The 3+2 Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Masters in Public Health in Health Policy and Management (HPM) is more than a means to produce next-level HPM experts. It will deliver graduates who can not only immediately impact the delivery and administration of health care programs and policies nationwide, but also deliver individuals with a well-developed skill set to manage medicine, nursing, population health, and other health professions.

The undergraduate component of the 3+2 program is based on a philosophy of workplace health promotion and proactive prevention of illness to improve the quality of life of individuals, employees, families and communities through education and program intervention. The BSPH discipline focuses on four areas:

• the multiple determinants of health, including biological, environmental, sociocultural, health service, and economic factors,
• identification of scientific data, tools of informatics, and other information for identifying factors that both foster and hinder the health and well-being of individuals and communities,
• addressing major local, state, national, and global health challenges, and
• designing public health approaches and interventions that improve health outcomes, population health, and well-being.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is a multi-disciplinary professional degree program designed to provide graduate level practical training in areas of specialized public health practice. The MPH in Health Policy and Management provides the study of health policy topics and concerns and policy formation, development and evaluation strategies, coupled with key operational management tools and techniques. Classroom instruction is supplemented with opportunities to apply knowledge and practice-related skills in a professional setting. The MPH in Health Policy and Management prepares students to:

• Use policy and management tools to evaluate implications of specific programs, policies, and interventions on organizations and populations.
• Develop and justify budgets that support programs and organizations in the public health and health care sectors.
• Communicate evidence-based options to address public health management and policy problems.
• Apply project management and strategic management tools to create public health program goals, strategies, and objectives.
• Recommend and justify policies or organizational initiatives for implementation after examining their feasibility and implications.

The graduate MPH component is a non-thesis degree program with culminating experiences as part of the degree requirements. Students will participate in a practicum demonstrating overall public health problem solving skills and complete a rigorous capstone class.

The coursework for this program will qualify students to be able to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.

The following is a suggested schedule that includes the required courses for the combined BS/MPH in Public Health-Health Policy and Management. It is recognized that many students will change the sequence and number of courses taken in any semester. Deviations from the prescribed course sequence, however, should be made with care to ensure that prerequisites for all courses are met.

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Cannot use both ENGL 103 and ENGL 104. 

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Chosen in consultation with BSPH academic advisor. Select from any 100-499 course.

³

Must make a grade of C or better.

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These 15 hours will be used towards both the BS and MPH degree in Public Health.

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PHPM elective options includes courses from PHPM or other SPH departments may be taken. For courses outside SPH, please get approval from the departmental advisor.

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A list of approved courses that fulfill the directed elective hours is available below. Courses that constitute the major are those offered by the School of Public Health and those approved for public health studies electives. Additional courses may be available. Students must check with their academic advisor.

Directed Electives

Public Health (PHLT) directed electives are courses that are specifically approved for the curriculum. A student must select 3 semester credit hours from the following list of approved courses in consultation with their academic advisor. Directed Electives must have a letter grade of C or better.

The program includes a total of 165 hours which up to 15 hours may be applied toward both the Bachelor of Science in Public Health and the Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management.

Approval of degree plan does not guarantee access to courses. Students must satisfy prerequisites, and some courses (writing intensive classes included) are available to majors only. It is the responsibility of the student to ascertain whether there are any restrictions or prerequisites for courses in their degree plan.