Healthcare Management (Completion Pathway)

Mission.

Through the use of innovative online educational strategies, the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management (BSHM) degree offers associate degree level healthcare professionals the opportunity for career advancement through a curriculum that encompasses critical thinking, problem solving and evidence-based research.

The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management (BSHM) degree program is a 120-credit major directed toward individuals who are passionate about healthcare. This degree has two pathways: one for traditional high school students who strive to become a member of a health care management team and for working healthcare professionals who possess an associate degree, who preferably hold a professional credential in a healthcare profession (e.g. respiratory therapy, medical information technician, cardiovascular technologist, paramedic, dental hygienist, medical assistant, physical therapy assistant, occupational therapy assistant).

This program enables students the opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary foundation to aid in decision making processes regarding the quality of care implemented in our healthcare system. In addition to business and management coursework, the program’s curriculum also includes key courses in healthcare management, quality assurance, policy and healthcare delivery strategies. This degree can offer students opportunities within healthcare systems for career advancement into supervisory, management, or educational positions.

Degree Completion Pathway.

Healthcare Management Core Courses – 33 credits ALH255 Medical Law & Ethics (offered spring and fall terms) ALH320 Health Services Organization & Management (offered summer and winter terms) ALH330 Healthcare Policies & Politics (offered summer and winter terms) ALH388 Healthcare Quality Management (offered summer and winter terms) ALH405 Healthcare Leadership BUS100 Introduction to Business BUS220 Principles of Management BUS245 Human Resources BUS365 Organizational Behavior ENG220 Business Communications IDS490 Bachelor’s Degree Capstone

Degree Completion Pathway.

Healthcare Management Choice Courses – Minimum 12 credits; Maximum 27 credits Students choose from a range of courses to tailor their degree to their individual interests. ALH365 Issues and Trends in Healthcare (offered spring and fall terms) ALH370 Healthcare Informatics (offered summer and winter term) ALH375 The Interprofessional Healthcare Team (offered spring and fall terms) ALH400 Hospital & Health Services Administration (offered spring and fall term) ALH410 Health Economics & Financial Strategies (offered summer and winter terms) BUS120 Spreadsheet Applications BUS230 Principles of Marketing BUS345 Operations Management BUS355 Project Management BUS401 Organizational Process Improvement BUS402 Organizational Change Management

Traditional Pathway.

General Education Requirements.

Students are required to take 42 credit hours of general education coursework. These 42 credit hours come from 27 credits of Foundation courses, 12 credits within a declared Intersection, and 3 credits of Experiential Learning.

Traditional Pathway.

Healthcare Management Core Courses - 63 credits ALH108 Medical Terminology and Pharmacology (on ground or online) ALH115 Medical Insurance (on ground or online) ALH255 Medical Law & Ethics (on ground or online) ALH320 Health Services Organization & Management (online) ALH330 Healthcare Policies & Politics (online) ALH365 Issues and Trends in Healthcare (online) ALH370 Healthcare Informatics (online) ALH375 The Interprofessional Healthcare Team (online) ALH388 Healthcare Quality Management (online) ALH400 Hospital & Health Services Administration (online) ALH405 Healthcare Leadership (online) ALH410 Health Economics & Financial Strategies (online) BIO100 Biology (on ground or online) BUS100 Introduction to Business (online) BUS201 People, Growth, and Purpose (online) BUS220 Principles of Management (on ground or online) BUS236 Introduction to Organizational Process Improvement (online) BUS245 Human Resources (on ground or online) BUS365 Organizational Behavior (on ground or online) ENG220 Business Communications (online) IDS490 Bachelor's Degree Capstone or INT499 Bachelor's Degree Internship

Traditional Pathway.

Healthcare Management Choice Courses – 15 credits Students choose from a range of courses to tailor their degree to their individual interests. ALH145 Allied Health Procedures (on ground evening)

BUS120 Spreadsheet Applications (on ground or online) BUS230 Principles of Marketing (on ground or online) BUS345 Operations Management (on ground or online) BUS355 Project Management (on ground or online) BUS401 Organizational Process Improvement (online) BUS402 Organizational Change Management (online)

Program learning objectives.

