Online Classes: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration
Healthcare Administration Online
Advance your career with healthcare management courses in an online format
Are you passionate about combining leadership and business skills in a healthcare setting? Do you need the convenience and flexibility of learning on your own time? Then choose an online Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration with Mercy College.
Healthcare Administrators are responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating, and managing the direction of their chosen healthcare facility. The healthcare administration degree balances business and leadership courses to prepare students for managing in a hospital or health center setting.
Students can earn their degree online in as little as five semesters.
With the flexibility of online courses, many students continue to work
full time while they earn this degree.
The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration program courses
begin in the fall (August), spring (January), and summer (May)
semesters.
Program Overview
The Healthcare Administration (HCA) degree completion program provides a foundation in healthcare management skills and healthcare business knowledge. Coursework and an elective practicum experience will assist the student in current or future management positions in healthcare facilities. This program emphasizes building strong communication skills and organizational competence — critical skills critical for healthcare managers.
Healthcare administration careers:
- Mid-Level Hospital Manager
- Long-Term Care Administrator
- Managed Care Organization Administrator
- Clinic Administrator
- Public Health Administrator
- Healthcare Consultant
MHA Fast Track
Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration now also have the option to take one or more (maximum of six credit-hours) 500 level graduate courses at the undergraduate tuition rate. The course options are part of the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program. More information about the MHA fast-track option is below.
The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration (HCA) program provides a foundation of management skills and business knowledge specific to healthcare. The curriculum prepares students for meaningful and productive careers as administrators and managers in the healthcare workplace. Emphasis is placed on developing strong communication and critical thinking skills that highlight the effective healthcare manager.
Program Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the Healthcare Administration program, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the U.S. healthcare system.
- Identify legal and government regulations that impact healthcare organizations.
- Demonstrate fiscal and economic principles necessary for value creation within healthcare organizations.
- Determine practices required to support, develop, and motivate a diverse healthcare workforce.
- Identify essential organizational processes, infrastructure, and quality initiatives required within healthcare organizations.
Admission Requirements
Students holding an associate/bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.3, will be considered for program admission. Students whose GPA falls below a 2.3 but above a 2.0 will be considered on an individual basis. A student without an associate/bachelor’s degree will be considered for admission provided he/she has earned 60 or more transferable credit hours, with a minimum GPA of 2.3, and has completed the following general education coursework: Natural Sciences, Technology and Innovation (GNST) (6 credit hours), Oral and Written Communication (GCOM): ENG 101 or equivalent (3 credit hours), Math, Statistics and Logic (GMSL) (3 credit hours), and Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSBS) (3 credit hours).
Requirements for Practicum
Criminal background checks, drug screens, health records, and titers/immunizations are required prior to the start of the clinical program. Program requirements and instructions are maintained on the College website at https://mercycollege.edu/background. The Policy can be found at https://mercycollege.edu/about/compliance-consumer-information.
To earn the Bachelor of Science Degree in Healthcare Administration students must complete all college requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree including the following:
General Education Requirements
SOC 211: Specific courses are required by the program.
