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Department Information
Contact Info
John Cantiello, PhD
Online Pathway Coordinator, Health Administration Programs
Professor
jcantiel@gmu.edu
703-993-1731
Phillip Zane, JD
Undergrad program coordinator, Health Administration Programs
Associate Professor
pzane@gmu.edu
(703) 993-1967
For general inquiries, contact hap@gmu.edu.
For accelerated program inquiries, contact hapibam@gmu.edu.
Bachelor of Science in Health Administration
Lead health care into the future by preparing for a management role in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, senior housing facilities, and more. With your choice of two concentrations, the BS in Health Administration program is designed to grow your strategic, business, analytical, and decision-making skills, equipping you to become an in-demand administrator who can help improve patient care.
Real-World Experience
Part of the program’s curriculum is a required internship, allowing you to gain invaluable career experience in a region that’s home to some of the nation’s top health care employers.
High-Growth Profession
As a Health Administration student, you’ll be joining a field that is projected to grow 29% by 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — a rate much faster than most other professions.
Flexible Formats
With on-campus and online options, as well as full– and part-time study, the BS in Health Administration program can be tailored to fit your life and schedule.
Concentrations
Assisted Living/Senior Housing Administration
You’ll be provided with the operational, marketing, resident care, and hospitality services skills required to become an effective executive and manager in the senior housing industry. The curriculum is the nation's first dedicated exclusively to the executive management of active adult, independent living, assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities.
Health Systems Management
Acquire the knowledge and real-world experience to serve in entry-level management, administrative, and support positions in a variety of health-related organizations and settings. The concentration is certified through the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA).
Degree Requirements
Degree requirements are designated by the academic year during which they were published in the University Catalog. Students are responsible for meeting the degree requirements that were stipulated in the catalog at the time of enrollment into the BS in Health Administration.
Program of Study
Students must complete 120 credits of undergraduate course work. A minimum grade of C must be obtained in all courses in the major, including those courses required for an optional concentration. Students should make an appointment with an academic advisor upon being accepted into the program and before registering for courses each semester.
Accelerated Master’s
Designed for highly qualified students, our accelerated dual-degree program allows you to fast-track your education by earning two degrees — BS in Health Administration and MHA in Health Systems Management — at the same time.
“From coordinating nurse staffing levels and ensuring patient bed availability, to triaging critical cases to trauma rooms and overseeing room turnover after discharges, all while making sure the emergency department is following all regulations and organization policies, is an immense task. Seeing these things in person [at GMU] gave me a clear perspective about the realities of the job.”
– Vinay Bhakthan, Health Administration, BS to Accelerated MHA, 26
Get inspired to pursue a future in health administration by reading more about Vinay’s story.
Outcomes
As a Health Administration student, you’ll learn from experienced and professionally connected faculty in a program that emphasizes real-world learning, ensuring you graduate with the career experience that health industry employers desire in their applicants. In addition, George Mason career counselors can help with your resume, interview skills, and job search.
100%
students participating in an internship
29%
projected job growth for health administrators*
$110,680
median salary for health administrators*
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions About the BS in Health Administration
How do I become a Health Administration major?
The How to Declare or Change Your Major page reviews the steps needed to choose or alter your major.
You must meet with an academic advisor in the College of Public Health about your plan to change into, declare, or add the BS in Health Administration as a second major.
Learn more about undergraduate advising in the College of Public Health.
How do I know which concentration in the Health Administration major is right for me?
Deciding on which, if any, concentration is right for you is an individual choice based on your interests and career goals. Compare concentrations — we encourage you to review each concentration’s full requirements in the University Catalog and talk with your academic advisor.
Learn more about undergraduate advising in the College of Public Health.
I am a current Health Administration major. How do I add or change my concentration?
To add or change a concentration in the BS in Health Administration, meet with your academic advisor in the Office of Student Affairs. Compare concentrations.
Learn more about undergraduate advising in the College of Public Health.
What is the difference between a concentration and a minor?
A concentration is part of your major. The concentrations for the BS in Health Administration are between 39–46 credits. While a minor also digs deeper into a topic, they are between 18–19 credits.
The BS in Health Administration has two concentrations: Health Systems Management and Assisted Living/Senior Housing Administration. Compare concentrations.
You should speak with your academic advisor to determine which program is right for you and will be the best fit for your interests and career goals. Learn more about undergraduate advising in the College of Public Health.
View the BS in Health Administration requirements in the University Catalog.
I am a Health Administration major. Who is my academic advisor?
Health Administration majors can meet with any academic advisor in the Office of Student Affairs in the College of Public Health. Appointments can be made online.
Learn more about undergraduate advising in the College of Public Health.
I am a current Health Administration major. How do I know what courses I need to take?
You can access your specific degree requirements the following ways:
- Logging into Degree Works.
- Reviewing the Program Planning and Advising Sheets for the academic year.
- Meeting with an academic advisor in the Office of Student Affairs in the College of Public Health. Learn more about undergraduate advising in the College of Public Health.
What do graduates of the BS in Health Administration go on to do?
As an interdisciplinary degree with a strong liberal arts foundation, the BS in Health Administration is a flexible degree that allows graduates to pursue careers in a variety of settings. Many graduates also advance their education at the graduate school level.
Graduates work at places like:
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Physician practices
- Consulting firms
- Long-term care facilities
- Senior housing communities