Samford University’s Department of Healthcare Administration and Informatics is dedicated to creating leaders who embrace servant leadership and demonstrate a commitment to Christian values and principles through serving the community. The department is comprised of two undergraduate majors and two graduate degrees, along with joint degree programs offered with Samford's Brock School of Business, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, and within the School of Public Health.
The M.H.A. program has helped me grow into a well-round, responsible and driven student. It has helped me explore my interests and strengthen my weaknesses.Alan Troxell, B.S. in Healthcare Administration, '18, Master of Healthcare Administration '20, School of Public Health
Students in all four degree programs are expected to complete service-learning projects through student-led projects, department-led projects and independent endeavors. To fully serve a community, leaders must know the community.
Undergraduate Majors and Minors
Healthcare Administration Major
This undergraduate degree prepares students for entry-level management position in healthcare organizations or admission into a graduate program. The degree allows graduates to join the workforce in a variety of areas including fellowships, hospitals, clinics, public health department, consulting firms, insurance agencies and government entities.
Health Information Management Major
This undergraduate degree prepares students to be a critical link between health care providers and their patients by being an expert in managing patient health information and possessing comprehensive knowledge of medical administrative, ethical and legal requirements/standards relating to health care delivery.
Healthcare Administration Minor
The Healthcare Administration minor is designed to provide fundamental health care executive knowledge and competency from the sophomore year culminating in the senior year. Healthcare administration allows individuals the flexibility to explore their true passion and area of excellence while being gainfully employed.
Health Informatics and Information Management Minor
Students minoring in health informatics and information management will gain knowledge of legal, administrative, regulatory requirements, and use of health data. Health informatics, clinical and health information technologies, data management, and health care quality will also be explored. The minor is open to all Samford students and is a compliment to any undergraduate major.
Fast-track Option
Fast-track Master of Healthcare Administration
With our fast-track option, undergraduate students have the opportunity to earn their B.S. in healthcare administration and Master of Healthcare Administration in just five years of study. The first three years of the fast-track program are dedicated to completing all required undergraduate healthcare administration courses. Students enroll in the Master of Healthcare Administration during their senior year.
Graduate Degrees
Master of Healthcare Administration
This online graduate degree is designed to provide mastery in communication, leadership, professionalism, business knowledge and healthcare systems competencies as well as a competitive edge in project management and quality improvement. Students have the flexibility to work full-time while pursuing a graduate education.
Master of Science in Health Informatics & Analytics
Samford's online Master of Science in health informatics & analytics provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to plan, build, analyze and run the digital foundations of modern health care. The degree combines a rigorous set of health informatics courses with the patient-centered values.
Joint Degrees
Dietetic Internship/Master of Healthcare Administration
Offered by the School of Public Health, Samford's dietetic internship is a full-time program associated with a master's degree. Interns can apply 25 credit hours toward earning their Master of Healthcare Administration.
Doctor of Pharmacy/Master of Science in Health Informatics & Analytics
In coordination with Samford's McWhorter School of Pharmacy, students enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy program can pursue this joint degree. Data gathering and analysis are essential components of the health care process, necessary to make evidence-based decisions and provide optimal patient care. Pharmacists can significantly contribute to this process by being an expert in health information and data.
Master of Healthcare Administration/Master of Business Administration
In coordination with Samford's Brock School of Business, graduate students can pursue a joint Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) and Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.). With its full-time plan of study, students are able to complete both degrees fully online in just three years.