FAQ -Considering HSMT Major
Why HSMT?
Health systems management consists of any and all administrative/management functions of the overall health system that support the delivery of products and services to improve population health.
On the surface, the two fields may seem similar; however, there are some significant differences between the two.
The Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management (BS) degree program is designed to prepare students as entry-level generalists in the health systems management field. Medical and health systems manager positions entail planning, directing, or coordinating medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, non-profit agencies, and many similar organizations.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) is a professional degree program that focuses on health and disease within populations, including prevention, education, surveillance, and policy. Public health professionals focus on describing and discovering new patterns of disease outbreaks, developing community health programs focused on treatment and prevention; and financing, operating, and evaluating programs that improve the health and well-being of communities or populations.
If you would like to discuss these degrees further, please schedule a meeting with your assigned academic advisor. With good planning, you could double major!
Potential employment opportunities include (but are not limited to): Healthcare Recruiting Associate, Research Associate or Associate, Healthcare Marketing Associate, Healthcare Digital Marketing Associate, Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, Healthcare Customer Service Representative, Project/Program Coordinator or Assistant (Healthcare), Project/Program Coordinator or Assistant (Non-Profit, Public Health), Registrar (Hospital/Medical), Quality Improvement Coordinator or Assistant (Healthcare), Human Resources Generalist (Healthcare), Materials Management Coordinator (Healthcare), Business Development Associate/Representative (Healthcare), Grants and Contracts Coordinator or Assistant, Patient Experience Coordinator, Healthcare Scheduler, Cultural Ambassador, Medical Office Coordinator, Compliance Analyst (Healthcare), and Account Coordinator or Assistant (Pharmaceutical/Medical Supplies/Medical Devices).
The average annual salary for entry-level medical and health services managers is $35,530. UNC Charlotte alumni with a B.S. in Health Systems Management earn an average salary of $45,700 according to Lightcast, which sampled 546 alumni who graduated from 1998 through 2023 (Source: Lightcast, 2023).
For additional information, consult the Career Center’s What Can I do with a Major in (WCIDWAMI) series.
Declaring HSMT Major
Current UNC Charlotte students can declare the Health Systems Management (HSMT) major at any time, as long as they have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and are in good academic standing. If you are a first-time freshman or a new transfer student and do not yet have a UNC Charlotte GPA, you can declare the major during your first semester at UNC Charlotte.
You should declare a major by the time you have earned 60 semester hours of credit. If you are a transfer student entering with more than 60 credit hours, you should make that declaration during your first semester at UNC Charlotte. A delay in selecting a major and/or multiple changes to your program of study often prevents graduating with a degree in a timely fashion.
To declare the HSMT major, you must be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Unfortunately, if your cumulative GPA is below the 2.0 minimum you will be unable to declare HSMT major. You are encouraged to resubmit the Intent to Declare (ITD) form when your cumulative GPA increases to meet the 2.0 minimum.
On Campus F2F:
To declare the HSMT major (main campus), you must attend the CHHS Change of Major Orientation.
Freshman:
If you are a freshman you can declare your major at admissions or during your first term at UNC Charlotte.
Distance Education (DE):
Students who wish to declare the HSMT major (distance education) must contact the program at HSMTProgram@charlotte.edu.
Banner should reflect your change of major within 7-10 days of you completing the CHHS Change of Major Orientation. If 10 days have passed since you attended the CHHS Change of Major Orientation and the change is not showing on Banner, please contact HSMTprogram@charlotte.edu.
Transfer Students can declare HSMT-DE at admissions.
To declare the HMST-DE major, you must meet with the HSMT departmental advising team and complete the Change of Major to Online B.S. Health Systems Management Form. Email HSMTProgram@charlotte.edu to request a meeting with the departmental advising team.
HSMT Requirements
The HSMT major requires 3 credits of elective courses. Students can choose one of the following HSMT elective courses:
- HLTH 2102 – Foundations of Public Health
- HLTH 4090 – International Comparative Health Systems
- HSMT 3301 – Health Insurance and Managed Care
- UCOL 3410 – Career Development Internship.
Most students will need additional electives to reach the required 120 credit hours to graduate. The HSMT academic plan of study accounts for 33 credit hours in the HSMT program, 31-32 credit hours for general education, and 55-56 credit hours for elective courses. Having a minor can help students meet the 120-credit hour graduation requirement.
No – the major requires 33 credit hours of courses: 30 credits of core HSMT courses and 3 credits of HSMT elective courses (UCOL 3410, HSMT 3301, HLTH 2102, HLTH 4090).
However, we encourage students to consider completing a minor toward fulfilling their 55-56 credits of general electives needed to earn the degree. UNC Charlotte offers a wide range of minors that could enrich student readiness for workplace settings that demand effective communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, digital literacy, and effective teamwork. You can choose a minor (biology, communication studies, gerontology, international studies, management information systems, political science, and public health) that complements the HSMT major.
The HSMT program does not accept study abroad courses as replacements for 2000-, 3000-, or 4000-level HSMT courses.