Accelerated BS Health Care Administration/Master of Healthcare Administration Accelerated Graduate Degree
Like all businesses, health care organizations need strong leadership to run smoothly. With a health care administration degree and experience, your career could span the operation of a single department to executive leadership and management positions in which you’re responsible for millions of dollars of facilities and equipment as well as hundreds of employees.
Program Type
Accelerated Graduate Degree
Program Format
Hybrid, On Campus, Online
Health Care Administrators…
are skilled professionals who manage hospitals, health care organizations and a variety of other services.
As a health care administrator your potential responsibilities may include establishing and implementing the policies and objectives of a specific clinical area or department within a facility; training and evaluating personnel; developing reports and budgets; and coordinating activities with other managers. With experience and an advanced degree, you may move into executive management positions.
Your work will take you to a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, medical group practices, residential settings, insurance companies, and medical supply companies.
The accelerated HCA BS/MHA program prepares future healthcare leaders with a strong foundation in healthcare management and professional practice. At the undergraduate level, students complete a built‑in General Business minor, strengthening analytical, financial, and leadership skills that are highly valued across the healthcare industry.
An undergraduate microcredential in Senior Living and Services Leadership is embedded within the program, providing specialized preparation for leadership roles in long‑term care and senior services. This includes HCA 333: Health Organizations Professional Practice Standards, which is approved in partial fulfillment of eligibility requirements to sit for the State of Wisconsin Nursing Home Licensing and National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards examinations.
At the graduate level, students progress into a premier healthcare administration program designed to prepare leaders for today’s complex healthcare environment. UWM is home to the first accredited Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program in Wisconsin, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)—the gold standard in healthcare management education. This distinction reflects UWM’s long‑standing commitment to academic quality, applied learning, and leadership development.
Students also benefit from participation in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Higher Education Network, gaining access to healthcare executives and industry professionals through educational programming, mentorship, and networking opportunities. These experiences are further supported by involvement in the Future Healthcare Executives student organization, allowing students to begin building professional networks early in their careers.
Designed with both working professionals and full‑time students in mind, the accelerated HCA/MHA program can be completed entirely online, with options for full‑time or part‑time enrollment. This structure allows students to advance their education while balancing professional and personal commitments without compromising academic rigor or career outcomes.
Employment Outlook
Graduates of the HCA/MHA program are in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 23% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Salaries vary depending on education level, employment setting, and experience. As of May 2024:
- Median annual wage: $117,960
- Lowest 10%: Less than $69,680
- Highest 10%: More than $219,080
Salaries for non‑managerial entry‑level positions are typically lower, with higher earnings generally associated with positions requiring a master’s degree.
Related Programs
- BS, Health Care Administration
- Master of Healthcare Administration
- Master of Healthcare Administration & Master of Business Administration
- Health Sciences, PhD
- Minor, Health Care Administration
- Senior Living and Services Leadership, Undergraduate Microcredential
- Health Care Informatics, Undergraduate Certificate
- Healthcare Compliance, Graduate Certificate
- Value-Based Healthcare, Graduate Certificate
Undergraduate Requirements
The Health Care Administration program considers applications to the major at the end of each semester. Applicants must:
- Have a minimum cumulative UWM GPA of 2.5
- Complete all admission prerequisite courses
- Meet grade requirements for required courses
Students are encouraged to apply as soon as they meet these requirements and have achieved sophomore status.
Application forms for admission to the HCA major are available online or through the College of Health Professions and Sciences (CHPS) Office of Student Affairs. Completed applications and transcripts from prior coursework should be submitted to the CHPS Office of Student Affairs.
Prerequisite courses for admission include:
- COMMUN 103: Public Speaking
- Completion of the UWM Communication and Literacy General Education Requirement (GER)
- ECON 103: Principles of Microeconomics or ECON 104: Principles of Macroeconomics
- Both are required for the major; one must be completed prior to admission
- Completion of the UWM Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning GER
- HCA 102: Healthcare Delivery in the United States
- HCA 220: Leading Healthcare Professionals
Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all prerequisite courses and all HCA courses required for the major.
