Public Health Policy and Administration Concentration

The Public Health Policy and Administration (PHPA) concentration addresses a need for developing administrators, program managers, and evaluators for service in Public Health settings, such as county and municipal health departments, and other governmental public health programs.  Graduates of this program will be able to frame effective health policy, develop consumer-centric health programs, assume operational and strategic management responsibilities, analyze program effectiveness, and develop innovative solutions for application to a wide range of public health initiatives.  Their ability to provide leadership and technical expertise in addressing health issues significant to future population needs will be invaluable.

Program of Study for the Master's Degree

45 credit hours are required for degree completion.

• 42 credit hours are from required courses.
• A minimum of 3 credit hours are required from approved elective courses.

Semester 1 - Fall (9 credit hours minimum)

• P_HLTH 7150 Principles of Public Health (3 credit hours)
• P_HLTH 8920 Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health (3 credit hours)
• STAT 7020 Statistical Methods in the Health Sciences (3 credit hours) *OR* STAT 7410 Biostatistics (3 credit hours)

Semester 2 - Spring (12 credit hours minimum)

• P_HLTH 8150 Human Health and the Environment (3 credit hours) 
• FCM 8420 Principles of Epidemiology (3 credit hours)
• SOC_WK 7952 Research Methods in Social Work and Public Health (3 credit hours)
• One Approved Elective (3 credit hours)

Summer (6 credit hours)

• P_HLTH 8980 Public Health Internship (6 credit hours)

Semester 3 - Fall (9 credit hours minimum)

• PUB_AF 8530 Strategic Planning and Performance Measurement (3 credit hours) *OR* PUB_AF 8720 Financial Management in the Public and Nonprofit Sector (3 credit hours)
• SOC_WK 8953 Evaluative Research in Social Work and Public Health (3 credit hours)
• HP 7300 Health Care in the U.S. (3 credit hours) *OR* HMI 7410 Design of Health and Human Services Systems (3 credit hours)

Semester 4 - Spring (9 credit hours minimum)

• HMI 8575 Health Policy and Politics Capstone (3 credit hours)
• NURS 8120 Community-Based Public Health Interventions (3 credit hours)
• PUB_AF 8520 Human Resource Management and Development in the Public and Nonprofit Sector (3 credit hours)

Recommended Elective Courses offered by semesters:

Fall semesters:

• P_HLTH 8001 Topics in Public Health: Equity and Disparities in Health (3 credit hours)
• NURS 8130 Developing and Evaluating Public Health Programs (3 credit hours)
• SOC_WK 8350 Management of a Social Agency (3 credit hours)
• RU_SOC 7370 Environmental Sociology (3 credit hours)
• SOC 7200 Social Inequalities (3 credit hours)
• FCM 7001 Topics in Aging (3 credit hours)

Spring semesters:

• NURS 7600 Women's Health (3 credit hours)
• NURS 8120 Community-Based Public Health Interventions (3 credit hours)