Frequently Asked Questions

1. The traditional program is offered in regular CSULB semesters (Fall, Spring). Some courses are offered during the Summer as well. Students will take the courses based on the recommended sequence. It is designed for new undergraduates, beginning health care professionals, and international students. 
2. The accelerated program is offered in 10 week quarters (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer). Each quarter you take two courses. This is a very structured program designed for the mid-level working professional. You start and end the program with the same cohort. Students who are enroll in the accelerated program have worked full-time in health care for several years.

Yes, you don’t need a degree in HCA in order to apply for the Masters program. The majority of the students who are enrolled in our program have undergraduate degrees in something other than Health Care.

No. The program is not fully online. Courses are being offered in combination of methods: online, face-to-face, and hybrid. Face-to-face courses in the traditional program are offered on Monday-Thursday. Face-to-face courses in the accelerated program are offered on Saturdays. 

It is not an issue if you have been out of school for several years. We have students of all ages and backgrounds in our programs.

It is strongly recommended that you complete the prerequisites at the time you start the program in the Fall. They may be in progress when applying. You may take them at a community college during the Summer. For international students, the prerequisites courses can be taken or completed during your first semester in the program. We will let you know after your application is reviewed.

Yes, you are not required to take the pre-requisite courses at CSULB. We recommend taking the prerequisite courses at a junior college. Please check www.assist.org to determine the equivalent course.

If you took the course over 10 years ago, you will need to retake it or pass the CLEP exam. Applicants may use a passing score on the CLEP exam for financial accounting or microeconomics.

Your letters of recommendation should come from your employer, past employer, or someone who knows your academic abilities and your ability to be successful in a graduate program.

Both programs start in the fall and take two years to complete. The difference is in the way the program is administered. In the traditional program, students have the option of attending full-time or part-time. Full time is considered nine units (three classes). However, some students choose to take up to 15 units (five classes). The accelerated program has a structured format and students are full-time and take six units every quarter.

The university will not accept a GPA under 2.5 for any graduate program. If your GPA is between 2.5 and 3.0, you may still apply to our program. In addition to your GPA, all application materials are taken into consideration when admitting students. 

The Department of Health Care Administration cannot evaluate transcripts.  Transcripts go directly to the University (enrollment services) for evaluation. Enrollment services evaluate your transcripts and process your application. The Department does not review your application until the enrollment services process the application.

Your personal statement should tell us who you are, why you want apply to the program, and why you want to study at our university. The personal statement should be one to two pages long with 1.5 line spacing.

Students who are admitted conditionally are usually missing prerequisite requirements. However, it is rare for students to be admitted conditionally for other reasons.  The department is unable to make a decision about your admittance until your application has been reviewed.

We admitted between 20-25 students in each program every fall. 

The program begins in the fall.  Spring applications are not accepted. The traditional program starts in August and the accelerated program starts in September.

The university doesn’t allow students to defer admittance for the following year, except under special circumstances.  If you want to wait until the following year to attend the program, you will have to reapply to the program and university.

In the traditional program, classes are offered at 4pm and 7pm.  In the accelerated program, you take two classes each quarter.  One is online and the other is held on Saturday.

Yes, students in traditional program are required to take internship in their second year of the program.  There is an orientation the semester before internship.  At that time, you will receive all the information needed for internship.

Once you are in the program, you will be eligible to apply for various scholarships.  Occasionally we hire GA’s.  It differs from year to year.  

Please contact financial aid.  Here is the link: /financial-aid

Please contact the Center for International Education (CIE).  We can only answer questions related to the Health Care Administration Program.