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Health Systems and Facilities Design - Graduate Certificate

Elevate your healthcare design opportunities with the Health Systems and Facilities Design graduate certificate. Specialized training in evidence-based design, patient-centered care and healthcare facility planning gives graduates a competitive edge in the field. Whether you're looking to enhance your skills, pursue a new career path or take the first step toward earning the Master of Healthcare Design degree, this fully online certificate provides a flexible and convenient way to achieve your goals.

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Graduate Certificate in Health Systems and Facilities Design 

The certificate program is catered to professionals from various fields and backgrounds. The purpose of the certificate program is to develop an understanding of how healthcare operations and quality are implicated by design strategies. Given that healthcare industry is prominent as an economic driver in the US as well as the increasing demand in health services, providing human-centered environments is essential. This invaluable area of expertise will help you participate in facility development that will maximize efficiency and quality of patient care, all in an effort to raise the standard of healthcare facilities.

Who Should Enroll

Early- or mid-career architects and interior designers, educators, students, construction management professionals, healthcare administrators, healthcare providers, nurses, nurse managers, allied healthcare professionals, engineers, human factors experts, quality and safety experts, healthcare executives, or any individual interested in learning how the built environment plays a role in healthcare quality, safety, and experience.

Program Information for Health Systems and Facilities Design - Graduate Certificate

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Health Systems and Facilities Designs graduate certificate is catered to professionals from various fields and backgrounds. The purpose of the certificate is to develop an understanding of how healthcare operations and quality are implicated by design strategies. Given that the healthcare industry is prominent as an economic driver in the United States, as well as the increasing demand in health services, providing a human-centered environments is essential. This invaluable area of expertise helps students participate in facility development that will maximize efficiency and quality of patient care, all in an effort to raise the standard of healthcare facilities. This flexible online program for working professionals typically takes two semesters to finish.

Admissions for Health Systems and Facilities Design - Graduate Certificate

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree (from any field)
  • Official transcript(s)
  • A résumé or CV
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Priority deadline: June 1
  • Spring Semester
    • Priority deadline: November 1

Applications submitted by these deadlines will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Requirements
HCD 63001EVIDENCE-BASED DESIGN IN HEALTHCARE 2
HCD 63002HEALTHCARE FACILITIES 2
HCD 63003ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND MATERIALS IN HEALTHCARE 2
HCD 63004ENVIRONMENTS OF CARE AND PATIENT POPULATIONS 2
HCD 63005PATIENT SAFETY AND SYSTEMS THINKING 2
Certificate Electives, choose from the following:2-3
ARCH 55640
DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTS FOR OLDER ADULTS
EHS 52018
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
HPM 52016
PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
HPM 63003
HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS
HPM 63004
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY, LAW AND ETHICS
HPM 63012
NATIONAL HEALTH REFORM
NURS 60014
LEADERSHIP IN NURSING AND HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT
NURS 60020
LEGAL AND REGULATORY MANAGEMENT FOR NURSE ADMINISTRATORS
NURS 60024
HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE AND BEHAVIOR
SBS 54634
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BEHAVIORS
Directed Electives 1
Minimum Total Credit Hours:12
1

Students may work with the coordinator of the program for additional elective choices.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Certificate GPA Minimum Overall GPA
3.000 3.000
Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Fully online

Our Alumni

Samantha Lingenfelter, MPH, Medical Education Program Coordinator at Summa Health

“Although I did not come from an architecture or design background, the health care design certificate program taught me a significant number of concepts that I have been able to apply in my career. Form and function need to work together in our modern world and keeping up with evidence-based design can make life easier and safer for patients and practitioners, alike. Pairing this certificate with my Master of Public Health tied the subject matter together seamlessly and I now recognize design and health working together every time I go to work. I really enjoyed my experience with the certificate program and encourage others to give it a try.”

Neil Abrams, M.Arch., EDAC, Architectural Intern at IKM Inc.

 

"Kent State University’s Certificate of Healthcare Facility Design is a wonderful opportunity to explore the many facets of the healthcare market sector.  Not only was I able to participate in design-oriented courses, I was also encouraged to enroll in nursing studies, healthcare administration, finance, and more to have a truly holistic and healthcare-focused education.  Since completing the certificate program in 2014, I have applied the valuable lessons learned to my professional career working on numerous and varied healthcare projects."

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Health Systems and Facilities Design - Graduate Certificate

Graduates of the Undergraduate Certificate in Health Systems and Facilities Design can pursue careers as healthcare facility planners, design consultants, or project coordinators in healthcare settings. They may work with architectural firms, healthcare organizations, or government agencies focused on public health initiatives. With their specialized training, these professionals are equipped to contribute to the development of functional, safe, and patient-centered healthcare facilities that promote well-being and improve operational performance.

Architects, except landscape and naval

0.8%

little or no change

129,900

number of jobs

$82,320

potential earnings

Architectural and engineering managers

2.6%

slower than the average

198,100

number of jobs

$149,530

potential earnings

Architecture teachers, postsecondary

5.1%

faster than the average

8,500

number of jobs

$90,880

potential earnings

Interior designers

-4.9%

decline

77,900

number of jobs

$57,060

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

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