HEALTH MANAGEMENT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BS), 2025-2026
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 47-48 credit hours of required foundation courses, followed by 9 hours of
courses in their chosen concentration. See the Health Management website for details about the concentrations. In their final year, students complete a capstone
course and practicum course.
HEALTH MANAGEMENT REQUIRED COURSES (44-45 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 |
| MLS 203 or MLS 3031 | Medical Terminology | 2-3 |
| PHS 3252 | Epidemiology | 3 |
| PHS 326 | Emerging Global Healthcare Issues | 3 |
| PHS 344 | Culturally Informed Healthcare | 3 |
| PHS 356 | Foundations of Healthcare Policy, Law, and Ethics | 3 |
| PHS 408 | Adaptive Leadership | 3 |
| PHS 410 | Health Communication | 3 |
| PHS 428 | Healthcare Organization | 3 |
| PHS 4423 | Foundations of Healthcare Finance | 3 |
| PHS 448 | Foundations of Healthcare Quality | 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, 242 Calculus I, STAT 171, or STAT 370 Elementary Statistics
3Prerequisite or co-requisite for PHS 442: BADM 162 Excel
4Students pursuing the Accelerated Bachelor's to MHA program should enroll in these courses for dual credit.
CONCENTRATIONS-choose one (9 credit hours)
Concentrations deepen students' expertise and enhance marketability in the competitive field of healthcare management, offering a pathway to specialized careers and advanced studies in the healthcare sector.
Each course requires a grade of C-/1.7 or higher.
Students interested in the Aging Studies concentration with Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's option should work with Jacie Green (jacie.green@wichita.edu), Director of Graduate Programs, before enrolling.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 512 | Aging Across Cultures | 3 |
| PHS 560 | Care Networks and Services | 3 |
| PHS 617 | Community Development Methods | 3 |
Students interested in the Aging Studies concentration with Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's option should work with Jacie Green (jacie.green@wichita.edu), Director of Graduate Programs, before enrolling.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 518 | Healthcare Coordination | 3 |
| PHS 562 | Senior Living Operations | 3 |
| PHS 626 | Hospitality and Enrichment in Aging Communities | 3 |
Students insterested in the Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's in Health Administration should follow this concentration and select PHS 807 for dual credit. Contact Jacie Green (jacie.green@wichita.edu) for information on applying to the Accelerated MHA program.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 478 | Foundations of Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| PHS 407* | Foundations of Healthcare Informatics | 3 |
| PHS 447 | Healthcare Operations | 3 |
* Students pursuing the Accelerated MHA should take PHS 807 for dual credit.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 327 | Bioethics | 3 |
| PHS 300 | Careers in Healthcare | 3 |
| PHS 331 | Principles of Dietetics and Nutrition | 3 |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 416 | Foundations of Environmental Health | 3 |
| PHS 617 | Community Development Methods | 3 |
| PHS 618 | Population Health Analytics | 3 |
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
REQUIRED CULMINATING EXPERIENCE (6 credits)
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 (21-40 credits)
Students must complete sufficient credits to fulfill graduation requirements. Students are encouraged to consider adding a minor.
APPLIED LEARNING PORTFOLIO
Health Science 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 Equity and Justice