Mercy College

What you'll study

This undergraduate programme blends core behavioural science with courses in health services management to give you both theoretical grounding and applied skills. Typical modules include:

• Introduction to Behavioural Science — foundations in psychology and sociology relevant to health behaviour.
• Research Methods and Statistics — quantitative and qualitative approaches used to evaluate programmes and services.
• Health Psychology and Behaviour Change — models of health behaviour, patient adherence and risk reduction strategies.
• Health Policy and Systems — organisation of health care delivery, policy drivers and system-level challenges.
• Health Services Management — principles of management, operations, budgeting and human resources in clinical and community settings.
• Healthcare Law, Ethics and Quality Improvement — legal and ethical issues, patient safety and continuous quality processes.
• Epidemiology and Population Health — basic epidemiologic concepts and their application to service planning.
• Organisational Behaviour in Healthcare — leadership, teamwork and change management specific to health organisations.
• Applied Practicum / Internship — supervised placement in a hospital, clinic, public health department or community agency to apply classroom learning.
• Capstone Project — integrative project or research paper addressing a real-world health services problem.

Elective options often let you tailor your degree toward clinical settings, community health, data analytics or policy. Coursework emphasises case studies, data interpretation, fieldwork and communication skills for multi-disciplinary teams.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a recognised secondary school diploma with a record of strong academic performance. Typical entry criteria include:

• A completed secondary school qualification (or equivalent) with satisfactory grades in core subjects.
• Competence in English demonstrated through prior study or approved language tests if applicable.
• Recommended preparation in college‑level mathematics or statistics and a science or social science subject.
• Simplified application materials: personal statement outlining interest in behavioural science and health services, and one or two academic or professional references.

Mature applicants or those with relevant work or volunteer experience in health or social services are encouraged to apply; admissions may consider portfolios or interviews on an individual basis. Standardised test requirements vary by campus and may not be mandatory.

Career prospects

Graduates combine insight into human behaviour with management competencies that employers value across healthcare and related sectors. Typical roles include:

• Health services coordinator or manager in hospitals, clinics and long‑term care facilities
• Case manager or care coordinator working with patients and multidisciplinary teams
• Community health worker or programme officer in public health initiatives and non‑profit organisations
• Healthcare analyst or quality improvement assistant supporting data‑driven decision making
• Policy analyst or administrative roles within government health agencies

Many graduates also progress to postgraduate study such as a Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Health Administration (MHA), social work, counselling or specialised clinical training to expand clinical or leadership opportunities.

Why study at Mercy College

Mercy College offers a student‑centred environment with small class sizes and faculty who combine academic expertise with practical experience in health and social services. The programme emphasises experiential learning through internships and community partnerships with local hospitals, clinics and public health organisations, helping students build professional networks while gaining hands‑on experience.

Support services such as academic advising, career services and practicum placement assistance are available to guide students from classroom learning into employment or further study. The college’s mission and values encourage ethical practice, service to communities and a commitment to social justice—principles that align closely with careers in health services management and behavioural science.