Overview
Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Requirements
Study Plan
Overview
The Master of Science in Health Systems Management (M.Sc. in HSMA) is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on designing and managing modern, complex health systems using systems approaches and management science principles to enhance service quality, efficiency, and agility. The M.Sc. in HSMA aims to moderate key shifts in healthcare delivery, necessitating optimal design, safe and cost-effective care delivery with optimal resource management. The program provides students with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge in the broad field of systems engineering and management and contribute to the process of discovery and knowledge creation through original research in healthcare.
The interdisciplinary nature of the M.Sc. in HSMA program offers broad exposure and knowledge in systems thinking, data analytics, optimization, operational excellence, and management aspects of healthcare systems. The program prepares graduates to benefit from the scientific and technical developments rapidly taking place in the world today by raising the level of competitiveness and productivity.
The program is designed for recent graduates and healthcare professionals aspiring to achieve high levels of responsibility in healthcare organizations in both public and private sectors. The program collaborates with various prestigious healthcare organizations and ministries in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and worldwide. This collaboration opens doors for students to engage in internships and potentially secure job opportunities upon graduation.
Objectives
The objectives of the M.Sc. in Health Systems Management program are to produce graduates who will be able to:
- Advance professionally and be recognized as leaders in their chosen areas within the broad field of healthcare systems;
- Apply their technical expertise to ethically and sustainably address the critical needs of healthcare systems and their technological, economic, environmental and societal implications.
- Institute life-long learning required to further their career aspirations in support of the needs of the community.
Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with the M.Sc. in Health Systems Management will be able to:
- Examine healthcare problems using systems engineering principles of modeling, design and operations management.
- Develop solutions aimed at mitigating risks and errors, optimizing cost-effectiveness, and enhancing operational efficiency to improve overall healthcare outcomes.
- Evaluate modern technologies and tools for healthcare systems management.
- Conduct research and defend the research outputs.
- Communicate effectively on healthcare issues independently and in teams.
- Apply ethical principles and codes of conduct to decision making in healthcare.
Requirements
The M.Sc. in HSMA program consists of a minimum of 30 credit hours, distributed as follows: 12 credit hours of Program Core courses, 12 credit hours of Program Elective courses, and 6 credit hours of HSMA Master鈥檚 Thesis work. The components of the Program are summarized in the table below:
|
Program Component
|
Credit Hours
|
|
Program Core
|
12
|
|
Program Electives
|
12
|
|
HSMA 699 Master鈥檚 Thesis
|
6
|
|
Total
|
30
|
Program Requirements
Students seeking the degree of M.Sc. in Health Systems Management must successfully complete a minimum of 30 credit hours as specified in the program requirements detailed below, with a minimum CGPA of 3.0. Course selection should be made in consultation with the student鈥檚 Main Advisor. All core and elective courses have a credit rating of three credits each.
Program Core (12 credit hours)
The M.Sc. in HSMA program core courses are listed below:
- HSMA 600 Research Methods in Health Systems
- HSMA 610 Business Analytics and Statistics
- HSMA 611 Healthcare Operations Management
- HSMA 612 Digital Health Technologies and Innovation or HSMA 619 Health Systems Quality Management Practices
Program Electives (12 credit hours)
Students must select and complete a minimum of 12 credits of electives from the list of courses given below. Students can also select up to two elective courses (six credits) from within the Department or other M.Sc. programs in the College of Engineering at KU, subject to the approval of their research advisor, the Department Chair, and the Office of the Dean.
- HSMA 620 Systems Optimization
- HSMA 621 Supply Chain, Logistics and Transportation Networks
- HSMA 622 Healthcare Economics and Policy
- HSMA 623 Healthcare Informatics
- HSMA 625 Health Systems Performance
Master鈥檚 Thesis (6 credit hours)
A student must complete a master鈥檚 thesis that involves creative research-oriented work within the broad field of health systems management. To be able to enroll in HSMA 699 thesis credit, students are first required to take and pass HSMA 600: Health Systems Research course, as a prerequisite. The research findings must be documented in a formal thesis and defended successfully in a viva voce examination.
Study Plan
Students must consult with their respective advisors on the courses that they will enroll in, the required pre-requisites, and the thesis topic selection. Full-time graduate students must register for 9 to 12 credits, including thesis credits, during a regular semester (Fall and Spring) and a maximum of 6 credits during a Summer term. In the case of part-time students, the credit load is normally 6 credits during a regular semester as well as the summer term.
Students can only register for thesis credits after successfully completing a minimum of 9 credits of the core courses of the master鈥檚 program they are enrolled in. It is to be noted that the minimum pass grade for graduate courses is a 鈥淐鈥� letter grade. Students should consult the Graduate Catalog to learn about the graduate programs, the grading system, graduation requirements, and other pertinent matters.
