Degree Overview: Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Medical Administration
Majors Overview March 20, 2015Get information about bachelor’s degree programs in medical administration and their education requirements, coursework, job and wage outlook, and continuing education choices.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Medical Administration
Schools offer a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) as well as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health Care Administration to satisfy the needs of individuals that wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree program in medical administration. Those who wish to enter the workforce or are currently working as medical service professionals and looking for opportunities to advance their career prospects can also look into these programs.
Specialized instruction in health care operations and management is combined with general business training as students are taught to work with insurance companies, medical staff, and patients. Their areas of study include policies related to various medical facilities, including hospitals, in addition to communications and organizational behavior. Also covered are contemporary issues in health care administration and research methods.
Education Requirements
Schools offer a few medical administration bachelor’s degree programs as degree completion programs to suit the requirements of allied health care professionals; incoming students are required to hold a related associate’s degree.
Applicants to some programs in which there is no prior degree requirement are often encouraged to complete prerequisite courses in accounting, economics, English composition, medical vocabulary, and biology. Those who wish to pursue a medical administration bachelor’s degree program may also be required to possess a GPA of at least 2.5.
Coursework
A professional internship within a home health care company, long-term care facility, doctor’s office, or hospital is usually a component of the coursework for medical administration majors. Core coursework may include topic areas such as:
•Information systems for medical administrators
•Ethics for medical professionals
•Techniques for improving patient care services
•Medical personnel management
•Health care budgeting and finance
Job and Wage Outlook
A faster-than-average job growth rate of 23% has been predicted for health services managers over the 2012 – 2022 decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, these professionals brought in an average annual wage of $88,580.
Continuing Education Choices
While there are several entry-level administrative positions to offer to bachelor’s degree holders, those seeking advanced positions would be better served by pursuing continuing education in the form of a master’s degree in health services administration. Other alternatives include public health master’s degrees and long-term care administration.
