Navigation
Search

Healthcare Administration Major

Description

The fully online Healthcare Administration program prepares students to enter the healthcare field as entry-level healthcare managers. Upon completion, students are prepared to seek employment in the healthcare field in a variety of practice settings including, but not limited to, hospitals, outpatient practices (i.e. physician offices), nursing homes, public health institutions, health insurance companies, and consulting firms. Students pursue study in a series of well rounded, yet focused healthcare administration courses that include key aspects of business, systems, research, leadership, and relationships with colleagues and consumers across the healthcare continuum. A management internship is also required which provides students an opportunity to implement their skills in a real-world context. The healthcare administration faculty create educational experiences that bring students the attitudes, knowledge, and skills needed to prepare them for employment in the multi-faceted healthcare field.

Admission to the Program

Any undergraduate student can declare the healthcare administration major, provided the student has an overall GPA of 2.5.

The Healthcare Studies faculty has a professional responsibility to deny admission or continuation in any of its undergraduate or graduate programs to any student whose level of performance and/or personal characteristics or dispositions do not adequately meet academic, professional, or ethical standards.

Program Requirements

Undergraduate students in the Healthcare Administration program pursue a Bachelor of Science degree and must complete its requirements.

Students must complete two pre-requisite courses and must achieve a grade of “C” or higher in each required healthcare administration (HCA/HCS) core course (A grade of “C-” does not meet this requirement.).

General Education Requirements (44 credits)

Healthcare Administration Pre-Requisite Courses (6 credits)

*denotes courses that meet both major and general education requirements

Major Department Requirements (58 credits)

Required Healthcare Administration Core

*Internship Pre-Requisites: All pre-requisite courses completed, all required HCS coursework with a grade of “C” or higher must be completed, and an overall GPA of 2.5.

Healthcare Electives

*Choose two from the list below

Electives (6 credits)

Total Credits (120 credits)


Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Healthcare Administration major, students will be able to:

  1. Model effective communication and behaviors conducive to the healthcare culture to display empathy and confidence through engaging interactions with healthcare professionals.
  2. Apply critical thinking skills to support decision-making within the healthcare environment through both written and verbal communication, focusing on clarity, accuracy, and professional relevance.
  3. Demonstrate accountability within the healthcare environment, including maintaining confidentiality, adhering to organizational policies and procedures, and demonstrating professional responsibilities.
  4. Integrate and apply ethical decision-making to navigate complex regulations in healthcare professions by demonstrating an understanding of ethical principles and regulatory frameworks.
  5. Apply analytical skills, including data-informed decision-making, to navigate complex scenarios faced within the healthcare environment.
  6. Apply financial strategies such as budgeting, cost-effectiveness, and long-term forecasting for the creation of sustainable healthcare systems.
  7. Develop strategies to promote and support equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within the healthcare environment, by exhibiting an understanding of diverse cultural practices, emphasizing open communication, respect for cultural differences, and collaborative problem-solving.
  8. Demonstrate collaborative practices for interprofessional teamwork, including shared decision-making, leadership, open communication, and understanding roles, responsibilities, and expectations in a healthcare setting.
  9. Demonstrate the use of health information systems, including a focus on navigating electronic health records accurately and efficiently, to support comprehensive patient care in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.
  10. Develop strategies to promote and support patient and provider safety within the healthcare environment by formulating practical approaches that emphasize the implementation of standardized protocols, error prevention measures, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.