COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Quality at Southeast Missouri State University is a 54-hour major designed to prepare students for careers focused on improving the performance, safety, and effectiveness of healthcare systems. The program emphasizes how healthcare organizations can enhance patient outcomes, reduce inefficiencies, and maintain compliance with regulatory standards through data-driven decision-making and quality improvement practices. Students study core healthcare topics such as community health, healthcare systems and issues, healthcare performance improvement, and healthcare quality and value, which provide a strong understanding of how healthcare services are delivered and evaluated. The curriculum also integrates administrative and business-related coursework, including healthcare budgeting and reimbursement, principles of management, and human resource management, which prepare students for leadership and operational roles in healthcare organizations. Behavioral and communication sciences are an important part of the program, with courses in psychology, psychological research, health communication, and healthcare systems, helping students understand patient behavior, organizational dynamics, and effective communication strategies in healthcare environments. Students also gain exposure to environmental health and healthcare ethics, supporting their ability to evaluate broader public health and ethical issues in healthcare delivery. A required healthcare internship provides hands-on experience in real healthcare settings, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to practical situations involving quality assessment, process improvement, and organizational operations. Supporting coursework in economics, biology or anatomy, mathematics, and computer applications strengthens students’ analytical and scientific foundation. Students also complete specialized electives in healthcare law, regulatory compliance, medical practice management, or healthcare strategy and marketing to tailor their education toward specific career interests. Graduates of the program are prepared for careers in healthcare quality improvement, healthcare administration, compliance, human resources, and healthcare operations in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and public health organizations. Overall, the degree equips students with the skills needed to analyze healthcare systems and improve quality and efficiency across the industry.