The University of Minnesota, Crookston is the first to offer an online degree in the University of Minnesota system.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 11, 2004

The University of Minnesota, Crookston’s Bachelor of Applied Health (BAH) degree provides students a convenient and flexible alternative for working adults and part-time students who have relevant work experience and are interested in completing a 4-year degree. The Bachelor of Applied Health degree is designed for allied health personnel who seek professional advancement. Students gain the skill, knowledge, and experience to assume leadership roles in a variety of health care settings.

The Bachelor of Applied Health degree incorporates practical skills along with building on associate degrees in the health care fields. UMC’s Health Management Program Director, David Seyfried, says that this degree meets the needs of working health care professionals by allowing them to continue their work and family obligations as courses are available via the internet. “The flexibility of online courses allows health care professionals working rotating shifts to pursue an advanced degree. This was previously impossible even with evening or weekend class times.”

Health care is becoming more interdisciplinary, holistic and community centered. With this change comes new employment opportunities and new ways to support the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. The BAH degree courses use the computer and internet as tools to enhance learning. Students learn from interacting with faculty, other students, and professionals in health care. The B.A.H. is an integrated four-year baccalaureate degree developed in collaboration with partnering two-year institutions, several regional health care facilities, the University of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Health care organizations are typically complex companies which require people of diverse skills and backgrounds to work in close harmony, often under stressful conditions. The B.A.H. curriculum responds to practical concerns expressed by health care employers for a new kind of clinical graduate, one who possesses a base of strong clinical skills combined with essential leadership abilities necessary to perform successfully in the changing health care arena. The curriculum is practitioner focused, offering seamless progression between basic foundation courses, clinical coursework completed at the technical or community college, the university, and the world of work. The B.A.H. has a prescribed curriculum which builds on lower division health occupation coursework in the clinical field.

For more information about the degree and admission requirements, please contact: David Seyfried, Health Management Program Director, UMC, Seyfried@umn.edu or (800) 862-6466 ext 8370 or Michelle Christopherson, Director, Center for Adult Learning, University of Minnesota, Crookston, mchristo@umn.edu or (800) 862-6466 ext 8679. or via the web www.umcrookston.edu/academics/BAH/learnmore.htm

Michelle Christopherson
Director, Center for Adult Learning
University of Minnesota, Crookston
www.umcrookston.edu/academics/BAH/learnmore.htm
217 Selvig Hall