Health Care Administration BS
Like all businesses, health care organizations need strong leadership to run smoothly. With a health care administration degree, 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.
In the BS Health Care Administration program, you will master the basic business principles and tools that you’ll need for effective decision-making when you enter this field: finance, information systems, strategic planning, human resource management and marketing. You’ll also develop strong leadership abilities — such as problem-solving, communication, relationship management, diplomacy, collaboration, teamwork, adaptability, change management and mentoring — that will be essential to your success.
Program Type
Major
Program Format
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.
- We are the only health care administration degree program in Wisconsin that is certified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), and are among only 47 AUPHA-certified undergraduate programs in the nation.
- Our undergraduate program integrates a minor in business administration to reinforce the strong management skills for which our graduates are known.
- All of our students complete a semester-long internship, which provides an integrative educational and fieldwork experience. Thanks to our urban location and strong community partnerships, you’ll have access to internships at leading local and national health care organizations.
- As participants in the American College of Healthcare Executives Higher Education Network, our program and the Future Healthcare Executives student organization connect you with leaders and professionals in the field through educational and networking opportunities.
Employment Outlook
Salaries of New Graduates
Local health care employers and new graduates of the BS Health Care Administration program report starting salaries between $40,000 and $65,000 per year, depending on the position and type of employer, as well as years of experience and location. Most new graduates are employed within three to six months of graduation, many within one month, with an increasing number pursuing graduate studies.
Expected Growth
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow 28 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the large baby boomer population ages and people remain active later in life, there should be increased demand for health care services. This means greater needs for physicians and other health care workers, medical procedures and health care facilities, and therefore greater needs for managers who organize and manage medical information and health care staff. There should also be increased demand for nursing care facility administrators as the population grows older.
Employment is projected to grow in offices of health practitioners. Many services previously provided in hospitals will shift to these settings, especially as medical technologies improve. Demand in medical group practice management is expected to grow as medical group practices become larger and more complex.
Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that median salary for all medical and health services managers in 2021 was greater than $101,340 per year, earnings vary by type and size of the facility and level of responsibility. Salaries differ for non-managerial entry level positions, with higher pay typically associated with positions requiring a master’s degree.
Successful Alumni
The School of Biomedical Sciences & Health Care Administration has many successful alumni. These alumni have taken their degrees and have excelled in their careers.
Visit our Alumni page and be inspired by where a health sciences degree can take you.
Related Programs
The health care administration degree program will consider applications to the major at the end of each semester, as long as your cumulative UWM GPA is 2.5 or above, you have completed the admission prerequisite courses, and you have met the grade requirements for required courses. You are encouraged to apply to the major as soon as you meet these requirements and have achieved sophomore status.
The following courses are prerequisites for admission to the major:
- COMMUN 103: Public Speaking
- ENGLISH 102: College Writing and Research or completion of the UWM English competency requirement
- ECON 103: Principles of Microeconomics or ECON 104: Principles of Macroeconomics
- MATH 105: Intermediate Algebra or a Math placement level C on the proficiency test
- HS 102: Healthcare Delivery in the United States
- HCA 220: Leading Healthcare Professionals
Fall 2024 to Present
This curriculum is for students beginning the health care administration degree program on or after September 1, 2024.
A grade of “C” or higher is required in all courses included in the HCA major.
A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher at UWM is also required.
*Courses that must be completed prior to admission to the major.
General Education Requirements
| Course | GER | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English Must earn “C” or better in ENGLISH 102* Prerequisite: placement test | OWCA | 3 |
| Math Must earn “C” or better in Math 105 or 108* Prerequisite: placement test | QLA | 3 |
| Foreign Language Satisfied with 2 years of a single language in high school | FL | 0 |
| Natural Science 3 credits satisfied through HCA coursework in the major; select an additional 3 credit course from the approved GER Natural Science list | GERN | 3 |
| Social Science Satisfied through HCA coursework in the major | GERS | 0 |
| Cultural Diversity Satisfied through HCA coursework in the major | GERC | 0 |
| Arts Select course from the approved GER Arts list | GERA | 3 |
| Humanities Select course from the approved GER Humanities list | GERH | 3 |
| Total credits | 15 |
Freshman Year
Fall Semester
| Course | Semester Offered | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English 102: College Writing and Research or OWCA GER | 3 | |
| HS 105: Survey of the Health Professions | Fall | 3 |
| HS 222: Language of Medicine | Fall, Spring | 3 |
| Math 105: Introduction to College Algebra or Math 108 or QLA GER | 3 | |
| Elective: Recommend GER – Humanities | 3 | |
| Total credits | 15 |
Spring Semester
| Course | Semester Offered | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI 201: Human Structure and Function | Spring | 3 |
| COMMUN 103: Public Speaking* | Fall, Spring, Summer | 3 |
