All degree-seeking graduate students must pass a comprehensive examination at the end of the didactic portion of their program. The School of Health Administration administers comprehensive exams at the end of the fall and spring terms. Students with field placements on their degree audits must pass the comprehensive exam before they begin their field placement. Students who fail the comprehensive exam may take the exam again the next term it is offered. Two failures will result in dismissal from the program.
Master's level courses in Health Administration: HA
Health administration (ha).
HA 5111. Topics in Health Administration.
An in-depth study of a singular topic or a related problem being faced by practicing managers in the rapidly changing healthcare industry. Special emphasis will be placed on the topic’s current relevance and its utilitarian value to the participant. May be repeated if topic differs.
HA 5191. Field Experience Orientation.
This course will assist the student to prepare for the field experience and to prepare for the comprehensive exam. An extensive orientation to the field experience will be provided to better enable students to move from the classroom setting to a workplace scenario.
HA 5199B. Thesis.
This course represents a student’s continuing thesis enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding.
HA 5299B. Thesis.
HA 5300. Healthcare Organization and Delivery.
A survey of the organization and delivery of health services focusing on the history and development of health systems as they relate to the overall health and medical care systems. Major attention is given to governing bodies, patient care organizations, and executive management structures.
HA 5301. Healthcare Administration Research Methods.
A study of research methodology as it pertains to healthcare administration. Included are hypothesis forming, designing research, and the collection, manipulation and analysis of data. Knowledge of numeracy and statistics is essential.
HA 5303. Information Systems Management in Healthcare.
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to information systems management for healthcare organizations. It covers the determination of information required by whom, design of information flows, procurement of information systems technology resources, assurance of information security, and management of systems integration.
HA 5304. Healthcare Economics and Financial Theory.
A study of economic theories that have an impact on the healthcare industry. Special emphasis will be placed on emerging economic research and its impact on potential policy ramifications.
HA 5311. Trends in Health Administration.
An in-depth study of singular trend or a related problem being faced by practicing managers in the rapidly changing healthcare industry. Special emphasis will be placed on the topic’s current relevance and its utilitarian value to the participant. Examples of trends, which are typically offered, include trends in rural health, managed care ethical issues, and in total quality management. This course may be repeated for credit with a different subject area.
HA 5316. Healthcare Financial Management.
An introduction to healthcare financial management including the financial management in healthcare organizations, healthcare payment systems, financing and investment decisions, and financial planning, analysis, and control. Prerequisites: accounting, economics, and statistics.
HA 5321. Healthcare Law.
An in-depth analysis of healthcare law and its effect on the relationships between the patient, the patient’s family, the provider, and other interested third parties. Analysis of cases is the primary method of study.
HA 5325. Health Care Quality Improvement Concepts and Tools.
This course teaches the concepts of quality in health care and the use of quality improvement tools. Quality management will be explored using Lean Six Sigma continuous process improvement methodologies. This course is intended to help students learn and translate health care quality management theory, concepts, and knowledge into practice.
HA 5334. Operational Decision Making for Healthcare Managers.
An introduction to the fundamentals of selected operations research techniques essential to the analysis of healthcare managerial problem situations, the design of new and improved systems, and the implementation of systems to achieve desired systems performance.
HA 5335. Public Health for Healthcare Administrators.
This course introduces the healthcare manager to public health and its role in preventing illnesses and improving the health of the community. Students will learn of the role of the manager in disease prevention and how to participate and lead community efforts for the wellness of the community.
HA 5346. Healthcare Strategic Management.
This capstone course examines mission, vision, strategy, and operations from both the formulation and implementation perspectives. Emphasis will be on the role of the manager/leader in strategic management analysis, creativity, and action. This course is available to HA majors only.
HA 5355. Human Resource Management in Healthcare Facilities.
A study of personnel administration in the healthcare facility and the environment in which it functions. Emphasis will be on the role of the Personnel Office in forecasting, developing, and managing human resources, in addition to a review of current legislation affecting the personnel function.
HA 5356. Policy Development in Healthcare Arena.
Prospective healthcare administrators analyze changing healthcare paradigm to determine decision-points where policies can be affected. Course allows students to apply existing skills to real world policy issues at state and national levels and to analyze policy development from numerous stakeholders’ viewpoints.
HA 5362. Healthcare Organizational Behavior/Theory.
This course is a study of theory and concepts drawn from the behavioral and social sciences. These concepts are applied as a foundation and conceptual framework for the analysis, diagnosis, prediction and guidance of human behavior in healthcare organizations.
HA 5371. Marketing of Health Services.
A study of marketing functions and principles as they relate to the healthcare delivery system. Analysis of marketing concepts such as market segmentation, marketing planning, marketing audit, marketing positioning, and marketing mix will be discussed.
HA 5375. Healthcare Accounting.
