Fairleigh Dickinson University

What you'll study

The programme blends core healthcare topics with business, information systems and legal/regulatory coursework. You will typically study a mix of general education and major-specific courses that cover the organisation and financing of health care, medical terminology, healthcare law and ethics, healthcare information systems, and management principles.

• Core healthcare and clinical foundation: medical terminology, anatomy and physiology for allied health professionals, fundamentals of public health.
• Administrative and management courses: health services management, organisational behaviour in healthcare, human resources in health settings, strategic planning and finance for healthcare organisations.
• Health information and technology: electronic health records, health informatics, coding and reimbursement systems (ICD/CPT basics), data privacy and security.
• Legal, ethical and policy issues: healthcare law and compliance, ethics in healthcare administration, healthcare policy and regulatory environment.
• Applied and experiential learning: practicum or internship in a healthcare setting, capstone project focusing on a real-world organisational problem, case studies and simulations.

The curriculum typically culminates in a supervised practicum or internship that places students in hospitals, physician practices, long-term care facilities, health insurance companies or public health agencies to apply administrative and managerial skills in a workplace setting.

Entry requirements

Entrants are normally expected to have completed secondary education with a record that demonstrates readiness for university study. Typical requirements include:

• Secondary school completion: an accredited high school diploma or equivalent.
• Academic preparation: evidence of competence in English, mathematics and preferably biology or health-related subjects; specific grade or GPA requirements align with university admissions policies rather than programme-specific thresholds.
• Standardised tests: some applicants may submit standardised test scores where required or optional according to the university’s admissions policy.
• English language proficiency: for applicants whose first language is not English, an approved English proficiency test or equivalent qualification is required.
• Additional requirements: a personal statement or essay outlining interest in health administration, and letters of recommendation may strengthen an application. Transfer applicants should provide college transcripts and course descriptions for credit evaluation.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a broad range of administrative and operational roles across the healthcare sector. The programme equips students with practical skills in management, billing and coding, information systems and regulatory compliance.

• Medical office manager or practice manager
• Health services coordinator or administrative supervisor in hospitals and clinics
• Health information technician or medical billing and coding specialist
• Insurance claims or reimbursement specialist
• Compliance officer or administrative roles in long-term care and behavioural health settings
• Roles in healthcare consulting, revenue cycle management and patient access services

Graduates may also continue to postgraduate study in health administration (MHA), public health (MPH) or business (MBA) to progress into senior management, policy or leadership roles.

Why study at Fairleigh Dickinson University

Fairleigh Dickinson offers this programme with a focus on small classes, personalised advising and connections to healthcare providers in the New Jersey and New York region. Students benefit from hands-on learning through practicum placements and partnerships with hospitals, clinics and insurance organisations that help build practical experience and professional networks.

• Practical experience: required internships and capstone projects integrate classroom learning with workplace practice.
• Faculty and support: instruction from faculty with healthcare administration and industry experience, plus career services that assist with placement and professional development.
• Flexible pathways: options for transfer students, part-time study or combining coursework with related certificates (such as coding or health informatics) to tailor career preparation.

The programme is designed for students seeking a direct pathway into administrative roles in healthcare as well as those aiming to build a foundation for advanced professional study.