As a dental hygiene student, you learn all about how to deliver the best care to your patients. The healthcare administration track gives you the opportunity to learn about the broader health care system and the business aspects that go into care delivery.
The Healthcare Administration Track in Dental Hygiene
Why students choose the track
“I chose to complete the Healthcare Administration Track in the Dental Hygiene program because I feel that it presents us with so much opportunity within our field after we begin our career.” Haley Motsinger
“I chose to complete the Healthcare Administration Track because I wanted to have a deeper understanding of what goes into the health care system beyond my role as a Dental Hygienist. I think it's important to understand the broader system so we can provide better care for our patients.” - Yelena Fox
“I have always been interested in the management or administrative side of healthcare and dental care. I may go back to school someday to become a dentist and it would be important for me to have a background in administration.”- Mackenzie Shorey
Track requirements
Students completing the Healthcare Administration Track complete five courses.
Required courses
- PBHL-H 120: Health Care Delivery in the US*
- PBHL-H 375: Management of Health Services Organizations*
Choose three elective courses for 6 credits
- PBHL-H 411: Chronic and Long Term Care Administration
- PBHL-H 420: Health Policy
- PBHL-H 432: Healthcare Marketing
- PBHL-H 441: Legal Aspects of Healthcare Administration
- PBHL-H 310: Lean in Healthcare
- PBHL-H 320: Health Systems Administration
- PBHL-H 346: Organizational Behavior and HR Management in Healthcare*
- PBHL-H 345: Operations Management and Quality Improvement in Health Organizations*
- PBHL-H 305: Medical Group Management*
- PBHL-H 455: Topics in Public Health
* These courses are offered online at least once per year.
Minor in Community Health – CHES Pathway
Students will take these five 3-credit courses:
- PBHL-S 120 Introduction to Community Health
- PBHL-S 315 Community Organizing for Health Promotion
- PBHL-S 330 Theoretical Foundations of Community Health
- PBHL-S 360 Assessment and Planning for Community Health Promotion
- PBHL-S 361 Implementation and Evaluation for Community Health
You must complete the required courses with a grade of “C” or better in all courses credited to the minor.
Minor in Community Health – Non-CHES Pathway
Students will take these four 3-credit courses:
- PBHL-S 120 Introduction to Community Health
- PBHL-S 220 Navigating the Maze to Healthy Living
- PBHL-S 250 Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Public Health
- PBHL-S 337 Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health
PLUS - Pick any one of the following 3-credit courses:
- PBHL-S 105 Music, Movies, and Public Health
- PBHL-S 222 This Stress is Killing Me: Stress and Its Effects on You
- PBHL-S 240 Peer Health Education and Leadership
- PBHL-S 325 Urban Angst Suburban Blues: Public Mental Health
- PBHL-S 422 Coaching for Health Behavior Change
You must complete the required courses with a grade of “C” or better in all courses credited to the minor.
Turn your healthcare administration track into a certificate
By adding just one more course in place of an open elective, dental hygiene students have the opportunity to turn their track into a Certificate in Health Administration. To earn the certificate, students must complete PBHL-H 120, PBHL-H 375, PBHL-H 345, and three health administration electives.