MPH: Health Policy & Management Concentration

The Master of Public Health program with a concentration in health policy & management provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to formulate and implement sound, creative solutions to complex problems in the health care system. Students examine the linkages between health policy and effective management, incorporating concepts and skills from such areas as management, policy analysis, and finance. This degree is appropriate for students who are interested in careers as either managers of health care organizations or analysts for public or private organizations involved in the financing, delivery, or evaluation of health care services.

Concentration Requirements

The health policy & management concentration curriculum is designed to develop a solid base of analytic expertise and knowledge in the four key areas of health policy and management:

• management;
• policy, politics, and planning;
• finance; and
• organization and delivery of care.

Concentrators complete the MPH core course, PM 702 Introduction to Health Policy and Management, and complete a minimum of 16 additional credits in the department, including 4 credits in each of the four key areas, called distribution areas, noted above. In addition, course selections must include a course that meets the research paper requirement and the integrative course requirement for the department. A single course can be used to meet a distribution requirement as well as the research paper and integrative course requirements.

1. Distribution Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of four (4) credits in each of the distribution areas listed below:

Courses that meet the requirements of the Management Distribution Area

• PM 721 Organizational Behavior and Health Management
• PM 733 Health Program Management
• PM 736 Human Resource Management in Public Health
• PM 776 Managerial Skills for Problem Solving

Courses that meet the requirements of the Policy, Politics, and Planning Distribution Area

• PM 758 Introduction to Mental Health Services*
• PM 810 Introduction to American Government for Public Health*
• PM 834 Health Regulation and Planning
• PM 838 Health Politics and Public Policy*
• PM 840 Analysis of Current Health Policy Issues
• PM 850 Organizing for Health System Change*

*These are 2-credit courses, so two are needed to meet the requirement.

Courses that meet the requirements of the Finance, Accounting, and Economics Distribution Area

• PM 734 Principles of Nonprofit Accounting
• PM 735 Health Care Finance
• PM 780 Introduction to Managerial Accounting for Health Care Leaders*
• PM 807 Introduction to Cost Effectiveness Analysis*
• PM 833 Health Economics
• PM 842 Health Economics for Health Services Research

*These are 2-credit courses, so two are needed to meet the requirement.

Courses that meet the requirements of the Organization and Delivery of Care Distribution Area

• PM 755 The Shape of Health Care Delivery
• PM 827 Strategic Management of Health Care Organizations
• PM 832 Operations Management in Health Care
• PM 835 Lean Management Techniques for Quality Health Care

2. Research Paper Requirement

The following courses satisfy the department’s research paper requirement. Each requires a reasonably substantial research paper, with the outline and complete first draft of the paper reviewed by the instructor. A course may meet both a distribution requirement and a research paper requirement.

• PM 721 Organizational Behavior and Health Management
• PM 736 Human Resource Management
• PM 776 Managerial Skills for Problem Solving
• PM 834 Health Regulation and Planning
• PM 840 Analysis of Current Health Policy Issues
• PM 931 Directed Studies in Health Policy and Management (with prior approval)
• PM 932 Directed Research in Health Policy and Management (with prior approval)

3. Integrative Requirement

Students must complete an integrative course. One course can meet a distribution, research, and/or integrative course requirement. The following courses meet the integrative course requirement in health policy & management:

• PM 755 The Shape of Health Care Delivery
• PM 776 Managerial Skills for Problem Solving
• PM 827 Strategic Management of Health Care Organizations
• PM 834 Health Regulation and Planning
• PM 840 Analysis of Current Health Policy Issues

4. Culminating Experience

All MPH students must complete a culminating experience (CE). Health policy & management concentrators complete the CE by writing an in-depth analytic assessment of a health policy and management–related organization that relates to their professional goals. Before students may begin their CE they must have completed either the policy, politics, and planning or management course distribution requirement. Full-time students complete the CE in their final semester; part-time students complete the CE in their final academic year. Students must register for PM 940 in the semester in which they will complete the culminating experience.

Health policy & management concentrators completing the CE will be required to conduct independent research and an informational interview, as well as incorporate key conceptual and analytical frameworks and skills learned through the MPH core courses, concentration courses, and practicum. Students will produce a written report that describes and analyzes the organization’s objectives, structure, strategic approach, stakeholders, financial status, challenges, constraints, evaluation process, and the policy context within which the organization operates. Additionally, students will write a reflective assessment of their knowledge and skills, and articulate a personal plan of action based on what they have learned in order to integrate their learning experiences with their professional goals. This CE models lifelong professional and strategic thinking skills that students will use as they move into the field and evaluate organizations as potential employers, partners, funders, regulators, or competitors.

For a full description of the CE guidelines, students can visit the health policy & management Blackboard site on the Course Information page.

In addition to courses that fulfill departmental requirements, the Department of Health Policy & Management also offers a number of elective courses that concentrators may take to add depth and breadth to their education.

Optional Specializations

Health policy & management concentrators who would like to focus their studies have the opportunity to complete an area of specialization in Health Care Management and/or Health Policy. Completing a specialization is optional. The department’s distribution requirements offer breadth, while this option offers depth. The department appreciates that students may wish instead to take a broad range of courses because they are not certain about their career paths or for other reasons.

The department expects that students will develop conceptual, analytical, and practical knowledge that can facilitate entry into the job market. Completing this option requires coursework beyond what is needed for the HPM concentration, and a specialization-related practicum. Therefore, students should meet with their academic advisor to plan how to satisfy the additional requirements. Completing any specialization requires a practicum that is closely associated with the chosen area of study. The faculty advisor and the department practicum coordinator must approve the practicum.

Specializations are noted on the transcript.

Requirements for Health Policy Specialization

Complete the policy specialization by taking 8 credits from the approved courses shown on lists below in addition to the 4 credits required to satisfy the HPM policy distribution requirement. (These courses may include a course also used to satisfy the distribution requirement in another area.)

• PM 735 Health Care Finance
• PM 758 Introduction to Mental Health Services
• PM 807 Introduction to Cost Effectiveness Analysis (or PM 855)
• PM 810 Introduction to American Government for Public Health
• PM 833 Health Economics
• PM 834 Health Regulation and Planning
• PM 838 Health Politics and Public Policy
• PM 840 Analysis of Current Health Policy Issues
• PM 850 Organizing for Health System Change
• PM 855 Cost Effectiveness Analysis and Decision Analysis (or PM 807)

Requirements for Health Care Management Specialization

Complete the management specialization by taking the courses listed below. This list includes courses also used to satisfy the distribution requirements.

• PM 721 Organizational Behavior
• PM 734 Principles of Nonprofit Accounting
• PM 736 Human Resource Management (or PM 776)
• PM 755 Shape of Health Care Delivery (or PM 818)
• PM 776 Managerial Skills for Problem Solving (or PM 736)
• PM 818 Health Information Technology (or PM 755)
• PM 827 Strategic Management of Health Care Organizations
• PM 832 Operations Management in Health Care
• PM 833 Health Economics