Online Associate Degree in Health Administration Services

Associate of Science in Health Administration Services

The Associate of Science in Health Administration Services (ASHAS) program at CTU is designed to provide training in the principles and techniques used in the administrative side of the healthcare industry. The program offers instruction in several areas, including healthcare finance, human resources, healthcare administration, reimbursement systems and healthcare records, as well as regulatory, ethical and legal issues affecting healthcare organizations.

91.5

Program Credits

5 Weeks

Course Length

Online

Location

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Program Overview

The Associate of Science in Health Administration Services (ASHAS) program at CTU is designed to provide principles and techniques used in the administrative side of the healthcare industry. The program offers instruction in several areas, including healthcare finance, human resources, healthcare administration, reimbursement systems and healthcare records, as well as regulatory, ethical and legal issues affecting healthcare organizations.

This program does not lead to additional licensure or certification. As such, CTU has made no determination regarding prerequisites for licensure or certification in any state or jurisdiction.

Health Studies Mission Statement

Health Studies at CTU is dedicated to providing quality programs that integrate the relevant principles and competencies to empower students from diverse backgrounds to pursue leadership roles and career pathways in an evolving healthcare field.

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Courses

Courses: General Education		Credits
COMS102 This course introduces students to the strategies and techniques needed to develop a professional presence. Students will explore how personal and professional development impacts effectiveness in the workplace. Assignments explore the concept of professional presence in relation to interpersonal dynamics and the communication needs of individuals, groups, and organizations.	Dynamic Interactions and Professional Presence	4.5
COMS105 This course explores the importance of effective interpersonal communication. This course covers: how interpersonal communication impacts an individual, how to recognize the different methods of communication and establishing and maintaining personal and professional relationships through effective communication.	Interpersonal Communications	4.5
ENGL104 ENGL104 is the first course in a sequence of two composition classes designed to empower students to develop their voice, build confidence in writing, and develop both their writing and critical thinking skills. Students will have the opportunity to practice adapting their writing for different audiences, purposes, and platforms, and will be able to explore how the choices they make influence the meaning and success of their written communications. This course explores the use of the writing process to compose clear, organized writings that are appropriate for various audiences and purposes. This course introduces the importance of clear and persuasive writing in personal, professional, and academic contexts.	Introductory Written Communication	4.5
ENGL105 ENGL105 is the final course in the composition sequence and builds on the writing skills developed in ENGL104. In this course, students continue to practice writing for a variety of contexts, purposes, and audiences. Throughout the course, students incorporate research into their writing by using digital tools and resources to identify and cite credible sources following CTU APA guidelines.	Professional Written Communications	4.5
HIST120 This course introduces students to the events, conflicts, key figures, and turning points in United States History from 1950 to the present. Emphasizing the relationship between history and peoples’ lived experiences, this course examines key events, social movements, and the changing roles of the United States in the world. Exploring how historians use evidence to better understand the past, this course will also examine how history is shaped by different contexts and perspectives. Throughout the course, connections will be made between issues and events of the past and those that we face today.	Intro to American History: 1950 to the Present	4.5
MATH102 Introduction to College Math familiarizes students with mathematical thinking and explores how a knowledge of mathematics can benefit them personally and professionally. The course is designed to give students the tools for making logical decisions and developing connections between mathematics and their fields of study and daily activities. Specifically, this course focuses on arithmetic operations, linear equations, and the use of rates, ratios, proportions, and percentages to describe relationships between given quantities.	Introduction to College Math	4.5
MATH106 This course is designed to provide students with a critical set of tools to help them develop solutions to problems. This course introduces students to fundamental concepts and skills needed to use mathematics in the professional world. Specifically, this course focuses on algebraic operations and methods with a broad emphasis on real-world applications.	Algebra for Business	4.5
SCI101 This course introduces students to the physical, life, and Earth sciences. Students have the opportunity to explore the principles of scientific critical thinking. Utilizing the Scientific Method, as well as other quantitative and qualitative approaches, students can draw meaningful conclusions about the real world.	Introduction to the Sciences	4.5
SCI103 This is a learning experience that complements the Introduction to the Sciences course. Since the course addresses how scientific thinking and the resultant technology has changed modern life, this lab will provide students with experiences in the scientific approaches of different sciences covered, such as: biology, chemistry, physics, geology and astronomy. This lab will be constructed specifically to extend the learning from each unit of the Introduction to the Sciences course, designed to provide experiences which deepen students’ familiarity with the scientific method and way of asking questions and solving problems.	Science and Technology- Laboratory Course	1.5
SCI201 This course analyzes the interrelationships between the natural environment and human activities. In this course, students are taught about the preservation and conservation of natural resources and the resilience of the natural environment with respect to the carrying capacity of the earth. Furthermore, students will explore topics related to environmental ethics and apply principles of sustainability to issues impacting natural resources and biodiversity. Finally, this course will teach a holistic approach in learning about environmental problems and rehabilitation through individual and group behavioral changes and environmental regulations.	Environmental Science and Sustainability	4.5

