Healthcare Leadership, Bachelor of Applied Science (Online)

A degree-completion pathway for healthcare professionals ready to lead

Turn your healthcare experience into a bachelor’s degree

This online Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Healthcare Leadership is designed to help  students who have completed healthcare coursework, earned a healthcare certificate, or hold an Associate of Applied Science degree and are ready to take the next step in their careers.

 

This flexible degree-completion program maximizes previously earned credits while helping students build leadership, management, communications, and decision-making skills needed for advancement in today's healthcare workforce.

 

Whether your goal is to move into supervision, management, healthcare administration, or leadership roles, the BAS in Healthcare Leadership provides a practical pathway to career growth while recognizing the value of your technical and applied healthcare education.

Discover a leadership-focused bachelor’s degree designed specifically for technically trained professionals ready to advance their careers.

Program Snapshot

  • Bachelor of  Applied Science in Healthcare Leadership
  • Online Delivery
  • Multiple Start Dates Per Year
  • Stackable, Degree Completion (AAS → BAS + embedded certificate)
  • 120 total credits (transfer-friendly)  
  • Tuition and Fees
     

Scholarships or Tuition Discounts

Utilize your healthcare experience to potentially receive credit for prior learning, saving you time and money.  Learn more about our scholarship and tuition discount opportunities.

 

Built for Healthcare Professionals 

The Online Bachelor of Applied Science in Healthcare Leadership at Saint Francis University helps technically trained professionals strengthen their healthcare management and leadership roles through applied business, healthcare management, and leadership education.  

  • Flexible Online Coursework: Designed for working professionals who are ready to advance into supervisory, management, and leadership roles.
  • Transfer-Friendly: Apply technical certification coursework and prior work experience to accelerate degree completion.
  • Advancement Focus: Earn your degree with tailored upper-division coursework in leadership, organizational behavior, business, healthcare marketing, policies and ethics in healthcare, analytics, and strategic decision-making.
  • Mission-Driven: SFU prepares professionals for leadership and management roles by integrating advanced technical knowledge, organizational leadership, regulatory awareness, and Franciscan values with a commitment to excellence, professionalism, and continuous learning.

Who Is This Program For?

The BAS in Healthcare Leadership was created for students who already possess healthcare knowledge and technical expertise but need a bachelor's degree to advance professionally.

This program is ideal for:

  • Associate of Applied Science graduates
  • Allied health professionals
  • Healthcare technicians and technologists
  • Surgical technologists
  • Healthcare support professionals
  • Medical office professionals
  • Long-term care employees
  • Community college graduates with healthcare backgrounds
  • Career and Technical Center graduates who have completed healthcare pathways
  • Healthcare employees seeking leadership opportunities
     

 

CURRICULUM & COURSES

What You’ll Learn in Healthcare Leadership (BAS)

The Healthcare Leadership major is a flexible, career-focused degree-completion program designed for students to combine healthcare-specific management coursework with communication, leadership, and strategic decision-making skills.

 

Within the Healthcare Leadership degree is an embedded certificate in healthcare management that students will earn once they complete the required certificate courses, further supporting career advancement, workforce mobility, and preparation for supervisory or managerial positions.

  • Program Snapshot

    Total Credits: 120 (transfer-friendly, degree completion)

    The major itself is only 33 credits, heavily focused on management and leadership. The curriculum is intentionally practical and supervisory-oriented rather than theory-heavy.

    Major courses include: 

    • Principles of Management
    • Human Resource Management
    • Writing and Communicating in Business
    • Leadership Studies
    • Macro view of the US Healthcare System
    • Leadership Studies
    • Perspectives on Healthcare Management
    • Legal Policy Issues Facing Healthcare Managers
    • Healthcare Information Systems
    • Principles of Marketing
    • Internship 
    • Healthcare Strategy and Policy Decisions

    Course descriptions: 26/27 Course Catalog (publishing Summer 2026) 

  • Learning outcome A: Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills to make decisions and solve issues. 

    Learning outcome B: Apply professional communication skills to produce effective business messages.  

    Learning outcome C: Use management and leadership principles to address organizational challenges.

  • Associate of Applied Science in Specialized Studies

     This laddering online degree program allows students to count credits earned in their technical certification programs toward their A.A.S. with only 4 additional online courses. View A.A.S. homepage.

    • Ready to take the next step?

    We’re here to help you succeed. Our team is happy to answer your questions, review your prior college credits, walk you through the application process, or just chat about your goals

    Reach out today — we’d love to hear from you!

    Julie Warnick Profile

    Dr. Julie Warnick
    Dean, Division of Professional Studies
    814-472-2846
    jwarnick@francis.edu

     

     

    Ms. Shawniece Patterson
    Enrollment Advisor
    spatterson@francis.edu
    Call/Text: 814-379-0303

     

     

    Division of Professional Studies
    professionalstudies@francis.edu
    1-800-457-6300