UH West Oahu's new Health Care Administration program now offered via distance delivery

UH West Oʻahu‘s new Health Care Administration degree will now be offered via distance delivery as well as through in-classroom instruction beginning this fall 2008. The University recently received approval from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) to offer the new concentration via distance delivery. As the only undergraduate program of its kind in Hawaiʻi, the new degree addresses the increasing need for health care managers as stated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and demonstrates the university‘s commitment to workforce development.

The concentration will be available through UH West Oʻahu‘s distance learning option in partnership with University and Education Centers. Through these centers, the university offers bachelor‘s degrees and certificate programs to neighbor island and Oʻahu residents via distance-delivered classes. Graduates will earn a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration (BAPA) with a concentration in Health Care Administration.

"Our program was developed specifically to address the workforce and career development needs for the state of Hawaiʻi," said UH West Oʻahu Health Care Administration Associate Professor Dr. Kristina Guo. "With earmarked funds from the state legislature, we developed the distance education option to target students on the neighbor islands who would not otherwise have access to the degree and for Oʻahu residents who prefer the flexibility of online courses." Students pursuing a BAPA degree with a concentration in Health Care Administration will complete a curriculum designed to further their understanding of central concepts of health care systems as well as analyze and provide solutions to health care challenges. The new concentration will assist those who are already employed in the health care field to fully develop management, legal and behavioral skills for more effective job performance.

UH West Oʻahu is currently accepting applications for the fall 2008 semester, which begins August 25. For more information about the Health Care Administration Concentration, contact Dr. Kristina Guo at 454-4732 or kguo@hawaii.edu. UH West Oʻahu Public Administration Professor and Division Chair Dr. Ross Prizzia is also available for inquiries at 454-4712 or rprizzia@hawaii.edu.

For more information, visit: http://uhwo.hawaii.edu