Healthcare Administration (B.S.)
The Healthcare Administration (HCA) Program, housed in the Department of Health Policy & Management, provides students with a sound theoretical education and opportunities for direct field experience that prepare them for management positions. Unlike a clinical degree, healthcare administration graduates typically assume entry and mid-level management positions in hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, group practices, managed care facilities, ambulatory centers, home health agencies, and other types of clinical delivery services.
In 2021, the median annual salary for healthcare administrators was $101,340 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021). “Employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow 16 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.6 million new jobs. Healthcare occupations are projected to add more jobs than any of the other occupational groups. This projected growth is mainly due to an aging population, leading to greater demand for healthcare services” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021). In support of JSU’s rich heritage, the HCA Program is sensitive to the needs of a diverse student body that will address national, state, and local needs for more minorities in management and the professional healthcare workforce. Our evidence-based curriculum is designed to develop competencies necessary for students' future success in healthcare administration.
Admission Criteria
The B.S. degree requirement in the HCA Program is 122 hours. Students begin the HCA core curriculum after completing the first two years of preparatory work. Admission prerequisites include courses in accounting, statistics, economics, and computer science. Faculty advisors are assigned to guide all students through matriculation and fieldwork requirements.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACC 211 | PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL ACCTNG | 3 |
| ACC 212 | PRINCIPLES OF MANGERIAL ACCTNG | 3 |
| ECO 211 | PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS | 3 |
| ENG 213 | PROFESSIONAL WRITING | 3 |
| HCA 301 | INTRO TO HEALTH CARE ORGANIZAT | 3 |
| HCA 303 | MEDICAL AND ADMN. TERMINOLOGY | 3 |
| HCA 311 | PUBLIC HEALTH AND EPIDEMIOLOGY | 3 |
| HCA 380 | STATISTICS FOR HEALTH SERVICES | 3 |
| HCA 310 | HEALTH ECONOMICS & PAYERS SYST | 3 |
| HCA 320 | HEALTHCARE SERVICES MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| HCA 352 | HUMAN RESOURCE MNGT IN HEALTHC | 3 |
| HCA 384 | HEALTH POLICY AND POLITICS | 3 |
| HCA 400 | HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION INTE | 3 |
| HCA 402 | HEALTHCARE PLANNING & MARKETIN | 3 |
| HCA 420 | ADMIN LAW AND ETHICS IN HEALTH | 3 |
| HCA 431 | HEALTH PROFESSNL CAREER DEV. S | 3 |
| HCA 440 | HEALTH MANAGEMENT INFORMATON S | 3 |
| HCA 450 | FINANCIAL MNGT OF HEALTH SERVI | 3 |
| HCA 470 | HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND EVALUA | 3 |
| HCA 480 | APPLIED RESEARCH/MNGT PROJECT | 3 |
| HCA 482 | MANAGED CARE & INTEGRATED SYST | 3 |
| HCA Elective | 6 | |
| PSY 201 | GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| Total Hours | 72 | |
Curriculum Map
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ENG 104 |
COMPOSITION I or English Composition I with Co-requisite Support or COMPOSITION & LITERATURE FOR L |
3 |
| BIO 111 & BIOL 111 |
GENERAL BIOLOGY and GENERAL BIOLOGY LAB |
4 |
| UNIV 100 | UNIVERSITY SUCCESS | 2 |
| Mathematics Option | 3 | |
| Humanities & Fine Arts Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 105 or ENG 112 |
COMPOSITION II or COMPOSITION |
3 |
| Humanities & Fine Arts Option | 3 | |
| Natural Science Option | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Science Option | 3 | |
| Pathway Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| ACC 211 | PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL ACCTNG | 3 |
| PSY 201 | GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| Speech Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities & Fine Arts Option | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Science Option | 3 | |
| Pathway Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECO 211 | PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS | 3 |
| ACC 212 | PRINCIPLES OF MANGERIAL ACCTNG | 3 |
| ENG 213 | PROFESSIONAL WRITING | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | 1 |
| Philosophy Elective | 3 | |
| Pathway Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| HCA 301 | INTRO TO HEALTH CARE ORGANIZAT | 3 |
| HCA 311 | PUBLIC HEALTH AND EPIDEMIOLOGY | 3 |
| HCA 320 | HEALTHCARE SERVICES MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| HCA 380 | STATISTICS FOR HEALTH SERVICES | 3 |
| HCA 303 | MEDICAL AND ADMN. TERMINOLOGY | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCA 310 | HEALTH ECONOMICS & PAYERS SYST | 3 |
| HCA 352 | HUMAN RESOURCE MNGT IN HEALTHC | 3 |
| HCA 384 | HEALTH POLICY AND POLITICS | 3 |
| HCA 402 | HEALTHCARE PLANNING & MARKETIN | 3 |
| HCA 470 | HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND EVALUA | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| HCA 420 | ADMIN LAW AND ETHICS IN HEALTH | 3 |
| HCA 440 | HEALTH MANAGEMENT INFORMATON S | 3 |
| HCA 450 | FINANCIAL MNGT OF HEALTH SERVI | 3 |
| HCA 480 | APPLIED RESEARCH/MNGT PROJECT | 3 |
| Healthcare Administration Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCA 400 | HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION INTE | 3 |
| HCA 431 | HEALTH PROFESSNL CAREER DEV. S | 3 |
| HCA 482 | MANAGED CARE & INTEGRATED SYST | 3 |
| Healthcare Administration Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
- 1
Beginning Fall 2022 students are required to take HCA 303. HCA 381 can be used as an HCA Elective.
Notes:
- Candidates that transfer 12 or more hours of college credit are exempt from UNIV 100 UNIVERSITY SUCCESS; however, the student must take 2 hours of general electives to replace the UNIV course.
- Online Graduation Clearance (to be completed during the graduating semester only).
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the B.S. in Healthcare Administration program, graduates will be able to do the following:
- Identify the socio-economic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities
- Apply the principles of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation in organizational initiatives.
- Explain the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U. S. health system as well as to the differences in systems in other countries.
- Demonstrate competence in health information literacy.
- Develop skills to collaborate and consult as a strategic member of the healthcare team.
- Demonstrate the ability to evaluate the scientific literature, understand and synthesize relevant information from it, and be able to convey this information both orally and in writing.
- Ability to analyze and interpret financial information specific to the healthcare setting.
- Develop effective professional behavior, communication and leadership skills for careers in health care.
- Apply management techniques and theories into leadership activities.
- Integrate concepts of ethics, privacy, law, and regulation to achieve optimal organizational effectiveness while adhering to personal and professional values in all elements of the healthcare delivery systems.