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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Policy and Management

Offered By: Department of Health Policy and Management

Onsite | Full-Time | 4–5 years

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About the PhD in Health Policy and Management Program

The PhD in Health Policy and Management is a full-time doctoral program that trains its students to conduct original investigator-initiated research through a combination of coursework and research mentoring. The curriculum includes core coursework that is common across the four concentrations and courses specific to each individual concentration. Applicants to the PhD in Health Policy and Management apply directly to one of four concentrations. All four options have the same deadline, structure, and funding.

Concentration Areas

This concentration is designed for students interested in conducting independent research on ethical issues in public health policy, research and practice such as domestic and international research ethics, learning health systems, emerging biomedical technologies, ethics and public health genetics, national and global food policy, access to care and health care priority setting. By the end of their training, students are equipped to function as independent researchers, conducting empirical research related to bioethics, public health and health policy, as well as prepared to provide practical and normative recommendations regarding ethics and public health policy.

View more program information about the Concentration in Bioethics and Health Policy.

This concentration is designed for students interested in preventing leading public health problems through the development, analysis, implementation and evaluation of public health policies. Students affiliated with this concentration employ an interdisciplinary approach to their research in areas such as environmental and occupational health policy, injury prevention and control, social policy, and health and the practice of prevention.

View more program information about the Concentration in Health and Public Policy .

This concentration prepares doctoral students for conducting innovative and rigorous research on the economics of health and healthcare. The curriculum stresses a solid grounding in applied modern microeconomic theory, quantitative methods, and econometrics applications. Students take courses through the Department of Economics in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.

View more program information about the Concentration in Health Economics and Policy.

This concentration prepares doctoral students for conducting innovative and rigorous quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation in health services delivery. The curriculum includes exposure to a wide variety of research methods, content areas, and datasets. It also offers the opportunity for in-depth study in areas such as public health informatics, quality of care and patient-centered outcomes research, including a focus on older adults, and health care disparities.

View more program information about the Concentration in Health Services Research and Policy.

Curriculum for the PhD in Health Policy and Management

Browse an overview of the requirements for this PhD program in the JHU  Academic Catalogue  and explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School  Course Directory .

What Can You Do With a Graduate Degree In Health Policy And Management?

Our graduates graduates pursue research careers in top-tier universities, research and policy-making organizations, the health care industry and government agencies.

Admissions Requirements

For general admissions requirements, please visit the How to Apply page. All concentrations follow the same admission process. Please see below for full details on the scope of each concentration.

PhD in Health Policy and Management – Bioethics and Health Policy

PhD in Health Policy and Management – Health and Public Policy

PhD in Health Policy and Management – Health Economics and Policy

PhD in Health Policy and Management – Health Services Research and Policy

For general information regarding tuition and fees, visit the Bloomberg School’s  Tuition and Fees  page.

For program-specific information regarding funding and scholarships available, please visit the individual program/concentration pages.

Need-Based Relocation Grants Students who  are admitted to PhD programs at JHU  starting in Fall 2023 or beyond can apply to receive a $1500 need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to be able to attend JHU.   These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to afford to relocate to JHU for their PhD program. This is not a merit-based grant. Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need.  View more information about the need-based relocation grants for PhD students .

Questions about the program? We're happy to help. [email protected] 410-955-2488

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Harvard Ph.D. Program in Health Policy

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The Harvard PhD in Health Policy, awarded by the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, is a collaborative program among six Harvard University faculties: Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

While the program is interdisciplinary in nature, students specialize in one of five concentrations:  decision sciences, economics, management, methods for policy research, or political analysis.

Approximately 110 faculty members from schools within the University are involved with the program, and students are free to take classes throughout the University. A hallmark of the program is the accessibility of faculty members to students and the commitment of faculty to students enrolled in the program.

The program started in 1992, and there are 67 students currently enrolled and over 250 alumni.

PhD Program in Health Policy Concentration Areas:

Decision sciences.

Methods for Policy Research

Political Analysis

• Harvard Business School →
• Doctoral Programs →
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• Accounting & Management
• Business Economics

Health Policy (Management)

• Organizational Behavior
• Technology & Operations Management
• Program Requirements

Curriculum & Coursework

Research & dissertation, areas of specialization.

• Health Care Quality
• Health Care Ventures
• Operations Strategy
• Process Improvement

Celia Stafford

Olivia Zhao

“ No other institution but HBS could have given me the same level of access to resources that span business, health policy, and medicine. ”

Current Harvard Health Policy Faculty  

Current health policy (management) students.

