Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management

What Is Health Care Management?

Health care management, also referred to as health care administration, encompasses all the responsibilities inherent in managing today’s complex health care delivery systems and facilities.

Health care managers are highly-skilled professionals who are tasked with planning, directing, and coordinating medical and health services and ensuring that the institutions and systems they manage are in full compliance with health care laws and regulations and up to date on
new technologies.

Health care managers and administrators may manage an entire facility, such as a hospital, a specific clinical area or specialized department, an emergency services operation, or a medical practice for a physician or group of physicians.

About the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management (BSHM)

The BSHM program operates through online instruction to provide broad exposure to the skills, knowledge and abilities needed to prepare students to enter management and leadership positions within healthcare organizations. Applicants can transfer college credits to complete the 120 credit hour requirement for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer credits from previous courses are considered on a case-by case basis. Students enrolled in the BSHM program are required to complete the final six academic hours through the BSHM program courses. An applicant’s previously completed college coursework determines which degree concentration is followed.

The two degree concentrations are the Healthcare Professional Concentration and the Executive Management Concentration.

Healthcare Professional Concentration

Students entering the Healthcare Professional Concentration must have a certification, license or registration in one of the health science concentrations listed below and completed the Texas Common Core curriculum for a baccalaureate degree.

• Certified Radiology Technologists
• Emergency Medical Services
• Respiratory Care Practitioners
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Physical Therapy Assistants
• Licensed Vocational Nurses
• Clinical Laboratory Technicians
• Medical Assistant
• Dental Hygienist
• Pharmacy Technician
• Medical Sonographer
• Nuclear Medicine Technologist
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling
• Invasive Cardio Technology
• Surgical Technician

Up to 48 related Technical Credit Hours may transfer to the BSHM program. Additionally, applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Executive Management Concentration

Students entering the Executive Concentration must have completed the Texas Common Core curriculum for a baccalaureate degree, as well as a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) 2.5 on a 4.0 scale effective summer 2019. Students admitted as an Executive Concentration student will be required to complete 24 hours of technical credits. These credits must be pre-approved by the academic advising committee.

Careers in Health Care Management

Health care managers and administrators work in a large variety of health care settings including:

• Hospitals.
• Outpatient health care facilities.
• Nursing homes.
• Group medical practice.
• Government services and public health systems.

With the ever-growing demand for and expansion of health care services, the health management and administration field is developing rapidly and job growth is especially strong.

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook projects that jobs for health managers and administrators will increase by 32% through 2030, much faster than average for all professions.
• According to the BLS, most medical and health services managers have at least a bachelor’s degree; a master’s degree may be necessary for further career advancement . Health care managers generally have administrative or clinical experience in a hospital or other type of health care facility.

The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management Curriculum

The BSHM program combines 54 semester-credit-hours of upper-level undergraduate courses with credits earned from your associate degree the common core requirements. 

The Healthcare Professional Concentration curriculum encompasses:

• BSHM Healthcare Professional Concentration Core Courses (27 hours).
• Clinical Discipline Specific Advanced Case Study (3 hours).
• Technical/Approved Health Professions Credits (48 hours).

The Executive Management Concentration curriculum encompasses:

• BSHM Healthcare Management Concentration Core Courses (34 hours).
• Healthcare Management Advanced Case Study (8 hours).
• Healthcare Management Electives (12 hours).
• Technical/Approved Credits (24 hours). 

Transfer Credits to the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management Program

You may transfer college credits to complete the 120 credit-hour requirements for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer credits from previous courses are considered on a case-by-case basis.

When enrolled in the BSHM program, you are required to complete the final six academic hours through the BSHM program courses.

Successful completion of the program culminates in the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management degree.

Explore our curriculum and learn more about transfer credits.

"When I first decided to pick Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and return to school to get my Bachelor’s Degree, I thought it was going to be just that, a degree; However, after starting the BSHM program, and now finishing the program, I have learned that it was so much more than that.  The BSHM program’s curriculum is great in reinforcing what you learned in the previous courses and using the knowledge and skills gained into the future courses as building blocks to become a well-rounded professional in the ever-changing health care industry.  The Professors and Educators are very knowledgeable in the courses they teach and utilizing their knowledge and skills to create a higher quality of learning. Once I completed the program, I realized how much the program changed me as a person, a mother, and a strong leader.  I am more confident that I can make a difference in any career path that I take, and I can use the tools and knowledge that I gained in the program to become a successful healthcare manager.  It was truly a life changing program that I will never forget!"

Aimee Magee

 BSHM 2019, CPC