Health Care Administration, M.S.

Admission Requirements

All applicants to either the MSHCA Traditional or Accelerated Program are required to meet the following minimum requirements for admission consideration:

• 1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0 in the last sixty units of undergraduate study. Accomplished candidates with slightly less than a 3.0 GPA will also be considered for admission.
• 2. A total of at least nine units of courses in financial accounting, microeconomics, and statistics must be completed before the first semester of graduate study (or in progress during the application process). These prerequisite courses must be completed within the last ten years. Note: a passing grade in the CLEP exam will fulfill our accounting and microeconomics prerequisites.
• 3. Recent (within the last two years) GRE or GMAT score OR a minimum of five years working experience in the health care industry.

(The Accelerated Program is offered through the College of Professional and International Education, for more information please see the CPIE website.)

Application Procedure

We offer two programs: MSHCA Traditional Program and MSHCA Accelerated Program.

Make sure to mark whether you are applying to the Traditional Program or Accelerated Program. Applications are processed using the online Cal State Apply system. Cal State Apply is California State University’s online resource to help you quickly and easily apply for graduate admission. Please make sure that you meet application deadlines and have your previous academic information ready. For example, you will be asked to submit information about the colleges you have attended (including community college). You will need the name of the college(s), dates attended, units completed, major, honors, and GPA.

In addition, you will be asked to include a statement of intent, your resume, GRE/GMAT score, and three (3) letters of recommendation. Everything needs to be included for your application to be reviewed and considered complete. Your letters of recommendation should be from your employer, past employer, or someone who knows your academic abilities. Your recommender will receive a link by email with instructions for the letter.

You do not have to complete the entire application during one session. You can save your application and revisit your application to add or change information when convenient.

Note: CSULB uses email as the official means of communication, so applicants are required to maintain a current email address on file with the university and check their email regularly. You may update your email address or check the status of your admission application by visiting the Applicant Self-Service webpage.

For more information on Cal State Apply, please check the Cal State Apply Graduate Application Guidr (PDF). For deadline, requirement, and details to apply, please check HCA graduate application website.

Prerequisites

Graduation Requirements

Advancement to Candidacy

Students will be instructed to apply for advancement to candidacy after:

1. Completion of all prerequisite courses,
2. Completion of 6.0 units of core course work that applies to the degree with an average grade of “B” or better,
3. Fulfillment of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR),and
4. Approval of Program Director.

Accelerated Program

The Master in Health Care Administration Accelerated Program (MSHCA-AP) is designed to prepare working professionals for administrative positions in health care organizations which requires a minimum five years of work experience and combines online and weekend courses. The MSHCA-AP program requires 45 credit hours consisting of 15 core courses. The program offers foundation courses early and more advanced healthcare specific courses later in the program.

Prerequisites

At least nine units of financial accounting, microeconomics, and statistics, all of which must be completed before the first semester of graduate study (but may be in progress during the application process) and must be taken within the last ten years. Note: a passing grade in the CLEP exam will fulfill our accounting and microeconomics prerequisites.

Accelerated Education Model