Bachelors (BA) in Healthcare Administration
Overview
The healthcare administration major offers a 36-semester-hour course of study that is designed to prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to excel in leadership and administrative roles within healthcare organizations. It offers opportunities to build strong communication, decision making, and critical thinking skills by evaluating theories and practices with student’s experiences to create a relevant and practical learning environment. The coursework encourages each student to build their own ethical perspective in a learning environment that includes the integration of Christian worldview and values.
Degree Outcomes
Graduates of the healthcare administration major will be able to:
- Effectively manage organizational change and promote organizational and clinical excellence.
- Apply financial management principles to optimize operational efficiency and achieve strategic goals.
- Utilize the management tools, analytical methods, and research skills necessary to identify organizational problems and to formulate solutions for those problems.
- Analyze and appraise healthcare law and policy to assist in effective decision making and clinical management.
- Develop leadership skills to improve both business and clinical outcomes of health services organizations. Discover and evaluate how their understanding of ethics and Christian values informs decision making and impacts their management practices in an organizational context.
Course Requirements
Students are required to obtain a minimum grade of C- in all courses taken for the major.
Major Requirements
Complete the following:
This course provides an overview of organizational theory and the impact of decision-making on the behavior of individuals working in healthcare organizations. Topics include change management, leadership, motivation, group behavior, conflict management, decision-making, power, organizational structure, team building, and communication within organizations. Students will examine the role of human resources management functions.
This course provides an overview of the fields of organizational and management theory. It gives the student an understanding of the roles of management in fulfilling the mission and goals of the organization. Students are expected to apply management theory as they make decisions to solve organizational problems.
Prerequisite: MGHA 401 Organizational Behavior.
From a leadership perspective, this course focuses on the role communication plays in creating a productive work environment. Students will build communication competencies through learning to use listening skills, emotional intelligence, purpose identification, audience analysis, strategy development, message design, and medium selection. Topics covered include the effective use of digital media and leadership communication in the context of networks, groups and teams, addressing internal and external audiences, as well as in conducting meetings and presentations. Prerequisite: MGHA 401 Organizational Behavior.
In this advanced course, students will engage in an in-depth analysis of worldview formation, with a focus on its implications for personal identity, professional paradigms, interpersonal communication, ethical decision-making, and faith development. Students will evaluate diverse perspectives and theological frameworks, including a discipline-specific exploration of the foundations of the Christian faith and its historical and societal impact. The course will guide students in refining a personal worldview that shapes their understanding of work, fostering a deeper integration of faith, reason, and ethical responsibility.
In this capstone course, students will apply knowledge and skills gained throughout the program to strategic planning and marketing concepts tailored to healthcare organizations. The course focuses on environmental scanning, market analysis, and engaging stakeholders to achieve organizational goals. Using the team approach will give students the opportunity to practice management skills and simulate what happens in business. Prerequisites: MGHA 403 Organizational Theory and Design, MGHA 433 Leadership for Healthcare Professionals
Complete the following:
MGHA 475 is optional and not required for Healthcare Administration majors.
Inquiry and exploration into the problems of modern healthcare using ethical theories and reflection to articulate a range of possible solutions. Students will connect various contemporary healthcare issues with ethical theory and decision making. While there are many such issues, we concentrate on topics concerning access to healthcare, patient autonomy and informed consent, and the right to die.
Prerequisite: MGOL 401 Organizational Behavior, MGHA 427 Introduction to Healthcare Services.
In this course, students will develop a foundational understanding of the financial accounting principles and financial operations of healthcare organizations, including budgeting, financial reporting, and revenue cycle management. Topics will also include decision-making with emphasis on various payment models and third-party payers. This course will enhance the student's decision-making skills by utilizing case studies and practical applications to real world situations.
Prerequisite: MGHA 427 Introduction to Healthcare Services.
Introduces the historical development and contemporary structure of healthcare services. Examines a wide range of delivery settings and providers, the role of government and regulatory bodies, sources of healthcare funding, and related current issues. Prerequisite: MGOL 401 Organizational Behavior.
In this course, the student will develop a strong foundation of healthcare laws enabling students to contend with legal issues facing administrators of healthcare organizations on a daily basis. Topics will include statutory laws, rules and regulations, patient rights, fraud and Anti-trust legislation and enforcement. Students will develop a solid understanding of the impact of relationships between the patient, payer, and provider on the American healthcare structure. Prerequisite: MGHA 427 Introduction to Healthcare Services.
This course examines the role of informatics and data analysis in improving healthcare delivery and outcomes. Students will explore healthcare information systems, data governance, and analytical techniques to support decision-making and optimize patient care. Topics include electronic health records (EHRs), big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging technologies. Prerequisite: MGHA 427 Introduction to Healthcare Services.
This course will examine the theory and practice of leadership in healthcare settings and the critical knowledge and skills needed to be effective leaders in today's complex healthcare environment. Prerequisite: MGHA 427 Introduction to Healthcare Services.
Students will examine health disparities, inclusive practices, and strategies for improving care for diverse populations. Students will learn about social determinants of health, health disparities, and preventive care. The course emphasizes data-driven approaches to managing population health, including community-based initiatives. Prerequisite: MGHA 427 Introduction to Healthcare Services.
Supervised experience in the discipline including internships and practica required for professional programs. This advanced experience must have an on-site supervisor and/or a departmental instructor overseeing, designing, and evaluating the content of the course. Prerequisite: MGOL 401 Organizational Behavior, MGHA 427 Introduction to Healthcare Services, and instructor's permission.