Program Information
The BS degree in health management equips students for entry and mid-level management roles in healthcare organizations, including doctors' offices, hospitals, and more. It also paves the way for graduate studies in healthcare administration, public health, or aging studies with the opportunity to save 9 credit hours through dual/accelerated master's degree programs.
Health management students are admitted to the BS program and are assigned college and faculty advisors. They should pick a concentration (aging studies, public health, health administration, or health science) early to streamline their coursework and avoid extra classes, ideally before enrolling in concentration-specific courses.
BS in health management concentrations:
- The aging studies concentration offers two pathways: one for careers in community services for older adults and another
for senior living community management. Both options also prepare students for graduate
studies in aging studies.
- The general aging studies (AGEG) option prepares students for a variety of entry level positions in senior centers, and nonprofit or for-profit aging organizations.
- The senior living management (AGESL) prepares students for the administrator in training practicum or operator's license after the BS in health management, and it can count towards the accelerated bachelor's-to-master's degree in aging studies.
- The public health (PH) concentration prepares students for a variety of entry level positions in state and local health departments or health-related nonprofit and for-profit organizations and graduate education in public health.
- The health administration (HA) concentration prepares students for a variety of entry level management positions in nonprofit and for-profit clinical health care organizations and graduate education in health administration.
- The health science (HS) concentration prepares students for a variety of professional healthcare positions providing clinical, laboratory and sales support through government, academic and private organizations.
Students in the health management program are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.000, with no individual program course generating a grade less than 1.700 credit points per credit hour.
Program Requirements
The curriculum for the BS in Health Management has been updated and does not align with the information provided in the 2023-2024 undergraduate catalog. All students who are new to the BS in Health Management program should refer to the following for accurate and current curriculum details.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Terminology1 | 2-3 | |
| PHS 100 | Introduction to Aging Studies1 | 3 |
| PHS 101 | Introduction to Public Health1 | 3 |
| PHS 310 | Introduction to US Healthcare and Administration1 | 3 |
| PHS 325 | Epidemiology | 3 |
| PHS 326 | Emerging 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 Organizations | 3 |
| PHS 442 | Foundations of Healthcare Finance | 3 |
| PHS 448 | Foundations of Healthcare Quality | 3 |
| PHS 621 | Effective Management in Healthcare2 | 3 |
| PHS 622 | Human Resources Management in Healthcare2 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 44-45 |
1These should be the first courses students complete in the degree program.
2These courses can be used in the Dual/Accelerated BS in health management to Master of Health Administration. Consult with the director of graduate programs (phs@wichita.edu) prior to taking PHS 621 and PHS 622 to apply and create your plan of study.
Major Concentrations
Aging Studies
Students will work directly with the aging studies program coordinator (phs@wichita.edu) to select one of the following concentrations options for a total of 9 credit hours.
The general aging studies concentration is for students interested in entry-level roles in community services for older adults, such as senior centers and aging-focused nonprofits.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 404 | Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| PHS 405 | Sociology of Aging | 3 |
| PHS 406 | Biology of Aging | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 |
The senior living management concentration is available for bachelor's credit or as part of the Dual/Accelerated Bachelor's in health management to Master's in aging studies3 program. It prepares students for the PHS 660 Administrator-in-Training (AIT) Practicum or a Long-Term Care Operators License course post-BS in health management.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 560 | Community Resources and Aging Network | 3 |
| PHS 562 | Senior Living Operations | 3 |
| PHS 626 | Senior Living Hospitality | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 |
3For more information about application to the Dual/Accelerated Bachelor's in health management to Master's in aging studies, contact the director of graduate programs phs@wichita.edu.
Public Health
The public health concentration is tailored for students driven by a commitment to enhance the welfare of both local and global communities and populations. Additionally, this concentration lays a solid foundation for students interested in pursuing advanced studies in the field of public health.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 416 | Foundations of Environmental Health | 3 |
| PHS 617 | Public Health Practice4 | 3 |
| PHS 618 | Population Health Data Analytics4 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 |
Health Administration
The health administration concentration is for students who want to enhance healthcare delivery, elevate patient outcomes, and navigate complex healthcare systems. It provides essential skills for efficiently managing healthcare organizations, hospitals, and clinics, while also serving as a strong foundation for advanced study in health administration.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 407 | Foundations of Healthcare Informatics4,5 | 3 |
| PHS 447 | Healthcare Operations4 | 3 |
| PHS 478 | Foundations of Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 |
4New course not found in 2023-2024 undergraduate catalog.
5If pursuing the Dual/Accelerated BS in health management to Master of Health Administration take PHS 807 Healthcare Informatics.
Health Science
The health science concentration is for students with a passion for advancing public health, fostering wellness, and fueling healthcare innovation. It enables individuals to have a substantial impact on both individual well-being and the larger healthcare landscape.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 327 | Bioethics | 3 |
| PHS 300 | Careers in Healthcare | 3 |
| PHS 331 | Principles of Dietetics and Nutrition | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 |
Culminating Experience
Students must be in the final year of their program of study and must be health management majors to take PHS 485 or PHS 495. Students enrolled in PHS 495 are required to purchase professional and general liability insurance coverage. The cost of this insurance is included in the university's comprehensive fee schedule and is part of the fee requirements for this major.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHS 494 | Practicum Preparation5 | 3 |
| PHS 485 | Capstone | 0 |
| PHS 495 | Practicum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 |
5PHS 494 must be successfully completed for enrollment in PHS 495.
| Requirement | Hours |
|---|---|
| Required Program Courses | 44-45 |
| Concentration Courses | 9 |
| Culminating Experience | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 59-60 |
Graduation
Students majoring in department of public health sciences undergraduate programs (health science and health management) must fulfill Applied Learning Portfolio activities to successfully complete their degree. Evidence of completed activities along with written entry for each activity is required. You can find information about the Applied Learning Portfolio on the public health sciences' website. Questions about the Portfolio may be sent to the undergraduate program director at phs@wichita.edu.
To be eligible for graduation from Wichita State University, students must have 120 acceptable credit hours toward their degree and a grade point average (GPA) in the major of 2.000. Students transferring from a two-year college must complete at least 60 credit hours of four-year college work and 45 credit hours of upper-division coursework to qualify for graduation. Public health sciences (PHS) policy requires a program cumulative GPA of 2.000 with no individual program course generating a grade less than 1.700 credit points per credit hour.