COURSE CURRICULUM

The MBA in Health Care Administration at Wichita State University is a 36-credit-hour AACSB-accredited graduate program designed for students seeking leadership and management careers in the healthcare sector. The program combines the comprehensive business foundation of a traditional MBA with specialized coursework focused on healthcare administration, policy, economics, and public health. Students with strong business backgrounds may receive advanced standing through equivalent credit for preparatory courses completed with a minimum grade of C, potentially reducing prerequisite requirements. Students from non-business disciplines may be required to complete prerequisite courses in Business Calculus and Introductory Business Statistics, along with preparatory coursework in accounting, finance, marketing, management, and macroeconomic and microeconomic theory if deficiencies are identified. The Health Care Administration concentration is specifically designed to help students understand the complex managerial, financial, operational, and policy challenges faced by healthcare organizations. Building on the MBA core curriculum, students gain specialized knowledge that prepares them to manage hospitals, healthcare systems, clinics, insurance organizations, public health agencies, and other healthcare-related institutions. All students complete common MBA courses that include Marketing Research or Business Decision Making and Analysis, Law and Ethics for Business, Managerial Finance, Organizational Behavior, and Advanced Strategic Management, which serves as the capstone course during the final semester. In addition, students complete concentration-specific courses including Managerial Accounting, Marketing Management, Operations Management, Management Information Systems, Healthcare Policy and Administration, Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health, and Healthcare Economics. These courses provide a deep understanding of healthcare regulations, policy development, economic factors influencing healthcare delivery, public health challenges, healthcare operations, and the behavioral and social determinants that affect patient outcomes and organizational performance. The curriculum develops leadership, analytical, strategic planning, and decision-making skills essential for success in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry. Graduates are prepared for careers in hospital administration, healthcare operations management, healthcare consulting, health services management, insurance administration, public health leadership, healthcare policy analysis, and executive positions within healthcare organizations. By integrating business management principles with healthcare-specific expertise, the program equips students to lead organizations effectively, improve healthcare delivery systems, manage resources efficiently, and address the growing challenges facing modern healthcare institutions.