College of Arts and Sciences
Healthcare Administration BS
Become a healthcare leader by combining your passion for care with the business skills that employers value. Plan, direct, and coordinate medical services through a career in healthcare administration, operations, or management.
Program details
- Duration
- 4 years, 3 year option
- Total Credits
- 120
- Annual median pay for medical and health service managers:
- $123,860 Annual median pay for medical and health service managers. View career outcomes.
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Why earn your healthcare administration degree at UMass Dartmouth?
Prepare for leadership careers across today's healthcare industry, including hospitals, physician practices, community health organizations, insurance providers, and long-term care facilities. Graduate prepared to navigate the complexities of today's evolving healthcare system with the practical skills employers value.
UMass Dartmouth's healthcare administration program offers coursework in healthcare management, finance, policy, ethics, and organizational leadership to build a strong foundation in the business of healthcare while strengthening your communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. You'll learn how healthcare organizations operate and develop the expertise needed to improve organizational performance and patient outcomes.
Launch your career
Salary range: $123,860What can I do with a healthcare administration degree?
UMass Dartmouth's curriculum provides a sound foundation in the leadership, financial, and analytical skills necessary for intelligent decision-making and management in healthcare organizations. Graduates build careers as:
- Hospital directors
- Nursing home administrators
- Practice managers
- Community clinic medical directors
- Insurance analysts
- Lobbyists
- Patient service managers
- Healthcare compliance directors
- Medical records managers
Top employers
Curriculum
As a healthcare administration student, you'll learn the skills to:
- Understand how healthcare organizations operate, including hospitals, physician practices, and community health centers
- Apply leadership, management, and strategic planning principles to improve organizational performance and patient outcomes
- Analyze healthcare policies, regulations, and ethical issues that shape today's healthcare system
- Use data and evidence-based decision-making to improve quality, efficiency, and healthcare delivery
- Communicate effectively, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, and lead organizational change in healthcare environments
You'll take courses in healthcare management, finance, healthcare policy, ethics, organizational leadership, and quality improvement. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum, you'll connect business principles with healthcare practice while developing the analytical, leadership, and communication skills needed to succeed in today's evolving healthcare industry.
Course descriptions and requirements
Explore the official academic catalog for detailed curriculum requirements, course descriptions and program information.
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Student Spotlight
- Hometown
- Gallup City, New Mexico
- Major
- Healthcare Administration
- Minor
- International Business
- Internship
- Bursar’s Office Computer Clerical Aid, Economics TA, Business Center Tutor
Accelerated degree options
Explore accelerated pathways that may help you complete your bachelor’s degree sooner, begin graduate coursework early, or pursue a streamlined path to a master’s, teaching, or law degree. Available options vary by program and eligibility.
UMassD in Three
UMassD in Three is an advising track to help you graduate in three years instead of four—saving you time and costs and allowing you to enter graduate school or begin your career a year early.
Learn more about UMassD in Three
4+1 Accelerated bachelor’s to master’s option
Qualified students in this program may be eligible to pursue an accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s pathway at UMass Dartmouth. This option allows you to begin graduate coursework while completing your undergraduate degree and transition directly into a master's program.
Learn more about Accelerated Degrees at UMass Dartmouth
3+3 with UMass Law: a fast track to a law degree
Enrollment in the 3+3 joint degree program with UMass Law offers an accelerated pathway to an undergraduate and law degree, enabling qualifying students to substitute the first year of law school for the final year of their undergraduate program, thereby earning both a bachelor’s degree from UMass Dartmouth and a Juris Doctor from UMass Law in six rather than seven years.
Learn more about the 3+3 joint degree program with UMass Law
Online or on-campus: your choice
Healthcare administration is also offered online
Earn an online healthcare administration degree with flexible coursework designed to fit your schedule.
Learn more about the online option for Healthcare administration
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Accolades
UMass Dartmouth is a nationally ranked R2 research university that combines the resources of a major university with a personalized educational experience. Ranked among the top 15 public research institutions with fewer than 10,000 students and in the top 17% nationally for return on investment, UMass Dartmouth is recognized for advancing research, social mobility, and career-ready education.
Nationally ranked discovery across arts and sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences brings together nationally ranked programs, accomplished scholars, and research with measurable impact. Its faculty includes eight Fulbright Scholars and has secured more than $14 million in grants over three years, creating opportunities for students to learn through research, creative inquiry, and community engagement.
Frequently asked questions
Have questions about the Healthcare Administration BS program? Here you will find answers to common questions about admissions, curriculum, career outcomes, and student experience.
No. Healthcare administration focuses on the business, management, and operational side of healthcare rather than clinical care. The program can be a strong fit for students who want to work in healthcare but are more interested in leadership, administration, policy, finance, or operations than providing direct patient care.
This program is well-suited for students who are looking to work in the healthcare industry, but do not want to provide direct patient care. Healthcare administration students learn about the managerial side of medical care and can assist in patient wellbeing without being at the bedside through managing care at a larger scale. If you are interested in how hospitals and medical facilities operate, this program is a good fit.
Professionals in this field budget, schedule, and oversee the daily operations of healthcare facilities and their employees. You will spend time planning and organizing the best strategies for effective healthcare on a system-wide scale.