine theoretical perspectives related to social psychology and research methodologies.
• Evaluate the individual in society including stratification, self and identity, and socialization over the life course.
• Analyze the various areas of social life.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to social psychology.

Personality Theories presents an in-depth look at a number of classical and current personality theories, providing an explanation and interpretation of personality development from several different theoretical approaches. Classic theory is integrated with the latest research and current topics, preparing students to apply theoretical approaches to better understand the particular individuals and personalities they may encounter in their professional and personal lives.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define personality and examine perspectives in theories of personality.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the major psychodynamic personality theories.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the major humanistic/existential personality theories.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the major biological/evolutionary, and learning-cognitive personality theories.
• Describe and examine the research methods used in personality research.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to theories of personality.

Abnormal Psychology offers students an integrative approach to the study of psychopathology, drawing on contributions from various disciplines and theoretical stances. Through clinical case studies, the psychosocial and psychophysiological factors of abnormal behavior are examined, along with the exploration of prevention efforts and research-based advancements in the field.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define abnormal behavior and describe the historical conceptions of abnormal behavior.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the various types of psychological disorders, their causes, and types of treatment.
• Examine the processes of clinical assessment, diagnosis, and research in psychopathology.
• Evaluate the legal and ethical issues that pertain to mental health services.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to abnormal psychology.