The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Health Professions and Cisco College recently announced an agreement for a Bachelor of Sciences Healthcare Management (BSHM) degree program designed for clinicians who have earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in a health care program at Cisco College and want to pursue a bachelor’s degree with TTUHSC.

The BSHM degree program provides wide exposure to the skills, knowledge and abilities needed for greater success in the U.S. health care delivery system. In addition, the program builds upon the foundations of the community college programs and prepares students with the competencies needed for successfully meeting the challenges presented by the current and evolving health care delivery system.

“Hospital and health care system chief executive officers have stated a need for health care professionals who have management skills and leadership abilities,” said Lori Rice-Spearman, Ph.D., MT, dean of the TTUHSC School of Health Professions.

The TTUHSC-Cisco College BSHM degree program will be an on-line format by which the student completes 42 hours of the common core and up to 48 hours of health professions credits at Cisco College. TTUHSC, which offers a “3+1” approach to the bachelor’s degree, then provides the remaining 30 hours of senior level health care management courses.

With the distance education format, the curriculum is offered in a non-traditional manner. The student can select the number of courses each semester that meets their educational goals and work schedule. The class schedule allows the student to access the course at any time that is convenient to them and their location.

“This program provides an opportunity for our residents to advance their degree and improve their career opportunity and not move,” Cisco College President Thad Anglin, Ed.D., said. “They can advance to management and assume leadership roles in their professions.”