Program Information
The online M.S. in Health Services Administration degree is offered by the School of Pharmacy. This degree is geared toward new and mid-career pharmacists and other health care professionals who want to become department directors, patient safety coordinators and/or directors, regulatory compliance officers, clinical research associates, health outcomes researchers or advance practice pharmacists. This degree does not prepare students to become licensed as a pharmacist. Those who wish to become licensed as a pharmacist must complete the PharmD degree.
The degree requires two years of part-time study, and students can begin in fall or spring semester. To view the specialty tracks that are currently available, click here.
Coursework and Schedule
Most courses are taught online. Students will be required to travel to Laramie, WY twice for intensive weekend seminars during their first and last semesters in the program. Seminars are offered in the fall and spring terms; not in the summer term. Online courses all use a learning management system that delivers course content to the student’s computer. Some courses are synchronous and require weekly or bi-weekly evening live attendance, via computer, using a virtual classroom program. Other classes are asynchronous, and they do not require live virtual classroom attendance. The synchronous courses that meet live through a virtual classroom are usually organized to require completing of assignments at specified times. The asynchronous courses that do not meet live through a virtual classroom are usually organized on a “go at your own pace” system.
The schedule will vary, and will not necessarily follow the official University of
Wyoming Calendar. The tentative schedule for Fall 2017 is:
First Course: (Online, Synchronous): September 5 through October 8 (2 credits; 5 weeks).
Second Course: (Weekend Seminar): October 14-15 (1 credit; residential in Laramie).
Third Course: (Online, Synchronous): October 22 through December 10 (3 credits; 7 weeks).
To view the curriculum for each of the specialty tracks for Spring 2017, click here. Program administrators and student advisors are very open to meeting unique student needs through the creation of a plan of graduate study that combines elements of the nine tracks to provide knowledge and skills that achieve student objectives.
Students may wish to start the program immediately, even though their preferred track does not begin until 2017 or 2018. This is allowed and will simply extend their studies over a 3 to 4 year period, which may help manage course workload and spread out the time over which tuition would be paid.
A typical seminar begins during the week preceding the weekend in-person meeting. During that pre-week, assignments are made and groups meet online to develop strategies that address assigned problems. The seminar in Laramie starts at 1pm on Saturday and ends at 3pm on Sunday. During that time, students present strategies developed by their groups and they participate in problem-solving exercises presented by the faculty.
Students are responsible for arranging their own travel and lodging in Laramie. Students pay all of their own expenses. Students must attend two seminars during their entire program, not two seminars each semester. Students generally attend the weekend seminar during their first semester and their last semester.
There is no thesis requirement for this degree. However, there is an independent project requirement. Each student, under the mentorship of her or his academic advisor, will design and complete this project independently toward the end of the program.
A comprehensive final exam is required under our accreditation standards. It is usually administered in person on the Laramie campus on the Friday prior to the seminar held during the student’s final semester. This is a written (computer-administered) daylong exam that covers all material taught in courses taken by the student. It is a pass-fail exam and no academic credit is awarded for its completion. After the exam has been administered, faculty may request that students verbally (by telephone) clarify answers they have provided on the written exam.
We are working on an agreement that would lead to the awarding of 10 hours of CE credit for attendance at the live weekend seminar. CE credit would be optional. There would be an extra charge for those who opt to receive CE credit.
We have proposed offering a formal graduate certificate in each of the specialty areas for those students who choose one of the nine areas of specialty. If this proposal is approved, graduates of the program will receive both a Master of Science diploma and a Graduate Certificate in their specialty area.
Career Services
The University of Wyoming does not find jobs for program graduates. However, The University can assist in locating prospective employment opportunities. It is the responsibility of each graduating student to pursue job opportunities and to market herself or himself as a suitable future employee. Each student’s background and experience will combine with the knowledge and skills learned in the program to qualify the student for employment in an appropriate area of the pharmaceutical or health care fields. All students and alumni at the University of Wyoming can access the services provided by the Center for Advising and Career Services.
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