Health Services Management Degrees: Bachelor, Associate & Online Info

About this article
What will you learn in a health services management associate's or bachelor's degree program? Read about health services management degree program requirements, the pros and cons of an associate's and bachelor's degree and potential careers.
  • At a Glance
  • Associate's
  • Bachelor's

Studying Health Services Management: Degrees at a Glance

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An associate's or bachelor's degree program in health services management can prepare students for a career in hospitals, long term care facilities or health research centers. Health services management professionals serve a vital role in the patient care process. They are often responsible for billing, collections and human resources duties. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), graduates of both associate's and bachelor's degree programs can expect excellent job prospects during 2010-2020 in this rapidly expanding field (www.bls.gov).

Here's a side by side comparison of these degrees:

Associate's Bachelor's
Who is this degree for? Individuals pursuing an entry or mid-level position or wishing to continue their education Individuals seeking mid-level management positions in health care or those wishing to advance their education
Common Career Paths (with approximate mean annual salary) - Office manager, medical office ($26,000-$58,000 in the 10th to 90th percentile range)**
-Patient services coordinator ($23,000-$49,000 in the 10th to 90th percentile range)**
- Nursing home administrator ($40,000-$108,000 in the 10th to 90th percentile range)**
- Medical and health services managers ($96,000)*
Time to Completion 2 years full-time 4 years full-time
Common Graduation Requirements -Roughly 80 credits of coursework -120 credits of coursework
-Completion of a supervised learning experience
Prerequisites - High school diploma or GED
- Some programs may require the completion of prerequisite courses
- High school diploma, GED or associate's degree
-Completion of prerequisite coursework
Online Availability Yes Yes

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2011 figures),**Payscale (June 2012 figures).

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  • At a Glance
  • Associate's
  • Bachelor's

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • Associate of Science in Health Science
      • Associate of Science in Health SciencePreprofessional
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Keiser University

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • Associate of Arts - Health Services Admin
      • Associate of Science - Medical Administrative Billing and Coding
  • Cedar Rapids, IA

    Kirkwood Community College

  • Dearborn, MI

    Henry Ford Community College

  • Neosho, MO

    Crowder College

  • Plantation, FL

    Allied Health Institute

  • Greeley, CO

    Aims Community College

  • Stanford, CA

    Stanford University

  • Perrysburg, OH

    Owens Community College

  • Cambridge, MA

    Harvard University

Featured Schools

Purdue Global

  • Associate of Science in Health Science
  • Associate of Science in Health SciencePreprofessional

Which subject are you interested in?

Keiser University

  • Associate of Arts - Health Services Admin
  • Associate of Science - Medical Administrative Billing and Coding

What is your highest level of education?

Kirkwood Community College

Henry Ford Community College

Crowder College

Allied Health Institute

Aims Community College