Why study health care administration at BGSU in Ohio?
- Specialized long-term care pathway. Expand your career options with this specialization that combines core health care administration coursework with focused study in aging, assisted living, nursing home administration and services for older adults.
- Hands-on experience. Complete an internship and apply everything you’ve learned in a real healthcare environment.
- Start your career a step ahead. Students who graduate from BGSU with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in health care administration qualify for membership in the Midwest Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (MCACHE) higher education network.
- Insight from professors who’ve been there. Our upper-level courses are taught by experienced healthcare professionals who understand the intricacies and challenges of healthcare organizations.
Long-term care specialization
The long-term care specialization within the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration program combines BGSU’s broad health care administration core with focused coursework in:
- Aging
- Long-term care policy
- Psychosocial aspects of aging
- Assisted living and nursing home administration
The long-term care specialization prepares you to meet requirements for long-term care administration licensure while earning a degree that supports greater career flexibility across the healthcare field.
- Build administrative skills in finance, human resources, quality improvement, healthcare systems and organizational leadership.
- Develop specialized knowledge of the needs, services and policies that shape care for older adults.
Students in this specialization complete a 1,000-hour administrator residency as part of their preparation for long-term care administration licensure. You may need an additional semester to complete the degree since the residency requirement cannot be completed in one semester.
Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership roles in nursing homes, senior living communities, assisted living organizations and related health care settings. The specialization also gives you a strong foundation for future graduate study or advancement into broader healthcare administration roles.
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Career - what can you do with a degree in health care administration?
The Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration degree will give you the knowledge and tools you need to succeed as an entry-level administrator.
You’ll need a graduate degree – such as a Master of Health Care Administration or a Master of Business Administration – to start or advance to a higher position.
Our graduates have been recruited by leading healthcare organizations:
- ProMedica
- Cleveland Clinic
- Bon Secours Mercy Health
- The American College of Physicians
- Otterbein Senior Life
- OhioGuidestone
Students in the long-term care specialization are prepared to pursue long-term care administrator licensure and leadership positions in nursing homes, assisted living communities, senior living organizations and home- and community-based services.
Career paths
- Health care administrator
- Long-term care administrator
- Nursing home administrator
- Senior living executive
- Assisted living administrator
- Health services executive
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
Students in the BGSU health care administration program complete a range of courses in health, science, public health, and human growth and development.
In your first and second years, you’ll take:
- General education classes like economics and accounting
- Introductory healthcare and science courses, such as public health, allied health professions and biology
When you’re a junior and senior, you’ll complete courses more specific to your career interests, such as:
- Human resource management
- Emerging infectious diseases
- Healthcare financial management
- International health
- Policies in healthcare
Experiential learning
Your advisor will help you develop a personalized plan and find an internship placement that supports your career goals if you want more hands-on experience. You’ll also get to complete a capstone project that complements your internship experience.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, you’ll be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the United States healthcare system
- Analyze sociocultural factors associated with the distribution and etiology of health and disease using epidemiological concepts and principles to develop health intervention strategies
- Apply budget information and financial analyses to decision making and strategic planning
- Evaluate ethical matters, laws and policy regulations and then take appropriate legal action as needed
- Apply health information data and technology to improve overall healthcare performance
Long-term care specialization curriculum
The long-term care specialization requires additional coursework focused on aging, long-term services and supports, assisted living, nursing home administration and the policies that shape care for older adults.
This specialized pathway includes a 1,000-hour administrator residency designed to help students prepare for long-term care administration licensure. Because the residency cannot be completed in one semester, students may need an additional semester to complete the degree.
Sample courses
- Medical Terminology
- Health Care Services Organization
- Human Resources Management in Health Care
- Health and Aging
- Principles of Assisted Living and Home- and Community-Based Services
- Principles of Nursing Home Administration
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The health care administration bachelor's degree program is offered through the Department of Public and Allied Health in the BGSU College of Health and Human Services.
Updated: 08/05/2026 02:59PM