Health navigation is a new role in the changing health care environment. Health navigators work in hospitals, health clinics, human service agencies, and insurance companies. They work with clients to clarify the health system and health insurance, assist clients to access services they need and are eligible for, and educate clients regarding overall health. The health navigation program is open to UM-Flint students as a minor or certificate while students are pursuing a bachelor’s degree or for students only as a certificate program.
To be eligible to earn the certificate, community-based applicants (students not concurrently pursing a degree) must satisfy the following:
- A minimum of one year of part-time or full-time volunteer experience within a healthcare setting within the past five years
- Effective oral and written skills
- Satisfactory completion of a written professional goal statement related to the specialty certificate program
Students can be admitted into a certificate program if they are enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, have earned a bachelor’s degree, or have not earned a bachelor’s degree but would like to earn a certificate. Degree-seeking students will declare the certificate program by submitting a change of program form in SIS, and are eligible for aid while pursuing a bachelor degree program. Students not pursuing a bachelor degree program are not eligible for financial aid and are not allowed to participate in Commencement; however, the certificate will appear on the official transcript and an official diploma stating the area of the certificate earned will be awarded. Students who have graduated from a UM-Flint bachelor program within the past year need not reapply; students away from UM-Flint for more than a year will apply for readmittance; students with a bachelor degree from another accredited institution will apply as transfer students.
Students must complete at least 9 credits at the University of Michigan-Flint in order to fulfill the residency requirement for certificates. This certificate program is not eligible for federal financial aid if a student is not currently pursuing a bachelor degree program. Students will have to apply to graduate separately for the certificate. Students completing a certificate only are not allowed to participate in Commencement, however the certificate will appear on a student’s official transcript. An official diploma will be issued for this award and will state the area of the certificate earned.
