BSHS (Health Sciences) vs BSHA (Health Administration) Programs
Search For Schools
When you click on a sponsoring school or program advertised on our site, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
Whether you’re considering a bachelor’s of science in health sciences (BSHS) or a bachelor’s of science in health administration (BSHA), you’re already well-positioned for the future. The healthcare industry is projected to add more jobs than any other field—about two million between 2021 and 2031—and grow at a rate of 13 percent, much faster than the national average during the same period (5 percent).
But for all their similarities, these two degree options diverge in critical ways, and can lead down different career paths.
BSHS degrees focus on hard sciences and open the door to careers in medical technology, research, or education. This option supplies students with an applied sciences education covering biology, biostatistics, microbiology, epidemiology, and anatomy. It often couples that deep and technical background in the sciences with general education in the area of healthcare institutions and how they operate.
While many BSHS students are already working as medical technicians and looking to advance their leadership opportunities, graduates of this degree may also go on to more sophisticated roles in clinical research, healthcare management, or specialist areas like nuclear medical technology. Please see our guide to health science degree programs for an extensive list of online and on-campus BSHS programs.
By comparison, BSHA is more business-focused, and degrees will sometimes take the format of a bachelor of science in health services administration (BSHSA), a bachelor of science in health services management (BSHSM), or a bachelor of science in health management (BSHM). Still, the overall focus here is the same: preparing students to manage healthcare facilities’ finances, personnel, and operations. Core curriculums often include finance, marketing, personnel management, and informatics classes relating to healthcare institutions.
Many BSHA graduates can pursue master’s level education, and some schools even offer combined bachelor’s and master’s programs that can accelerate the overall time to graduation. For a comprehensive list of educational programs, please see our guide to schools offering healthcare administration degree programs.
There’s plenty of overlap between these two degree options, but there are also critical differences in curriculum, salary outlook, and job prospects. Before you pick your path, check out a side-by-side comparison guide between BSHS and BSHA degrees.
| BSHS | BSHA | |
|---|---|---|
| What is It? | This degree gives students an understanding of applied science in healthcare, preparing them for work as technicians, researchers, or educators in the medical field. |
This degree provides students an insight into healthcare institutions, preparing them to manage healthcare facilities’ finances, personnel, and overall operations. |
| Admissions Requirements | Admissions requirements for BSHS programs are similar to most other undergraduate programs. They often include the following:
In addition to the above, it’s important to note that some online offerings are degree-completion programs that require students to have completed a certain amount of prerequisite classes and college credits, the total of which often adds up to the equivalent of an associate’s degree. |
Admissions requirements for BSHA programs are similar to most other undergraduate programs. They often include the following:
In addition to the above, it’s important to note that some online offerings are degree-completion programs that require students to have completed a certain amount of prerequisite classes and college credits, the total of which often adds up to the equivalent of an associate’s degree. |
| Typical Duration | BSHS degrees typically take four years to complete. Still, online offerings that act as degree-completion programs may take only two years. Integrated bachelor’s and master’s programs can take five years to complete. |
BSHA degrees usually take four years to complete, but online offerings that act as degree-completion programs may take only two years, and integrated bachelor’s and master’s programs can take five years to complete. |
| Coursework | Curriculums in BSHS programs will vary from school to school, but common courses for this degree include:
|
Curriculums in BSHA programs will vary from school to school, but common courses for this degree include:
|
| Specializations or Concentrations | Specializations and concentrations for BSHS students include areas such as:
|
Specializations and concentrations for BSHA students include areas such as:
|
| Who Can Benefit From This Degree? | Those who earn a BSHS degree often work in medical technology, as laboratory technicians, phlebotomists, or sonographers. With further education, they may go on to take leadership roles in these areas, working as managers, researchers, and educators. |
Those who earn a BSHA degree often go on to become healthcare administrators, taking on leadership and management roles at hospitals, nursing homes, medical offices, health insurance agencies, and healthcare clinics. |
| Salary Prospects | According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical laboratory technologists and technicians earn an average of $56,910 per year. Additionally, a BSHS degree can lead to further opportunities in healthcare administration or advanced specialty fields like nuclear medicine technology, which come with boosted salary figures and an overall faster-than-average growth in job availability. |
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health service managers earn an average of $119,840 per year, with the top ten percent of workers in this field earning $205,620 per year. Coupled with the fact that jobs in this sector are expected to grow much faster than average, BSHA graduates should enjoy strong salary prospects and a solid career outlook. |
| Featured On-Campus Programs | ||
| Featured Online Programs | ||
| Certifications | ||
| The Bottom Line | The BSHS is a science-first degree option that can prepare graduates for a number of careers in the healthcare sector. While some education is provided on institutional management, this degree focuses on applied sciences. Many with this degree work in medical technology, often in leadership positions, and may advance to roles in research, management, and education. |
The BSHA is a management-first degree option that prepares graduates to run healthcare facilities. The science involved here is focused primarily on the operations of healthcare itself, as opposed to elements of the human body and disease. Graduates of this degree go on to take leadership positions at a wide range of healthcare institutions. |
