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The Graduate Certificate in Health Sector Management

This four graduate course sequence is designed for professionals who want to build a distinctive competence in health care management.

  • Courses are designed for professionals who hold an MBA and want to update or expand their knowledge and expertise
  • Courses also can be taken as a first step toward an MBA at Penn State Great Valley
  • Courses are graduate-credit based and are taught by graduate faculty in the MBA program

Applying is easy. To enroll:

Please submit transcript and résumé to the Admissions Office, Penn State Great Valley, 30 E. Swedesford Rd., Malvern, PA 19355. For admissions questions, contact Millie Ingersoll at mxi4@psu.edu or 610-648-3282.

Current Penn State graduate students in all programs are also welcome to enroll in the certificate.  To apply, visit http://gradsch.psu.edu/portal/ and choose Certificate Admission.

Graduate Course Offerings:
Students in the Health Sector Management program may complete up to four courses (12-credits).  Courses are each 3 credits and may be applied to either the MBA program or Master of Leadership Development program if admitted as a degree-seeking student. Courses are offered in convenient, seven-week sessions with hybrid-delivery options. 

REQUIRED COURSE:
Biotechnology & Health Industry Overview (BUSAD 530.101), 50% online
(Typically offered in fall II and spring II)
This graduate course provides students with an overview of the significant challenges facing the health industry in the 21st century.   Topics include, financing, organization, policy and regulation. A systems perspective encourages students to consider the cascading consequences of change on cost, quality, and access. Health care reform is viewed from the perspective of multiple stakeholders including biopharmaceutical companies, health care provider organizations, regulators, insurers, and the public. Alternative financing and delivery systems in other countries are explored.  Students propose and critically evaluate solutions to a myriad of contemporary issues such as the rising cost of health insurance, medical errors that result in harm to patients, government mandates and regulation, the electronic medical record and physician decision support systems, and the discovery pipeline in biopharmaceuticals. Critical thinking is developed and encouraged through assignments that require consideration of alternative perspectives on significant issues that will determine the future direction of health care in the United States.

SELECT THREE (3) OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:

Ethical Dimensions of Management in the Biotechnology and Health Industries (BUSAD 534) 
(Typically offered in fall I)
This graduate course focuses on bioethical issues in the era of unprecedented advances in the biological, medical and health sciences studying ethical dilemmas in the field of patient treatment, clinical research, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and the health care industry.  Ethical controversies in health care concern some of the most difficult and intimate treatment decisions, research protocols, the boundaries of privacy regulations, clinical trial management and testing and personalized medicine.  Topics include allocation of health resources, patient autonomy, confidentiality, medical errors, withholding/ withdrawal of medical treatment, genetic testing, stem cell research and protection of research subjects.  Students advocate on each side of crucial health care issues, the expression of health policy and societal concerns and the bioethical challenges of the health care environment.  Different approaches to ethical managerial decision making are reviewed. Effective ethics and compliance programs are examined to address ethical challenges in the biotechnology and health industry.

Managing Business Processes (BUSAD 578)
(typically offered in the fall)
This graduate course focuses on Business Process Improvement (BPI), a high-demand high-growth area in the current job market. Today, every manager is engaged in some form of business process change/improvement initiative. Managers need to make their organizations more agile, engage in effective cross-functional collaboration, and implement effective performance management systems by choosing the right KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). BUSAD 578: Managing Business Processes enables students to look at the full range of business process change opportunities, options and solutions before making decisions through process modeling and simulation. Techniques and tools to achieve process improvement (e.g. Lean and Six Sigma Methodologies, Value-Stream Mapping, SIPOC diagrams) are discussed in this course, as well as methodologies for creating effective performance measurement systems such as Balanced Scorecard and KPIs.

Commercialization of Biopharmaceutical (BUSAD 835.101)
May 1-June 14, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-9 p.m.
This graduate course focuses on contemporary issues in biopharmaceutical innovation. A comprehensive overview of the discovery and business development process in the United States and globally is provided. Pipeline challenges, regulatory issues, market dynamics and marketing strategies, as well as financial management and forecasting for biopharmaceutical products are emphasized. Through guided inquiry, independent research, and team collaboration, students identify and critically evaluate strategies for the biopharmaceutical industry to prosper in today’s changing business environment.

Social Entrepreneurship & Community Leadership (BUSAD 582.101)
August 27-October 15, Mondays and Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m.
This graduate course uses entrepreneurial skills to craft innovative responses to social needs. Entrepreneurs are particularly good at recognizing opportunities, exploring innovative approaches, mobilizing resources, managing risks, and building viable, sustainable enterprises. Entrepreneurial skills are just as valuable in the social sector as they are in business. Social entrepreneurship aims at social impact but does not exclude economic wealth creation; therefore, it is not limited to the non-profit sector. Despite a sustained economic boom in this country, numerous social problems remain and some seem to be getting worse. The course will focus on introducing business leadership and entrepreneurship principles to both profit and non-profit organizations whose products and services are designed to create social value.

Health Law (HPA 836)
(typically offered in fall II)
This graduate course focuses on the dramatic and far-reaching legislation, foundational pharmaceutical laws and biotech and health law cases which have created significant transformational changes for consumers, health care providers, employers, benefit providers, insurance companies, and manufacturers of pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostics, biologics and medical supplies.  The basic doctrines of informed consent, the patient- physician relationship, treatment decisions, organ transplantation and professional liability are discussed.  Legal issues arise with healthcare transactions across the entire pipeline spectrum encompassing discovery, development, clinical trials, sourcing, licensing, data and research collaboration, and promotional activities.  Understanding the evolving regulatory environment is crucial for the success and performance of the organization.  The course focuses on compliance and regulatory conformance to create effective standard operating procedures.  Students examine the trends in enforcement, corporate integrity provisions, anti-corruption programs and other compliance safeguards. 

Questions? Contact us at gvmba@psu.edu or 610-648-3248.