Thessalonia Joseph was a year into her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree when she realized she needed a change.
The New Orleans native enrolled at the 杏吧专区 as a nursing major. A year into the program, she discovered it wasn杏吧专区檛 her passion but was still dedicated to pursuing a career in healthcare.
Working with her advisor, Joseph determined Health Services Administration would be a better fit and transitioned to UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 fully online degree program.
杏吧专区淚 had been in roles before that dealt with management and administrative tasks, and I knew I enjoyed those things,杏吧专区 Joseph says. 杏吧专区淚 thought if I could pair that with healthcare, that would be perfect.杏吧专区 
Although Joseph remained in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the program format was an entirely new experience.
杏吧专区淚 was apprehensive at first because I didn杏吧专区檛 really know how to study online,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淲hen I got started, it was a little difficult managing the work because I wasn杏吧专区檛 physically going to class, and it was easy to miss assignments. But eventually I had my own flow, and I actually preferred online courses. They allowed me to work while going to school.杏吧专区
In addition to maintaining a part-time job throughout her college career, Joseph completed an internship with the human resources department at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. That opportunity, she says, confirmed she was on the right path.
杏吧专区淥nce I started my internship in human resources, I was very confident that I杏吧专区檇 made the right choice,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚've chosen a fulfilling degree and career path; I杏吧专区檓 very happy with the choice I杏吧专区檝e made.杏吧专区
Health Services Administration杏吧专区檚 interdisciplinary curriculum gives students a wide perspective of business and healthcare with courses in management, finance, and health information technology, as well as major courses on managing healthcare organizations.
Joseph says course content detailing civil compliance and demonstrating the difference between management and leadership resonated most for her.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檇 recommend the program to someone looking to go into leadership,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭he curriculum goes into not just management, but also the different cultures within health care and how to manage those cultures.杏吧专区
Joseph started her career in July 2019 as a financial intake specialist at Lafayette-based LHC Group, a national provider of in-home healthcare services. Within a year, she was promoted to revenue cycle team lead.
She has no plans of slowing down.
杏吧专区淢y goals moving forward are to keep moving up and gain more leadership,杏吧专区 she says. "I杏吧专区檇 like more responsibility. In the future I杏吧专区檇 like to see myself in a director role.杏吧专区