Master of Science in Health Care Administration (Accelerated)
New Applicant Request for Information
The College of Health and Human Services and the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) at CSULB have joined efforts to offer the Master in Health Care Administration Accelerated Program (MSHCA-AP).
Developed by an expert team of faculty and industry professionals, the MSHCA-AP is designed to prepare those with years of heath care work experience who are seeking professional growth or changing a career within the health care sector.
Launched in Fall 2004, the MSHCA-AP is a fully accredited CAHME program that follows a generalist approach in the design of its program. The program is conforming to academic accreditation criteria while admitting students with diverse backgrounds and experience. Students enrolled in a CAHME accredited program have access to vast resources and networking opportunities.
Similar to the Traditional Program, the MSHCA-AP program requires 45 credit hours consisting of 15 core courses. However, the program is a cohort program with a fixed sequence of courses, two courses per quarter and is completed in two years (see Accelerated Education Model course sequence). The program offers foundation courses at the start of the program and more advanced healthcare-specific courses later in the last year.
Today, the program has more than 300 alumni who have graduated from the Accelerated Program.
All applicants to either the MSHCA Traditional or Accelerated Program are required to meet the following minimum requirements for admission consideration:
- Satisfy the university requirements for graduate admission.
- Have a GPA of 3.0 or above from your baccalaureate degree. (Accomplished candidates with slightly less than a 3.0 GPA will also be considered for admission).
- Complete the following pre-requisites: financial accounting, microeconomics, and statistics for a total of 9 units with a ‘C’ or better. It is strongly recommended to have them completed before the start of the first semester of graduate study. Prerequisite courses must be completed within the last ten years. Note: a passing grade in the CLEP exam will fulfill our financial accounting and microeconomics prerequisites.
- A minimum of three years of working experience in U.S. health care industry or health care related field
- Submit Application and Supporting Documents to CalState Apply by June 1 Deadline
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume
- MSHCA Supplemental Application
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation (each letter should be from a current or past instructor/professor, employer, or supervisor who knows the applicant’s academic abilities. Recommenders will receive a link by email with instructions for the letter.
- Transcript from bachelor’s degree granting institution (sent to CSULB)
- Optional: CLEP exam passing score and transcripts in lieu of financial accounting and microeconomics prerequisites
- Complete a minimum of 45 units of graduate-level course work.
- Complete all of the following core courses:
Year 1
First Quarter: Fall
Orientation (No Credit)
1. HCA 502: The Health Care System (3)
Prerequisites: None.
2. HCA 505: Organization and Systems of Health Care (3)
Prerequisites: Health Care Administration majors only.
Second Quarter: Winter
3. HCA 510: Human Resources Mgmt. in Health Care (3)
Prerequisite(s): Health Care Administration majors only.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: HCA 502
4. HCA 515: Advanced Financial Management in Health Care (3)
Prerequisite: ACCT 201 or ACCT 500; HCA 502; Health Care Administration majors only.
Third Quarter: Spring
5. HCA 503: Health Care Economics (3)
Prerequisites: ECON 101 or ECON 300.
6. HCA 524: Advanced Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care (3)
Prerequisite: Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502
Fourth Quarter: Summer
7. HCA 537: Managed Care (3)
Prerequisite: Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502.
8. HCA 527: Research Methods in HCM (3)
Prerequisites: SOC 170 or equivalent statistics course, Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502 and advancement to candidacy
Year 2
First Quarter: Fall
9. HCA 517: Advanced Healthcare Info Systems Management (3)
Prerequisites: Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502.
10. HCA 530: Strategic Planning/Marketing in Health Care (3)
Prerequisites/Corequisites: HCA 502.
Second Quarter: Winter
11. HCA 536: Hospital Management (3)
Prerequisites: Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502.
12. HCA 535: Quantitative Methods in Health Care Adm. (3)
Prerequisites: Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502
Third Quarter: Spring
13. HCA 528 Managing Population Health (3)
Prerequisites: Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502.
14. HCA 698: Project (3)
Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy & completion of minimum 27 graduate units in HCA.
Fourth Quarter: Summer
15. HCA 550 Continuous Quality Improvement in Health Services (3)
Prerequisites: Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502.
CSULB is a federally recognized Hispanic and Asian serving institution. The University prides itself on the diversity of its students. Our recruitment efforts for the MSHCA graduate program are in line with the overall University goals for recruiting diverse students.
Profile of MSHCA-AP students by Cohort
| Cohort | Year | Entered | Dropped | % Dropped | Retention Rate | GPA - MEAN | Average Years of Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cohort 18 | 2021-2022 | 18 | 2 | 11 | 89 | 3.35 | 4.28 |
| Cohort 19 | 2022-2023 | 20 | 2 | 10 | 90 | 3.29 | 8.56 |
| Cohort 20 | 2023-2024 | 22 | 2 | 9 | 91 | 3.186 | 8.28 |
| Cohort 21 | 2024-2025 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 3.33 | 6.6 |
| Cohort 22 | 2025-2026 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 3.23 | 7.54 |
