By: Deborah Johnson Wood
This fall, Grand Valley State University will offer graduate students an option for developing business and management careers in West Michigan’s burgeoning health industry. A partnership between GVSU’s Seidman College of Business and the School of Public and Non-Profit Administration, students can add three health administration electives to their Masters in Business Administration program.
The new program requires 36 credit hours—an increase of just three credit hours from an MBA without the health sector emphasis.
“An MBA is designed to take people with expertise in a specific area and move them to a managerial area,” says Claudia Bajema, director of graduate business programs. “These electives will help graduates get jobs in all kinds of healthcare, from nursing homes to medical offices and therapy offices, and departments within hospitals.”
“The MBA enables individuals to work effectively in the business end of the very broad health sector,” Bajema adds. “Look at the Van Andel Institute. There are people there who look at how to market the practice or field, who look at how the business grows.”
Some of the classes already have students enrolled, even though the program isn’t officially open until the fall semester. Bajema believes that’s an indication that the college is fulfilling its role of meeting the needs of the community.
“Clearly the health sector is a rapidly growing industry in West Michigan and our mission is to serve the community,” she says.
A statement issued by GVSU says the Seidman MBA program was recognized in U.S. News & World Report's 2008 Edition Best Graduate Schools, which publishes credentials of all accredited programs for each state.
Source: Caudia Bajema, Grand Valley State University; Grand Valley State University Seidman College of Business
Deborah Johnson Wood is the development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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