Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration

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Learn to Lead in Healthcare

Earn your healthcare administration degree online and gain the skills to lead teams, enhance processes, and improve patient experiences.

In the online Healthcare Administration BS program at EWU, you’ll build a fundamental understanding of healthcare systems and organizations by studying management, technology, regulation, ethics, marketing, leadership, risk management, research, and finance.

You’ll also get real-world experience, expand your professional network, and strengthen your resume through hands-on learning opportunities like internships, community-based projects, and service learning.

When you graduate, you’ll be ready to take the next step, whether that’s attending graduate school or launching your career in a hospital or medical clinic.

Request Info Curriculum & Requirements

Why Study Healthcare Administration at EWU?

Online Classes

Stay in your community while earning your degree with a fully online format that lets you learn anytime, anywhere.

Flexible Schedule

Take advantage of asynchronous classes that fit your schedule, making it easier to balance school, work, and life.

High-Value Education

Benefit from the lowest tuition rates in Washington and financial aid options to help you graduate debt-free.

Applied Learning

Gain hands-on experience in real-world healthcare settings to hone your skills and enhance your resume.

Career Preparedness

Master in-demand skills for roles in one of the nation’s fastest-growing industries and expand your professional network.

Excellent Job Opportunities

Healthcare is the nation’s largest employment sector, giving our graduates a strong track record of landing jobs quickly.

Alum Spotlight

“I started off in secretarial roles and realized I had a passion for healthcare. I ended up going back to school and getting a degree in Healthcare Administration. ... My experience at Eastern set me up for success.” — Amanda Williams '17

Transfer Your Credits

EWU makes it easy to apply eligible credits toward your healthcare administration degree. You can:

  • Transfer credits from community colleges or other universities.
  • Get personalized support to map out your path to graduation.
  • Stay on track with a flexible, fully online program.

Explore transfer student resources or chat with an advisor.

Students walking on campus

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Healthcare Administration Major, Bachelor of Science (BS)

With a degree in Healthcare Administration, students study management, technology, regulation and ethics, marketing, leadership, risk management, research, and finance. Students are prepared to work in hospitals and medical clinics or to pursue a graduate degree.

Curriculum & Requirements

  • The degree is offered 100% online with the exception of the in-person internship and encompasses 90 credits of HCAD courses which include courses that satisfy the University Graduation Requirements for Diversity and Global Studies.
  • Students must have already completed coursework equal to at least 90 quarter credits either through their lower division course work from EWU, an AA - Direct Transfer Agreement, a related associate degree, or other course work that meets the EWU University Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACRs) and General Education requirements.
  • The HCAD courses are offered once a year and are designed to be taken in sequential order from fall of the junior year through spring of the senior year.
  • Students must complete an in-person 200-hour internship in their community during spring quarter of their senior year.

Grade Requirements

  • HCAD students must maintain a cumulative GPA ≥2.7 for all HCAD classes.
  • The culmination of the student’s experience in the program is an internship in a healthcare setting.
  • To qualify for the internship, the student must have at least a GPA ≥2.7 in HCAD classes and permission from the instructor and/or program chair.
Required Core Courses
HCAD 300INTRODUCTION TO HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION5
HCAD 302HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP5
HCAD 303HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION BEHAVIOR5
HCAD 304HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS5
HCAD 305HEALTHCARE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION5
HCAD 306BUDGETS AND POLICY FOR HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION5
HCAD 310HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND DESIGN5
HCAD 311INTRODUCTION TO HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT5
HCAD 320HEALTHCARE STRATEGIC PLANNING5
HCAD 350INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE5
HCAD 401HEALTHCARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY5
HCAD 402 FINANCE IN HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS5
HCAD 410QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS5
HCAD 411RISK MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS IN HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS5
HCAD 412HEALTHCARE LAW, REGULATIONS & ETHICS5
HCAD 440HEALTHCARE MARKETING5
Capstone and Internship
HCAD 495INTERNSHIP IN HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION5
HCAD 490HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION CAPSTONE5
Total Credits90

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
ENGL 1015ENGL 2015Social Science BACR 215
MATH 1075Natural Science BACR 215Humanities & Arts BACR 115
Natural Science BACR 115Social Science BACR 115Humanities & Arts BACR 215
 15 15 15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5
Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5
Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5
 15 15 15
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
HCAD 3005HCAD 3045HCAD 305 (Diversity - graduation requirement)5
HCAD 3025HCAD 3105HCAD 3115
HCAD 3035HCAD 3205HCAD 4115
 15 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
HCAD 3065HCAD 350 (Global Studies - graduation requirement)5HCAD 4405
HCAD 4105HCAD 4015HCAD 490 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)5
HCAD 4125HCAD 4025HCAD 4955
 15 15 15
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.  Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

University Competencies and Proficiencies

English 
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance 
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB

General Education Requirements (GER)

  • Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours 
    • 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
    • 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
  • Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0

Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)

Humanities and Arts 
Natural Sciences 
Social Sciences

University Graduation Requirements (UGR)

Diversity Course List
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List

Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term expected to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).

Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.

  1. The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Core Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
  2. The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.

Students who earn a BS in Healthcare Administration from EWU should be able to:​

  • apply the six core competencies in healthcare settings;
  • demonstrate effective written, oral, and presentation communication skills in healthcare settings;
  • focus on six core healthcare services competency areas - communication and relationship management, professionalism, leadership, knowledge of the healthcare environment, business skills, and knowledge and person centered care;
  • integrate the six core competencies in an internship in a healthcare setting;
  • manage projects utilizing the six core competency areas; and
  • problem solve in a variety of situations in healthcare settings.

Applied Learning Opportunities

Applied learning experiences—such as internships, voluntary service, community-based projects, and professional networking—significantly enrich a student’s resume by demonstrating real-world skills, workplace readiness, and hands-on problem-solving abilities. These experiences also expand a student’s professional network by connecting them with industry leaders, mentors, and potential employers, creating valuable pathways for career exploration and enhancing employment opportunities after graduation.

  • Internships: In your senior year, you will complete a 200-hour internship with a community-based healthcare organization, working under the supervision of a healthcare leader and completing a professional project. Most internships are unpaid, though some paid placements are available each year.
  • Professional Networking and Leadership: Take your learning beyond the classroom by connecting directly with healthcare leaders and organizations. You will select and join a professional healthcare leadership organization to engage in networking, industry learning, and mentoring opportunities. Each year, a senior healthcare administration student serves as the EWU student representative on the Washington State Board of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), a national professional organization for healthcare leaders.
  • Volunteerism and Service Learning: As part of the Healthcare Administration degree course assignments, you will complete 100 hours of volunteer service with community organizations. You will work on critical issues— such as healthcare access or poverty—that connect community service with what you are learning in class.
  • Community-Based Projects: Team up with local organizations to solve challenges and support community health initiatives. For example, you may collaborate with local partner Maji Rising to help coordinate events like the Village of Care, a community initiative that offers free healthcare, housing support, and cultural enrichment.
  • Student Employment Opportunities: Spend six months or more in a career-related job so you graduate with professional experience.
  • Classroom-Based Applied Learning/Simulation: Practice real-world decision-making through case studies, simulation, and hands-on exercises in class. You will also conduct interviews and network with healthcare professionals to complete your assignments.

Careers in Healthcare Administration

Your online healthcare administration degree prepares you for a wide variety of roles, including:

Hospital or Clinic Administrator

Patient Advocate

Community Health Center Director

Medical Coding or Billing Manager

Telehealth Program Manager

Assisted Living Care Administrator

Healthcare Administration BS FAQs

In the EWU healthcare administration program blends business, leadership, and healthcare so you graduate with versatile, career-ready skills:

  • Lead teams and manage healthcare organizations
  • Navigate healthcare laws, ethics, and policy
  • Use data to improve patient outcomes
  • Understand budgeting, finance, and operations
  • Communicate with patients, providers, and stakeholders
  • Adapt to trends like telehealth and digital systems

This program is a great fit if you:

  • Work in healthcare and want to move into leadership
  • Are ready to switch careers into a high-demand field
  • Need a flexible, fully online degree
  • Want real-world experience before you graduate

Healthcare administration careers focus on enhancing the delivery of healthcare and creating systems that are more efficient, patient-centered, and equitable. With this degree, you can pursue roles such as:

  • Hospital or clinic manager
  • Medical office administrator
  • Healthcare financial manager
  • Ambulatory or outpatient care coordinator
  • Community health program director
  • Medical billing and coding manager
  • Senior or assisted living administrator
  • Patient advocate
  • Emergency preparedness coordinator
  • Telehealth or quality improvement manager

Yes. EWU accepts transfer credits from accredited colleges and universities. An advisor will help evaluate your previous coursework and show you how it applies to the Healthcare Administration BS, so you can stay on track to graduate faster.

Check out our transfer student resources for more details.

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Healthcare Administration
Catalyst Building, Suite 400
601 E Riverside Avenue
Spokane, WA 99202

P: 509.828.1337

Accreditation

The Healthcare Administration program is accredited by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB).

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