HEALTH MANAGEMENT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BS), 2026-2027
The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in health management prepares students for a variety
of entry and mid-level management positions in health services organizations, such
as doctors' offices, group practices, hospitals, nursing homes, governmental health
agencies and public health organizations. The program also prepares students for graduate
education in health care administration, public health or aging studies. Students
complete 45 credit hours of required courses along with 9 credits of interdisciplinary
electives. See the Health Management website for details. In their final year, students complete a capstone course and practicum
course.
HEALTH MANAGEMENT REQUIRED COURSES (45 credit hours)
These courses build a strong foundation in healthcare management with a focus on healthcare systems, policy, finance, quality, leadership, and cultural competence. These courses equip students with the essential skills and knowledge to effectively manage and lead in a variety of healthcare environments.
Each course requires a grade of C-/1.7 or higher.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 1001 | Intro to Aging Studies | 3 |
| PHS 1011 | Intro to Public Health | 3 |
| PHS 3101 | Intro to U.S. Healthcare and Administration | 3 |
| PHS 3252 | Epidemiology | 3 |
| PHS 344 | Culturally Informed Healthcare | 3 |
| PHS 356 | Foundations of Healthcare Policy, Law, and Ethics | 3 |
| PHS 407 | Foundations of HealthCare Informatics | 3 |
| PHS 410 | IPE & Healthcare Communication | 3 |
| PHS 428 | Healthcare Organization & Leadership | 3 |
| PHS 4423 | Foundations of Healthcare Finance | 3 |
| PHS 448 | Healthcare Quality & Analytics | 3 |
| PHS 478 | Foundations of Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| PHS 617 | Community Development Methods | 3 |
| PHS 6214 | Effective Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| PHS 6224 | Human Resource Management in Healthcare | 3 |
1These should be the first courses students complete in the degree program.
2Prerequisite for PHS 325: MATH 111 College Algebra, 112 Pre-Calculus, 131 Contemporary Math, 123 Trigonometry, 144 Business Calculus, 242 Calculus I, STAT 171 Introductory Statistics, or STAT 370 Elementary Statistics
3Prerequisite or co-requisite for PHS 442: BADM 162 Excel or PC 105
4These courses can be applied to the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master of Health Administration program.
Interdisciplinary Electives (9 credit hours)
The interdisciplinary electives are drawn from a variety of disciplines that complement and enhance the Health Management curriculum. These courses give students the opportunity to broaden their perspective, strengthen professional competencies, and improve overall career readiness beyond the core degree requirements.
Choose 3 courses. Each course requires a grade of C-/1.7 or higher.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MLS 303 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| PHS 300 | Careers in Healthcare | 3 |
| PHS 331 | Priniciples of Dietetics & Nutrition | 3 |
| PHS 404 | Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| PHS 405 | Sociology of Aging | 3 |
| PHS 408 | Adaptive Leadership | 3 |
| PHS 518 | Healthcare Coordination | 3 |
| PHS 525 | Living with Death: Understanding Loss & Legacy | 3 |
| PHS 560 | Care Networks & Services | 3 |
| PHS 562 | Systems of Long Term Care | 3 |
| PHS 565 | The Medicare System | 3 |
| PHS 609 | Rural Healthcare Leadership | 3 |
| PHS 613 | Health Education and Behavior | 3 |
| PHS 623 | Public Health & Community & Aging | 3 |
| PHS 626 | Hospitality & Enrichment in LTC | 3 |
| ACCT 210 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 220 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| BLAW 431 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 202 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| MGMT 360 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| MKT 300 | Marketing | 3 |
| PHIL 3275 | Bioethics |
3 |
| PSY 301 | Psychological Statistics |
3 |
| PSY 325 | Developmental Psychology |
3 |
5PHIL 327 applies toward Arts & Humanities general education
REQUIRED CULMINATING EXPERIENCE (6 credits)
The healthcare professionalism course and practicum allow students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, bridging the gap between theory and practice. These experiences help develop key professional skills, such as problem-solving and communication and offer valuable networking opportunities. Ultimately, these courses prepare students for successful careers by providing hands-on learning and enhancing their marketability.
Each course requires a grade of C-/1.7 or higher.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 494 | Practicum Preparation | 0 |
| PHS 485 | Capstone | 3 |
| PHS 495 | Practicum | 3 |
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (34-35 credits)
The General Education Program at Wichita State follows the 34-35 credit-hour KBOR systemwide GE program framework. Kansas transfer students who have the “KS Systemwide General Education Completed” notation on their transcript do not need additional general education courses (outside of pre-program requirements) at Wichita State. Additional credit hours (open electives) to fulfill graduation requirements (see below) may be necessary.
www.wichita.edu/generaleducation
The general education coursework below is waived for students who have earned a prior bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
| Discipline Area (Bucket) | Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGLISH (Bucket 1) | ENGL 101 | College English I | 3 |
| ENGLISH (Bucket 1) | ENGL 102 | College English 2 | 3 |
| COMMUNICATION1 (Bucket 2) | COMM 111 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| MATH & STATISTICS (Bucket 3) | MATH 131 | Contemporary Mathematics | 3 |
| NATURAL & PHYSICAL SCIENCES-lab required (Bucket 4) | (Choice-must include lab) | 4-5 | |
| SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (Bucket 5) | PHS 310 | 3 | |
| SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (Bucket 5) | PHS 408/PSY 413 | 3 | |
| ARTS & HUMANITIES (Bucket 6) | (Choice-Subject 1) | 3 | |
| ARTS & HUMANITIES (Bucket 6) | (Choice-Subject 2) | 3 | |
| INSTITUTIONAL DESIGNATED-DIVERSITY2 (Bucket 7) | PHS 100 | 3 | |
| INSTITUTIONALLY DESIGNATED-FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR3 (Bucket 7) | (Choice-First Year Seminar or other GEN ED) | 3 |
1Interpersonal communication courses taken during or after summer 2015 at a Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) public institution can satisfy the communications requirement for Wichita State’s general education program. However, interpersonal communication courses completed at Wichita State or at non-KBOR institutions will not meet the communications requirement for Wichita State’s general education program, except in the cases where a student then completes the Kansas Systemwide General Education curriculum at a KBOR institution outside of Wichita State and the transcript is notated as such.
2If a diversity-designated course is complete, select another general education course (your choice) to fulfill “other Gen Ed”.
3If you are not required to take a first-year seminar, select another general education course (your choice) to fulfill “other Gen Ed”.
GRADUATION REQUIRMENTS
- Earn credit for 120 cumulative hours.
- Earn a minimum of 45 credit hours of upper-division coursework (numbered 300 or higher) at a 4-year institution (university).
- Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at Wichita State.
- Complete all general education requirements.
- Maintain an overall GPA and WSU GPA of 2.00 or higher.
- Your last 24 of 30 credits or last 50 of 60 credit hours must be taken at Wichita State.
- Complete an Application for Degree two semesters before you plan to graduate.
- All transcripts of other college work must be sent to WSU before a degree is posted, even if these courses are not needed to meet WSU degree requirements.
OPEN ELECTIVES (25-38 credits)
Students must complete sufficient credits to fulfill graduation requirements. Students are encouraged to consider adding a minor.
APPLIED LEARNING PORTFOLIO
Health Management majors are required to complete an applied learning portfolio prior to graduation. This portfolio represents activities that meet the learning outcomes of their degree program:
- Communication
- Analytic Assessment
- Healthcare Policy and Administration
- Evidence Based Practice and Quality Improvement
- Leadership and Management
- Health Disparities
- Professionalism