An introduction to financial accounting in healthcare with an emphasis on the preparation of non-profit financial statements for healthcare service organizations, control procedures for healthcare entities, and accounting issues unique to the healthcare industry. This course does not earn graduate degree credit.
HA 5399A. Thesis.
This course represents a student’s initial thesis enrollment. No thesis credit is awarded until student has completed the thesis, HA 5399B .
HA 5399B. Thesis.
HA 5450. Administrative Field Placement.
A one-semester, full-time field experience which allows students to apply their foundational didactic education by means of rotations, experiences, and projects in a healthcare organization. This course is graded on a credit (CR), no-credit (F) basis. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.
HA 5599B. Thesis.
HA 5640. Administrative Practicum.
A one-semester, part-time field experience designed for the student already working full-time in healthcare. The practicum provides a broader orientation to the student’s organization and exposure to special projects.
HA 5840. Administrative Field Placement.
A one-semester, full-time field experience which allows students to apply their foundational didactic education by means of rotations, experiences, and projects in a healthcare organization.
HA 5999B. Thesis.
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If you’re preparing to write your dissertation, thesis or research project, our free dissertation template is the perfect starting point. In the template, we cover every section step by step, with clear, straightforward explanations and examples .
The template’s structure is based on the tried and trusted best-practice format for formal academic research projects such as dissertations and theses. The template structure reflects the overall research process, ensuring your dissertation or thesis will have a smooth, logical flow from chapter to chapter.
The dissertation template covers the following core sections:
Each section is explained in plain, straightforward language , followed by an overview of the key elements that you need to cover within each section. We’ve also included practical examples to help you understand exactly what’s required in each section.
The cleanly-formatted Google Doc can be downloaded as a fully editable MS Word Document (DOCX format), so you can use it as-is or convert it to LaTeX.
What format is the template (doc, pdf, ppt, etc.).
The dissertation template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.
The template follows the standard best-practice structure for formal academic research projects such as dissertations or theses, so it is suitable for the vast majority of degrees, particularly those within the sciences.
Some universities may have some additional requirements, but these are typically minor, with the core structure remaining the same. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalise your structure.
A research paper follows a similar format, but there are a few differences. You can find our research paper template here .
This template can be used for a dissertation, thesis or research project at any level of study. It may be slight overkill for an undergraduate-level study, but it certainly won’t be missing anything.
This depends entirely on your university’s specific requirements, so it’s best to check with them. As a general ballpark, Masters-level projects are usually 15,000 – 20,000 words in length, while Doctoral-level projects are often in excess of 60,000 words.
If you’re still working on your research proposal, we’ve got a template for that here .
We’ve also got loads of proposal-related guides and videos over on the Grad Coach blog .
We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack how to write a literature review from scratch. You can check out the literature review section of the blog here.
We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack research methodology, both qualitative and quantitative. You can check out the methodology section of the blog here.
Yes, you’re welcome to share this template. If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, all we ask is that you reference this page as your source.
Within the template, you’ll find plain-language explanations of each section, which should give you a fair amount of guidance. However, you’re also welcome to consider our dissertation and thesis coaching services .
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Published on November 11, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on November 20, 2023.
Choosing your dissertation topic is the first step in making sure your research goes as smoothly as possible. When choosing a topic, it’s important to consider:
You can follow these steps to begin narrowing down your ideas.
Step 1: check the requirements, step 2: choose a broad field of research, step 3: look for books and articles, step 4: find a niche, step 5: consider the type of research, step 6: determine the relevance, step 7: make sure it’s plausible, step 8: get your topic approved, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about dissertation topics.
The very first step is to check your program’s requirements. This determines the scope of what it is possible for you to research.
Some programs have stricter requirements than others. You might be given nothing more than a word count and a deadline, or you might have a restricted list of topics and approaches to choose from. If in doubt about what is expected of you, always ask your supervisor or department coordinator.
Start by thinking about your areas of interest within the subject you’re studying. Examples of broad ideas include:
To get a more specific sense of the current state of research on your potential topic, skim through a few recent issues of the top journals in your field. Be sure to check out their most-cited articles in particular. For inspiration, you can also search Google Scholar , subject-specific databases , and your university library’s resources.
As you read, note down any specific ideas that interest you and make a shortlist of possible topics. If you’ve written other papers, such as a 3rd-year paper or a conference paper, consider how those topics can be broadened into a dissertation.
After doing some initial reading, it’s time to start narrowing down options for your potential topic. This can be a gradual process, and should get more and more specific as you go. For example, from the ideas above, you might narrow it down like this:
All of these topics are still broad enough that you’ll find a huge amount of books and articles about them. Try to find a specific niche where you can make your mark, such as: something not many people have researched yet, a question that’s still being debated, or a very current practical issue.
