Healthcare Management (First-Year and Transfer/Second Year)

• Information for Transfer Students (Second Year)

Healthcare Management
https://allegheny.edu/academics/programs/healthcare-management/
Academic Bulletin

Healthcare Management involves the study of the entire ecosystem of the healthcare industry, which includes service providers, insurers, manufacturers, non-profit institutions, and government actors. 

Area of Study: Interdisciplinary Studies
Program: Major
Major/Minor Exclusions:
A double major in Healthcare Management and Business/Economics, or a minor in Economics, does not satisfy the major/minor requirement in terms of areas of study. A double major in Healthcare Management and Global Health Studies, or a minor in Global Health Studies, does satisfy the major/minor requirement.

Students interested in Healthcare Management (HCM) are required to complete seven core Management courses (ECON 100, ECON 235, ECON 240, ECON 286, ECON 440, HCM 140, and HCM 435), alongside one Global Health Studies course (GHS 321, GHS 324, or GHS 345), one Ethics course (GHS 235, PHIL 205, PHIL 285, or PHIL 385), one Statistics course (BIO 385 or ECON 202), and one Fundamentals of Health course (BIO 175, BIO 210,  PSYCH 162, PSYCH 170, or PSYCH 172). 

The major also requires a Junior Seminar (ECON 579, ECON 584, ECON 588, GHS 575, or  HCM 580) taken in the 2nd semester of the junior or first semester of the senior year, and a Senior Project (HCM 620) taken the semester after the seminar. 

When advising a student interested in Healthcare Management, please note:

• ECON 100 is a prerequisite for both ECON 235 and ECON 240, and is recommended to be completed during the first year.
• HCM 140 is a prerequisite to GHS 235, GHS 321, and GHS 575, and an excellent foundation for many other courses, so it is advised to be taken during the first year.
• Either ECON 202 or BIO 385 is a prerequisite for ECON 440.
• A double major in HCM and Business/Economics, or a minor in Economics, does not satisfy the major/minor requirement in terms of areas of study. A double major in HCM and GHS, or a minor in GHS, does satisfy the major/minor requirement. 
• Academic Advisor: Students should first consult the HCM advisor before declaring their major. 
• Junior Seminar and Senior Comp: Students should plan to take their seminar either spring of junior year or the fall of senior year¹. They should plan to complete their senior project during the following semester. The junior seminar prepares students for their senior project. It is advised to take these in consecutive semesters to ensure a cohesive learning experience. Students planning on graduating in January should take the seminar the previous spring and the senior project in the fall semester.
• Internships and Experiential Learning: Students are encouraged to pursue internships and other practical experiences related to healthcare management. These opportunities provide invaluable real-world insights and professional networking.
• Students interested in completing their MS in Healthcare Administration should be in touch with a member of the HCM faculty during the first year (third semester at the latest). Options for a 3+1 and 3+1 BS/MS are available to students. Note: the MS program will officially begin during the summer of 2027. Students matriculating in Fall 2024 will be eligible to complete the 3+1 program.

¹At least one of those semesters is offered each semester

NOTE: For Students interested in the Health Professions

Advisors and students should be aware that completing the Healthcare Management major does NOT fulfill the requirements needed for the MCAT or other pre-health profession entrance exams or graduate programs. For example, most pre-health fields require a year of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics (with the appropriate labs), and English. Students interested in majoring in Healthcare Management, who are also interested in a career in the health professions, should consider choosing a minor (such as BIO or CHEM) that contains many of the pre-health requirements. Students should consult with the Health Professions Advisory. See the following link for more information on the pre-health requirements: http://sites.allegheny.edu/health/

NOTE: For Students interested in the Master of Public Health (MPH)

The Healthcare Management major will prepare students for graduate work in the field of public health. Students interested in pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) in health/healthcare policy, management, administration, or another field are advised to minor or double-major in Global Health Studies or Biology. 

Students interested in working in the field of public health or pursuing an MPH are highly encouraged to take Epidemiology (GHS or Bio 321), Biostatistics (Bio 385), and Environmental Health (GHS 324). 

Advisors and students should be aware that completing the Healthcare Management major does NOT fulfill the requirements necessary for applying to an MPH program. The majority of MPH programs require at least one course in Biology/the life sciences. Biostatistics (Bio 385) does not meet this requirement. To meet this requirement, students are encouraged to take BIO 321 – Epidemiology, BIO 175 - Medical Terminology, or BIO 210 - Human Anatomy & Physiology.

While many MPH programs have rolling admissions deadlines, it is highly recommended that students submit all of their application materials in November of the year before they plan to begin their MPH program (before the Thanksgiving holiday) to maximize the amount of financial aid they are eligible for.
 

Sample Schedule for a Healthcare Management Major (for specific courses required for the Major, see the Academic Bulletin)

Information for Transfer Students (Second Year)

Suggested pathway of a Healthcare Management Major for a transfer student or a student who will declare HCM in Fall 2024, planning to finish in 3 years.