Trevecca Nazarene University is striving to meet the educational needs of working adults interested in the healthcare industry.

This fall, Trevecca’s School of Graduate and Continuing Studies will launch the university’s new bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration (HCA), the first program of its kind at a major university in Nashville. The program will provide nontraditional students across Nashville and beyond the opportunity to become effective, Christian leaders in the healthcare industry. 

The new HCA program is an 18-month, fully online or face-to-face degree that is customized for the working adult. With 36 required credit hours, eight core courses, and four concentration courses, the program offers specialization in three prominent disciplines within the health profession — health informatics, general health management, and long-term care administration. Courses last six weeks and are available 100 percent online or face-to-face by taking classes one night a week. 

“Healthcare is really big in Nashville," said Brandee Norris, program director. "Many of our nontraditional students are working students. This particular program is designed to lay the foundation no matter the student’s background. Whether you’re working in or outside the healthcare field, the HCA program is for the working adult student who is seeking to advance in his or her current role in a healthcare organization or the student who wants to change careers altogether.”

Trevecca’s HCA curriculum closely aligns with basic requirements for a healthcare management degree accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education and/or certification by the Association of University Programs in Healthcare Administration. 

All HCA professors are working healthcare professionals or past healthcare professionals with graduate degrees and/or 10-plus years of experience in specialized disciplines.

“The program really has a high caliber of educators who will embrace students and teach best practices within the industry," Norris said. "Every course, every year is different as it will align with current issues and/or practices within the healthcare world.”

The program was born out of a need expressed by students in the third cohort of the Health Information Technology (HIT) program, which has existed at Trevecca for four years, Norris said. Many students in the HIT program were also looking for training on the administration level, she added. HCA will provide students the opportunity to learn how to better manage people and operations in the healthcare industry.

“We’re really excited for the first cohort this fall. We want to see these students succeed and really help people. We need Christian leaders in healthcare, as well as all professions. Trevecca will be that resource to its students.” 

For more information on the HCA bachelor’s degree program, contact Christen Jones at 615-248-1458 or email CLJones1@trevecca.edu. 

--Trevecca Nazarene University