This short guide is designed to help people who are looking for new opportunities for starting their careers or advancing them in the health administration field.
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Health Administration Degrees in California
We need to mention some of the universities and schools in California which offer the best possible education for future Health Administrators and Managers.
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY AT LONG BEACH – College of Health and Human Services
- Master of Science in Health Care Administration – Residential (On Campus)
- Master of Science in Health Care Administration- Accelerated (Hybrid)
The estimated cost per academic year is $7176 and the school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; Council on Education for Public Health.
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY-NORTHRIDGE – College of Health and Human Development
- Master of Science in Health Administration (On Campus)
The estimated cost per academic year is $8322 and the school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; Council on Education for Public Health
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY – School of Public Health
- Master of Public Health-Health Management & Policy (On Campus)
- Master of Public Health/Master of Social Work
The estimated cost per academic year is $7176 for an in-state resident and $16,680 for out of state residents.
The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; Council on Education for Public Health
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA – Sol Price School of Public Policy, Los Angeles
- Master of Health Administration (On Campus)
- Master of Health Administration/Master of Gerontology
Concentrations/Specializations:
- Management, Operations, and Leadership
- Health Policy Analysis
- Health Finance
- Health Information Technology
- Quality of Care
The estimated cost per academic year is $55,890 for the first year; $34,884 for the second year.
The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; Council on Education for Public Health.
Relevant bachelor’s degrees available in California include:
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a Concentration in Health Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration (BSHA)
- Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)
If you wish to reach a bachelor’s degree, you should know that programs usually consist of 120 credit hours in total and that during the first two years you will be studying general education courses while the last two years of these programs are related to subjects that are unique to the field of health administration.
Topics covered by the undergraduate program coursework are:
- Financial administration and management
- Legal and ethical aspects of healthcare administration
- Healthcare policy
- Health facility operations
- Strategic management
- Public relations
- Business communications
People who are usually admitted to graduate programs in health administration are those with undergraduate degrees in healthcare, business, accounting, and many other generally relevant majors.
Most graduate programs in health administration can be completed within 18 to 24 months and consist of 36-60 hours of normal coursework.
So as to graduate, students are required to complete a capstone project or thesis paper.
Occasionally, graduate programs also require internships or fieldwork hours.
Options available in California to graduate students majoring in health administration are the following:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Administration
- Master of Health Administration (MHA)
- Master of Science (MS) in Health Policy and Management
- Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA)
- MHA/MBA dual degree programs
You are suggested to get acquainted with specific admission requirements that are set by the school you want to attend, as they may differ between programs, but generally, the standards and requirements for admission are:
- Official undergraduate transcripts
- Professional experience in the healthcare field
- Letters of recommendation
- Essay or statement of purpose
- Minimum GPA requirements
- Current employment in a healthcare facility
Graduate degree program courses usually cover such topics as:
- Strategies for healthcare team management
- Financial management
- Policy and law in healthcare
- Medical informatics
- Ethical decision making in healthcare administration
- Healthcare quality and performance standards
- Community healthcare needs
- Diversity in healthcare
Besides the schools we have mentioned earlier, you can choose any of the following schools with campus locations that offer graduate programs in health administration and management:
- Stanford
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- Loma Linda
- Sacramento
- Pasadena
- San Diego
- Berkeley
- San Bernardino
- Long Beach
Job Postings in Healthcare Administration in California
The examples below are provided for illustrative purposes, to see what kind of education and experience is necessary for certain positions in this field.
Stanford Health Care – Stanford – Manager of Business Operations – Who will be responsible for overseeing the business operations of a 100-employee staff and has to possess a bachelor’s degree and at least four years of experience.
Stanford Health Care – Stanford – IMS Patient Advocate – A person who will mediate between patients and the medical center and who has to possess a bachelor’s degree in the healthcare administration field with at least five years of related work experience.
Possible Employers and Professional Resources for Health Administrators in California
Healthcare Administrators and Managers in California will be able to find jobs in numerous institutions and they can take advantage of the resources below.
California’s Top Employers of Healthcare Administrators and Managers
- Cedars Sinai Medical Center – Los Angeles
- Loma Linda University Medical Center – Loma Linda
- Sharp Memorial Hospital-San Diego
- Huntington Memorial Hospital – Pasadena
- University of California Davis Medical Center – Sacramento
- Sanford Hospital – Palo Alto
- San Francisco General Hospital – San Francisco
- Santa Clara Valley Medical Center – San Jose
- Grossmont Hospital – La Mesa
- Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego
- Scripps Mercy Hospital-San Diego
- LAC & USC Medical Center – Los Angeles
- Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles – Los Angeles
- Community Regional Medical Center – Fresno
Professional Resources
- Women in Health Administration of Southern California
- California Association of Health Facilities
- Hospital Association of Southern California
- Health Care Administrators Association
- Health Management Associates
- American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management
- California Hospital Association
- Upsilon Phi Delta Honor Society
- California Medical Association
Health Administration Salaries and Job Growth in California
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), California has the highest employment level for medical and health service managers in the country and what is even better, the opportunities are expected to grow.
The potential salary of these professionals in California may range from $116080 to even $146696.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Healthcare Administrators in California
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $131,084 |
| San Diego | $125,200 |
| San Jose | $146,141 |
| San Francisco | $145,908 |
| Long Beach | $129,838 |
| Fresno | $116,680 |
| Sacramento | $125,868 |
| Oakland | $137,990 |
| Santa Ana | $129,955 |
| Anaheim | $130,129 |
Regional Salary in California
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 910 | $133,550 | $64.21 | $203,120 | $63,730 |
| Chico, CA | 340 | $137,370 | $66.04 | $199,490 | $76,580 |
| El Centro, CA | 190 | $125,540 | $60.36 | $192,840 | $56,410 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,450 | $137,160 | $65.94 | $217,970 | $62,590 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 130 | $139,090 | $66.87 | $210,430 | $66,610 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 18,790 | $148,650 | $71.46 | $233,690 | $73,370 |
| Madera, CA | 160 | $153,000 | $73.56 | $217,790 | $75,290 |
| Merced, CA | 170 | $125,150 | $60.17 | $185,270 | $64,460 |
| Modesto, CA | 750 | $149,960 | $72.1 | $212,160 | $77,290 |
| Napa, CA | 250 | $172,730 | $83.04 | $# | $80,000 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,090 | $131,080 | $63.02 | $207,360 | $64,590 |
| Redding, CA | 310 | $132,830 | $63.86 | $202,940 | $66,420 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4,710 | $139,280 | $66.96 | $217,090 | $65,410 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 3,650 | $159,350 | $76.61 | $218,620 | $78,630 |
| Salinas, CA | 420 | $142,820 | $68.66 | $211,950 | $69,190 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 5,150 | $156,470 | $75.23 | $# | $73,990 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 9,230 | $186,560 | $89.69 | $# | $94,400 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3,360 | $176,640 | $84.92 | $# | $72,800 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 380 | $137,180 | $65.95 | $# | $63,450 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 350 | $144,560 | $69.5 | $218,330 | $66,480 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 610 | $140,960 | $67.77 | $221,750 | $59,790 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 810 | $154,020 | $74.05 | $222,970 | $74,290 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 690 | $141,750 | $68.15 | $218,680 | $65,520 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 670 | $164,990 | $79.32 | $217,670 | $80,690 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 450 | $132,840 | $63.87 | $233,880 | $66,400 |
| Yuba City, CA | 160 | $125,620 | $60.39 | $213,930 | $63,840 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
