Students in the Health Policy and Management concentration can develop skills that apply economic, legal, and political analysis toward the design, implementation, and evaluation of public health and health care policies. Through the core disciplines in public health, they also acquire skills in the interpretation and evaluation of scientific evidence to inform their policy work. Students are encouraged to choose practicum locations that will help them develop an area of interest and expertise in policy management, such as access to care, health care quality, pharmaceutical policy, environmental health policy, injury prevention, global health policy, or health care financing.
This field of study prepares students for policy positions in the public, nonprofit, or private sectors — directly as policymakers or as policy analysts, advocates, or consultants. Graduates will also leave prepared to contribute toward policymaking positions in other public health organizations at the federal, state, and local levels. Courses specific to the concentration include Policy Analysis and Health Ethics, as well as Policy and Program Implementation.