• Demonstrate effective communication skills, both written and oral, in a manner reflective of business and healthcare professionals.
• Evaluate how business concepts and models can be used to respond to the unique clinical, organizational, and fiscal demands in the dynamic healthcare environment.
• Evaluate the complexities of healthcare organizations including the implications of workplace diversity, organizational change, and the corporate culture.
• Apply analytical reasoning and critical thinking skills to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation, human resource allocation, and medical ethics.
• Analyze the role effective leadership models play in organizational performance and change.
• Compare current healthcare management strategies utilizing evidence-based scholarly inquiry.

To be considered for admission into a degree or professional certificate program, students must be a high school graduate or have received a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), Pennsylvania Home School Diploma or other recognized equivalency diploma. High School Students applying with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher may be considered for regular admission. Students applying with a GPA below a 2.0 in high school or from another college or university, if accepted, will be admitted conditionally. Please submit an application for admission and a copy of high school and/or college transcript(s). Some applicants may be required to attend a personal interview with the Admissions Office.

An admission essay may be deemed optional for all applicants whose GPA meets or exceeds the minimum for acceptance into the desired program. For certificates and degrees in the Schools of Humanities and Business, the minimum GPA for acceptance is 2.0. For most Health Sciences certificates and degrees, unless otherwise specified, the minimum GPA is 2.2.

In order to be successful in an online environment, students must have consistent and reliable access to a computer and reliable internet connection. Students are permitted to enroll in completely online degree programs during the program's scheduled enrollment availability.

Degree Completion Pathway Admission Requirements.

• Students must have completed a minimum of 60 credits from an accredited institution and have been awarded an associate degree in a health-related field at the accredited institution.
• Students must have a 2.5 GPA or higher at the institution awarding the associate degree.
• Submit two professional reference letters.

Students who are enrolled in the BSHM degree completion pathway will be awarded up to 60 credits for their associate degree and 15 credits for professional credentials based on their individual transfer evaluations. Those students who do not hold a current professional credential will be required to take 15 additional BSHM choice course credits.

Healthcare Management courses are exclusively offered in an online format. Degree Completion Pathway students begin in Summer or Winter.

This program has Summer and Winter starts. Upcoming start dates: January 11, 2027, July 12, 2027, January 10, 2028.

Tuition and fees. Undergraduate tuition is $525 per credit for all majors. A Student/Technology Fee of $510 per term (5 or more credits) or $315 (4 or fewer credits) is required. A one-time $150 graduation fee applies.

Books and other expenses. Variable expenses per term (estimates): textbooks $350–$450; course material fees approximately $50–$150 per course; personal $150–$250; transportation $150–$300.

Financial aid. Central Penn College processes grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study through federal, state, private, and institutional sources to help eligible students meet some of those costs, including the Federal Pell Grant, PA State Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work-Study and Federal Direct Stafford Loans. To apply for all federal and state financial aid programs, students must complete the FAFSA; Central Penn’s Federal School Code for FAFSA is 004890. To receive financial aid a student must be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (4 credits).

Payment options. Tuition and expenses are paid each term approximately three weeks before the term starts. Central Penn has a short-term three-month payment plan through CASHNet that divides the balance of the tuition owed by three payments; there is a $35 non-refundable application fee paid with the first payment. An Employer Reimbursement Tuition Agreement Plan lets students who receive tuition reimbursement from their employer defer payment until the specified dates.

Military benefits. Military benefits accepted include the Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapters 30 and 1606), Veterans Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) and Yellow Ribbon Program, Dependents’ Education Assistance (Chapter 35) and Tuition Assistance.

Net price calculator. Use Central Penn’s Net Price Calculator at https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/centralpenn for an early estimate of your total annual cost.

Careers you can pursue. Hospital Administrator, Ambulatory surgical centers, Medical Office Manager, Clinic Manager, Public Health Program Administrator, Patient Advocate, Healthcare Account Executive, Surgical Center Director, Operations Manager, Customer Care Manager.

Graduate outcomes. 100% of Healthcare Management graduates (9 graduates contacted) were employed in their field or continuing their education (One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report for graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, published July 1, 2026).

College-wide outcome. 89.2% of Central Penn graduates were employed in their chosen field or continuing their education within one year of graduation (graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025; One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report published July 1, 2026).