Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation

With rapid advancements in technology, it’s now possible to more effectively test, treat and rehabilitate patients. In this program, you’ll learn how to implement innovative developments, manage broad organizational programs and lead transformation processes to help improve testing, treatment and rehabilitation.

This program also explores the principles of innovation, change theory, health care leadership, evidence-based decision making and more. You’ll build a foundation to navigate short- and long-term changes in areas such as communication, leadership, policy and technology, preparing you for various leadership positions in the field.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

This degree is ideal for those who want to lead changes in our health care systems. A variety of backgrounds complement this program, particularly experience in health management, product innovation and health care.

Upon earning this degree, you can pursue leadership positions across health care settings or take on positions developing innovative solutions for patients. Career paths include health entrepreneurship, hospital administration, business operations and health care management.

This bachelor’s degree can also be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree — saving you time and money while deepening your expertise. Applicable master’s degrees include:

• Master of Healthcare Innovation
• Master of Science in aging

Have you earned or plan to earn an Associate of Applied Science? If so, ask your ASU Online enrollment coach about transferring into our Bachelor of Applied Science in health entrepreneurship and innovation, which is specially designed for those with an AAS.

As you prepare to improve patient outcomes in a leadership role, you’ll explore how to implement innovation, drive change and reduce disruption through hands-on experience and career-focused learning.

You’ll also examine how new policies, methods, systems and tools improve care, reduce risks and bring innovation directly to patients. The coursework will provide you with foundational knowledge and skills in areas such as:

• Change theory
• Collaboration
• Evidence-based decision making
• Leadership
• The principles of innovation

Graduates from this program can pursue entrepreneurial, managerial and administrative roles requiring both strategic thinking and innovative action within health care. Career opportunities include health innovator, medical service manager, innovation direction and health entrepreneur.

This bachelor’s degree can also be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree — saving you time and money while expanding your expertise. Applicable master’s degrees include:

• Master of Health Care Innovation
• Master of Science in aging

How is a Bachelor of Applied Science degree different from a BA or BS degree?

Bachelor of Applied Science degrees are tailored to students who’ve earned an Associate of Applied Science.

• Students who’ve earned an AAS from a regionally accredited institution may transfer 60 credit hours toward their BAS.
• Students who’ve earned an AAS from a regionally accredited Arizona community college may be eligible to transfer up to 75 credits toward their BAS.

An academic advisor can ensure your courses will meet degree requirements. If you don’t have an AAS and aren’t planning to earn one, learn more about ASU’s online Bachelor of Science in health entrepreneurship and innovation.

Studying health services coordination provides you with a strong foundation to connect clients with the best care and guide them through the health care system. This program focuses on three key components:

• Community and public health resources
• Health policy and financing in modern care
• Patient advocacy and education

Health services coordinators are not health care providers; however, you’ll be an essential advocate for patients. Assisting clients through the health care system also allows nurses and medical teams to focus more fully on clinical care. This degree doesn’t lead to licensure but prepares you for a meaningful career as a health care advocate.

Supportive tasks include coordinating treatment plans, explaining options, scheduling appointments and sharing information. You’ll also identify and address potential issues in care delivery while working creatively and collaboratively with professionals to secure the best outcomes with limited resources.

How this program compares to our integrative health and community health programs

While ASU’s online bachelor’s programs in health care coordination, integrative health and community health all center on health care, they differ in how you’re prepared to support patients, families and communities.

• Health care coordination: Focuses on patient advocacy and care navigation to prepare you to help individuals access, understand and move through the health care system with confidence.
• Integrative health: Combines evidence-based health science with wellness practices, teaching you to support a person’s physical, mental and spiritual well-being for a more holistic approach.
• Community health: Improves public well-being on a broader scale and equips you to address health challenges at the community level and promote long-term health education and illness prevention.

You can also complete this bachelor’s degree as part of an Accelerated Master’s program, earning a master’s degree in as little as one year after graduation. This saves time and money while deepening your expertise. Applicable master’s degrees include:

• Master of Healthcare
• Innovation Master of Science in aging

In this program, you’ll learn how to implement community-wide and inclusive responses to health challenges. As a future community health leader, you can pave the way for better advocacy for patients and empower people of all backgrounds. Learning in this program emphasizes:

• Advocating for diverse individuals, families and communities.
• Providing health education, health promotion and care coordination.
• Navigating health-focused partnerships between organizations across sectors.
• Understanding components of a healthy, sustainable community.

Additionally, this bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master's degrees include:

• Master of Healthcare Innovation.
• Master of Science in aging.

The importance of community health workers

Extending beyond hospitals and offices, modern health care is a community matter. Community health workers fulfill various roles to improve access to health care resources and treatments. This can include increasing access to nutritious and fresh foods, providing vulnerable populations with preventative checkups and forging partnerships between public and private organizations to leverage resources.

With a background in community health, you can make an impact in your passion area. Your knowledge and skills can lead to opportunities in advocacy and connecting patients with health care providers and social services agencies. You can also pursue roles that assess community intervention effectiveness. Earning this community health degree will set a foundation to pursue a variety of career paths in the field.

Can this program lead to a career in community health nursing?

No, while this health-related program shares similar prerequisites with undergraduate nursing programs, it doesn’t prepare you for nursing licensure. If you’re interested in following a nursing path, a Bachelor of Science in nursing program is a better option for you. Upon completing this community health degree, you’ll be an excellent candidate for roles in health education, community health supervising and health administration.

Additionally, for those seeking professional certification, this program prepares you to sit for the CHES exam. This respected credential can give you a competitive edge when applying for roles in health fields as diverse as nutrition and kinesiology. As a CHES-certified health care professional, you can make an impact by educating individuals and communities on ways to improve health behavior and outcomes.