Overview
Shape Health Policy to Promote Public Health
Explore how different stakeholders, including health care organizations, nonprofits and government agencies, play a role in shaping laws and regulations at the local, state and federal levels. Students will explore the political, economic and social forces that shape policies and regulations, and build strong analytical skills to effectively navigate and contribute to the policymaking process across a variety of professional roles in public health. Specializing in Health Services and Policy presents students with the opportunity to gain the expertise necessary to advocate for positive health policy change at different levels.
Why study Health Services and Policy at USC?
Students who study the Health Services and Policy concentration at USC will receive a comprehensive and practice-based foundation that will prepare them to take public health concepts and transform them into legislative action and policy at all levels of government. Students will also be equipped to improve public health delivery and reduce disparities in access to healthcare through advocacy, education and research.
Curriculum at a glance
In addition to the MPH Core Requirements (22 units), students must take four courses from the Required Concentration Courses (16 units) and select one course from the Concentration Elective Courses (4 units). Students will complete 42 units in total.
Required Concentration Courses (16 Units)
PM 504 Quality in Health Care (4 units)
Examines quality assessment at different levels of the health care system including health plans, physicians, hospital and integrated system performance.
PM 547 Public Health Policy and Politics (4 units)
Examination of major policy issues in the U.S. health care delivery system to understand policy options in reforming health care and reducing health care disparities.
PPD 503 Economics for Public Policy (4 units)
Economic theory as applied to public policy. Concepts of efficiency and equity, analysis of market failure and policy interventions.
PPD 542 Policy and Program Evaluation (4 units)
Methods and models for policy and program evaluation; methods of collecting and analyzing evaluation data; processes for linking evaluation to policy formulation and program management.
Concentration Elective Courses (4 units)
Students select one of the following courses:
PM 529 Environmental Health: An Epidemiological Approach (4 units)
An overview of environmental health, identifying issues in assessing effects of exposure on health and potential interventions for reducing adverse health risks.
PM 577 Global Health, Law and Human Rights: Concepts and Methods (4 units)
Highlights the complex interactions between global health, law and human rights, emphasizing the use of human rights in public health thinking and practice.
MPH in Health Services and Policy graduates are prepared to pursue roles such as:
- Government and regulatory affairs manager
- Health policy analyst
- Health policy and research manager
- Medical and health services manager
- Public health policy advisor/consultant
- Senior health policy analyst
Typical work settings for MPH in Health Services and Policy:
- A city or county governing body
- Government agencies
- Health insurance companies
- Local or state health departments
- Pharmaceutical or biotech companies
- Public health advisory boards
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