Bachelor of ScienceHealth Care Administration

• An interdisciplinary curriculum featuring courses from Health Care Administration and Public Health, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Psychology, Biology and Communication
• Experiential learning to directly apply classroom knowledge during a required internship
• Curriculum structured according to industry-specific accreditation standards to prepare students for success on national licensure exams
• Student association on campus that partners with the national professional association for health care and long-term care administrators and holds events in the surrounding community
• Local, state, and national conferences are offered to students to present research and to network with professionals in their career field

Students graduating from Bellarmine with a degree in Health Care Administration will:

• Analyze the historical context and current trends of the components, relationships and organizational principles that comprise the field of health and aging services and senior living
• Synthesize contemporary best practices for including programmatic, financial, clinical, logistical, technological and social impact considerations in the development and implementation of an organization’s strategic plan
• Examine principles of sound executive leadership and business operations and their application to health and aging services or senior living
• Evaluate quality assurance and performance improvement opportunities and champion innovation in the care and services for older adults
• Assess legal and ethical considerations inherent in the operation of an organization providing health and aging services or senior living
• Integrate federal, state and local laws, regulations and standards to the provision of health and aging services or senior living

Experienced leaders of highly regarded organizations in the fields of health care, senior living, public health and aging services serve as mentors during internships designed to familiarize students with such operations. Every student can expect to gain first-hand, relevant career experience by completing a departmental rotation in a care center, participating in internal and external meetings, or performing approved projects for the host organization.

Potential careers you can pursue with a degree in Health Care Administration include:

• Nursing Home Administrator
• Assisted Living Executive Director
• Business Office Manager for Home Health Care
• Hospital Health Unit Coordinator
• Director of Adult Day Services Center
• Director of Activities
• Public Policy Analyst
• Health Care Data Analyst
• Health Insurance Representative

In addition to a rewarding career, salaries in these fields range from $65,420–$104,280 per year, depending on your chosen profession.

Career Development Center

Jessica Hume, Ph.D., MFA, Department Chair (email)
Amy Tudor, Ph.D., MFA (email)
Anne Veno, DNP, MBA, RN (email)
Harry Dadds, J.D., LL.M. (email)
Jennifer Thomas, MBA, CPA, CHFP (email)
Chris Ekstrom, Department Assistant

The Department of Health Care Administration and Public Health at Bellarmine University is one of only 15 programs in the nation accredited by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB). NAB granted accreditation in 2021 for the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration degree. Students with this degree are eligible to sit for the national nursing home administrator and assisted living licensure exams, and are eligible for licensure in the majority of states following graduation.