The graduate degrees in the Department of Health Policy and Administration focus on management, policy, and research in health services, with particular attention to the recurrent problems of cost, quality, and access to health services.
The doctoral program (Ph.D.) is designed to provide advanced knowledge and skills in health services research, with an emphasis track in health policy and economics, health care organizations or population health and demography. The doctorate in HPA prepares students to become independent health services researchers in academic and nonacademic settings.
The Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Health Policy and Administration provides a solid foundation of knowledge and skills in health services research. The M.S. in HPA prepares students for further graduate study toward a doctorate in health services research or related fields or for research and analytic work in academic and nonacademic health services research settings.
The professional Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) program prepares students for the complexities they will face in managing organizations that plan, finance and deliver health care. The curriculum emphasizes strategic decision-making, financial management, communication and detailed aspects of the U.S. health care system. These include health law, epidemiology, health insurance, government health-financing programs, ethics, managed care, long-term care, health care technology, marketing, and strategic planning for health services.
The integrated B.S. in Health Policy and Administration and Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) program allows qualified undergraduate students to earn both degrees in five calendar years of full time academic study. Students completing an integrated B.S./M.H.A. are prepared to advance quickly to positions of leadership in health care organizations.