Bachelor of ScienceHealth Care Administration

An administrator reviews a portfolio with an employee in a health care clinic An administrator reviews a portfolio with an employee in a health care clinic








Prepare for a leadership role in health care.

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Over the coming years, the number of people needing health care and services, including older adults, is expected to grow exponentially. This requires well-prepared leaders who can effectively plan, organize, and direct health care and long-term care organizations to achieve goals, advance their mission, and ensure that high-quality care is given to residents and patients.

The Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration prepares students for leadership roles in nursing homes, assisted living centers, home health organizations, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and many more care settings.

Why earn your degree at Bellarmine?

The Health Care Administration degree at Bellarmine is one of only 15 programs across the country that are accredited by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB), a mark of excellence for health and aging leadership curricula. Students in the program also complete a 1,000-hour internship at a local care center and take a comprehensive review course, to prepare for success on the NAB licensure exam and for success in a future career. 

Faculty members who teach in the program are recognized as national experts and serve on committees for state and national organizations, which presents numerous travel and networking opportunities for students in the department. Additionally, students can join the Health Care Administrators of Bellarmine, affiliated with the American College for Health Care Administrators, to engage in activities at the university and in the surrounding community.

“We’ve been wrong about what our job is in medicine. We think our job is to ensure health and survival. But really it is larger than that. It is to enable well-being.” —Atul Gawande

Program Highlights

  • 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

Learning Outcomes

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 aspects in the developing and implementing 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; and
  • Integrate federal, state and local laws, regulations and standards to the provision of health and aging services or senior living.

Internships

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 students 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.

Career Opportunities

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 ActivitiesPublic Policy Analyst
  • Health Care Data AnalystHealth Insurance Representative

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

Career Development Center

Faculty

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

Accreditation

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.

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Contact Information

Undergraduate Admissions
Phone: 502.272.8000
Email: admissions@bellarmine.edu