• Hassina Bahadurzada
• Derrick Bransby
• Crystal Guo
• Tanner Houston
• Bohan Li
• Celia Stafford
• Mitchell Tang
• Gabe Weinreb
• Olivia Zhao

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

• Robert S. Huckman
• Ariel D. Stern
• Kris Johnson Ferreira
• Marco Iansiti

Recent Placement

Emilie aguirre, 2021, michael anne kyle, 2021, michaela kerrissey, 2018, a jay holmgren, 2021, lauren taylor, 2020, olivia jung, 2021, philip saynisch, 2019.

Health Policy PhD

Impact population health at a systems level.

Health policy is an interdisciplinary field that examines the organization and financing of health systems and services; the impact of health policies on population health; and the economic, social and behavioral determinants of health. It involves the investigation of all systems that affect population health, not just the medical care system. The purview of health policy is global.

The mission of our program is to prepare students for research careers in health policy and health services research; teaching; and public service in university, governmental and public policy settings. This program is distinguished by its interdisciplinary application of the social and behavioral science disciplines to real world health issues. Graduates are prepared to play lead scientific roles in addressing the many challenges facing health care and public health systems in the United States and countries around the world.

Students must successfully complete a health services research readings and methods seminar (two semesters), five specialty field courses, three quantitative research methods courses, and three additional graduate elective courses.

The program includes three specialty fields:

The Health Economics specialty field draws on economics, epidemiology and statistics to understand the causal relationship between different aspects of health and the health care sector. With an emphasis on quantifying relationships, health economics covers a broad range of study areas including health production, demand and supply of health services, health care financing, behavioral responses to institutional or policy incentives, policy evaluations and other efficiency, and equity issues surrounding health.

The Organizations & Management specialty field trains scholars in organizational behavior and political science in regards to health. Theories and methods in organizational sociology, political science and social psychology are central to the study of health organizations. Specialty field courses in macro-organizational theory, micro-organizational theory and organizational analysis of the health sector are required. This specialty field emphasizes the management of health care and public health organizations and systems, the implementation and dissemination of policies and practices within and across organizations, and the role of policy-making institutions as platforms for the creation and modification of health policies.

The Population Health Sciences specialty field trains students for research careers in the social, behavioral, and economic determinants of health and the study of interventions, policies, and practices that impact the health of populations and vulnerable communities. The specialty field emphasizes addressing the social and behavioral determinants of health through quantitative research informed by theoretical frameworks in economics, psychology, demography, and social epidemiology. Training in innovative methodologies for establishing causal relationships in quasi-experimental research is a cornerstone of the Population Health Sciences specialty field. Students will learn and integrate cutting-edge methods from key areas of strength at Berkeley: biostatistics, social science methods such as econometrics and formal demography, and the rapidly evolving set of data science innovations such as machine learning that are being advanced at Berkeley including in the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society. The explosion of health sector data availability, along with Berkeley’s innovation hub positioning, make this an excellent track for students looking to become quantitative experts who can lead research across a wide variety of population health science and health policy questions.

Students have access to all of UC Berkeley’s disciplines and professional schools, in addition to UCSF faculty and research programs. This is a full-time program geared for careers in academia and research and students typically complete it in four to five years. Our program is administered by Berkeley Public Health and the doctoral degree is granted by UC Berkeley’s Graduate Division.

Graduates can achieve and demonstrate expertise in the following major academic outcomes:

• Develop domain expertise in core works in health policy and the selected specialty field.
• Understand central social science theoretical frameworks and debates shaping health policy.
• Demonstrate substantive knowledge of the specialty field sufficient to design and teach graduate-level courses in that field.
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct rigorous quantitative research.
• Plan and conduct independent research using advanced research methods.
• Demonstrate the mastery of academia and grant writing, conference presentation, IRB procedures and ethics in research.
• Engage in intellectual exchange among students and faculty across the university to enhance interdisciplinary research and training.

Qualifications

A master’s degree is not a requirement for this program, however, entering students should have completed introductory coursework in statistics, microeconomics, epidemiology and public health. Students without master’s-level coursework in these areas are required to take relevant courses at UC Berkeley or otherwise demonstrate mastery of these areas.

