Health Administration

The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Health Administration at WMU is to educate innovative future leaders who will improve the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve.

Our curriculum, delivered by the College of Health and Human Services and the Haworth College of Business, combines two areas knowledge required for health administrators: health and management. Our expert faculty promote hands-on, experiential learning in the field, which prepares you to enter the workforce upon graduation or continue your studies in a health administration-related graduate program.

We seek to be recognized as a cutting-edge program of choice in health administration by students, alumni, colleagues, employers and professional organizations.

Job outlook

23% growth

in the number of healthcare support occupations from 2019-29
—Bureau of Labor Statistics

32% growth

in the number of medical and health service managers from 2020-2030.
—Bureau of Labor Statistics

3.3 million new jobs

added in healthcare and social assistance professions from 2020-30
—Bureau of Labor Statistics

Health administrators are involved in the non-clinical functions of health organizations, such as planning and managing the delivery of health services, overseeing facility operations and budgets, hiring and training staff, and ensuring compliance with regulations. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, medical offices and outpatient facilities, nursing homes, home health agencies, managed care organizations, human service organizations, and government organizations.

Student Spotlight

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Clay Linson found his purpose in health administration. From classroom to student leadership, he is paving a path for future success. Read more about Clay’s journey below.

Why did you choose Health Administration?

Since high school, I've been driven by a passion for making a positive impact and helping others. Health administration combines my love for science with the opportunity to enact meaningful change in healthcare systems, making it a natural choice for me.

What are your future career goals?

My future career goal is to become a sales representative for Stryker. I aim to leverage my knowledge in health administration to effectively communicate the value of Stryker's medical products and contribute to improving patient outcomes.

What are you most proud of so far at WMU?

I'm incredibly proud to have co-founded the Association of Healthcare Business Leaders (AHBL) at WMU. It's gratifying to see how this organization has grown and provided opportunities for students to engage with healthcare leadership and make a difference in our community.

What will I learn

The health administration program will prepare you for a variety of leadership roles in health and human services organizations. Some of the topic areas you will focus on in this degree include:

  • US health system information

  • Cultural competency and diversity

  • Healthcare organization management

  • HR and information systems

  • Community and population health

  • Organizational development

  • Operation assessment and improvement

  • Healthcare law and policy

Program values

Curiosity

If knowledge is power, then curiosity is the muscle.
—Danielle LaPorte

We foster a learning environment that promotes intellectual curiosity and develops critical thinking to prepare students for the ever-changing healthcare environment.

Collaboration

Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than in the one where they sprang up.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
We foster a learning environment that encourages collaboration with others from different academic disciplines and promotes openness to diverse perspectives, thoughts, and backgrounds.

Connection

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
—African proverb
We foster a learning environment that builds a community, inside and outside the classroom, between and among students, faculty, alumni, and health professionals.

Curriculum

There are three main parts to the health administration curriculum: required core courses, required cognate courses, and elective courses.

  • You can earn a general business minor after you complete the required cognate courses.

  • You will be eligible to take the Michigan Nursing Home Administrator examination after you complete the required core courses and choose GRN 1000 as an elective.

  • MDSC 2010 Medical Terminology - 1 credit
  • PH 2310 Public Health Needs and Issues - 3 credits
  • PH 2340 Introduction to Biostatistics - 3 credits
  • HSV 1000: Introduction to Professions in Health and Human Services - 3 credits
  • HSV 3700: US Health Systems - 3 credits
  • HSV 3900 Core Competencies and Contemporary Issues in Healthcare - 3 credits
  • HSV 4100 Legal Issues in Health Services - 3 credits
  • HSV 4400: Diversity and Inclusion in Health and Human Services - 3 credits
  • HSV 4780: U.S. Health Policy - 3 credits
  • HSV 4800: Healthcare Management - 3 credits
  • HSV 4820 Post Acute Care - 3 credits
  • HSV 4990: Health Administration Internship - 3 credits
  • ACTY 2100: Introduction to Financial Accounting & Analysis - 3 credits
  • ACTY 2110: Intro to Managerial Accounting and Strategic Decision Making - 3 credits
  • BCM 1420: Informational Writing - 3 credits
  • BUS 1750: Business Enterprise - 3 credits
  • CIS 1020: Introduction to Business Computing and Data Analysis - 3 credits
  • CIS 2500: Data Analysis Essentials for Business - 3 credits
  • CIS 2700: Business-Driven Information Technology - 3 credits
  • FIN 3200: Business Finance - 3 credits
  • MGMT 2020: Leading Business Organizations (formerly 3011) - 3 credits
  • MGMT 2500: Organizational Behavior - 3 credits
  • MGMT 2520: Human Resource Management - 3 credits - or -
    PADM 5270 Human Resource Administration - 3 credits
  • MKTG 2500: Marketing Principles - 3 credits
  • ECON 2010: Principles of Microeconomics - 3 credits
  • ECON 3180: The Economics of Medical Care - 3 credits
  • PHIL 3340: Biomedical Ethics - 3 credits

You must choose at least two courses from those listed below.

  • HSV 2250: Lifespan Development - 3 credits
  • HSV 3000: Research in the Health Sciences - 3 credits
  • HSV 3550: Perspectives in Women’s Health - 3 credits
  • HSV 4680; Health Literacy Practices - 3 credits
  • HSV 4880: Psychosocial Aspects of Health and Healthcare - 3 credits
  • ADA 2250: Drug Use: Personal and Social Impact - 3 credits
  • ADA 3300: Addiction and the Addiction Process - 3 credits
  • GRN 1000: Introduction to Aging Studies - 3 credits
  • PH 2320: Global and Environmental Health Issues - 3 credits
  • PH 3340: Epidemiology - 3 credits
  • HOL 5072: Mindfulness Skills (formerly 6305) - 3 credits
  • HOL 5321: Coaching Skills - 3 credits
  • HOL 5350: Stress Management - 3 credits
  • HOL 5360: Wellness Skills for Health Professionals - 3 credits
  • HOL 5750: Resiliency Theory and Skills - 3 credits
  • LAW 3800: Legal Environment - 3 credits
  • BUS 3750: Business Process Productivity - 3 credits
  • BUS 4500: Business Ethics and Sustainability - 3 credits
  • CIS 2640: Applied Analytics Foundation - 3 credits
  • CIS 2650: Programming for Data Analytics - 3 credits
  • CIS 3640: Visual Analytics - 3 credits
  • FIN 2010: Personal Finance - 3 credits
  • PADM 5270: Human Resource Administration - 3 credits
  • PADM 5420: Nonprofit Accounting and Finance - 3 credits
  • PADM 5880: Culture, Diversity and Social Equity - 3 credits