Newberry College Launches New Major in Healthcare Management

Newberry College has added Healthcare Management as a new Business major. The program focuses primarily on the policies and processes outside of direct patient care. The program also is available as a minor for students who want to supplement their major in another discipline with industry-specific education.

“The Healthcare Management major allows students who are interested in the healthcare industry to be involved in the field without working in a direct clinical role, such as a doctor or nurse,” said Leslie Parks, assistant professor of Business Administration.

Housed in the Department of Business Administration, the Healthcare Management major is available for enrollment beginning with the fall 2016 semester. Semester-length courses are available in online or face-to-face formats

The Baby Boom generation is largely responsible for the rapid growth in the Healthcare industry. During the post-World War II era from 1946 to 1964 known as the “Baby Boom,” more than 76 million babies were born in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

As Baby Boomers age, the number of Americans over 65 will continue to grow, creating a “Senior Surge” of unprecedented proportions. As this segment of the U.S. population continues to grow, so too will the demand for healthcare services and qualified administrators to manage those services.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 23 percent increase in employment of medical and health services managers through 2022, creating a high demand for capable managers in the healthcare industry.

“The evolution of the healthcare industry puts increased pressure on every segment of the healthcare organization to improve outcomes and reduce costs by many methods, such as new technology advancements, care delivery systems and insurance payment methods,” said Timothy Elston, vice president for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College.

By providing industry-specific education, Newberry College gives students a competitive advantage after graduation by helping them develop skills that are highly valued by employers in this rapidly growing, economically strong field. The average salary of healthcare administrators ranges from $54,000 for the bottom 10 percent of managers up to $150,000 for the top 10 percent in the field. With rising demand for this occupation, wages are expected to continue to rise.

“Healthcare Management is an attractive major because of the high demand, excellent salaries and variety of opportunities within the field,” Parks said. “The principles and concepts the student encounters are essentially the same as those in the Business Administration major, but the student builds knowledge and expertise in a particular industry.”

For more information about the Healthcare Management degree program at Newberry College, visit www.newberry.edu or call 803.321.5127 or email admission@newberry.edu.