MPH in Public Health: Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights
Concentration in Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights
The Master of Public Health degree program, with a concentration in health law, bioethics & human rights, provides foundational instruction in public health law, which students may complement with advanced studies in bioethics or human rights. This concentration is appropriate for those who plan to work in government agencies, health care institutions, advocacy groups, and nongovernmental organizations, and, for those who pursue further education, it provides a foundation for specialized academic training in law, ethics, or human rights.
Concentration Requirements
Health law, bioethics & human rights concentrators must take LW 751 and LW 850, plus concentration courses totaling 16 credits.
Students may select an optional emphasis area in bioethics or human rights. For more information about emphasis areas, see the Concentrators’ Guide.
The writing requirement for health law, bioethics & human rights concentrators fulfilled with LW 850, LW 825, or LW 840 is to produce a problem-solving paper, using legal and public policy analysis and making a specific recommendation for legal change (legislative, regulatory, judicial, or private-sector policy, including a health facility policy) to solve an important public health problem. This paper is presented at the mandatory capstone day held by the department.
The remaining credits must be taken from the following courses:
- LW 709 Health Care Rationing
- LW 725 Ethical Issues in Medicine and Public Health
- LW 739 Jewish Bioethics
- LW 740 Health and Human Rights
- LW 790 Research with Human Subjects—Legal and Ethical Standards
- LW 800 Genetics, Law, and Public Health
- LW 825 Ethical Dimensions of Public Health Policy
- LW 830 Health Insurance, Health Reform, and the Law
- LW 840 Health Law, Bioethics, and Human Rights
- LW 854 Mental Health Law and Ethics
- LW 951 Directed Studies in Health Law
- LW 952 Directed Research in Health Law
Health law concentrators should not take LW 707 Essentials of Public Health Law, because LW 751 is required for concentrators and also fulfills the MPH core requirement for health law.
Culminating Experience
There is an annual Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights Day at which graduating concentrators in health law, bioethics & human rights demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of law, ethics, and public health. These students will make oral presentations on the topics addressed in their papers in LW 825 Ethical Dimensions of Public Health Policy, LW 850 Legal Strategies to Reduce Health Risks, or LW 840 Health Law, Bioethics, and Human Rights. This event takes place annually in May.
