The Office of Student Success

Pre-professional Support Services

Healthcare administrators are required to hold a bachelor’s degree for entry or mid-level positions within the field, but might not be qualified for higher-level positions. 

 

The majority of employers will give preference to professionals with a undergraduate and/or graduate education in healthcare administration, business administration or a related field. 

 

Steps:

• Earn a bachelor's of professional studies (BPS) degree in Health Care Administration from the OSU-Tulsa or OSU-Stillwater campus (online degree) from OSU.
• Apply for an appropriate entry or mid-level healthcare administration position to begin working in a healthcare administration position. Review considerations below.
• *Consider a OSU-Center for Health Sciences Graduate Certificate in Health Care Administration option to have a distinct advantage over others in an employment recruiting circumstance if you only have a bachelor's degree-level education. 

A master’s degree in Healthcare Administration (HCA) is a common educational path for those who wish to reach upper management and can open doors to positions with much more responsibility. Some choose to earn their doctorate in a management-related field in order to reach for even higher levels of employment in the healthcare system. 

 

Steps:

• Earn a bachelor's degree (of your choice) from OSU, but consider working towards the OSU Pre-Health Care Administration Undergraduate Certificate. 
• Apply to OSU's-CHS: Master of Science in Health Care Administration program or another accredited master's or doctoral level healthcare administration program. Review considerations below.
• Upon successful completion of the HCA program, begin work in the healthcare administration industry. 

Taking additional time can be to your advantage in healthcare administration.

 

Regardless of the degree level, most employers prefer to hire someone who has a strong background of experience in administration in a healthcare setting, or those with specialized experience in one particular area of healthcare.

 

Steps:

• Earn a bachelor’s degree (of your choice) from OSU.
• If you need more holistic development (academic or non-academic) to be ready for a graduate level program, are unsure of which type of graduate program is the best fit for your goals OR if you are unsure about whether healthcare administration is your calling, consider taking a “gap/enhancement year” to work or deepen your exposure in the healthcare field.   
• After confirming your interests and determining what graduate program is the best fit, apply to OSU's-CHS: Master of Science in Health Care Administration program or another accredited master's or doctoral level healthcare administration program.  Review considerations below.
• Upon successful completion of the HCA program, begin work in the healthcare administration industry.