Master of Science in Health Care Quality and Safety
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Praphul Joshi, PhD, 936-294-2767
The Online Master of Science in Health Care Quality and Safety degree program is targeted toward health care professionals engaged or planning to be engaged in leadership roles in the quality and safety areas in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and other health care organizations. Professionals in health care quality and safety manage the strategic and operational aspects of quality operations; establish goals and standards; lead the quality improvement programs; provide training and coaching in quality improvement tools and techniques; develop, implement and monitor measures to assess quality performance; direct organization-wide quality initiatives including the National Patient Safety Initiatives; and direct ongoing monitoring of accreditation survey readiness activities. The MS in Health Care Quality and Safety degree offers a thesis and non-thesis option for the program.
Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.
Students must meet the following requirements for admittance to the Master of Science in Health Care Quality and Safety Program:
- Graduate Admissions Application (submitted online through ApplyTexas).
- Application Fee.
- An earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 credit hours.
- Official transcripts of bachelor and any graduate degrees.
- Three letters of recommendation (from professors and/or employers).
- A written summary (minimum 500 words) on why you seek an MPH, and how you plan to use the degree.
- A resume (to include all professional, employment, and volunteer activities).
- An interview by Skype (or other means).
- The program currently does not accept international students on F-1 student visas. If you are on another type of visa, or have additional questions regarding your eligibility to apply, please, contact the Office of International Programs at 936-294-4737 or nld015@shsu.edu.
Non-Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Health Care Quality and Safety (Non-Thesis Option) | ||
| Core Coursework | ||
| HLTH 5355 | Health Services Administration | 3 |
| HLTH 5371 | Health Care Quality & Safety | 3 |
| HLTH 5375 | Statistical Design in Health | 3 |
| HLTH 5373 | Risk Mgmt in Health Care Orgs | 3 |
| HLTH 5378 | Health Care Informatics | 3 |
| HLTH 5381 | Health Economics and Finance | 3 |
| HLTH 5384 | Quality and Safety Public Reporting Systems | 3 |
| HLTH 6371 | Advanced Concepts in Health Care Quality | 3 |
| HLTH 6373 | Leading Change in Health Care Organizations | 3 |
| HLTH 6384 | Health Quality & Safety Capstone | 3 |
| Internship | ||
| HLTH 6397 | Public Health Capstone / Practicum | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select any HLTH 5000 or 6000 level course or approved by advisor | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Note: All courses require Graduate Standing in the program.
The non-thesis track of the Master of Science in Health Care Quality and Safety (HCQ&S) program requires a real-life health care quality or safety improvement capstone project to be completed by the student prior to awarding the degree. The project will be completed as part of the required capstone course during the last semester of the student's studies. Students must earn a grade of "B" or higher in the HLTH 6384 capstone course to be eligible for graduation. Please contact the Health Care Quality and Safety Graduate Coordinator for more information.
Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Health Care Quality Safety (Thesis Option) | ||
| Core Coursework | ||
| HLTH 5355 | Health Services Administration | 3 |
| HLTH 5371 | Health Care Quality & Safety | 3 |
| HLTH 5373 | Risk Mgmt in Health Care Orgs | 3 |
| HLTH 5374 | Research Seminar | 3 |
| HLTH 5375 | Statistical Design in Health | 3 |
| HLTH 5378 | Health Care Informatics | 3 |
| HLTH 6371 | Advanced Concepts in Health Care Quality | 3 |
| HLTH 6373 | Leading Change in Health Care Organizations | 3 |
| Thesis | ||
| HLTH 6098 | Thesis I | 3 |
| HLTH 6099 | Thesis II | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select two courses from the options below (must be approved by Graduate Coordinator) | 6 | |
| Health Economics and Finance | ||
| Quality and Safety Public Reporting Systems | ||
| Public Health Capstone / Practicum | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Note: The thesis track requires a more academically-focused research thesis (instead of the capstone project) to be completed before awarding the degree. Those selecting the thesis option are required to successfully complete an oral defense of their research study. A successful thesis defense and approval for publication fulfill the comprehensive exams requirement for thesis students. Students must also maintain continuous enrollment in thesis courses until the thesis has been successfully completed. Please, consult the Graduate Catalog for more details and visit with the Health Care Quality and Safety Graduate Coordinator for more information.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers. Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.
The MS in Health Care Quality and Safety is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the health care quality and safety profession.
- Demonstrate ability to recognize and solve health care quality and/or safety issues.
- Participate in research of and find solutions to problems in the field of Health Care Quality and Safety.
- Recognize leadership and management theories and practices, including those of change management.
- Apply knowledge of the current United States health care system in solving problems.
