Health Services Administration (BAAS),
Competency-Based

Become an effective and innovative leader in healthcare with our fully-online, competency-based program complete with fixed tuition.

Duration 2 years
Total Credit Hours 120 credit hours
Foreign Language No foreign language credits required

Accelerate Your Career in Healthcare

Become an effective and innovative leader with a competency-based program that prepares you for a rewarding and impactful career in the ever-expanding healthcare field. Designed for working professionals, this program offers fully online coursework so you can plan your studies around your busy life. Receive credit for what you know and can do, then accelerate your degree completion and job promotion opportunities.

Is this Program a Good Fit for You?

Health services administration students are typically interested in:

  • Working with interdisciplinary teams in a healthcare setting
  • Strategically addressing the health needs of a community or target population

See Yourself Succeed With a Degree in Health Services Administration

Medical professionals working while surrounded by medical instruments.

Innovation and Discovery

Take on our mission to build a better Texas as you prepare to compete in an interconnected world with creativity, ethical leadership and imagination. We don’t just discover the future; we make it.

Medical team interacting at a meeting in boardroom.

Accomplished Faculty

Our faculty are ready to guide you through your course work. We are on your team and dedicated to your success!

Career Readiness

In the College of Innovation and Design, you will gain applied skills—not just theory. As a working adult, you can apply what you learn to your existing position and prepare to move up the corporate ladder or take on a new career!

Student Support

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

A degree in health services administration offers the opportunity to:

  • Examine ethics and legal issues in healthcare and the role leaders play in fostering ethical behavior.
  • Learn about, from and with other health services professionals to enable effective teamwork and improved health outcomes.
  • Discover issues related to health services administration, including special populations and health policy and advocacy.
  • Develop leadership strategies to handle public relations scenarios in a range of health-related situations.
Doctor and his colleagues talking to team of business people on a meeting in the hospital.

Careers

Possibilities and opportunities in the current healthcare industry abound. Your degree in health services administration prepares you to manage and lead in dynamic healthcare settings such as nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, imaging centers or outpatient ambulatory clinics.

Career Possibilities and Current Median Salaries

Health Services Manager (National Average)
$104,280
Health Services Manager (DFW Median)
$113,770
Mental Health Program Manager (National Average)
$69,600
Mental Health Program Manager (Texas Median)
$73,660
Nursing Director (National Average)
$88,078
Nursing Director (DFW Median)
$75,988

US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2020

ZipRecruiter, 2021

Businesswoman gestures as she explains an opportunity to for business people help out in the community. A photo in the background shows people volunteering in soup kitchen.

What You Will Learn

Learn and develop practical workplace competencies to meet current and future challenges in a variety of health services settings. Acquire a broad overview of the health services field, including instruction in business, health, nursing, psychology and organizational leadership.

Courses to Prepare for Your Career

  • Required courses include Inter-professional Communication, Health Policy and Advocacy, and Quality Management and Performance Improvement.
  • General education courses and professional development electives are designed to complement the required courses and offer you a well-rounded, in-depth preparation for work in the field.

Featured Courses

Inter-Professional Communication HSCB 301

The goal of this course is to prepare you with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for collaborative inter-professional practice. You will be encouraged to learn about, from and with other health care professions to enable effective teamwork and improved health outcomes.

Quality Management and Performance Improvement HSCB 430

Explore key roles in healthcare organizations as well as project planning and execution, managing change, personnel management and ethics in healthcare environments.

Culture, Inequalities and Social Justice in Health HSCB 380

Discover social justice challenges associated with race, ethnicity, social class, gender, migration status and culture; all of which ultimately affect human health and create health disparities. You will be introduced to the concept of health equity and a broad overview of health disparities.

View Full Curriculum In The University Catalog

Course Delivery and Resources

Three components make up the 120-credit-hour degree.

  • General Education/Core Curriculum (42 semester credit hours)
    • You have the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of general education competencies without needlessly sitting through introductory courses.
  • Professional Development Electives (48 semester credit hours)
    • You are able to demonstrate competency in a variety of related fields.
  • Upper Division Applied Coursework (30 semester credit hours)
    • You will build on and apply work-related skills in four mastery areas.

