Possible Bachelor’s Degrees Options in Healthcare Management
Majors Overview August 22, 2014Receive information about bachelor’s degree programs in healthcare management and their education requirements, coursework, career choices, job and wage outlook, and continuing education and certification choices.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Healthcare Management
Students enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) with concentrations in healthcare management and Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) programs learn about the business skills necessary for pursuing careers in numerous areas of health services management. Students learn about business and its use in a healthcare setting. The curriculum often includes healthcare ethics and insurance.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a GED certificate or high school diploma. Students enrolled in some schools are required to complete core business courses before they are allowed to begin core coursework.
Coursework
The curriculum includes business courses, such as human resources and accounting, in addition to coursework germane to the healthcare field, including psychology and medical terminology. Other topics studied include inter-professional relationships, change management, analytic decision making and information systems. Core coursework may include topic areas such as:
•Healthcare ethics
•Marketing in the healthcare industry
•Healthcare finance
•Healthcare information technology
•Anatomy and physiology
•Diversity issues in healthcare
Career Choices
Those who complete a bachelor’s degree program may seek entry-level careers in numerous healthcare-related businesses, including pharmaceutical companies, long-term care facilities, insurance companies, and hospitals. They can choose from popular career options such as:
•Medical office administrator
•Healthcare administrator
•Healthcare facilities manager
•Health project manager
•Healthcare quality manager
Job and Wage Outlook
Over the 2010 – 2020 decade, job growth rates of 22% have been predicted for medical and health services managers, also called healthcare administrators (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, these professionals brought home an average annual wage of $88,580 (BLS).
Continuing Education and Certification Choices
Graduates from the bachelor’s degree program can seek continued education by earning the Healthcare Information Management Systems (HIMS)’s voluntary Certified Professional in Healthcare and Management Systems (CPHIMS) designation. Eligibility criteria to take the exam features five years’ work experience in information and management systems, including three in healthcare, in addition to holding a bachelor’s degree. Some bachelor’s degree graduates may seek continued education through the master’s degree, which could lead to a leadership position. Some schools allow students to specialize in finance, management or information technology.