SOCL102 This course introduces students to the study of sociology and how it applies to careers, community, and family. Sociology examines the nature of society including the theories and principles of multi-cultural and social interactions. This course addresses how the concepts of social organization, social institutions, and social changes influence everyday life.	Introductory Sociology	4.5
	or
PHIL101 This course is designed to provide students a basic understanding of moral and ethical theories and concepts. The activities and discussions encourage students to explore and solve ethical dilemmas by identifying and applying moral and ethical theories. Students will also be encouraged to explain their reasoning from cultural, professional, and personal standpoints. A variety of ethical issues and methodologies will be explored, as students evaluate moral dilemmas in an assortment of work and life scenarios.	Introduction to Ethics	4.5
	Total Credit Hours:	46.5

Courses: Core		Credits
HSS100 This course provides an overview of information technology and its role in healthcare settings. The language of health information technology, its implications, and the evolution of healthcare technology will be explored. Specific topics include word processing, spreadsheets, database management, presentation software, and emerging technologies and trends for the future.	Introduction to IT in Healthcare	4
HSS103 This course will introduce students to complex healthcare organizations and delivery systems within the United States. Basic concepts and current issues will be discussed to provide understanding of how these systems are organized, managed, and financed. Legal and regulatory influences on the delivery of healthcare will be discussed. Healthcare providers and their role in the delivery of healthcare will be identified.	Introduction to Healthcare Delivery Systems	4
HSS110 This course identifies the principles of financial, practice, and human resource management in relation to healthcare organizations.	Concepts in Healthcare Organizations	4
HSS121 This course is an introduction to the language of health care focusing on the construction, definition, spelling, and pronunciation of medical terms, and the definition of common abbreviations and acronyms. Students are introduced to the terminology of complementary and alternative medicine and the importance of culturally competent communication.	Medical Terminology	4
HSS210 This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the health insurance industry and healthcare reimbursement. Students will be introduced to common medical billing practices and the financial, regulatory, and business processes that are involved with healthcare reimbursement. Students will have hands-on practice using a simulated electronic health record platform to post payments, make payment adjustments, and interpret insurance cards.	Fundamentals of Reimbursement in Healthcare	4
HSS215 This course introduces students to the basic components of electronic health record application and its impact on the delivery of healthcare. This course is designed to provide the student with a virtual learning experience that exposes them to common administrative and clinical procedures in healthcare.	Software Applications in Healthcare: Virtual Learning Experience	4
HSS261 This course focuses on the role of ethics in healthcare delivery. The student is introduced to basic ethical principles and its application while considering personal bias within the context of working with diverse individuals.	Ethics in Healthcare	4.5
HSS295 This final course in the Associates of Science in Health Administration Services (ASHAS) program, requires students to demonstrate an understanding and application of the concepts associated with healthcare, finance, human resources, healthcare administration, reimbursement systems and healthcare records, as well as regulatory, ethical and legal issues affecting healthcare organizations. This course will also help students prepare to sit for the NHA Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) examination.	Capstone in Health Administration Services	4
MGMT256 This course introduces the learner to primary topics in management. This includes summarizing the role of managers in the performance of the organization, explaining what a manager does in the strategic decision-making process, demonstrating the management of human relations in a diverse culture, recognizing the characteristics of leadership, and identifying the effects of culture, technology, and innovation in managerial communication.	Management Fundamentals	4
UNIV104 UNIV104 is designed to provide students with a foundation for success in CTU’s undergraduate academic environment. This course introduces effective academic strategies and resources integrating them with career planning methods that can be leveraged to pursue future academic and professional goals.	Academic and Career Success	4.5
	or
HUMNELE	Humanities Elective	4.5
UNIV201 This course is designed to provide the knowledge and application of effective career management strategies for career development and transition; through student self-assessment and research into potential career fields. Students pursue the knowledge and skills to identify and communicate themselves as a brand.	Career Planning and Management	4
	Total Credit Hours:	45

