The Policy Field in Health Policy focuses on applied research in the organization, delivery and financing of healthcare and population-based issues in health (including mental health). A multidisciplinary faculty in epidemiology, health economics and finance, health policy, medical sociology, bioethics, and health law is ideally suited to prepare quantitative health service researchers and health policy analysts. Qualified students without a relevant Master’s degree can prepare for the Ph.D. by completing coursework in the master in health administration (MHA), the MA in medical sociology, or the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) while enrolled in the Ph.D. with a field specialty in Health Policy.
Courses for this for this specialty typically include:
- PPOL 8661 Social Organization of Healthcare
- PPOL 8663 Health Policy
- PPOL 8665 Analytic Epidemiology
- PPOL 8667 Economics of Health and Healthcare
- PPOL 8669 Investigating Health and Health Services
Other courses appropriate for each specialty may be available and students may take these or substitute them for one of the listed classes in consultation with their Advisor and the Director of the Program.
Students are encouraged to develop a focus in other related fields or design their specialty based on faculty resources available. As with all programs, such a program would need the approval of the student’s advisor and the Director of the Program. Program faculty will continue to develop additional substantive and methods courses.