During the? programme offered by?University of Texas Arlington?students are required to take courses from life sciences, business and liberal arts, culminating in a dual Master of Science Degree in Health Care Administration (HCA), including a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. The curriculum is offered jointly by the College of Business and the College of Science. The BS in Biology will be conferred at the same time that the student is awarded the MS in Health Care Administration.?

If students engaged in this joint degree program are not accepted into the HCA graduate program, or enter the HCA program and fail to complete the requirements for the master's degree in HCA, then, in order to earn a BS in Biology, they must take the same, full complement of courses required to earn the BS as taken by students not enrolled in the BIOL/HCA joint program.

Rapid and radical changes in the health care industry are forcing administrators to adopt new paradigms for cost management and the redesign of health care delivery processes, while increasing the quality of care delivered. The new health industry is shifting quickly toward managed care and capitation. This change has created a pressing need for health care delivery administrators, and the dual Biology/Health Care Administration BS/MS degree will help fulfill this need.?

This degree program is designed to provide students with a strong background in the life sciences and with a contemporary education in health care administration that will impart the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to enable them to perform effectively in health care delivery. The program includes course work in the basic sciences and in health care administration. Additionally, students are required to take general education courses in literature, fine arts, history, political science and social science.

Careers

The program prepares students as health care administrators for leadership roles in provider organizations such as inpatient and outpatient hospitals, rehabilitation centers, psychiatric centers, chemical dependency units, nursing homes, retirement communities, institutional clinics, physician group practices, home health agencies, and in government regulatory agencies. It also provides a solid foundation for those wishing to continue for advanced degrees.?

For those planning to pursue a medical degree, this cross-disciplinary curriculum offers a solid foundation in health care administration, which is an advantage in preparing for a medical career.