Graduates are well-prepared to assume academic careers in research and teaching. Many of our graduates move directly to positions in academia, government or research organizations. Other graduates receive postdoctoral fellowships to continue specific training in their area of interest and research.

To apply to the Health Policy PhD program, please complete the UC Berkeley Graduate Division admissions application . This program does not use the SOPHAS application.

Submissions of GRE scores are optional but strongly recommended for this program. Especially if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application. If not submitting a score, competitive applicants will need to provide alternative evidence of strong quantitative capability and should speak to their analytical and quantitative preparation for the PhD program in their application based on past coursework (e.g. statistics, microeconomics, math) and/or professional experience.

Please submit a writing sample and provide a list of publications and/or presentations related to your academic or professional background (include the PubMed ID if applicable).

If your work is published as a website or part of it, please provide the URL. Your writing sample can be a written assignment, journal article, report, Op-Ed, commentary, conference abstract, or other publication. Please enter your most recent citation first.

This is a quantitatively-oriented health policy program. Prospective applicants primarily interested in qualitative methods are advised to explore related programs such as the UC Berkeley PhD in Social Welfare or Medical Anthropology, or the UCSF Sociology program. Prospective applicants instead primarily focused on computational methods should also consider related UC Berkeley PhD programs in Biostatistics or Computational Precision Health.

Core Faculty

The core PhD program faculty members of the School of Public Health, the Haas School of Business, School of Social Welfare, the Goldman School of Public Policy, and the Departments of Economics, Sociology, and Political Science.

Emeriti Faculty

Emeritus faculty of the Health Policy Faculty Group are Professors of the Graduate School and may serve on dissertation committees as Chair, inside members, or as an Academic Senate Representative. Their availability to students, however, may be limited compared to core faculty group members.

Health Policy Research Centers at UC Berkeley and UCSF

Health Policy PhD students have access to a wide range of resources at UC Berkeley and UCSF, including highly regarded research centers. Below are brief descriptions of a selected list of research centers most closely aligned with the Health Policy PhD program. These Centers include faculty from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines who bring expertise in health services research and provide settings for intensive training and mentorship opportunities for trainees.

• The  Berkeley Center for Health Technology (BCHT) , co-directed by Dr. James Robinson (Director) and Dr. Tim Brown (Associate Director), promotes the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare through research and education on the development, insurance coverage, payment, and appropriate use of medical technologies. The focus of BCHT is on biopharmaceuticals, implantable medical devices, insurance benefit design, and payment methods. Research initiatives include leadership roundtables, case studies of leading organizations, and econometric analyses of public and private data sources. BCHT helps stakeholders design a healthcare system that combines innovation and entrepreneurship with economic efficiency and social fairness.
• The UC Berkeley  Nicholas C. Petris Center on Health Care Markets and Consumer Welfare , co-directed by Dr. Richard Scheffler (Director) and Dr. Brent Fulton (Associate Director), focuses on consumer protection, affordability and access to healthcare, especially for low and middle-income individuals. The Petris Center also focuses on and the role of information in consumer choice, and regulation and competition within healthcare markets.  The research center is named after former California State Senator Nicholas Petris, who advocated strongly on behalf of California consumers for affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare.
• The UC Berkeley  Center for Healthcare Organizational and Innovation Research (CHOIR) , co-directed by Dr. Hector Rodriguez (Director) and Dr. Amanda Brewster (Associate Director) aspires to help make the U.S. healthcare system among the most responsive in the world through practice-based research and dissemination of evidence. CHOIR emphasizes innovations in healthcare delivery and assessment of organizational performance to improve the technical quality of care delivered, patient experience and outcomes of care, population health, and cost. CHOIR works to maximize their “voice” and impact through webinars, roundtables, and discussions with private and public sector action and thought leaders.
• The  Laboratory for Systems Medicine , directed by Dr. Ziad Obermeyer, applies methods from machine learning, biostatistics, and econometrics to the complex world of medical diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes. The center translates large observational datasets into new ways to understand and improve the life and death decisions that providers and patients make every day, in the US and across the world.
• The Center on the  Economics and Demography of Aging (CEDA) , directed by Professor William Dow, was founded in 1993 to promote interdisciplinary research on the economic and demographic aspects of aging.  In response to the growing demand from government agencies, Congress, and academic researchers for timely, accessible, and practical information as well as basic research. At the central core of CEDA is a group of outstanding formal and mathematical and statistical demographers who apply their skills to a variety of research areas, including biodemography, demographic modeling and forecasting, and intergenerational transfers including fiscal accounting. This central core is enriched by other themes, notably psychological and behavioral economics with applications to economic and health-related behaviors.
• The  UC-Berkeley Opportunity Lab (O-Lab) , co-directed by Professor Ben Handel and Professor Hilary Hoynes serves as the central research hub for Berkeley scholars conducting rigorous, data-driven research on social and economic inequality in the United States. Our network of faculty and graduate students work across disciplines and study a wide array of topics, from the role of childhood food security on long-term economic security to the disparate impacts of climate change on low-income communities.
• The UCSF  Center for Vulnerable Populations  at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital carries out innovative research to prevent and treat chronic disease in populations for whom social conditions often conspire to both promote various chronic diseases and make their management more challenging. Beyond the local communities it serves, CVP is nationally and internationally known for its research in health communication and health policy to reduce health disparities, with special expertise in the social determinants of health, including literacy, food policy, poverty, and minority status, with a focus on the clinical conditions of pre-diabetes, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.  CVP is at the frontline of practice-based research on chronic diseases for the diverse and disadvantaged populations of San Francisco and the Bay Area. UCSF faculty mentors Drs. Margot Kushel, Courtney Lyles, and Urmimala Sarkar are core CVP faculty.
• The  Healthforce Center  at UCSF was founded in 1992 to help healthcare leaders and  policymakers better understand the health workforce and develop successful strategies and policies. The Center’s dynamic leadership training programs have touched thousands of people across the entire healthcare ecosystem who continue to make significant and meaningful change in healthcare. UCSF Professor Janet Coffman and Professor Joanne Spetz are core faculty of the center.

