Accelerated Healthcare Administration (BS/MHA) | Samford University

Earn your Bachelor’s degree and Master of Healthcare Administration in just five years with Samford University’s fast-track program. Prepare for leadership roles in healthcare with an accelerated, comprehensive curriculum.

Accelerated MHA

Master of Healthcare Administration

Earn your healthcare administration bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years.

Take the Next Step Learn More

Is This Program for Me?

Samford’s fast-track healthcare administration degree pathway is ideal for students interested in operations, organizational strategy and health system management. This accelerated program is designed for ambitious students who want to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and a Master of Healthcare Administration in just five years. Students begin graduate coursework during their senior year, creating a streamlined pathway into leadership roles in health care administration.

Students in the accelerated program will:

Begin graduate-level MHA courses during their senior year
Save time, reduce tuition costs and fast-track their careers by earning up to 18 graduate credits that count toward both degrees
Learn to oversee teams, operations and health systems
Gain practical experience before entering the workforce
Develop management, communication and organizational decision-making skills

What Will I Learn?

The fast-track MHA program combines business fundamentals with specialized training in health care management and operations. Students develop the strategic, financial and communication skills needed to lead within today’s complex health systems.

Students Learn

Plan, direct and coordinate medical and health services
Manage teams, operations and organizational performance
Apply financial, economic and strategic management principles in health care settings
Navigate health policy, ethics and health care law
Improve patient safety, quality and operational efficiency
Use data, analytics and informatics to support organizational decisions
Communicate effectively across complex health organizations
Understand workforce management and organizational dynamics
Apply project management and quality improvement strategies to real-world challenges

“I chose to pursue Healthcare Administration to combine my passion for healthcare and leadership, and my experience at Samford has equipped me with the skills and foundation to enter the workforce ready to make a meaningful impact.”

— Bayleigh Fife, Accelerated Master of Healthcare Administration student

What Makes Us Different?

Samford’s fast-track MHA program combines accelerated coursework, hands-on experience and personalized mentorship to prepare students for leadership roles in today’s evolving health care industry.

Program Highlights

Accelerated five-year pathway allowing students to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees while beginning graduate coursework during the senior year
360 hours of hands-on internship experience alongside executive-level administrators and health care professionals
Applied learning opportunities focused on health system operations, leadership and organizational strategy
Faculty mentorship and career-focused guidance throughout the program
Opportunity to earn up to 18 graduate credits that count toward both degrees, reducing time and tuition costs

Career Preparation

Samford’s fast-track Master of Healthcare Administration program prepares graduates for administrative and management careers across the health sector through applied coursework, mentorship and operational training.

Experiential Learning

Students gain practical, real-world experience through internships, project-based learning and mentorship from experienced health care professionals.

360 hours of required internship experience alongside executive level administrators and healthcare professionals: 240 hours at the undergraduate level and 120 hours at the graduate level.
Faculty mentorship and career guidance
Internship and applied learning opportunities
Exposure to executive decision-making and organizational strategy
Training in patient safety, quality improvement and operations management
Opportunities to strengthen communication and analytical skills

Career Outcomes

Graduates are prepared for roles in:

Public health education and outreach
Program management and evaluation
Epidemiology and research support
Health care and nonprofit leadership
Global and community health initiatives

Health care administration remains one of the fastest-growing professional fields in the United States, creating strong demand for professionals who can improve organizational performance and lead within evolving health systems.

Admission Process and Requirements

Process

Students must first be admitted to Samford University with undergraduate major in Healthcare Administration.
Contact the School of Public Health adviser to be placed on the accelerated plan of study.
Be in good academic standing with a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the end of the junior year.
Complete all convocation credit by the end of the junior year.
Submit graduate application during the junior year.

Progression Requirements

To progress in the fast-track program in Healthcare Administration (HA), the student must:

Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to remain in the program.
Students must make at least a B or better in all graduate course work.
Make a grade of C or better in each required undergraduate HA program course. Note: A grade of C- or lower constitutes a failure in all required undergraduate HA program courses.
A student will be allowed to take a failed HA program course only one additional time.
Students who fail to meet the progression requirements for the fast-track Master of Healthcare Administration program will be converted to the BS of Healthcare Administration program. This conversion will take place if the student chooses to remain in the program and has not been otherwise terminated from the program.
When students begin graduate coursework, students will follow the Graduate Healthcare Administration Student Progression Policy.

Mission, Vision and Values

Mission Statement

The mission of the Bachelor of Science in healthcare administration program is to train service-minded leaders who have a broad perspective by providing a foundation in healthcare executive competencies through an interprofessional curriculum for entry-level management positions.

Vision Statement

We aspire to prepare influential and visionary healthcare professionals who make a positive impact on their communities.

Core Values

Christian-Based Education: We are committed to integrating our Christian faith and beliefs in our delivery of healthcare administration education.
Excellence: We pursue excellence within the department through opportunities for achievement in scholarship, service and research.
Practice-Ready: We are committed to preparing students who are ready to practice upon graduation.
Respect for Diversity: We are committed to respecting the differences in others by learning to appreciate the different cultures of the populations that we serve.
Integrity: We are committed to operating in an environment that values honesty, fairness and the highest ethical standards to sustain a community of trust.
Empowerment: We encourage personal accountability for success through shared governance in academic pursuits.

The Bachelor of Science in healthcare administration is a degree offered by the School of Public Health's Department of Healthcare Administration and Informatics. Read its mission statement here.

Application Information

Freshman applications for next fall are open.

Freshman Early Action applications close November 1st.

The freshman first scholarship deadline is December 1st.

Transfer applications for the spring semester close Dec. 15.

Freshman FAFSA priority and scholarship deadlines are Feb. 15.

Decision day is coming! Freshman applications for fall enrollment close May 1st.

Transfer applications for fall enrollment close July 1st.

Freshman applications for fall enrollment are closed. Applications for next year open August 1st.

Transfer applications for fall enrollment are closed. Applications for next year open September 1st.

The Bachelor of Science in healthcare administration program is certified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA).

Samford University’s Master of Healthcare Administration program has achieved candidacy status with the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, which is an important step toward full accreditation.