At this stage, make sure you have a few backup ideas — there’s still time to change your focus. If your topic doesn’t make it through the next few steps, you can try a different one. Later, you will narrow your focus down even more in your problem statement and research questions .
There are many different types of research , so at this stage, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what kind of approach you’ll take to your topic. Will you mainly focus on:
Many dissertations will combine more than one of these. Sometimes the type of research is obvious: if your topic is post-war Irish poetry, you will probably mainly be interpreting poems. But in other cases, there are several possible approaches. If your topic is reproductive rights in South America, you could analyze public policy documents and media coverage, or you could gather original data through interviews and surveys .
You don’t have to finalize your research design and methods yet, but the type of research will influence which aspects of the topic it’s possible to address, so it’s wise to consider this as you narrow down your ideas.
It’s important that your topic is interesting to you, but you’ll also have to make sure it’s academically, socially or practically relevant to your field.
The easiest way to make sure your research is relevant is to choose a topic that is clearly connected to current issues or debates, either in society at large or in your academic discipline. The relevance must be clearly stated when you define your research problem .
Before you make a final decision on your topic, consider again the length of your dissertation, the timeframe in which you have to complete it, and the practicalities of conducting the research.
Will you have enough time to read all the most important academic literature on this topic? If there’s too much information to tackle, consider narrowing your focus even more.
Will you be able to find enough sources or gather enough data to fulfil the requirements of the dissertation? If you think you might struggle to find information, consider broadening or shifting your focus.
Do you have to go to a specific location to gather data on the topic? Make sure that you have enough funding and practical access.
Last but not least, will the topic hold your interest for the length of the research process? To stay motivated, it’s important to choose something you’re enthusiastic about!
Most programmes will require you to submit a brief description of your topic, called a research prospectus or proposal .
Remember, if you discover that your topic is not as strong as you thought it was, it’s usually acceptable to change your mind and switch focus early in the dissertation process. Just make sure you have enough time to start on a new topic, and always check with your supervisor or department.
If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Methodology
Statistics
Research bias
Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .
However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:
All research questions should be:
You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.
Ask questions such as:
A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.
It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.
Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.
The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.
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McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 20). How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow. Scribbr. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/dissertation-topic/
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In U.S. graduate education, master's students typically write theses, while doctoral students write dissertations. The terms are reversed in the British system. In the U.S., a dissertation is longer, more in-depth, and based on more research than a thesis. Doctoral candidates write a dissertation as the culminating research project of their degree.
Craft a convincing dissertation or thesis research proposal. Write a clear, compelling introduction chapter. Undertake a thorough review of the existing research and write up a literature review. Undertake your own research. Present and interpret your findings. Draw a conclusion and discuss the implications.
A Masters dissertation will be longer than the undergraduate equivalent - usually it'll be somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 words, but this can vary widely between courses, institutions and countries. To answer your overall research question comprehensively, you'll be expected to identify and examine specific areas of your topic.
Award-winning master's theses. University: University of Edinburgh Faculty: Informatics Author: Christopher Sipola Award: 2018 Social Responsibility & Sustainability Dissertation Prize Title: Summarizing electricity usage with a neural network University: University of Ottawa Faculty: Education Author: Matthew Brillinger Award: 2017 Commission on Graduate Studies in the Humanities Prize
Writing a masters dissertation or thesis is a sizable task. It takes a considerable amount of research, studying and writing. Usually, students need to write around 10,000 to 15,000 words. It is completely normal to find the idea of writing a masters thesis or dissertation slightly daunting, even for students who have written one before at ...
A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program. Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you've ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating ...
Time to recap…. And there you have it - the traditional dissertation structure and layout, from A-Z. To recap, the core structure for a dissertation or thesis is (typically) as follows: Title page. Acknowledgments page. Abstract (or executive summary) Table of contents, list of figures and tables.
Definition of Dissertation and Thesis. The dissertation or thesis is a scholarly treatise that substantiates a specific point of view as a result of original research that is conducted by students during their graduate study. At Cornell, the thesis is a requirement for the receipt of the M.A. and M.S. degrees and some professional master's ...
Dissertation & Thesis Outline | Example & Free Templates. Published on June 7, 2022 by Tegan George.Revised on November 21, 2023. A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical early steps in your writing process.It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding the specifics of your dissertation topic and showcasing its relevance to ...
Thesis and Dissertation: Getting Started. The resources in this section are designed to provide guidance for the first steps of the thesis or dissertation writing process. They offer tools to support the planning and managing of your project, including writing out your weekly schedule, outlining your goals, and organzing the various working ...
Revised on 5 May 2022. A dissertation is a large research project undertaken at the end of a degree. It involves in-depth consideration of a problem or question chosen by the student. It is usually the largest (and final) piece of written work produced during a degree. The length and structure of a dissertation vary widely depending on the ...
