Health Sciences - Healthcare Administration Program

The Health Sciences - Healthcare Administration program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare industry, including its principles, practices, and policies. This program combines compassion, business, policy, and science to manage the delivery of patient care.

Program Overview

The online B.S. Health Sciences in Healthcare Administration degree program enables students to plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, mental health organizations, and insurance companies.

Key Topics of Study

• Contemporary issues in healthcare administration
• Fundamentals of the United States healthcare system and its various characteristics
• Laws and regulations that impact the healthcare and public health systems
• Concepts and issues relevant to healthcare administration in different environments, including hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics
• Managing healthcare operations and employees
• Finance as practiced in health services organizations
• Making ethical decisions as a healthcare practitioner
• Strategic management and planning as related to healthcare organizations

Candidates for the Healthcare Administration Program

• Transfer students wanting to complete their bachelor's degree in health
• Students wanting to advance their career in the health field
• Those who wish to pursue a specialized master's degree in healthcare administration
• Individuals seeking careers at hospitals, insurance companies, clinics, and more

Learning Outcomes

• Identify the characteristics and foundations of the healthcare administration discipline
• Apply critical problem-solving and strategic thinking in analyzing and evaluating issues in healthcare administration
• Employ effective and professional communication in the healthcare administration discipline
• Independently analyze and reflect on a chosen health profession's ethical standards

Courses and Requirements

The UWF's online health sciences degree includes a total of 120 credit hours. Through the major's 60 credit hours, students will build a strong foundation in health sciences and healthcare administration. Included in the major are 12 credit hours of approved elective classes.

General Education (60 credit hours)

Students must satisfy 60 credit hours of general education requirements, which include subjects in communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and lower-level electives.

Common Prerequisites (10 credit hours)

State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to admission to the program. These include:

• BSC 1005+L - General Biology for Non-Majors (plus lab)
• PSY 2012 - General Psychology
• STA 2023 - Elements of Statistics

Health Science Core (9 credit hours)

• HSA 3551 - Health Ethics and Professionalism
• HSC 4050 - Health Sciences Capstone Course
• Choose one of the following:
  • HSC 3034 - Career Essentials for Healthcare
  • RET 3028 - Foundations of Respiratory Therapy

Major Courses (51 credit hours)

• HSA 3111 - Understanding U.S. Healthcare
• BUL 4602 - Legal Fundamentals of Healthcare
• HSA 4002 - Healthcare Administration
• HSC 3535 - Medical Terminology
• HSA 4340 - Personnel Administration in Healthcare
• HSA 4430 - Health Economics
• HSA 3170 - Principles of Healthcare Finance
• HSA 3140 - Strategic Planning in Healthcare
• MAR 3023 - Marketing Fundamentals
• HSA 4383 - Quality Improvement in Healthcare
• HSA 4192 - Current Topics in Health Informatics
• HSA 4941 - Internship
• Choose one of the following:
  • HSC 2622 - Introduction to Global Health Sciences
  • PHC 4101 - Essentials of Public Health

Approved Electives (12 credit hours)

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission into UWF's online healthcare administration program, students must:

• Successfully complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition

• In-State Tuition: $218.98 per credit hour
• In-State Tuition with Maximum Transfer Credits (Up to 90): $218.98 per credit hour
• Full Out-of-State Tuition: $648.37 per credit hour
• 75% Out-of-State Tuition Waiver: $341.67 per credit hour

Financial Aid

Funding for college education is available through various financial aid options, including loans, scholarships, and grants for degree-seeking students.

Career Outcomes

In the exciting career field of healthcare administration, graduates can plan, direct, and coordinate the business activities of healthcare organizations, including work in healthcare operations, human resources, data systems, quality improvement, and compliance. Examples of career options include:

• Hospital administrators
• Long-term administrators
• Health services managers
• Health information managers
• Medical practice managers
• Healthcare compliance officers

Salary and Job Outlook

• Medical Group Practice Office Managers: Median salary $110,680 per year, with employment projected to grow by 28% from 2022 to 2032.
• Assisted Living Facility Administrators: Median annual salary $110,680, with employment projected to grow by 28% from 2022 to 2032.
• Medical Records Specialists: Median annual salary $48,780, with employment projected to grow by 8% from 2022 to 2032.

Program Details

• Est. Program Length: 48 months
• Credit Hours: 120
• Course Length: 8 weeks
• In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $218.98
• Transfer Credits Accepted: Up to 90

University of West Florida

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Overview:

The University of West Florida (UWF) is a public university offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. It prides itself on providing a personalized learning experience with small class sizes and dedicated faculty. UWF emphasizes a strong student-to-faculty ratio, ensuring individual attention and support.

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Services Offered:

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

UWF offers a vibrant campus community with various facilities and resources. Students can explore the Pensacola campus, UWF Emerald Coast in Fort Walton Beach, UWF Historic Trust in Historic Pensacola, and UWF's downtown Pensacola facilities. A virtual tour is available to experience the campus remotely.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

Personalized Attention:

UWF boasts a 100:1 student-to-faculty ratio, ensuring personalized attention and support from world-renowned professors.

Diverse Programs:

Over 110 undergraduate and graduate programs cater to various interests and career aspirations.

Strong Reputation:

UWF is ranked #100 in the "Top Public School – Regional Universities South" by U.S. News and World Report.

Engaging Campus Life:

UWF offers a vibrant campus community with various facilities and resources, including a virtual tour for remote exploration.

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Academic Programs:

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Other:

UWF actively engages in research and community outreach. Recent initiatives include:

Archaeology Institute Field Schools:

Offering students hands-on experience in archaeological investigations.

HeirStory Project:

Collaborating with a renowned journalist to develop technology for preserving family legacies.

Galapagos Islands Study Abroad:

Providing students with immersive cultural and historical experiences.