Best Online Health Services Coordination Degrees

Yes! A bachelor’s in health services offers a lot of flexibility in your future career. It can open doors for several educational and professional opportunities. Students can use this degree to pursue management and administrative careers or as the building block of their education on their way to a more specialized master’s degree.

If you’re a full-time student and don’t take time off or have to retake any classes, a Bachelor in Health Services will likely take four years to complete. You may be able to take accelerated courses to finish faster, but this isn’t recommended for first-time students or those who struggle with a work-life balance. A master’s degree typically adds two years to the total completion time.

Keep in mind that getting your health services degree is about what works for you. If you can dedicate time to being a full-time student, you’ll most likely finish in the timeline mentioned above. There are also some additional factors to consider that will impact the amount of time it takes to get your degree. These factors include

• Credit transfers from other schools
• The amount of time it takes to meet prerequisite program requirements
• Your current work experience in the field
• Whether you’re switching from a different major
• Whether you have to work while attending school
• Whether you take summer classes to progress faster
• Whether you take competency-based courses

The kinds of people who typically succeed in health services programs are those who have strong management and technology skills and are great problem solvers. Health services coordinators regularly interact with multiple people, so communication and collaboration skills are also extremely important.

The classes you’ll take for an online health services degree vary depending on the school. However, you’ll start with several general education classes and introductory-level healthcare administrative courses, including:

• Financial management
• Operations
• Policy
• Quality improvement
• Information systems

As you progress through your health services program, you’ll be able to choose upper-level classes centered around your specific interests and career goals.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health education specialists had a median annual salary of $60,600 in May 2021. Health services managers had a yearly salary of $101,340 in May 2021, and management occupations had an annual salary of $102,450.

Admission requirements for online health services degrees will vary from school to school. However, you will likely need to complete an application and provide an official copy of your high school transcripts. Application fees are also often required, usually costing between $30 and $100. Some schools also have high school GPA minimums to be accepted, typically between 2.0 and 3.0.

Some schools may also require you to submit a written essay with your application and provide letters of recommendation. Make sure you check with the schools you are interested in to determine what they require, and give yourself plenty of time to collect the necessary documentation.

According to College Tuition Compare, which has taken the average cost of all 3,980 colleges offering degrees in health services, tuition costs are $6,775 for state residents and $18,518 for out-of-state residents. It’s important to remember that tuition rates are subject to change and that part-time students usually pay less per term but more over the course of their degree.

Some colleges only let a certain number of students into their health services program each year, and to get accepted, you must meet their minimum requirements. Schools may require you to take healthcare-related general education classes and pass with a specific grade to be able to apply for the program. They may also have minimum GPA requirements to attend.

If you don’t feel like a health services coordination degree is right for you, you may be better suited for a similar program. Consider looking into a degree in healthcare, nutrition, or health informatics. These programs can help you find a more focused career based on what you’re most passionate about.

Because the healthcare industry continues to expand, the health services degree is one of the most popular degrees in America. The industry offers many growth opportunities, with careers available in many settings, such as medical offices, hospitals, government facilities, and care centers. The most common jobs people get with a degree in health services include

• Health Education Specialist. Health education specialists develop health awareness and promotion programs. They discuss healthy habits with individuals and organizations and explain how certain lifestyle choices can affect health.
• Medical and Health Services Manager. Health services managers oversee departments or medical facilities and strive to provide the best services. They’re often responsible for staffing, finances, and operations.
• Health Information Specialist. Health information specialists record, code, and analyze healthcare data. They’re responsible for ensuring records are accurate and coding them for billing.
• Human Resources Manager. Human resources managers are in charge of an organization’s internal operations. They are a link between staff and management and often take care of staffing needs such as hiring, training, and pay.
• Administrative Services and Facilities Manager. These types of managers develop record-keeping processes to keep private information secure. They also ensure their organization has the right equipment and stays up-to-date on laws and regulations.