Healthcare Administration Degree Program

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Healthcare Administration Overview

Do you see yourself as a compassionate leader? Healthcare administrators are considered healthcare professionals in leadership positions at hospitals, hospital networks, healthcare systems and public health systems. A healthcare administration degree from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College may be just what you need to become the leader you want to be. Our degree programs provide the flexibility to lead you to the career of your dreams. With your professional advisors helping you along the way, you can mix and match majors and minors to get the perfect degree tailored to you and your career aspirations. Plus, you’ll graduate with a strong foundation in liberal arts.

If you’re interested in a career in healthcare but prefer to work behind the scenes rather than in a clinical setting, a healthcare administration degree could be the perfect fit for you. In this degree program, you will learn from professors with real-world experience who teach such topics as medical terminology, human services, healthcare economics, bioethics and strategic management. This program will equip you with all the tools you need to pursue a career in healthcare administration.

Major curriculum – 60 credit hours

Minor curriculum – 24 credit hours

FAQs

What is healthcare administration?
Healthcare administration describes the leadership roles within the field of healthcare, which can include and is not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, insurance companies, government agencies and medical practices. As a healthcare administrator, you’ll play a critical role in managing and improving healthcare delivery and ensuring that patients receive high-quality care. This may involve overseeing operations, creating patient care policies, managing patient billing and improving facility efficiency.

Why get a degree in healthcare administration?
A degree in healthcare administration from SMWC equips you with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a variety of career paths in healthcare administration. As the healthcare industry continues to grow, so does the demand for qualified healthcare administrators. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 15% from 2019 to 2029, adding 2.4 million new jobs.

What can you do with a degree in healthcare administration?
Healthcare administration is the non-clinical side of healthcare. They make daily and long-term decisions on the business strategies of the healthcare system. Our program also prepares you for graduate school. Learn more about our Master’s of Healthcare Admin (MHA) program. Graduates with a healthcare administration degree are prepared to work in a variety of healthcare administration jobs such as:

• Director of Nursing
• Healthcare Administrator
• Health Information Manager
• Health Service Manager
• Hospital Administrator
• Medical Director
• Nursing Home Administrator
• Nursing Recruiter

Check out our blog: 10 careers you can have with a healthcare administration degree

What is the average annual salary of someone with a healthcare administration degree?
Healthcare administration is one of the best-paying careers available in the healthcare field for those who do not want to go the nursing route. As you look at starting salaries, keep in mind that the cost of living and opportunities to move with a career or industry sector should also factor into your decision. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for an healthcare administrator is $104,280.

What support and resources are provided at SMWC?
The Learning Resource Center (LRC) provides exceptional, personalized learning resource services to encourage student success. The LRC offers help with a range of academic support services, including a writing center, tutoring, college success courses and more.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is routinely ranked by US News and World Report among the Best Regional Universities in the Midwest and the Best Value Schools. Our departments are also routinely ranked for their individual degree programs.
See the SMWC Difference: