Master of Science in Health Care Administration (Traditional)

The Master of Science in Health Care Administration (MSHCA) Traditional program is designed for new undergraduates, beginning health care professionals, and international students who interested in pursuing managerial positions and careers in health care industry.

As a CAHME accredited program, the MS-HCA traditional program provides high quality education, field experience, and extensive mentorships. Students enrolled in a CAHME accredited program have access to vast resources and networking opportunities

The traditional program curriculum consists of forty-five (45) units of course work. Required courses cover the essential functions of management and critical aspects of the US health care system. Electives, tailored to students' learning goals, include courses in health care site specialization and other academic disciplines. Graduate courses are offered with different modalities in regular CSULB semesters (Fall, Spring) from Monday – Thursday, at both 4:00 and/ or 7:00 PM. Some courses are offered during the Summer as well. Students will take the courses based on the recommended sequence. Students can do the program on part time or full-time basis.

The Department of Health Care Administration at CSULB has established affiliations with a large number of regional and local health care facilities/ companies to provide mentorship and field experience to our students.

Today, the program has more than 300 alumni who have graduated from the Traditional Program.

 

All applicants to either the MSHCA Traditional or Accelerated Program are required to meet the following minimum requirements for admission consideration:

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0 in the last sixty units of undergraduate study. Accomplished candidates with slightly less than a 3.0 GPA will also be considered for admission. 

2. A total of at least nine units of courses in financial accounting, microeconomics, and statistics must be completed before the first semester of graduate study (or in progress during the application process). These prerequisite courses must be completed within the last ten years. Note: a passing grade in the CLEP exam will fulfill our accounting and microeconomics prerequisites.

3. Recent (within the last two years) GRE or GMAT score OR a  minimum of five years working experience in the health care industry.*

*Note: This year, the Department of Health Care Administration will not require the GRE/GMAT due to the pandemic. If you are an international student OR have less than five years of experience, consider applying to the traditional program. If you have five or more years of experience, applicants should consider applying to the accelerated program

  1. Complete a minimum of 45 units of graduate-level course work.
  2. Complete all of the following core courses
  • HCA 502: The Health Care System (3)
    • Prerequisites: None.
  • HCA 503: Health Care Economics (3)
    • Prerequisites: ECON 101 or ECON 300.
  • HCA 505: Organization and Systems in Health Care (3)
    • Prerequisites: Health Care Administration majors only.
  • HCA 510: Human Resources Management in Health Care (3)
    • Prerequisite(s): Health Care Administration majors only.
    • Prerequisite/Corequisite: HCA 502\
  • HCA 515: Advanced Financial Management in Health Care (3)
    • Prerequisite: ACCT 201 or ACCT 500; HCA 502; Health Care Administration majors only.
  • HCA 517: Advanced Healthcare Info. Systems Management (3)
    • Prerequisites: Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502.
  • HCA 524: Adv. Legal and Ethnical Aspects of Health Admin. (3)
    • Prerequisite: Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502.
  • HCA 527: Research Methods in Health Care Management (3)
    • Prerequisites: SOC 170 or equivalent statistics course, Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502 and advancement to candidacy.
  • HCA 528: Managing Population Health (3)
    • Prerequisite: HCA majors only, HCA 502
  • HCA 530: Strategic Planning and Marketing in Health Care (3)
    • Prerequisites/Corequisites: HCA 502.
  • HCA 535: Quantitative Methods for Health Administration (3)
    • Prerequisites: Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502.
  • HCA 550: Continuous Quality Improvement in Health Services
    • Prerequisites: Health Care Administration majors only, HCA 502.
  • HCA 580: Internship in Health Care Administration
    • Prerequisite: Senior status only
    • Culminating Experience
  • HCA 698: Project (3)
    • Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy & completion of a minimum of 27 graduate units in HCA.
  • Completion of any one of the following elective courses:
    • HCA 536, HCA 537, HCA 538, or HCA 552
    • Electives from other departments may be allowed with the approval of the HCA Department Chair.

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.

Incoming Profile of MSHCA-Traditional Students

Incoming Semester Admitted Median GPA Average Years of Experience
Fall 2018 21 3.18 2.5
Fall 2019 18 3.12 2.9
Fall 2020 16 3.23 2.7
Fall 2021 31 3.23 1.9
Fall 2022 25 3.22 1.5

Graduation/Post-Employment Profile

Most students who pursue the MSHCA degree complete the program in two to three years. Students may enroll in the MSHCA traditional program as a full- or part-time student.

Academic Year Entered % Dropped  Retention Rate  Three-Month Employment Rate Post-Graduation 
2018-19 21 0 100 N/A
2019-20 18 0 100 58
2020-21 16 0 100 IP
2021-22 31 0 100 IP
2022-23 25 IP IP IP
  • IP denotes student activity in progress. 
  • Retention Rate is defined as percentage of entering cohort that has graduated or is still enrolled in program.
  • Three-Month Employment Rate Post-Graduation is defined as percentage of entering cohort that is employed 3 months after graduation (please note students generally work full-time throughout program)