Fairmont State University

What you'll study

This programme develops the administrative, technical and leadership skills needed to operate modern healthcare organisations. Core topics include medical terminology, anatomy and physiology basics for administrators, health information management, medical coding and billing, healthcare finance, and legal and ethical issues in healthcare.

• Health Information Management: electronic health records, data quality, privacy and HIPAA compliance principles and record retention.
• Medical Coding & Billing: diagnostic and procedural coding systems, claims submission, reimbursement methods and denials management.
• Healthcare Law & Ethics: regulatory frameworks, patient rights, confidentiality, consent and professional ethics.
• Management & Leadership: organizational behaviour, human resources in health settings, strategic planning and team leadership.
• Healthcare Finance & Revenue Cycle: budgeting, financial reporting, cost control, and revenue cycle management.
• Quality & Performance Improvement: patient safety, accreditation standards, process improvement and metrics.
• Health Informatics & Technology: clinical information systems, basic data analytics and the role of IT in care delivery.
• Statistics & Research Methods: fundamentals of biostatistics, interpreting clinical research and program evaluation.
• Capstone & Practicum: an applied practicum or internship in a hospital, clinic or healthcare organisation and a capstone project integrating administrative, financial and informatics components.

The programme typically combines general education requirements with major courses and experiential placements, allowing students to build both technical competencies and professional skills such as communication, problem solving and ethical decision‑making.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a recognised high school diploma or equivalent. Typical admission considerations include a competitive secondary school GPA and satisfactory completion of English and mathematics courses. Where used, standardised test scores may be considered but are often optional; applicants should check the university’s current admissions policy.

• Recommended preparatory subjects: biology or health science, English, mathematics and computer literacy.
• Transfer applicants with an associate degree in a related health or allied health field may receive advanced standing for equivalent coursework.
• Some applicants with relevant work experience in healthcare settings may be considered through non‑traditional or mature‑student admission routes.
• All admitted students are expected to meet any health and background screening requirements set by practicum hosts prior to placement.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for administrative and leadership roles across healthcare delivery, payer and related sectors. Common career paths include:

• Medical office manager or practice administrator in primary care, specialist clinics or outpatient facilities
• Health services manager or department coordinator in hospitals and long‑term care settings
• Health information manager, medical records manager or HIM specialist
• Medical coding and billing specialist, claims analyst or revenue cycle analyst
• Compliance officer, patient safety coordinator or quality improvement analyst
• Healthcare IT support roles that bridge clinical and administrative systems

Graduates may also progress to professional certification (for example in medical coding or health information management) or further study in healthcare administration, public health or business to expand management opportunities.

Why study at Fairmont State University

Fairmont State offers a student‑centred environment with small class sizes and close faculty mentoring, which supports hands‑on learning and applied projects. The programme emphasises practical experience through practicum placements with regional hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers, giving students opportunities to apply classroom learning in real settings.

Students benefit from collaboration with local healthcare organisations and career services that assist with internships and job placement. The curriculum is designed to align with industry needs in health information, revenue cycle and administration, helping graduates enter the workforce with job‑ready skills and professional contacts in the region.