A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical early steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organise your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you'd like to undertake. ... Tegan is an American based in Amsterdam, with master's degrees in political science and education ...
Make sure you can ask the critical what, who, and how questions of your research before you put pen to paper. Your research proposal should include (at least) 5 essential components : Title - provides the first taste of your research, in broad terms. Introduction - explains what you'll be researching in more detail.
Thesis & Dissertation; Thesis & Dissertation Overview Thesis and Dissertation: Getting Started; Conducting a Personal IWE; Setting Goals & Staying Motivated Ways to Approach Revision; Genre Analysis & Reverse Outlining; Sentences: Types, Variety, Concision; Paragraph Organization & Flow; Punctuation; University Thesis and Dissertation Templates
Generally, a doctoral dissertation has greater breadth, depth, and intention than a master's thesis since it is based on original research. While the standard length of a master's thesis is around 100 pages, a doctoral dissertation can be upwards of 400-500 pages. While most students can finish their PhD dissertation or thesis in as little ...
As stated above, a thesis is the final project required in the completion of many master's degrees. The thesis is a research paper, but it only involves using research from others and crafting your own analytical points. On the other hand, the dissertation is a more in-depth scholarly research paper completed mostly by doctoral students.
When starting your thesis or dissertation process, one of the first requirements is a research proposal or a prospectus. It describes what or who you want to examine, delving into why, when, where, and how you will do so, stemming from your research question and a relevant topic. The proposal or prospectus stage is crucial for the development ...
For both master's and doctoral students, the same basic rules apply; however, differences exist in some limited areas, particularly in producing the abstract and filing the dissertation or thesis. Information in this guide that pertains specifically to doctoral candidates and dissertations is clearly marked with the term " dissertation ...
The Thesis and Dissertation Handbook explains Penn State formatting requirements for all master's theses and doctoral dissertations. It covers the submission process and approval deadlines, the responsibilities of each student, and provides page examples. We highly recommend all students doing theses or dissertations to carefully review the ...
And a quick word to clarify terms: in the US, the term "dissertation" is typically reserved for the document produced by doctoral candidates, whereas master's level graduate students complete a thesis. Both are written products that reflect and document the detailed exploration of original concepts in a particular field of scholarly ...
Thesis & Dissertation Understanding Deadlines and Requirements. The final requirement in earning a graduate degree is the completion and defense of the master's thesis or doctoral dissertation. Understanding the steps and associated deadlines in the thesis/dissertation submission and degree conferral process is necessary to establish a ...
Master's students' information is sent to our Student Records area immediately upon approval in Vireo.After receiving the Vireo approval email, please allow for a few days for that requirement to be cleared on your audit. Doctoral students' information is sent to our Student Records area immediately upon approval in ProQuest (see section below.)
Get real-world examples of dissertations and theses spanning management, psychology, education, healthcare and more. About Us; Services. 1-On-1 Coaching. Topic Ideation ... (typically PhD and Master's-level). PS - If you're looking for examples of specific dissertation chapters (e.g., literature review or methodology), you can also check ...
This session will introduce staff who supervise masters (PGT) projects and dissertations on how to navigate common challenges, support students' academic growth, and ensure successful project completion. Whether you're an experienced supervisor or new to the role, this workshop will empower you with the essential tools to enhance your supervision and drive student success.
Overview of the structure. To help guide your reader, end your introduction with an outline of the structure of the thesis or dissertation to follow. Share a brief summary of each chapter, clearly showing how each contributes to your central aims. However, be careful to keep this overview concise: 1-2 sentences should be enough.
Pulse - Summer 2024 Recent Thesis Defenses. We congratulate the following master's and PhD students from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies on the successful defense of their theses. Andrey Borisyuk, MS Neuroscience PhD Program
Congratulations to Christian Phillips who successfully defended his MS thesis, "Towards Molecular Dynamics as a Tool for Assessing Protein Designs for Stability and Function," on June 5th, 2024. Christian collaborated with Professors Jim Pfaendtner and Dave Beck on many interdisciplinary computational studies, including protein-protein interactions, protein designs, and materials science.
Program Overview. The Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) degree with a major in Healthcare Administration offers courses designed to enhance the career mobility of persons currently employed in health professions as well as to provide a solid base of academic and directed experiences for persons who may desire entry into the field of health administration.
The cleanly-formatted Google Doc can be downloaded as a fully editable MS Word Document (DOCX format), so you can use it as-is or convert it to LaTeX. Download The Dissertation Template. Download Grad Coach's comprehensive dissertation and thesis template for free. Fully editable - includes detailed instructions and examples.
Step 1: Check the requirements. Step 2: Choose a broad field of research. Step 3: Look for books and articles. Step 4: Find a niche. Step 5: Consider the type of research. Step 6: Determine the relevance. Step 7: Make sure it's plausible. Step 8: Get your topic approved. Other interesting articles.