You begin each term by registering for up to two courses.

  • When you complete all your current courses before the end of a term, you can take and complete another course by the end of the term.
  • You can accelerate an unlimited number of times in each term.
  • Using this method, you can shorten your time to degree completion.
  • You are not allowed to add courses during the final week of the term.

Did you miss the registration window? Don't worry! You have two available registration opportunities each semester! For specific dates, email our advising office.

Terms

All competency-based programs in the College of Innovation and Design are offered in two seven-week terms per traditional semester with a break between each term.

2024

SemesterTerm 1BreakTerm 2
SpringJan. 16 – March 1March 4 – 15March 18 – May 3
SummerMay 13 – June 28July 1 – 5July 8 – Aug. 23
FallSept. 3 – Oct. 18Oct. 21 – 25Oct. 28 – Dec. 13

Program Costs

Earning a degree is more affordable than ever. Our competency-based programs offer quality education at an affordable price. These rates include online versions of required course materials.

Residency StatusTuition Per Semester

In-State (TX resident)
$750

Bordering County.
This includes: Oklahoma Louisiana New Mexico Arkansas
$750

Neighboring state (aka interior county: Oklahoma and Louisiana only) Does NOT include New Mexico and Arkansas
in-state + $30/hour

Out of state (e.g., Florida)
$1,500

Active Duty Law Enforcement + Firefighter Tuition Exemption
$300

Employee Scholarship
$300
  • First responders that are neither law enforcement nor firefighters and/or those working for private companies are NOT covered by the tuition exemption.
  • Tuition exemption limited to state residents
Financial Aid
Scholarships

Program Admission

To demonstrate your knowledge, you will submit evidence of a level of competence in reading, writing and mathematics.

You are required to take or be exempt from the Texas Success Initiative assessment prior to enrolling in college; students without assessment scores because of exemptions that are not test or grade based must take a placement test to determine entry level in math and English courses.

TSI Exemptions

  • ACT scores: Composite 23; English 19 or Math 19; no older than five years
  • SAT scores: Composite 1070; Verbal 500 or Math 500; no older than five years
  • TAKS scores: 2200 Math or 2200 English/Language Arts with a three writing subscore
  • Received an associate degree or baccalaureate degree from a Texas public institution.
  • Out-of-State/private institution transfer who has satisfactorily completed college level work with a “C” or better in areas of reading, math and writing.
  • Has met readiness standards at another Texas public higher education institution; “C” or better in developmental course work.
  • Military Service
    • Serving in the active military.
    • Serving as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces for at least three years preceding enrollment.
    • Honorably discharged, retired or released from active duty in the military on or after August 1, 1990. Please provide us with your official DD214 with discharge status in order to apply this exemption.
  • Additionally, you may submit scores from the THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment), COMPASS or ASSET to satisfy the assessment requirement.

For more information about the assessment requirements, please contact the Testing Center.

Submit or request submission of official transcripts from high school, GED score report including percentile scores and/or each institution you attended.

  • A transcript is considered official only if received directly from the sending institution or, if hand delivered, the transcript must be in a sealed registrar's envelope.
  • Send Transcripts to:
    • Office of Undergraduate Admissions
      Texas A&M University-Commerce
      P.O. Box 3011
      Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
    • For faster delivery, check to see if your previous/current academic institution(s) can submit an electronic version of your transcript to the Admissions Office. We accept SPEEDE and Escrip-Safe electronic transcripts.

We can give you financial aid guidance to help you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

  • Designate TAMUC as the college to receive your FAFSA information.
  • A&M-Commerce's school code is 003565.

For more information, please contact financial aid advisor, Daniel Sanders at [email protected] or call 903.468.6059.

What is Competency-Based Education?

What is Competency-Based Education

Competency-Based Education (CBE) posits that learning is best measured by students demonstrating what they know and can do rather than by the number of hours spent in a classroom. CBE is student-driven and self-paced, guided by individualized feedback from an instructor and advisor. CBE is also flexible, and offered fully online, so it works around the busy personal and professional lives of adult learners and working professionals.