Complete All of the Following Courses:
Oral and Written Communication (GCOM) - 6 Minimum
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
Math, Statistics and Logic (GMSL) - 3 minimum
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSBS) - 6 minimum
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| SOC 211 | Cultural Diversity | 3 |
Arts, Humanities, Culture and Diversity (must include 6 credit hours in Religious Studies) (GAHD/GAHR) - 9 minimum
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
Natural Sciences, Technology and Innovation (GNSI) - 6 minimum
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
Additional hours from one or more of the above categories - 6 minimum
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
Required Healthcare Administration Program Course Requirements
Complete All of the Following Program Courses:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| HCA 301 | Introduction to the United States Healthcare System | 3 |
| HCA 310 | Organizational Behavior in Healthcare | 3 |
| HCA 312 | Human Resource Management in Healthcare Organizations | 3 |
| HCA 316 | Healthcare Information Systems | 3 |
| HCA 330 | Principles of Accounting for Healthcare | 3 |
| HCA 410 | Introduction to Healthcare Finance | 3 |
| HCA 412 | Healthcare Law and Ethics | 3 |
| HCA 419 | Reimbursement, Insurance, and Managed Care | 3 |
| HCA 435 | Quality Improvement and Patient Safety | 3 |
| HCA 440 | Fundamentals of Population Health for Healthcare Administrators | 3 |
| HCA 450 | Healthcare Management | 3 |
Healthcare Administration Program Elective Course Requirements
Complete Two of the Following Program Courses:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| HCA 318 | Principles of Healthcare Marketing | 3 |
| HCA 399 | Special Topics in Healthcare Administration | 3 |
| HCA 420 | Fundamentals of Healthcare Economics | 3 |
Sample program of study for Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HCA 301 | Introduction to the United States Healthcare System | 3 |
| HCA 310 | Organizational Behavior in Healthcare | 3 |
| HCA 312 | Human Resource Management in Healthcare Organizations | 3 |
| HCA 316 | Healthcare Information Systems | 3 |
| HCA 330 | Principles of Accounting for Healthcare | 3 |
| HCA 410 | Introduction to Healthcare Finance | 3 |
| HCA 412 | Healthcare Law and Ethics | 3 |
| HCA 419 | Reimbursement, Insurance, and Managed Care | 3 |
| HCA 435 | Quality Improvement and Patient Safety | 3 |
| HCA 440 | Fundamentals of Population Health for Healthcare Administrators | 3 |
| HCA 450 | Healthcare Management | 3 |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HCA 318 | Principles of Healthcare Marketing | 3 |
| HCA 399 | Special Topics in Healthcare Administration | 3 |
| HCA 420 | Fundamentals of Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEN | Oral and Written Communication | 6 |
| GEN | Math, Statistics, and Logic | 3 |
| GEN | Social and Behavioral Sciences | 6 |
| GEN | Arts, Humanities, Culture and Diversity | 9 |
| GEN | Natural Sciences, Technology and Innovation | 6 |
| GEN | Additional General Education Coursework (any category) | 6 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Curriculum effective Fall 2021. For students enrolled prior to Fall 2021, please reference the Mercy College catalog.
At the completion of the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration completion program, the graduate will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the U.S. healthcare system.
- Identify legal and government regulations that impact healthcare organizations.
- Demonstrate fiscal and economic principles necessary for value creation within healthcare organizations.
- Determine practices required to support, develop, and motivate a diverse healthcare workforce.
- Identify essential organizational processes, infrastructure, and quality initiatives required within healthcare organizations.
Program Outcomes
-
Document .pdfHealthcare Administration Online Completion Graduation and Retention Data
Program outcome data for HCA programs
Download
Attend a program Online Information Session
part of Healthcare Worker Wednesday at Mercy College
Career Outlook
Employment Growth
Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 32 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the large baby-boom population ages and people remain active later in life, there should be increased demand for healthcare services.
This means greater needs for physicians and other healthcare workers, medical procedures, and healthcare facilities, and therefore greater needs for managers who organize and manage medical information and healthcare staff.
Employment is projected to grow in offices of health practitioners. Many services previously provided in hospitals will shift to these settings, especially as medical technologies improve. Demand in medical group practice management is projected to grow as medical group practices become larger and more complex.
Job prospects for medical and health services managers are likely to be favorable. In addition to rising employment demand, the need to replace managers who retire over the next decade will result in some openings.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Admission Requirements
A student holding an associate/bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.3, will be considered for program admission. Students whose GPA falls below a 2.3 but above a 2.0 will be considered on an individual basis. A student without an associate/bachelor’s degree will be considered for admission provided he/she has earned 60 or more transferable credit hours, with a minimum GPA of 2.3, and has completed the following general education coursework: Natural Sciences (6 cr. hrs.), ENG 101 or equivalent (3 cr. hrs.), Mathematics (3 cr. hrs.), and Social and/ or Behavioral Sciences (3 cr. hrs.).
As determined by the program director, a student without prior experience or current healthcare employment will be required to complete HCA 404, Healthcare Administration Practicum (1 credit hour, 120 contact hours) as a graduation requirement. The student who may become employed in healthcare while enrolled in the program will not be required to complete the practicum experience, as approved by the program director. This experience allows for acquisition of specific skills in a real-world healthcare setting. Additional practicum information may be obtained from the program director.