Students expand upon prior business knowledge and expertise to advance their career potential in healthcare administration by completing the online graduate certificate in healthcare leadership (GCHCL) program at Wichita State University. The GCHCL allows students to complement existing experience and educational background in business, finance or related management/leadership, building upon that knowledge base to better plan, direct, manage and coordinate medical and health services. The program prepares students in areas of healthcare finance, healthcare policy and administration, and healthcare leadership and operations management. Students then have the option to specialize in human resources, healthcare law and ethics, healthcare informatics, rural healthcare, strategic planning and performance analytics, or quality in healthcare.

Students in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) program can pursue the PT practice ownership track of the GCHCL. This track is designed for PT students interested in gaining leadership and management skills beneficial for owning and operating a private practice, working as a healthcare administrator, and/or interested in earning the Master of Health Administration following completion of the DPT program.

The curriculum can be completed within one academic year, with entry to the program allowed in both fall and spring semesters. All 12 credit hours are transferable to the Masters in Health Administration program. The certificate may be pursued as a non-degree seeking professional not enrolled in a graduate program or concurrently with a graduate degree program such as the Doctorate of Physical Therapy, Master of Arts in aging studies or the Master of Business Administration. The GCHCL provides quality distance education, enabling students to earn their graduate certificate from anywhere in the state or country.

Admission

To be admitted into the graduate certificate in healthcare leadership program, the applicant must:

• Be admitted to the Graduate School in a degree program or in nondegree Category A status. All Graduate School policies relative to admissions apply. International students will not be issued an I-20 for certificate programs alone. They may obtain this certificate only while concurrently pursuing a graduate degree.¹
• Possess an undergraduate or graduate degree in health management, business, finance, clinical profession or related field.
• Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.750 (on a 4.000 scale) or a 2.750 in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework.
• Submit a personal goals essay of 250 words or less which clearly articulates the applicant's reason for seeking the graduate certificate in healthcare leadership. 
• Submit a current resume.

Priority application deadlines: July 15 for fall admission; December 1 for spring admission.

¹

Online only students (including international students) may complete the certificate without concurrent enrollment in a WSU graduate degree program.

Program Requirements

The GCHCL can be completed 100 percent online. It comprises 12 total credit hours; 9 required credit hours covering essential topics of healthcare finance, healthcare policy and administration, and healthcare leadership and operations management; plus 3 elective credit hours allowing specialization in human resources, healthcare law and ethics, healthcare informatics, rural healthcare, strategic planning and performance analytics, or quality in healthcare.

Classes completed in pursuit of the GCHCL can be applied to the graduate program of study for the Master of Health Administration (MHA). A student admitted to the Master of Health Administration can apply all 12 GCHCL credit hours to the MHA degree. Courses started more than 10 years before the semester in which the master's degree work is completed may not be used as part of the degree program.

The courses are offered on the following rotation:

Physical Therapy (PT) Practice Ownership Track

The PT practice ownership track is designed for students enrolled in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program who are interested in gaining leadership and management skills beneficial for owning and operating a private practice, working as a healthcare administrator, and/or interested in earning the MHA following completion of their DPT program.

The PT track comprises 16-18 total credit hours; 9 required GCHCL credit hours covering essential topics of healthcare finance, healthcare policy and administration, and healthcare leadership and operations management; plus 6 credit hours of professional practice PT courses (also included in the DPT curriculum); and one elective course in owning a private practice, human resources, healthcare informatics, rural healthcare, strategic planning and performance analytics, or quality in healthcare.

In addition to these requirements, students must meet the Graduate School’s requirements in order to earn this certificate.