The curriculum for the online UW Master of Science in Healthcare Administration is designed and taught by the same UW faculty who teach on campus.
In this 37-credit master’s degree program, you’ll acquire key competencies in healthcare administration through thirteen required courses, including a capstone course typically taken during the final semester. There are no electives.
- eleven healthcare administration courses (3 credits each)
- capstone prep course (1 credit)
- capstone project course (3 credits)
Courses are completed entirely online. Students in other UW Extended Campus degree programs often say the online format is a big factor in their ability to earn a degree. Watch lectures, participate in online forums with your classmates, and do homework whenever it’s convenient for you—all course content is accessible online from any device. Learn more about our online learning format.
Course Descriptions
Course availability for the UW Healthcare Administration program varies each fall, spring, and summer.
If you are a current student, please consult with your campus adviser prior to registration.
View upcoming UW Healthcare Administration course schedules.
Take a Look at a UW Healthcare Administration Course: “Population Health and Epidemiology”
Curriculum
You are required to complete all of the following healthcare administration courses (3 credits each), plus the capstone prep (1 credit) and capstone course (3 credits).
This course identifies and addresses epidemiology and biostatistics, including study design within a healthcare framework. You will learn techniques for applying these elements to individuals and populations, while addressing critical public health perspectives to improve the health of a community, from the individual to large systems.
Want an inside look at this course?
See lectures, assignments, discussions, and more from “Population Health and Epidemiology.”
This course focuses on the use and analysis of communication strategies to inform and influence individual and community decisions that impact health. You will explore topics such as the social construction of health, social support, literacy, survivorship, social and community issues, risk management, marketing and public relations, health messaging and promotional campaigns, theory application, and identity across contexts.
This course covers tech- and data-related topics in healthcare including electronic health records, health IT privacy and security, health information exchanges, IT for revenue cycle management, healthcare data analytics, technologies for diagnosis and treatment, and big data applications in healthcare.
This course is a study of the principles of healthcare finance. You will explore topics such as financial and management accounting, the financial reporting structure of healthcare organizations, healthcare financial statement analysis, costing and budgetary methods, sources of healthcare revenue and expenses, processes for healthcare billing, and capital investment decisions.
In this course, you will examine complexities in healthcare human resource management strategies. You will leave with knowledge and tools to develop high-potential workforces using a people-centered approach to human capital management, organizational culture, communication, and talent development. Your skills will ensure a competitive advantage in creating sustainable high-performance healthcare organizations in rural and urban settings. Prerequisites: HCA 700, HCA 720
*Students will be required to complete Institutional Review Board (IRB) training in this course and will follow the IRB process for assignments. The IRB is a federally-mandated review board which exists to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects.
This course explores operations management techniques unique to healthcare processes. It addresses solutions for operational issues in healthcare facilities and supply chain, and highlights essential components of healthcare project management. The curriculum emphasizes operational and management tools and techniques for project and process execution in a healthcare environment. Prerequisites: HCA 715, HCA 720
This course provides an overview of quality models and risk management in healthcare. You will explore theories, concepts, skills, tools, and environmental factors, with a focus on measurement and analysis techniques and the real-world application of quality approaches to implement and sustain performance improvements. Prerequisites: HCA 715
This course is a study of the political, legal, regulatory, and ethical environments within which healthcare administrators operate. You will examine the legal frameworks related to the healthcare system, with an ethical focus. The curriculum considers the impact of political structure on healthcare policy, with an emphasis on the role played by healthcare administrators in policy advocacy. Prerequisites: HCA 700
This course is focused on organization development and leadership theories, including the self-discovery of leadership potential and change leadership strategies applied within healthcare organizations. As a blend of theory and application, the course is designed for you to work toward identifying and implementing broad-scale organizational change while employing strategic leadership practices. Prerequisites: HCA 730, HCA 740, HCA 750
This course investigates current and emerging trends influencing healthcare today, including policies and politics, ethics, emerging technologies, healthcare population and disease demographics, and reimbursement models. You will explore and understand the differences between rural, urban, and global settings. Prerequisites: HCA 715, HCA 760
Capstone Experience
The program curriculum requires a capstone experience, consisting of a capstone preparation course (1 credit) and a capstone project course (3 credits).
The capstone course is a culmination of all prior coursework and learnings. Each project is tailored to a student’s interest and career goals, and often results in job opportunities and professional connections.You will apply aspects of healthcare administration theory and dynamics of interprofessionalism in a real-world healthcare setting. Your capstone work (a minimum of 150 hours) will be completed in partnership with designated site mentor/supervisors. The end result will be a substantive project deliverable demonstrating the summative application of your previous coursework. Prerequisites: HCA 700, HCA 710, HCA 720, HCA 730, HCA 740, HCA 750, HCA 770