Certificate in Long-term Care
The Health Services Administration Program of the School of Policy, Planning, and Development offers two certificate programs:
- Administration of Long-term Care Programs
- Management of Ambulatory Care Systems in specialized areas of healthcare administration
The Certificate in Long-term Care is designed to provide practitioners with means for improving or updating their knowledge and experience in a challenging and professionally relevant course of study.
» Required Courses
» Admission Requirements
» Application Materials
» Application Deadlines
Required Courses
Students are required to complete the following courses:
- Problems and Issues in the Health Field (PPD 509)
- Management of Long-Term Care Organizations (PPD 601) or
- Administration and System Management in Programs for Older Adults (GERO 550)
- Human Behavior in Public Organizations (PPD 545) or
- Modeling and Operations Research (PPD 557)
- Financial Management of Health Services (PPD 510a) or
- Financial Accounting in the Public Nonprofit Sectors (PPD 516x)
Admission Requirements
It is expected that applicants to the certificate programs should have graduated from a recognized college with an approximate grade point average of B in the last 60 units of college work. Non-graduates may be admitted if the director believes that there is evidence to suggest that the applicant is capable of graduate level work.
Completing a certificate program does not constitute completion of or admission to the Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) degree program nor will it be a deciding factor in the admission decision to the M.H.A. degree program. Students in the M.H.A. program, however, may qualify for award of these certificates if they complete the applicable course requirements.
Application Materials
The following items are required in order to complete the applications process:
- a completed USC Graduate Application (may be completed on-line)
- $85 application fee
- official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- a current resume
- a minimum of three letters of recommendation, including at least one academic reference from a former instructor
- a written statement of approximately 1,500 words addressing the following questions:
- Why are you interested in pursuing the Certificate in Long-term Care Administration?
- How will a Certificate in Long-term Care Administration affect or enhance your career aspirations and goals?
International students must also submit the following documents:
- official TOEFL scores
- official transcripts indicating the award of all degrees with the title and date conferred in the applicant’s native language and an exact translation into English of each document
- a financial guarantee statement showing proof of the ability to pay all tuition and living expenses
Application Deadlines
February 1: Fall Admission
April 1: Summer Admission
November 1: Spring Admission
Applicants are encouraged to submit their application in a complete package. To do so, they should request that transcripts and letters of recommendation be returned to them in sealed envelopes, and should submit them along with the rest of their materials.