Rider University, a private, coeducational university located on two campuses in New Jersey – one in Lawrenceville and one in Princeton,  announced a new bachelor of science in business administration in health care management, offered by the university’s College of Business Administration. The degree provides a core education in business combined with critical topics in health care management.

Anne Carroll, interim dean of Rider’s College of Business Administration, says, “There is no field more exciting and relevant today than health care management. Health care is driving our economy both in New Jersey and nationally, and a well-rounded degree intersecting business and health care is high in demand.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, the health care field is expected to grow rapidly as baby boomers age and people remain active later in life. Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow by 23 per cent through 2022 faster than the average for all occupations.

“There has never been a greater need for decisive health care leaders who can understand and adapt to today’s complex and evolving health care system,” Carroll says. “It’s a dynamic industry that’s driving the demand for health care professionals who have the skills and knowledge needed to plan, organise and supervise the delivery of innovative and quality care.”

Rider’s BSBA in health care management was developed with input from health care executives in hospitals, biotech, medical device and pharmaceutical companies and health insurance firms. The curriculum is designed to provide students with an understanding of both the business and health fields, including a deeper grasp of the legal, ethical, economic, social and managerial issues related to health care. Faculty includes professors with expertise in economics, finance, information systems, law and marketing.

One of the executives instrumental in developing Rider’s new program was Barry Rabner, president and CEO of Princeton HealthCare System. He says, “Virtually every aspect of health care delivery is changing radically both in the United States and countries ranging from China to Rwanda creating the perfect opportunity for a meaningful career in health care management.”

He adds, “The Rider University business administration programme will prepare passionate, creative people to address challenges in financial management, health care reform, patient care, population health and more.”

Coursework in the new major includes 21 credit hours, 18 of which are required and three elective credits. Sample courses include Health Care Finance, Health Care Information Systems, Population and Health Care Management, Health Care Marketing and Health Care Law & Policy.

Carroll said the programme was also designed to provide “real world” experiences, and offers students the opportunity to participate in a semester-long internship, large data-group project for a client, and a health care marketing course where students design a marketing plan.

Additionally, Rider’s strategic location in the New York-Philadelphia metropolitan area offers students exceptional access to health care management internship opportunities with leading organisations including providers, government agencies, advocacy groups and more. Carroll said Rider students have recently participated in internships at such locations as Bristol-Myers Squibb, Capital Health Medical Center, the Department of Health & Human Services, American Cancer Society, Banker’s Life and Casualty Company, Pfizer, Novartis, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and Autism New Jersey, to name a few.

Students interested in learning more are invited to attend an information session on Saturday, February 14 at 2 p.m. in North Hall, 202.