University of the Pacific is leveraging its reputation for preparing community leaders by creating two new programs in Benerd College that will cultivate and support rising leaders.

Benerd College's new Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and Leadership (HCAL) program and Master of Arts in Leadership program are set to begin in fall 2021. The HCAL program will be housed on the Stockton campus, while the Master of Arts in Leadership program will offer one concentration in Sacramento and the other in Stockton.

"We are excited to expand our academic programs and offer Pacific students broader opportunities to hone their professional skills," said Patricia Campbell, Dean of Benerd College. "Our objective is to provide students a superior, student-centered learning experience that will allow them to make themselves more marketable for positions within their respective fields."

Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and Leadership (HCAL)

The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and Leadership (HCAL) is designed to provide an opportunity for healthcare professionals to advance in their careers by completing their bachelor’s degree while learning the skills to become successful leaders. The 20-month program will utilize a cohort-based model so students take all their courses with the same group of classmates, creating a supportive environment that is key to student success. 

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), career opportunities for medical and healthcare managers are projected to increase by 31.5% over the next 10 years. In California, Hanover Research expects to see a 24.7% increase in employment growth for healthcare leadership positions over the same period of time.

"Our program will provide Pacific students a broad understanding of issues in healthcare and equip them with a variety of managerial skills to specific areas of healthcare administration," said Farley Staniec, Associate Dean of Benerd College. "With the soaring demand for management in healthcare, our talented faculty will prepare students for professional success with top employers in this burgeoning job market.”

Visit Pacific’s new Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and Leadership program to learn more.

Master of Arts in Leadership

The Master of Arts in Leadership will utilize an online and face-to-face format, while offering multiple concentrations in fields such as learning and development, organization development, training design, and innovation facilitation. Students will complete projects and put to practice the tools and principles from each class through experiential learning. The overarching program purpose is, “To develop creative, flexible, and caring leaders,” as it will focus on current and emerging leaders working in fields such as learning and development, organization development, training design, and innovation facilitation.

One program concentration, "Leading for Social Impact (LSI)", will be targeted toward current and emerging leaders in non-profits, social enterprises, and education. Students will develop skills and perspectives to enact ethical and sustainable change in their community or organization.

The "Organizational Learning and Effectiveness (OLE)" concentration will provide students with methods for facilitating change in a variety of situations. The program focuses on human-centered approaches like design thinking and will provide students with tools like process consulting, program evaluation, and coaching.

"Our program and its concentrations are designed to meet Pacific students where they are and build on their skills by providing in the field application, often within their existing professional settings," explained Laura Hallberg, Assistant Dean for Benerd College. "The hybrid format means that the program incorporates experiences from students’ personal and professional lives, enhancing the work they might already be doing."

Visit Pacific’s new Master of Arts in Leadership – (LSI) and Master of Arts in Leadership – (OLE)  to learn more.