As part of Valdosta State University’s continued commitment to increase the number of health care professionals within the region and across the state, the Langdale College of Business Administration (LCOBA) will offer a Bachelor of Business Administration in health care administration.

Approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, the BBA in health care administration includes various aspects of health care administration and courses will include health care applications in management, marketing, insurance, information systems, and law and ethics.

With the aging population of the baby boomer generation and adults remaining active later in life, the health care industry is seeing a need for more medical services and health professionals.

With the opening of the Health Sciences and Business Administration (HSBA) building in 2014, Valdosta State will be able to enhance the delivery of current health care programs and develop new degrees to produce more health care professionals.

“The Langdale College provides graduates to meet the demands of today’s labor market,” said Dr. Wayne Plumly, dean of the LCOBA. “There is an increasing demand for health care professionals, and this will continue for decades to come. VSU graduates will be sought after to fill this void.”

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts employment of medical and health services managers to grow by 22 percent from 2010 to 2020, representing a faster than average increase for all occupations.

Receiving related work experience through a supervised internship is a requirement of degree completion. Students will have the opportunity to receive hands-on learning opportunities to connect their course instruction with hands-on experience. Internship opportunities will be available locally through South Georgia Medical Center, regional medical practices, home health care providers, and health care agencies.

For several years, business administration majors have been able to obtain a certificate in health care administration, as part of LCOBA undergraduate programs. The certificate in health care administration is a collaboration between LCOBA and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, South Georgia Medical Center, and the Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center.

According to Plumly, students graduating with Valdosta State’s BBA in health care administration will be able to find employment as health care managers in hospitals, group medical practices, nursing homes, home health care services, and outpatient centers.

The LCOBA also offers a concentration in health care administration through the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Plumly said plans are to offer an MBA in health care administration within the next two years.

For more information on the BBA in health care administration, contact Dr. Ryan Schmidt 229-245-3815.