| HS 102 Healthcare Delivery in the United States* | Fall, Spring, Summer | 3 |
| HS 224: Computational Tools for Healthcare Professionals | Fall, Spring | 3 |
| Elective: Recommend GER – Arts | 3 | |
| Total credits | 15 |
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
| Course | Semester Offered | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 103: Principles of Microeconomics* | Fall, Spring, Summer | 3 |
| HCA 220: Leading Healthcare Professionals* | Fall, Spring | 3 |
| HCA 249: Writing for Professional Development in Health Administration | Fall, Spring | 3 |
| KIN 270: Statistics in the Health Professions: Theory and Practice | Fall, Spring | 3 |
| Elective: Recommend GER – Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Total credits | 15 |
Spring Semester
| Course | Semester Offered | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 104: Principles of Macroeconomics* | Fall, Spring, Summer | 3 |
| HCA 245 or BMS 245: Client Diversity in Health Sciences: An Interdisciplinary Perspective | Spring | 3 |
| HCA 307: Epidemiology for the Health Sciences | Spring | 3 |
| Elective: Recommend GER – Natural Sciences (NS) | 3 | |
| Elective: Recommend GER – Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Total credits | 15 |
Junior Year
Fall Semester
| Course | Semester Offered | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BUS ADM 201: Introduction to Financial Accounting | Fall, Spring, Summer | 4 |
| BUS ADM 330: Organizations | Fall, Spring, Summer | 3 |
| HCA 300: Professional Development Seminar for Health Administration Students | Fall | 1 |
| HCA 450: Healthcare Quality Management | Fall | 3 |
| HCA 361: Post-Acute Care and Management | Fall | 3 |
| HI 537: Health Information Technology and Management | Fall | 3 |
| Total credits | 17 |
Spring Semester
| Course | Semester Offered | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BUS ADM 350: Principles of Finance | Fall, Spring, Summer | 3 |
| ECON 450: Health Economics | Spring | 3 |
| HCA 333: Health Organizations Professional Practice Standards | Spring | 2 |
| HCA 340: Healthcare Process Measurement | Spring | 3 |
| HS 311: Law and Ethics for Healthcare Professionals | Spring | 3 |
| Open Elective | 1 | |
| Total credits | 15 |
Senior Year
Fall Semester
| Course | Semester Offered | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BUS ADM 360: Principles of Marketing | Fall, Spring, Summer | 3 |
| BUS ADM 370: Introduction to Supply Chain Management | Fall, Spring, Summer | 3 |
| HCA 421: Operations Management in Healthcare Organizations | Fall | 3 |
| HCA 422: Human Resource Management in Healthcare Organizations | Fall | 3 |
| HCA 521: Advanced Systems Thinking and Strategy for Healthcare Leaders | Fall | 3 |
| Total credits | 15 |
Spring Semester
| Course | Semester Offered | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HCA 400: Healthcare Marketing | Spring | 3 |
| HCA 460: Healthcare Reimbursement Systems and Policies | Spring | 3 |
| HCA 502: Healthcare Delivery Systems: National & International Perspectives | Spring | 3 |
| HCA 580: Health Care Administration Internship | Fall, Spring, Summer | 4 |
| Total credits | 13 |
To schedule an advising appointment, call 414-229-5047 or visit Cunningham Hall, Room 135
If you are entering UWM with credits from another institution, you must schedule an advising appointment to plan your course of study. If you are unable to meet in person with your advisor, your non-UWM credits can be tentatively reviewed by sending a faxed or mailed copy of your transcript along with an explanatory cover letter to:
UWM College of Health Professions & Sciences
Office of Student Affairs
P.O. Box 413
Milwaukee, WI 53201
When should I meet with my advisor?
You are encouraged to meet with your advisor at least once per semester to ensure timely progress to graduation.
- Enrolling for spring semester?
Schedule an appointment with your advisor in October or November. - Enrolling for fall semester?
Schedule an appointment with your advisor in March or April.
You are also welcome to schedule an appointment with your advisor at any time to discuss academic challenges, career opportunities or any other questions.
How can my advisor help me?
The College of Health Sciences boasts professional academic advisors who understand the challenges of balancing academics, work, family and the social aspects of college life. Advisors partner with you to:
- Explore your academic and career interests
- Plan the sequence of your courses
- Prepare for course enrollment
- Access tutoring and other academic support
- Identify opportunities for campus involvement
- Connect you to campus resources
- Plan for graduation
- Executive-in-Residence, Health Care Administration
- Managing Partner, Visante: Transforming Healthcare Through Pharmacy
- brummonp@uwm.edu
- 866-388-7583
- 101 East Fifth Street St. Paul, MN 55101 2220
- Executive-in-Residence, Health Care Administration
- Vice President, Population Health Sciences & Research, Enterprise Population Health, Midwest
- Head of School, School of Biomedical Sciences & Health Care Administration
- Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
- Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences
- dollj@uwm.edu
- 414-229-4840
- Enderis Hall 899
- Executive-in-Residence, Health Care Administration
- Senior Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer, Advocate Health
- Associate Professor, Health Care Administration
- Executive Committee Chair
- jtfink@uwm.edu
- 414-229-7533
- Northwest Quadrant B 6455
- Clinical Associate Professor, Health Care Administration Program Director/Educational Coordinator, Health Care Administration
- kmo@uwm.edu
- 414-229-7110
- Northwest Quadrant B 6432
- Clinical Associate Professor, Health Care Administration
- rossg@uwm.edu
- Northwest Quadrant B 6459
- Associate Professor, Health Care Administration
- hanht@uwm.edu
- 414-229-6051
- Northwest Quadrant B 6428
Academic Resources
Academic Programs
We are proud to be one of only 47 AUPHA-certified undergraduate programs in the U.S., out of hundreds of programs nationally. Full certified undergraduate program membership in AUPHA represents programmatic accreditation for undergraduate health administration programs.
Academic Advisor
414-229-5047
mlkougl@uwm.edu
Kathleen M. Olewinski, MS, RHIA, NHA, FACHE, PhD (ABD)
Program Director/Educational Coordinator
414-229-7110
kmo@uwm.edu