BECOME A LEADER IN HEALTHCARE
Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration
Accredited by
- Flexible online learning options
- Convenient four-week courses
- No application fee, essays, or exams
Format
Online and Hybrid
Completion Time
This program is designed to be completed within 48 months. However, students who pursue this program at an accelerated rate may be able to complete the program in as few as 27 months.
27 Months*
Credits
120
Average Cost Per Credit
$640
Program Overview
Why Get a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration?
Healthcare changes rapidly, and skilled professionals who can adapt, innovate, and navigate uncertainty are in demand. Guided by industry experts with real-world experience, National University’s Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration (BSHA) program is tailored for students passionate about making a lasting impact in nonclinical settings.
Portfolio-Building Capstone Project
Year-Round Enrollment
Experienced Faculty and Mentors
Dedicated Career Support
Career Impact
Explore current career data, including projected job growth and earning potential.
*Data Source: The career outcomes data presented is sourced from Lightcast, which provides insights based on real-time job postings, public datasets, and analytics. Lightcast derives its data from sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), and the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES). While accurate and reliable, this data reflects general labor market trends and may not represent individual outcomes or specific local conditions. For more details on Lightcast’s methodology, visit their Data Overview.
Professional Pathways
Medical and Health Services Managers
67,933
Job openings in the past year$122,218
Median SalarySocial and Community Service Managers
22,758
Job openings in the past year$79,425
Median Salary
*Data Source: The career outcomes data presented is sourced from Lightcast, which provides insights based on real-time job postings, public datasets, and analytics. Lightcast derives its data from sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), and the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES). While accurate and reliable, this data reflects general labor market trends and may not represent individual outcomes or specific local conditions. For more details on Lightcast’s methodology, visit their Data Overview.
What You’ll Learn and Apply
Admission and Degree Requirements
How to Apply
Admission highlights:
- Transfer-friendly admission process
- Flexible monthly start dates
- Online application with personalized support
- Year-round enrollment opportunities
- Guidance from dedicated admissions advisors
Application requirements:
- Completed online application
- Official transcripts from previously attended institutions
- Proof of high school diploma or equivalent
- Personal statement or educational goals statement
- Resume or relevant academic background information
Degree Requirements
Requirements include:
- General education coursework (minimum 46 semester credit hours)
- Minimum 30 semester credit hours completed through NU
- 120 semester credit hours required for graduation
- Minimum 51 semester credit hours completed at the upper-division level
Additional information:
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Complete all required BSHA coursework, including healthcare capstone
- Participate in collaborative and project-based learning experiences
- Demonstrate analytical and critical thinking skills
Explore Our Courses
Build advanced expertise in your field through career-relevant coursework.
Program Requirements
13 COURSES
Personal Health
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Designed to assist individuals to establish health behaviors for optimal physical, emotional, and sexual health and maintain a healthy environment.
Healthcare Terminology
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Presentation of healthcare service terminology and word forms. Includes language describing health and disease. Emphasizes development of medical vocabulary employing the building of terms for application in understanding and analysis of medical records.
Financial Accounting Fundamentals
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
A survey of basic accounting theory and the application of accounting principles, this course includes the recording and summarization of business transactions in the form of financial statements under the rules of generally accepted accounting principles. (GAAP). It is designed for students who have little or no prior knowledge of financial accounting, this course corresponds to Principles of Accounting I at other colleges.
Managerial Accounting Fundamentals
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ACC 201
This course is an overview of the use of financial accounting and cost accounting data for the design and preparation of reports to aid management in organizing, directing, controlling, and decision-making functions. The topics include the fundamentals of cost accounting, budgeting and responsibility accounting for cost and profit centers.
One of the following:
Introduction to Psychology
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
A survey of the field of psychology that provides an overview of the scientific principles and theories in psychology. Topics include: biological psychology, abnormal behavior, motivation, emotion, sexuality and gender, and personality theory.
Principles of Sociology
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Critical introduction to basic sociology concepts. Examination of major theoretical perspectives and research methods. Topics include: economic stratification, race, gender, family, deviance, complex organizations.
Intro to Biomedical Statistics
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
An introduction to concepts, procedures and software used in the statistical analysis of data in the health professions.
Culture and Health
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ILR 260
Focus is on the influence of culture and social determinants on illness, health, and rehabilitation. The relationship that culture, social and structural determinants plays in the health and wellness of both individuals and the community in which they live will be explored.
Introduction to Epidemiology
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: BST 322; ILR 260
Presents concepts and processes of this core public health discipline. Occurrence, distribution, effects, and control of diseases and conditions examined from a broad perspective. Applications of epidemiological methods included.
Chronic & Communicable Disease
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ILR 260
Introduction to concepts of pathological process from a public health viewpoint. Consideration of historical and contemporary disease patterns based on an understanding of pathogenic, behavioral, and environmental dimensions.
