Wichita State University has developed an articulation agreement with Cowley College, formerly Cowley County Community College, that allows students to complete two years at Cowley and receive an associate's degree in health services management and community development (HSMCD). Students can then transfer to WSU and complete the bachelor's degree in HSMCD in two years.

Richard Muma, WSU chair of public health sciences in the College of Health Professions, hopes the partnership can help fill a growing need.

Richard Muma

"This collaborative effort will assist those interested in beginning their coursework toward a position in health services or community development, two occupation areas expected to increase significantly as the population ages, which will require more health care-related facilities," said Muma.

Cowley administrators started the associate degree for fall 2008.

"This agreement opens exciting new doors for students interested in this occupational area," said Chris Cannon, chair of Cowley's allied health department. "It was great to work with a recognized content area leader like WSU while developing this program."

The HSMCD degree, whether at the baccalaureate or associate degree level, recognizes that health management and community development is a profession of its own. Health professions professors often call it "health care without the blood."

In WSU's May 2006 story about the HSMCD degree, educational program coordinator Janet Brandes explained the degree as one that's "ideal for someone who's interested in health care and has a passion for improving the health care system but really isn't interested in direct patient care."

It's good for people interested in improving the health of entire populations, communities, versus the individual patient, said Brandes in the 2006 story, pointing out that job opportunities are especially good in offices of health practitioners, general medical and surgical hospitals, home health care services and outpatient care services.

HSMCD students at WSU also can opt to take administrator courses and work toward state-administered licensure for nursing home administration, or progress into a master's degree in public health, business administration or public administration.

For more information, visit www.wichita.edu/thisis/academics/health.asp.