MS in Health Services Research
The Master of Science (MS) degree program offered by the Department of Health Policy & Management equips graduates with an expansive breadth of knowledge and advanced technical research skills. The MS degree distinguishes an individual in both the professional world and academia, functioning as a distinct degree or serving as preparation for a doctoral program. Graduates pursue careers as health care consultants, project and research managers, and analysts for insurance entities or provider-based organizations. Graduates who hold clinical degrees may become clinical principal investigators.
The Master of Science in Health Services Research program consists of a minimum of 31 graduate credits of coursework (22–23 core and 9 elective) and a thesis. Students may complete the MS degree in 18 months and are required to complete the degree within five years. A minimum grade of B or better is required for each of the core MS courses.
Core MS Courses:
- PM 814 Contemporary Theoretical and Empirical Issues in Health Services
- EP 713 Introduction to Epidemiology
- BS 703 Biostatistics
- PM 811 Health Services Research Methods
and one of the following:
- PM 821 Advanced Health Services Research Methods
- PM 826 Health, Illness, and the Use of Health Services or
- PM 842 Health Economics for Health Services Research or
- PM 833 Health Economics or
- additional alternatives with permission of program director.
The program has a list of recommended elective courses. Choice of electives must be approved by the program director.
Students who have completed the MS coursework must register for PM 980 Continuing Study for each fall and spring semester until the thesis is defended and accepted. PM 980, which is ungraded and zero credits, certifies a student as full time and carries the equivalent of a 2-credit tuition charge plus the fee for student health insurance (unless waived).
All master of science students must adhere to the following calendar in preparing and submitting the thesis in 2011–2012.
MS Graduation Calendar
| Degree awarded | Sept. 25, 2011 | Jan. 25, 2012 | May 15, 2012 |
| Graduation application | At least 30 days before the final oral exam | At least 30 days before the final oral exam | At least 30 days before the final oral exam |
| Last day for final oral exam | Aug. 19, 2011 | Nov. 22, 2011 | Apr. 13, 2012 |
| Approved and signed thesis (2 copies to Mugar Library) | Sept. 9, 2011 | Dec. 16, 2011 | Apr. 30, 2012 |
For more information, contact Program Director Jim Burgess at jfburges@bu.edu.
