Advance Your Career in the Medical and Health Services Field
The Bachelor of Arts in Health Systems and Administration provides working professionals in health fields an opportunity to complete a meaningful, career-relevant bachelor’s degree that prepares them for leadership roles and career advancement in a high-demand field.
Why earn your Health Systems and Administration degree at St. Edward’s?
If you’re ready to move up to management or director positions in healthcare administration, one thing is certain: The advantages of your St. Edward’s education will prepare you to succeed. You’ll find opportunities in and outside the classroom to learn, give back and achieve your goals. And your professors will support you every step of the way.
Enjoy flexibility for working professionals
A blend of online, hybrid and face-to-face class modalities helps support the schedule of busy working professionals. And our location near downtown Austin adds convenience for attending in-person classes and engaging with our vibrant campus community.
Tailor your studies to your goals
Along with the program’s strong combination of required courses, elective courses such as Business Leadership, Statistics, Communication and Ethics let you customize your degree to align with your professional goals and interests.
Build relationships with your professors
You’ll learn in small classes taught by award-winning professors who are experts in their field. They’ll get to know you and become trusted advisors. They’ll help you focus on your goals, network in the health care community, and provide guidance during and after your college years.
Cultivate a health equity mindset
The work of leaders in health systems and administration is key to achieving a healthier future for all. In keeping with the Holy Cross mission of St. Edward’s, you’ll be prepared to approach issues within health care and health professions from an equity and social justice perspective.
Reap the Rewards of Austin
Austin is a fast-growing health care hub and emerging center of medical research and innovation. Health systems administrators are in demand. Explore career paths and practical application of your studies through an internship and interactions within the greater Austin community.
What do our graduates do?
Health care services are the largest sector of the U.S. economy, creating ongoing demand for healthcare administrators. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 32% growth in employment of medical and health services managers through 2030. Currently, the average entry-level salary for health managers and administrators is $65,000. Health Systems and Management majors can look forward a variety of career paths, including:
- Medical and Health Services Director/Assistant Director
- Medical Clinic Director
- Medical Systems Administrator
- Medical Operations Manager
- Medical Office Manager
- Medical Practice Manager
Explore Details About a Degree in Health Systems and Administration
The Health Systems and Administration program is flexible, with a relatively small number of required courses, allowing room for electives, a minor or even a second major.
Major Requirements: The Bachelor of Arts in Health Systems and Administration requires a total of 36–38 hours of major courses, which include seven core courses and five electives.
Required Courses: Students complete these seven required courses totaling 21 hours:
- Current Issues in Healthcare
- Health Communication
- Issues in Global Public Health
- Data Analysis for Health Professionals
- Special Topics in Management (Health Care Management)
- Medical Ethics
- Health Systems and Administration Internship/Practicum
Required Electives: Students choose at least 15 hours from select courses in five areas. Courses can be chosen from one or more of these areas:
- Statistics, computing and data analysis
- Business, leadership and management
- Communication
- Science, health and wellness
- Ethics, social issues and policy
Credits Accepted:
- Up to the allowable 66 credits of the associate's degree for a health sciences program may transfer into the Health Systems and Administration program.
- Workforce courses will count for general elective credit
- Candidates must still complete the entire major and general education requirements, even if doing so would put them above the 120 credits required for the degree.
Who Is an Ideal Candidate for This Degree?
Working professionals in healthcare fields, particularly those with associate degrees or prior healthcare training are best suited for this major. The Health Systems and Administration major requirements will be completed through a blend of online, hybrid and face-to-face class modalities.
NOTE: This major is not intended to prepare students for graduate or professional school in health fields. Please see an advisor at St. Edward’s if you are considering a career in health care that requires postgraduate education, as other majors (for example, biology or kinesiology) may be more appropriate options.
Earn Two Degrees in Five Years
Complete your and master's degree in Organizational Leadership with our pathway to receive two degrees in five years.
Success Coaches and Academic Advisors guide students through undergraduate and graduate courses to maximize benefits.
What You Will Learn and Skills You Will Gain
The BA in Health Systems and Administration program is highly interdisciplinary and benefits from faculty expertise across the university. Students develop practical skills in data analysis, communication, management and more.
The program builds on core courses such as Data Analysis for Health Professionals, Health Communication, Global Public Health, Health Care Management and Medical Ethics that establish a solid foundation for health services leadership. Students will also gain hands-on experience by participating in an internship directly related to their studies.
Required elective courses allow students to tailor their degree by choosing from classes in business, communications, leadership, social and natural sciences, and statistics and computing. The interdisciplinary design of this degree equips graduates for management in health care organizations that are continually changing and evolving to meet the challenges of health care services in the 21st century.
Earn Two Degrees in Five Years
With our Accelerated Graduate Pathways, you can complete your BA in Health Systems and Administration and master’s degree in Organizational Leadership in as little as five years, saving time and money. See details and requirements.
Success coaches and academic advisors guide you through undergraduate and graduate courses to maximize benefits.