The Bachelor of Science in health management (BSHM) at Wichita State University is certified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration and offered in hybrid and 100% online formats. The program prepares students for entry-level management roles in hospitals, long-term care organizations, public health agencies, and other healthcare settings, while also providing a strong foundation for graduate study in health administration, public health or aging studies.
The curriculum emphasizes the core skills essential for healthcare management, including leadership, communication, financial and operational fundamentals, quality improvement, and an understanding of healthcare delivery systems. Students also select from a range of interdisciplinary electives, allowing flexibility to explore related fields and supporting a smooth transfer process for incoming students.
All students complete:
- An applied learning professional portfolio, and
- A 160-hour practicum in a healthcare organization.
Qualified students have the option to advance their education through the accelerated master’s degree programs in health administration or aging studies. These programs allow students to apply 9 credit hours toward both their bachelor's and master's degrees, further accelerating their educational and career goals.
Admission
Students admitted to WSU with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.000 or higher may self-select the Bachelor of Science in health management. The program is available on campus or 100% online.
Program Requirements
Students admitted to the Bachelor of Science (BS) in health management are assigned both a college advisor and a faculty advisor who work collaboratively to support degree planning, career preparation and student success from admission through graduation. To meet the needs of diverse learners, the program is offered in two formats, on campus or 100% online, allowing students to choose the learning environment that best fits their schedule and goals.
Students must be in the final year of their program of study and must be health management majors to take PHS 485 or PHS 495. Students enrolled in PHS 495 are required to purchase professional and general liability insurance coverage. The cost of this insurance is included in the university's comprehensive fee schedule and is part of the fee requirements for this major.
A minimum total of 120 credit hours is required for the BS in health management. Students in the health management program are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.000, with no individual program course generating a grade less than 1.700 credit points per credit hour. In addition to meeting the requirements of the WSU General Education Program and the requirements of the College of Health Professions, students in the BS in health management program must take the following courses:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Select courses to meet General Education requirements 1 | 34-35 | |
| Health Management Required Courses (45 credit hours) | ||
| PHS 100 | Introduction to Aging Studies 2 | 3 |
| PHS 101 | Introduction to Public Health 2 | 3 |
| PHS 310 | Introduction to U.S. Healthcare and Administration 2 | 3 |
| PHS 325 | Epidemiology | 3 |
| PHS 344 | Health for All | 3 |
| PHS 356 | Foundations of Healthcare Policy, Law and Ethics | 3 |
| PHS 407 | Foundations of Healthcare Informatics | 3 |
| PHS 410 | Interprofessionalism and Health Communication | 3 |
| PHS 428 | Healthcare Organization and Leadership | 3 |
| PHS 442 | Foundations of Healthcare Finance | 3 |
| PHS 448 | Healthcare Quality and Analytics | 3 |
| PHS 478 | Foundations of Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| PHS 617 | Community Health Methods | 3 |
| PHS 621 | Effective Management in Healthcare 3 | 3 |
| PHS 622 | Human Resource Management in Healthcare 3 | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Electives (9 credit hours) | ||
| Choose any three classes for a total of 9 credit hours | 9 | |
| Careers in Healthcare | ||
| Principles of Diet and Nutrition | ||
| Psychology of Aging | ||
| Sociology of Aging | ||
| Adaptive Leadership | ||
| Healthcare Coordination 4 | ||
| Living with Death: Understanding Loss and Legacy 4 | ||
| Care Networks and Services 4 | ||
| Senior Living Operations 4 | ||
| Rural Healthcare Leadership | ||
| The Medicare System 4 | ||
| Public Health and Communication in Aging 4 | ||
| Hospitality and Enrichment in Aging Communities 4 | ||
| Financial Accounting | ||
| Managerial Accounting | ||
| Legal Environment of Business | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Principles of Management | ||
| Marketing | ||
| Medical Terminology | ||
or MLS 303 | Medical Terminology | |
| Bioethics | ||
| Psychological Statistics | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) | ||
| PHS 494 | Practicum Preparation | 0 |
| PHS 485 | Healthcare Professionalism | 3 |
| PHS 495 | Practicum | 3 |
| Open Electives | ||
| Select enough electives to reach 120 credit hours | 25-26 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Required major courses may also count towards General Education requirements. Students will need to select additional electives to reach 120 credit hours required for graduation with assistance from an advisor.
- 2
These should be the first courses students complete in the degree program.
- 3
These courses can be used in the Accelerated BS in health management to Master of Health Administration. Consult with the director of graduate programs (phs@wichita.edu) prior to taking PHS 621 and PHS 622 to apply and create your plan of study.
- 4
These courses can be used in the Accelerated Bachelor's in health management to Master's in aging studies. Consult with the director of graduate programs (phs@wichita.edu) before enrolling in any of these courses to apply and develop an approved plan of study.
- 5
PHS 494 must be successfully complete for enrollment in PHS 495.
Graduation
Students majoring in department of public health sciences undergraduate programs (health science and health management) must fulfill Applied Learning Portfolio activities to successfully complete their degree. Evidence of completed activities along with written entry for each activity is required. You can find information about the Applied Learning Portfolio on the public health sciences' website. Questions about the Portfolio may be sent to the undergraduate program director at phs@wichita.edu.
To be eligible for graduation from Wichita State University, students must have 120 acceptable credit hours toward their degree and a grade point average (GPA) in the major of 2.000. Students transferring from a two-year college must complete at least 45 credit hours of upper-division coursework to qualify for graduation. Public health sciences (PHS) policy requires a program cumulative GPA of 2.000 with no individual program course generating a grade less than 1.700 credit points per credit hour.
For a program handbook and answers to questions about the program, contact the undergraduate coordinator by email: phs@wichita.edu, by phone at 316-978-3060, or visit the department of public health sciences website.
Departmental Honors Program
Scholarship and research are encouraged at the undergraduate level. Students who meet the qualifications should explore adding the honors program to their undergraduate major. Students who are not PHS majors and are involved in the Cohen Honors College, should contact the PHS department for permission to enroll in these courses, as appropriate.
Admission requirements include:
- Status as a PHS major;
- An overall GPA of 3.500 in all major coursework;
- A one-page, double-spaced letter describing reasons for applying to the honors track, goals and potential benefits to participating in the program; and
- Agreement by a PHS faculty member to mentor the final project.
Honors Program Requirements
Students admitted to the PHS honors track must complete the following:
- Maintain a 3.500 cumulative GPA in all major coursework;
- Be a participating member of the Health, Education, Advocates for Leadership, Teamwork and Humanity (HEALTH) student organization;
- Maintain a portfolio of assignments, activities and reflections throughout the honors track;
- Complete and present a mentored scholarly activity during the last year of the program by enrolling in a 1-3 credit hours of PHS 401H Field Research Public Health Science Honors; and
- Enroll in and complete the honors assignments with a minimum of 12 credit hours of PHS coursework selected from the following options:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 325H | Epidemiology Honors | 3 |
| PHS 344H | Health for All Honors | 3 |
| PHS 356H | Foundations of Healthcare Policy, Law and Ethics Honors | 3 |
| PHS 408H | Adaptive Leadership Honors | 3 |
| PHS 410H | Interprofessionalism and Health Communication Honors | 3 |
Students who have previously taken the courses above without honors can contact their advisor to see how they can earn honors credit.
Applied Learning
Students in the BS in health management program are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from the program. The requirement can be met by completing the following program course requirement: PHS 495 Practicum.