Health Behavior
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ILR 260
Considers the significant influence that individual and collective behavior exerts on health status. Relationships of behavior and social variables are examined, including natural and built environments, economics, and public policy.
Principles of Microeconomics
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
In this course, students will study the price system, market structures, and consumer theory. Topics covered include supply and demand, price controls, public policy, the theory of the firm, cost and revenue concepts, forms of competition, elasticity, and efficient resource allocation, among others.
Principles of Macroeconomics
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
This course provides an examination of aggregate economic activity. It includes a study of aggregate supply and demand, the monetary and banking systems, aggregate economic accounting, inflation, unemployment, the business cycle, macroeconomic policy, and economic progress and stability, among other things.
Cultural Diversity
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: ENG 102
Examines race, gender, ethnicity and class in 20th century American society. Introduces students to methods for studying the changing nature of our society and explores ways in which our increasingly urbanized and technological culture affects all aspects of professional and unskilled work. May involve work in oral history.
Additional Course Requirements for the Major
15 COURSES
Foundations of HC Leadership
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Recommended Preparation: Completion of all Coursework in Preparation for the Major
Foundational introduction to the healthcare management profession. Examination of the theories, principles, and styles related to leadership, administration, and management as applied to healthcare organizations. Focuses on evolving trends in management, management and leadership theories, and skills in planning, organizing, decision-making, staffing, leading, communicating and motivating health care personnel.
Legal/Ethical Issues & Health
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Focuses on legal and ethical concepts, principles of ethics and law and use in resolving ethical conflicts and dilemmas in health care. Scope of practice, informed consent, employee and patient rights and responsibilities, patient abuse, and the influence of finance and corporate culture will be explored. Sample cases will be analyzed.
Issues & Trends in Healthcare
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
A history of the U.S. health care delivery system will be explored to understand the current issues and trends. The changing roles of the components of the system as well as technical, economic, political, and social forces effecting change will be discussed. Inpatient, outpatient, and long term care will be explored.
Health Informatics
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Innovative and best practice technology applications to support human health by individuals, professionals, care delivery organizations, and communities. Internet-based health resources, smart phone/mHealth applications, telehealth, and health-related social networks. Systems, standards, and policies to connect people and technologies securely across healthcare ecosystems.
Intro to HA HR Management
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Recommended: Prior completion of: all Coursework in Preparation for the Major.
Concepts of human resources in healthcare organizations, such as training, motivation and direction. Elements of employee selection, compensation, financial incentives, work standards, and leadership principles in healthcare organization considered.
Intro to HA QA Management
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Introduction to continuous quality improvement in healthcare. Includes evaluation and risk management methods. Introduces outcome measurement and case management fundamentals. Introduces team development, analytical statistics, and process knowledge themes.
Intro to Health Economics
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Recommended: Prior completion of: all Coursework in Preparation for the Major.
Introduction to the application of economics to decisions regarding the amount, organization, and distribution of healthcare services. Examine the structure, organization, activities, functions, and problems of healthcare from an economic perspective. Emphasis on management problems and policy issues in healthcare with regard to allocation of scarce resources.
Basic HA Budgeting & Finance
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Recommended: Prior completion of: all Coursework in Preparation for the Major.
Fundamentals of healthcare financial management and budgeting, including financial organization of healthcare services, sources of operating revenues, management of working capital, and allocation, control, and analysis of resources.
Case and Outcomes Management
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Focuses on case and outcomes management application to clinical practice. The case management and outcomes management processes, barriers, utilization review, legal and financial aspects of each and evidence-based healthcare will be explored.
Intro to HC Planning and Eval
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Recommended Preparation: Completion of all courses in Preparation for the Major
Development of planning strategies in healthcare organizations. Examination of planning methods from needs assessment through program design. Emphasis on strategic planning strategies.
Intro to HC Marketing
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Recommended Preparation: Completion of all courses in Preparation for the Major
Introduction to contemporary marketing theory, strategies, and implementation processes in healthcare organizations. Focus on identification of market opportunity, communication, planning and promotion, pricing decision-making, and development of distribution channels and service designs. Emphasis on community and not-for-profit marketing concepts.
Organizational Behavior
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
A survey of the impact individuals, groups, and structures have on behavior within organizations for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving employee performance. A focus on work-related behavior with an emphasis on individual and group performance as it relates to organizational productivity. Exploration of the development of interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, with a view toward equity and inclusion, to help all employees, supervisors, and managers improve their effectiveness.
Healthcare Politics & Policy
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Recommended: Prior completion of: all Coursework in Preparation for the Major.
Consideration of healthcare policy and politics. Consideration of the role of federal, state and local government healthcare public policy impact on health services.
Global Health Systems
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Recommended: Prior completion of: all Coursework in Preparation for the Major.
Examination of factors that impact global health systems; analysis of health care delivery systems and influential governmental, economic, social and political forces. Consideration of healthcare resource development and allocation.
