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 be the next generation of leaders of healthcare systems and organization. Students apply for the program at the end of their freshman year. The first three years of the fast-track program are dedicated to completing all required undergraduate healthcare administration courses. Students begin 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 three internship placements, totaling at least 360 hours of field experience to complete both degree requirements. Admission to this program is competitive and requires application in the spring semester of the student’s freshman year. Participation in this program requires careful advisement and scheduling.

Undergraduate Courses (BS in Healthcare Admin): 104 Credits

Year 1, Fall: 15 Credits

UCR 101 - University Core: Rhetoric (4)
UCT 101 - University Core Texts I (4)
UCHW 120 - Concepts of Health and Wellness (2)
FOUN 101 - Foundations (1)
Any Gen Ed Math Course (4)

Year 1, Spring: 17 Credits

UCS 102 - University Core: Seminar (4)
UCT 102 - University Core Texts II (4)
Any Gen Ed Biology with lab (4)
Any Gen Ed Humanities Course (4)
HCAD 101 - Contemporary Issues in Healthcare Administration (1)

Year 2, Fall: 17 Credits

Year 2, Spring: 16 Credits

Year 3, Fall: 18 Credits

Year 3, Spring: 15 Credits

Year 3, Summer I: 3 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)

Graduate Courses (Master of Healthcare Admin): 48 Credits

Year 4, Fall: 12 Credits

MHCA 500 - Healthcare Systems (3)
MHCA 501 - Healthcare Statistics and Research Methods (3)
MHCA 502 - Healthcare Information and Informatics Management (3)
MHCA 503 - Healthcare Management (3)

Year 4, Spring: 9 Credits

MHCA 510 - Healthcare Financial Management and Budgeting (3)
MHCA 511 - Healthcare Policy and Law (3)
MHCA 512 - Healthcare Economics (3)

Year 4, Summer: 9 Credits

MHCA 520 - Healthcare Project Management (3)
MHCA 521 - Healthcare Human Resource Management (3)
MHCA 522 - Healthcare Leadership and Professionalism (3)

Year 5, Fall: 9 Credits

MHCA 600 - Healthcare Patient Safety and Quality (3)
MHCA 601 - Healthcare Ethics (3)
MHCA 602 - Healthcare Organizational Dynamics and Governance (3)

Year 5, Spring: 9 Credits

MHCA 610 - Healthcare Strategic Management and Marketing (3)
MHCA 611 - Healthcare Administration Graduate Capstone (3)
MHCA 612 - Healthcare Administration Graduate Internship (3)

See the 2022-2023 Samford University Graduate Catalog for course descriptions for graduate MHCA courses as well as acceptable substitutions for selected courses.

Total Required Credits: 152

*Prereq for HCAD 325 is HCAD 302 .
**Only for HCAD majors in their final semester.

NOTE: The following courses are cross-listed:
HCAD 201  with PHLT 201
HCAD 220  with PHLT 232
HCAD 221  with HIIM 304
HCAD 301  with HIIM 311  and PHLT 311
HCAD 302  with HIIM 302
HCAD 304  with PHLT 309
HCAD 321  with HIIM 321
HCAD 401  with HIIM 401
HCAD 404  with HIIM 407
HCAD 420  with HIIM 420