Fast-Track Master of Healthcare Administration (B.S./M.H.C.A.)

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The Fast Track Master of Healthcare Administration program (B.S./M.H.C.A.) is ideal for students who know early on in their academic career that they have a calling to serve through dynamic leadership in the healthcare industry. Students apply for the program at the end of their freshman year. Students begin undergraduate-level coursework in the Department of Healthcare Administration in the fall of their sophomore year and begin taking the regular plan of study for the M.H.C.A. during the fall of their senior year of undergraduate studies. Students are required to enroll in courses the summer between their third and fourth year of study to complete their undergraduate requirements. At the end of their fifth year of study, they will be awarded both the B.S. in healthcare administration and master of healthcare administration degrees. Students in the accelerated program will be required to complete 360 hours of internship experience and community service to complete both degree requirements. Admission to this program is competitive, and requires application in January of the student’s freshman year of courses.

Undergraduate Courses (B.S. in Healthcare Admin): 104 credits

Year 1, Fall: 15 Credits

UCCA 101 - Communication Arts I (4)
UCCP 101 - Cultural Perspectives I (4)
UCFH 120 - Concepts of Fitness and Health (2)
FOUN 101 - Foundations (1)
Any Gen Ed Math Course (4)

Year 1, Spring: 17 Credits

UCCA 102 - Communication Arts II (4)
UCCP 102 - Cultural Perspectives II (4)
Any biology with lab (4)
Any Gen Ed Humanities Course (4)
HCAD 101 - Contemporary Issues in Healthcare Administration (1)

Year 2, Fall: 17 Credits

UCBF 101 - Biblical Foundations (4)
IDSC 201 - Scientific Methods (4)
ACCT 211 - Accounting Concepts I (3)
HCAD 201 - Disease Detectives: Introduction to Epidemiology (3)
HCAD 301 - Healthcare Systems, Organization, and Policy (3)

Year 2, Spring: 16 Credits

ACCT 212 - Accounting Concepts II (3)
ECON 201 - Principles of Macroeconomics (4)
HCAD 220 - Biostatistics: Numbers that Matter (3)
HCAD 321 - Healthcare Economics (3)
PHLT 302 - Health Communications for Health Professionals (3)

Year 3, Fall: 18 Credits

HCAD 221 - Principles of Health Informatics and Information Technology (3)
HCAD 302 - Managing Healthcare Organizations: Principles (3)
HCAD 304 - Cultural Competence and Spirituality in Public Health (3)
HCAD 401 - Healthcare Financial Management and Budgeting (3)
HCAD 402 - Healthcare Law and Ethics (3)
HCAD 404 - Healthcare Quality (3)

Year 3, Spring: 15 Credits

HCAD 303 - Healthcare Marketing and Strategy (3)
HCAD 325 - Managing Healthcare Organizations: Applications (3)
HCAD 420 - Insurance and Reimbursement for Healthcare Professionals (3)
HCAD 422 - Healthcare Administration Capstone (3)
HCAD 424 - Health Policy and Politics (3)

Year 3, Summer I: 6 Credits

Healthcare Admin Internship (1 of 2)

HCAD 421 - Healthcare Administration Internship (3-6)

Year 3, Summer II: 3 Credits

Healthcare Admin Internship (2 of 2)

HCAD 421 - Healthcare Administration Internship (3-6)

See the 2020-2021 Samford University Undergraduate Catalog for descriptions of courses required during years 1-3.

Graduate Courses (Master of Healthcare Admin): 48 credits

Year 4, Fall: 12 credits

Year 4, Spring: 9 credits

Year 4, Summer: 9 credits

Year 5, Fall: 9 credits

Year 5, Spring: 9 credits

Total Required Credits: 152

*The following are acceptable course substitutions:

PHLT 500 can sub for MHCA 500
PHLT 504 can sub for MHCA 501
HIIM 500 /HIIM 650 can sub for MHCA 502
MHCA 603 can sub for MHCA 503
MHCA 614 can sub for MHCA 510
MHCA 619 can sub for MHCA 511
MHCA 622 can sub for MHCA 512