Healthcare Capstone
3.0 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisite: HSC 300; HSC 310; HTM 310; HCA 400; HCA 401; HCA 402; HCA 403; HSC 430; HCA 405; HCA 407; HCA 409; HCA 425; HCA 450; ODV 420
Practical application of the knowledge and skills required for a healthcare administration professional in a healthcare agency. Students will be assigned to agencies according to their interests and the availability of an approved internship site. Two-month requirement. Grading is by S/H/U only. Course is eligible for In Progress (IP) grade. Graduates will enhance their opportunities for professional growth and job placement through carefully planned capstone experience. Healthcare administration involves the organization, financing and delivery of services to prevent and treat illness and disease, including programs that serve the public and private sectors at all levels—local, state and federal.
Trusted and
Accredited
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S.
Ranked top 10 in the nation for graduating students in the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration program among online nonprofit 4-yr private Universities. It had the largest growth rate of graduates year-over-year in 2022.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Discover how scholarships, financial aid, transfer credit, and other tuition resources can help make your NU degree possible.
Get Financial Aid Through
the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps determine your eligibility for federal student aid and other financial assistance. It’s an important first step in exploring your financial aid options at NU.
- Apply once each year to be considered for federal
financial aid - Explore loans, work-study, and other financial aid opportunities
Make Previous Coursework Count
Eligible coursework from an accredited institution may transfer toward your NU degree, depending on your program and the courses completed.
- See whether previous coursework may apply to your program
- Submit official transcripts for transfer credit evaluation
- Speak with an advisor about program-specific transfer limits
Millions in Scholarships
National University offers scholarships and grants that can help eligible students reduce the cost of earning a degree. Opportunities are available based on financial need, military affiliation, and other eligibility criteria.
- Scholarships for eligible bachelor’s students
- Need-based scholarship opportunities
- Scholarships for eligible Veterans and military families
Put Other Funding Sources to Work
Depending on your eligibility, you may be able to use employer tuition benefits, military education benefits, or other funding sources toward your NU education.
- Use eligible employer tuition assistance or education benefits
- Explore military Tuition Assistance and GI Bill® benefits
- Ask about additional funding options that may be available to you
Make the Most of Your
Prior Learning
Your professional training, certifications, military experience, or other prior learning may qualify for credit or course waivers, depending on your program.
- Explore eligible professional training and credentials
- Find out whether your experience aligns with NU coursework
- Work with an advisor to understand your options
Onsite Locations
Choose online, hybrid, or in-person study at select campuses and learning centers.
How NU Supports Your Success
NU’s Whole Human Education™ provides flexible, supportive, and career-focused education for the way you live and learn.
Faculty Mentorship
Learn from experienced faculty with real-world industry insight.
Learning Resources
Access free tutoring and academic resources to support your success.
Transfer-Friendly Pathways
Apply prior college credit or professional experience to finish your degree faster.
Career Support
Strengthen your career potential with career counseling, professional development, and job search tools.
Take Your Expertise Further
Learn more about our career-focused programs and flexible options for working professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
While the answer to this question depends largely on your professional goals, there’s no denying that a career in healthcare administration is both rewarding and well-paying. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 23% by 2034, which is much faster than the national average of all other occupations. What’s more, the median annual wage for these roles was $117,960 as recently as May of 2024.
Everyone’s path looks different, of course, but the first step is getting your Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. Beyond that, it’s about networking and taking advantage of support and mentorship services. National University’s capstone project provides another opportunity to gain the hands-on, real-world skills and experience you’ll need to flourish as a professional.
One especially notable aspect of NU’s BSHA program: the skills and concepts mastered throughout the curriculum are highly transferable, making a rewarding career possible in many diverse fields. In addition to roles in the healthcare industry, this degree can open doors in the worlds of finance, social services, and public administration, among others.
Assuming a full-time schedule, most students finish the degree in 48 months or less. If you already have some college credits or take classes year-round, it may be possible to graduate earlier.
Yes. NU has a generous transfer credit policy, and an admissions advisor can help you evaluate how prior coursework applies toward your degree requirements.
NU’s innovative Whole Human Education™ approach is designed to meet the needs of busy learners. Our unique four- and eight-week course structure provides an accessible, high-quality academic experience that helps students stay on track, finish faster, and achieve their goals.
Hear from Our Graduates
Working professionals who turn their degree into leadership impact.
Everyone, from professors to advisors to tutors to enrollment specialists, has been extremely supportive and is there to help in any way they can.
Michelle P.
Class of 2025
My time with NU has been outstanding! I love my advisor. We always share a laugh together. NU truly promotes mental health and taking time for yourself.
Cameron R.
Class of 2024
National University has a support system that wants to see you excel and be successful. From the advisors to your professors, they are on your team.
Gerald C.
Class of 2021
Program Disclosure
Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.
Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.
NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.
All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.
National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.
