Degree Offered
Nature of the Program
The Department of Social Sciences and Public Administration offers an interdisciplinary major in Health Services Administration leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. The program recognizes that many agencies and organizations require personnel with a strong background in both the sciences and management for research, service, and administrative positions.
A wide variety of career opportunities exist in a wide variety of organizations because health care broadly impacts society. Potential employment settings include: hospitals, clinics or ambulatory care centers; mental health agencies; prepaid health maintenance organizations; health insurance companies; federal, state, and local governmental health agencies; and health specialty vendors.
The program promotes an interdisciplinary perspective in health services administration that encompasses sciences with a public health emphasis and an orientation in business principles. With careful planning, a student may minor in one or more of the following: history and government, economics, business administration, political science, or sociology.
Distinctive features of the program in Health Services Administration include a wide assortment of classes in business, political science, economics, and other applied areas. Program courses include Introduction to Health Care Organizations, Health Services Planning, Health Services Law and Legislation, and Introduction to Public Health. In addition, each student must complete a semester-long supervised capstone experience in which the student gains academic credit for administrative exposure in a cooperating health related organization
For students holding an associate degree or a diploma from a three-year nursing program, the program participates in articulation agreements providing credit for coursework taken at the community college level toward achievement of the B.S. degree.
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| 3-6 |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | |
| Accelerated Academic Writing |
| 4-6 |
| 3-4 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 9 |
| Total Hours | 31-37 |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| 51 |
| 21 |
| 48 |
| Total Hours | 120 |
University Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| 19 |
| WVUE 191 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| 31 |
| Total Hours | 51 |
Program Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| MATH 124 | Algebra with Applications (GEF 3) | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (GEF 4) | 3 |
| 3 |
| Introduction to American Government (GEF 8) | |
| State and Local Government (GEF 8) | |
| ECON 225 | Elementary Business and Economics Statistics (GEF 8) | 3 |
| WRIT 305 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| HUMS 489 | Practicum Capstone Internship | 6 |
| Total Hours | 21 |
Healthcare Administration Major Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| ECON 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| 3 |
| Public Economics | |
| Health Economics | |
| SOC 325 | Illness and Health Care | 3 |
| HUMS 210 | Introduction to Welfare | 3 |
| HUMS 300 | Introduction to Health Care Organizations | 3 |
| HUMS 320 | Public Administration | 3 |
| HUMS 330 | Health Insurance | 3 |
| HUMS 400 | Health Services Law and Legislation | 3 |
| HUMS 410 | Fundamentals of Health Care Administration | 3 |
| HUMS 420 | Principle of Microhealthcare Finance | 3 |
| HUMS 430 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| HUMS 440 | Long Term Care Administration | 3 |
| HUMS 470 | Health Services Planning | 3 |
| Total Hours | 48 |
Suggested Plan of Study
Major Learning Outcomes
Healthcare Administration
This program has the following specific outcomes:
- The student will demonstrate a broad based understanding of the dynamics of the health care industry, including familiarity with a variety of care delivery organizations, types of care delivery methods, and fiscal responsibilities.
- The student will be able to apply critical thinking and higher level analytical skills to problems and issues in their career fields.
- The student will be able to communicate effectively in oral and written form and use specialized vocabulary utilized in the health care industry in the appropriate context.
- The student will become culturally competent and know about the importance of diversity in the work environment