Academic Programs
California State University Long Beach offers comprehensive, convenient and affordable programs of undergraduate and graduate study in the dynamic field of health care administration. Health care administration students learn about the business side of health care. Graduates work as analysts, administrative support staff, customer service, managers, consultants, information specialists in many different kinds of organizations (both public and private), independent business owners in hospitals, managed care organizations (HMOs and PPOs), insurance companies, and governmental health agencies.
Our curriculum features a strong core of courses in the essential functions of management, with electives that allow students to pursue particular interests such as the specialized site of care courses in long term care administration, hospital management, managed care, and medical group practice management. Our faculty includes both nationally recognized experts and executive practitioners of leading Southern California healthcare organizations (leading to numerous opportunities for networking and employment). Most of our undergraduate and all graduate classes are offered in late afternoon and evening for the convenience of adult learners.
Our undergraduate major program (BSHCA) is a full-certified member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). It emphasizes our students' preparedness for the workforce, with health care industry-specific courses in the basic business functions and a mandatory internship in a health care organization. Our Certificate in Health Care Administration is similar to a minor, and students may take this during their undergraduate studies in another non-HCA major. While obtaining the Bachelor of Science in HCA, our undergraduate students may also pursue a business administration minor in several options including Finance, Information Systems, Human Resources Management, and Marketing.
Our traditional and accelerated-format graduate MSHCA programs are fully accredited by the Commission for Accreditation for Health Management Education (CAHME). The Programs were designed for persons with a variety of undergraduate experiences who give evidence of interest and potential for success in health care management or research. (The accelerated program combines both online and in-person weekend graduate instruction; its more intensive pace allows students—primarily managers and clinicians—to complete a master's degree in just two years.) Citing our graduate programs, Modern Healthcare in May 2012 ranked CSULB no. 19 overall—and no. 5 based on tuition costs—in the nation's top business schools for physician executives.