Student Journey map
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Faculty and Staff

April Sanders, Ph.D. Assistant Dean, College of Innovation and Design, and Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction
Deena Besson Instructor
Becky Smith Advisor for Competency-Based Education

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to come to campus for competency-based programs?

No. The competency modules and courses for the program are fully online.

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What is the BAAS in Health Services Administration?

The BAAS in Health Services Administration is a competency-based education program that prepares healthcare professionals for leadership positions in a variety of healthcare settings. This entire program is available online and is tailored specifically for adult learners. The degree program is leadership centered, with students’ existing education and experience integrated alongside principles from business, health, nursing, psychology and organizational leadership. 

The BAAS in Health Services Administration is an affordable way to earn a baccalaureate degree with a total of 120 semester credit hours. The competencies and courses are offered in seven-week terms so students will be able to accelerate their time to degree completion.

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How many hours should I take?

Students initially register for six hours (two courses per term). You have the opportunity to accelerate into another course with the expectation that you will complete the coursework by the end of the term. You may continue to add courses, one at a time, through the fifth Friday of the term.

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May I receive credit for prior work experience and professional training?

There are several opportunities for you to demonstrate prior learning and earn college credit. You can receive credit for military service (ACE), work experience, professional training, licenses, certifications and by exam through the College Level Exam Program ® (CLEP).

See “What is Competency Based Education?”

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Is there an application fee?

No, there is not an application fee. However, you will be charged a one-time $60 enrollment fee the first term.

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Do my applied major courses need to be taken in any specific order?

Yes, you need to take the Applied Major courses in the order listed on the degree guide.

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If I retake a course, do I have to pay for it again?

The flat-rate tuition fee for each seven-week term is not waived for repeat courses.

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What are the admission requirements?

Visit the admissions website for specific requirements.

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Do I need to come to campus for orientation?

No, as online student you may complete orientation online. Your advisor will help you complete online orientation upon being accepted to the program.

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How do I upload documents to my Mane Sync ePortfolio?

To upload documents to your ManeSync ePortfolio, please complete the following:

  • Sign into ManeSync.
  • Click the icon with your initials located in the top right corner.
  • A menu will pop up from the initial icon with multiple options. Select “Experiences.”
  • You will be taken to a new page titled “My Experiences.” Click the “Add Experience” button located in the upper right corner.
  • Once you have clicked “Add Experience,” a menu will appear. Select “Academic.”
  • A form will pop up. Complete the form with the necessary information and the document you want to upload. If you are unsure of what information to put in the form please refer to the following:
    1. Experience name: Put the class name and document title
    2. Date: Use the date you are submitting your experience
    3. Reflection: What you learned from this experience
    4. Contact: Include your student information
  • Upload your document. Documents over 10 MB will not be accepted. It is suggested to compress or upload in sections to reduce megabytes.
  • Once finished, click submit. Your form will be reviewed and approved.
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Do I need to come to campus for orientation?

Once you are accepted to the university you will contacted by [email protected] via myLEO (email) with further instructions.

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May I use financial aid?

Yes. Visit Financial Aid for details.

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How much is the tuition for the BAAS in Health Services Administration?

Texas-Residents pay a flat-rate tuition fee of $750 per seven-week term and $1,500 for non-Texas residents, regardless of how many courses the student enrolls in during the term. Tuition for general education/core curriculum courses and all professional development competencies will also include e-textbooks that are incorporated in the online competency modules.

Out-of-State Residents* pay a flat-rate tuition fee of $1500 per seven week term, regardless of how many courses/competencies the student enrolls in during the term. Tuition for general education/core curriculum will also include e-textbooks that are incorporated in the online competency modules.

*Texas A&M University–Commerce has been approved to offer educational programs to select states. Check to see if your state is on the State Authorization of Online Programs list.

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When may I start my major courses?

You can start your Applied Major courses your first term. Please contact [email protected] for assistance. 

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Can I use my employer’s tuition reimbursement program?

The answer is determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact [email protected] to see if you can use your employer’s tuition reimbursement program.

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How long are the terms for competency-based programs?

Each term is seven weeks in length and there are two terms per traditional semester.

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Contact Us

  • P.O. Box 3011
  • Commerce, TX 75429-3011
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