Students interested in the accelerated HCA/MHA option must meet with an academic advisor to determine eligibility. If eligible, students must meet the minimum UWM Graduate School GPA requirements before enrolling in any graduate‑level (G‑level) courses while in undergraduate status.
Graduate Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the Graduate School prior to completing the bachelor’s degree, students must:
- Meet all UWM Graduate School admission criteria
- Be on track to complete 102 bachelor’s credits during the seventh semester (Year 4, Fall semester) prior to the first graduate term
In addition, students must:
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Submit the graduate program application to the UWM Graduate School
- Submit a current résumé or CV
- Submit two letters of recommendation
- Complete a reason statement consisting of five essay questions addressing:
- Healthcare experience
- Administrative experience
- Leadership experience
- Long‑term career goals
This accelerated graduate program includes coursework for both the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration and the Master of Healthcare Administration. Students complete:
- 6 forward‑shared credits
- 18 backward‑shared credits
- 24 shared credits total
This shared‑credit structure allows students to complete both degrees more efficiently.
Eligible Forward-Shared Courses
Six (6) graduate‑level credits taken in undergraduate status may be counted toward the MHA degree:
- HCA 801: Design of Health and Human Service Systems
- HCA 813: Health Regulatory Policy and Politics
Eligible Backward-Shared Courses
- HCA 821: Healthcare Operations and Practice Management
- HCA 822: Human Resources Management for Healthcare Executives
- HCA 823: Strategic Planning and Innovation in Healthcare Organizations
- HCA 867: Quality, Safety, and Outcomes Management
- HCA 868: Health Law and Ethics
- HCA 870: Healthcare Administration Internship Capstone
Students are encouraged to download the Accelerated BS HCA/MHA Program of Study (PDF) to plan coursework.
Internship Capstone
The internship capstone provides MHA students with the opportunity to apply classroom‑acquired knowledge in a professional healthcare setting.
Requirements
- Minimum eight-week, 120-hour administrative internship
- Internship completed under the supervision of a healthcare leader or preceptor
- Completion of pre‑internship Viewpoint Screening requirements (background checks, drug testing, immunization tracking, etc.)
- Students are responsible for the Viewpoint Screening fee
Placement
Students are matched to internship placements by the MHA Clinical Placement Coordinator in partnership with healthcare organizations. Students may acquire their own internship placements, pending approval by the MHA program.
Additional details are available in the MHA Handbook (PDF).
Testimonials
“My internship experience was excellent and truly meaningful for my professional development.” – VA Milwaukee Medical Center intern
“I had a great experience as an intern. Everyone was very welcoming.” – Froedtert Hospital intern
Internship Placement Sites
- Clinical Associate Professor, Health Care Administration
- Director of Graduate Healthcare Administration and Certificates
- armstro5@uwm.edu
- 414-229-4549
- Northwest Quadrant B 6473
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Health Care Administration
- Clinical Internship Coordinator
- mddunn@uwm.edu
- 414-251-6799
- Northwest Quadrant B 6428
- Associate Professor, Health Care Administration
- jtfink@uwm.edu
- 414-229-7533
- Northwest Quadrant B 6455
- Assistant Professor, Health Care Administration
- frediani@uwm.edu
- 414-229-2971
- Northwest Quadrant B 6472
- Clinical Associate Professor, Health Care Administration
- ewh@uwm.edu
- 414-251-6180
- Northwest Quadrant B 6541
- Academic Advisor, Office of Student Affairs
- mlkougl@uwm.edu
- 414-229-5047
- Cunningham Hall 135
- Academic Program Manager, Health Care Administration
- levandos@uwm.edu
- 414-251-5431
- Northwest Quadrant B 6511
- Clinical Associate Professor, Health Care Administration
- Health Care Administration Program Director/Educational Coordinator
- kmo@uwm.edu
- 414-229-7110
- Northwest Quadrant B 6432
- Clinical Associate Professor, Health Care Administration
- rossg@uwm.edu
- 414-708-5483
- Northwest Quadrant B 6459
