Bachelor of Professional Studies in Health Sciences Management

The Bachelor of Professional Studies in Health Sciences Management (BPHM) is an online program for working adults who want to advance into leadership roles in healthcare settings. The program serves students with a wide range of backgrounds including those who may have an allied healthcare associate degree.

Key Takeaways

• Start dates in August and January
• Transfer up to 60 credits into UVA
• Undergraduate study designed around the lives and schedules of working adults who seek career advancement in the healthcare field
• Mix of asynchronous learning opportunities and synchronous, online evening courses led by established faculty
• Individualized academic advising

What You Will Learn

The program serves students with a wide range of backgrounds including those who may have an allied healthcare associate degree in:

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• emergency medical services 
• health information management
• medical laboratory technology
• occupational and physical therapy assisting
• radiography, respiratory therapy, or sonography

The curriculum of the Bachelor of Professional Studies in Health Sciences Management (BPHM) includes 120 credits of required and elective courses, consisting of general education, health science technical requirements and electives, major core requirements, and advanced (restricted) electives. Learn more about the BPHM Curriculum and Student Success Resources

60 Credits Earned at UVA Include

General Education

BPHM students must complete two humanities/fine arts courses (6 credits) and three social sciences/history courses (9 credits). At least 3 credits for the general educational requirements must deal substantially with a non-Western culture. Typically, the general education courses will be taken from BIS Program online course offerings.

Core Requirements

Students will complete 33 credits of Major Core Requirements courses at UVA. The core requirements focus on competencies required for success in health care: communication, relationship management, professionalism, knowledge of health care and business skills, and business principles and leadership. The following courses are considered Major Core Requirements: 

PSHM 3010: Introduction to Health Care Management: Applying Concepts to Practice
PSHM 3080: Legal & Ethical Decision-Making in Health Care
PSHM 3805: Health Information Systems & Applications
PSHM 4020: Management of Health Care Organizations
PSHM 4300: Introduction to Population Health: Programs, Policy & Epidemiology
PSHM 4400: Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences 
PSHM 4600: Service Excellence in Health Care: Quality Improvement & Customer Service
PSHM 4650: American Health Care: Challenges & Opportunities
PSHM 4700: Economics & Finance of Health Care
PSHM 4900: Capstone Course I: Development of the Health Sciences Management Project
PSHM 4950: Capstone Course II: Health Sciences Management Project: Implementation

Approved Health Sciences Management Electives

Students will also complete 12 credits from UVA in the Approved Health Sciences Management Electives category.

PSHM 3050: Current Issues in Health Care (1 credit) - Recommended for first semester
PSHM 4050: Understanding Diversity in Health Care
PSHM 4052: Global Health Care
PSHM 4200: Women’s Health Issues: Access, Treatment & Policy
PSHM 4750: Organizational Behavior & Leadership in Health Care
PSHM 4800: Health Sciences Management Internship I (2 credits)
PSHM 4801: Health Sciences Management Internship II (1 credit)
ACCT 2010: Introductory Accounting I
HR 4020: Human Resources Management
ISBU/ISSS 3422: Managing Your Emotions in the Workplace
ISBU/ISSS 3887: Educational Technology in the Information Age
ISBU/ISSS 3888: Looking Through the Philosophic Lens of Technology
ISBU/ISSS 4670: Organizational Change and Development
ISSS 3045: Science and Practice of Mindfulness
ISSS 3411: Topics in Personality Psychology
ISSS 4431: Topics in Cognitive Psychology
ISSS 4432: Theories of Interpersonal Communication
IT 3220: Strategic Business Value of Information Technology

The information contained on this web site is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. 

How It Works

This program is developed to be flexible. Our instructors understand adult learners are balancing many demands. Classes are held primarily synchronously online in the evening so you can ask questions, dig deeper, and develop long-lasting relationship with your classmates and instructors.

On average, students take two courses per term, including the summer, and take three to four years to complete the degree. Many are able to finish sooner, or some students choose to move more slowly, taking up to seven years.

Tuition & Fees

• Estimated cost: $499 per credit hour or $29,940 for the entire program. Students pay per course, per semester.
• Pay the same tuition rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
• This program is eligible for Active Duty Military Rate of $250 per credit hour
• Students have access to financial aid, scholarships and payment plans
• Additional fees may apply, including course materials. Tuition rates are adjusted annually.

See all Tuition and Financial Aid information

Scholarships

BPHM students may be eligible for both institutional and department scholarships, including:

• Dean’s Scholarship
• Dean's Promise Scholarship
• Dean’s Retention Scholarship
• Enslaved Ancestors Scholarship
• Osher Reentry Scholarship
• Charlottesville Scholarship Program
• Tobacco Region Loan Forgiveness Program

A critical first step is for all students to apply for financial aid. This ensures you are being considered for all possible aid, including scholarships and grants. 

For more information about scholarships, please contact Donna Jennings, 434.982.5246 or scps-scholarships@virginia.edu.

Admission Requirements & Deadlines

Deadline Information

• To begin in the fall (August): application must be submitted by May 15
• To begin in the spring (January): application must be submitted by November 1

Admission Requirements

Students apply to the Bachelor of Professional Studies in Health Sciences Management (BPHM) degree program and to the University through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Standardized exams, such as the SAT, are not required. There is no foreign language requirement.

Please note: Applicants already holding a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for admission.

There are two pathways for admission into BPHM: 

Admission Requirements: Pathway One

• An associate’s degree from a regionally accredited college in emergency medical services, health information management, medical laboratory technology, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapy assistant, radiography, respiratory therapy or sonography. 
• A minimum 2.0 GPA in the applicable associate’s degree
• 60 transferable credits (C or better), including two English Composition courses and a liberal arts core, as specified by the applicable degree map. See transfer maps here.

Admission Requirements: Pathway Two

• A high school diploma, or equivalent
• A minimum of 36 transferable credits (C or better), to include:
  • English composition (your college’s full sequence)
  • At least 12 transferable credits applicable toward the general education requirements for the BIS degree.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 from the institution attended most recently and good academic and social standing at that institution
• Good academic, social, and financial standing at UVA if previously enrolled.

Additional Information:

• A maximum of 60 transferable credits from outside institutions and test credits may be applied toward the BPHM degree. Student who have previously attended UVA may be able to apply prior UVA credits toward BPHM degree requirements and should submit a transfer credit evaluation form to understand the applicability of those prior credits.
• SCPS typically begins reviewing applications for Fall admission in mid-February and Spring admission in mid-September. Applications will be reviewed only once all required materials have been received; please check the application status page to ensure that all materials are in. Once SCPS begins its review, applicants usually hear within two weeks of the time their file is complete.

Ensure You're Ready to Apply

We can help you ensure you have the necessary transfer credits required for eligibility. Simply complete the online transfer credit evaluation form to upload your unofficial transcripts. 

Please ensure your transcripts do not include any personal, highly sensitive data, such as a Social Security Number (SSN). Remove or obscure any of this sensitive data before uploading. Multiple transcripts should be saved and uploaded as one file.

We will review your transcripts and help you assess your transfer status. If you need to complete additional course work before applying to the BPHM, we can advise you about course selection.  

Guaranteed Admission Agreements

Students with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in an applicable allied health program may apply for admission under the Guaranteed Admission Agreement (GAA) between the Virginia Community College System and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. See details below under Admission Deadline, including the deadline to submit the Letter of Intent.