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Eller College of Management, The University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.
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Health and Human Services Administration Major Career Brief

Career Exploration and Planning

Overview

The major prepares students for operational and administrative responsibilities in human services and health services agencies and institutions—hospitals, public and volunteer health agencies, long-term care facilities, and medical care services. The major is effective for developing management skills in human services policy and preparation for graduate study in health and allied professions, social work and social planning.

Health and human services is a rapidly changing field. The market is strong despite uncertain public policy, mergers and acquisitions. Demand is highest in innovative areas such as entrepreneurial physician organizations or physician hospital organizations. In addition to organizational behavior, marketing and business development and health system organization, health and human services professionals are working in new specializations such as community-based environmental health, health consequences of disasters, and health care communication.

For more information, view School of Public Administration & Policy website.

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Degree Requirements

Includes foundation courses required for Professional Admission*, general education requirements, professional core courses, free electives, and a set of specific

Sample list of Health and Human Services Courses:

  • Social Welfare Policy
  • Marketing for Non-Profit Organizations
  • Health Care Policy and Institutions
  • Government and Economic Well Being
  • Health Care Policy and Institutions
  • Health, Ethics, and Public Policy
  • Introduction to Health Economics
  • Aging and Public Policy
  • Environmental Policy

* Students must achieve Professional Admission (a competitive and selective application process) to move from the pre-professional phase to the professional phase.

** Check the Degree/Academic Progress Report (APRR's) for your specific academic program requirements per your catalog at http://catalog.arizona.edu.

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Other Preparation

Work Experience and Internships
Students in the program are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities for independent study, research, internships, and part-time or volunteer work. Academic credit is not required to receive an internship, but the department does allow three units of internship credit to be applied to the major requirement. (See the major advisor for more information.)

Clubs and Organizations
The college has a wide variety of professional fraternities, honoraries and student clubs. Student organizations offer: career information; networking opportunities with alums, corporate representatives, faculty, and fellow students; social and professional activities; and provide leadership roles and skills building opportunities.

Student organizations for Health and Human Service majors include:

  • Public Administration Student Society (P.A.S.S.)
  • Pi Alpha Alpha, the Public Administration Honorary

Visit the FESO - Federation of Eller Student Organizations website for more information.

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Career Opportunities

Types of jobs and employers
Hospitals, long-term care facilities, and social-service agencies that work with children and families, the poor, the disabled, and the elderly are just a sampling of employers that are interested in Health and Human Services Majors. Some of the positions they obtain include:

  • Hospital/health administrator
  • Business office manager
  • Credit/collection manager
  • Director of admitting
  • Electronic data processing manager
  • Personnel or human resources director
  • Purchasing agent
  • Food service director
  • Housekeeping services director
  • Medical record librarian
  • Volunteer services director
  • Managed care contractor

Salaries

Salaries vary by size and type of employer, geographic location, course work, and experience.

National average starting salary offers:

Public Administration

    • Executive, General: $26,558

Health Care

  • Administrative: $30,948

(NACE Salary Survey/July 1999).

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Certification

Levels of certification are available through organizations such as the American College of Healthcare Executives.

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Recruitment Opportunities

Health & Human Resource Majors obtain jobs through various avenues, leading to placements with a wide range of organizations.

Recruitment opportunities include the annual "Career Days ", sponsored each fall by UA Career Services and the spring "Career Showcase" coordinated by Eller College Student Council and Delta Sigma Pi. Also, the spring brings opportunities through the “Public Sector Career Conference” hosted by the Public Administration Student Society and the “Government and Non Profit Fair” sponsored by UA Career Services.

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For More Information

  • UA offices
    Undergraduate Programs Office
    Eller College of Management
    McClelland Hall 204
    P. O. Box 210108
    Tucson, AZ 85721-0108
    520-621-2505
    http://ugrad.eller.arizona.edu/

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Association

· American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)

http://www.aspanet.org/

· National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)

http://www.naspaa.org/

· Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM)

http://www.appam.org/

· Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

http://www.hrsa.gov/

· American Public Health Association (APHA)

http://www.apha.org/

· American College of Healthcare Executives

http://www.ache.org/

· International City/County Management Association

http://www.icma.org

Online Publications

Career Web Sites

Federal Government Jobs & Internships

Local Government Jobs

Nonprofit Jobs

Grant-Writers Forums

Search Engines

Or try surfing the Web and entering any company name that interests you; new web sites are added daily.

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