Total Credit Hours: 91.5

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Learning Outcomes

ASHAS Program Learning Outcomes:

Explain the organization, structure and operation of the U.S. healthcare system and challenges in serving the needs of various population groups
Demonstrate equity, inclusion and diversity awareness in the delivery of health administration services
Discuss business principles related to the administrative services of healthcare organizations
Summarize ethical and legal principles related to healthcare administration services
Recognize software applications commonly found in healthcare administration sectors;
Describe the purpose of healthcare delivery models

Faculty

Dr. Laura Sliwinski, Ph.D.

Executive Program Director

Dr. Laura Sliwinski joined CTU in 2020 as the Executive Program Director for Health Studies in the College of Nursing and Health Studies. Dr. Sliwinski has over twenty years combined experience in healthcare and higher education administration.

For more faculty profiles please visit our Leadership and Faculty page.
For more information visit the College of Health Studies.

Admission Requirements

Note: Graduates of the ASHAS program are encouraged to take the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) certification examination offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). This exam is voluntary, but passing it can be a further indication that a graduate is capable of performing the tasks necessary to keep offices and clinics of physicians running smoothly. CTU cannot guarantee that graduates of this program will be eligible to take third-party certification examinations. Certification requirements for taking and passing these exams are controlled by outside entities and are subject to change without notice to CTU.

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FAQs

What is an Associate of Science in Health Administration Services (ASHAS) degree?

CTU's Associate of Science in Health Administration Services (ASHAS) Degree Program is designed to provide knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant for pursuing potential opportunities in the workforce. This associate degree program emphasizes training in the principles and techniques used in the administrative side of the healthcare industry. Students may receive instruction in several areas, including healthcare finance, human resources, healthcare administration, reimbursement systems, and healthcare records, as well as regulatory, ethical, and legal issues affecting healthcare organizations.

What will I study in this ASHAS degree program?

As you work to complete your ASHAS, you will be immersed in courses where you may study these topics and much more: the health insurance industry and healthcare reimbursement; the role of ethics in healthcare delivery; and business management structures.

When and where can I begin my health administration services classes?

Courses for the ASHAS start online approximately every five weeks. Completion of the CTU admissions process will depend on how quickly you complete the steps in the CTU online application process. You may complete the application process over the phone with an advisor or you may go online. Once you’ve completed the online application, you may hear from an advisor within the following 24 hours to discuss the next steps toward starting your degree program.

How many credits are required to graduate from the associate degree program?

The ASHAS degree program consists of 91.5 credits. You may be eligible for transfer credit, which is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. By completing and passing CTU Fast Track^™ exams you can receive college credit for what you already know—allowing you to complete your degree program up to 30% faster.¹

¹ The ability to reduce time in school and/or reduce tuition towards the full cost of a degree program depends on the number of CTU Fast Track^™ exams successfully passed. Fast Track program credits are non-transferable. Not all programs are eligible for possible 30% reduction in time and money. Courses eligible are subject to change. Students should not rely on potential Fast Track savings or eligibility when making an enrollment decision.

Why should I pursue an ASHAS degree at CTU?

Through innovative industry-relevant curricula and technology-enabled student-centered teaching, you will study through classroom learning and hands-on experience that aligns to industry standards and helps you work to develop skills that are applicable to the needs of entry-level roles and career pathways in an evolving healthcare field.