Current Health Policy PhD Students

• Madeline Adee
• Alexander Adia
• Calvin Chiu
• Christine Lo
• Jorge A. Morales Alfaro
• Rachel Ross
• Jaclyn Schess
• Alex Schulte
• Eleanor Tsai
• Solis Winters
• 2023–2024 Job Market Candidates

Graduates of the UC Berkeley PhD Program in Health Policy (formerly “Health Services and Policy Analysis”) hold leading research and teaching positions at academic and research institutions both within the United States and internationally. Many of our alumni hold tenured or tenure-track positions at respected universities and colleges such as Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, UCSF, and Dartmouth College. Our recent alumni have also successfully obtained post-doctoral appointments at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Yale University, and Stanford University.

The following is a partial listing of PhD program alumni, their dissertation titles, and their current employment.

Jonathan Agnew, PhD Cost and Utilization of Outpatient Prescription Drugs Among the Elderly: Implications for a Medicare Benefit Owner and President, Agnew and Associates Medical Writing Vancouver, BC

Sangeeta C. Ahluwalia, PhD Professionalism among Physicians: Factors Associated with Outpatient Palliative Care Referral in a Managed Care Organization Senior Policy Researcher & Associate Director, Behavioral and Policy Sciences RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA

Jim Bellows, PhD Use of Worker’s Compensation Medical Care: Health Insurance Matters Managing Director Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute, Oakland CA

Aman Bhandari, PhD National Estimates and Predictors of Pharmacy Utilization and Out-of-Pocket Prescription Drug Expenditures in Underserved Populations Vice President, Data Strategy and Solutions, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA

Claire Boone, PhD Essays in Health and Behavioral Economics Postdoctoral Fellow University of Chicago

Timothy T. Brown, PhD Three Essays on the Labor Market for Nonphysician Clinicians Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management Associate Director of Research, Berkeley Center for Health Technology University of California Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley CA

Sahai Burrowes, PhD Essays on the Political Impact of Development Assistance Allocation in Malawi Associate Professor of Public Health Touro University, Vallejo CA

Drew Cameron, PhD The effect of short-term subsidies on future demand for potable water in rural Bihar, India: A randomized controlled trial Assistant Professor of Public Health (Health Policy) Yale University School of Public Health

Lawrence Casalino, MD, PhD Medical Groups and Physician Organization; Physician-Hospital and Physician-Health Plan Relationships; Physician Organization and Quality Professor Emeritus of Population Health Sciences Weill Cornell Medical College

Aaron Caughey, MD, PhD Applications from Behavioral Economics to Decision Making in the Setting of Prenatal Diagnosis Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR

Paulette Cha, PhD Essays on Health Economics and Immigration Fellow Public Policy Institute of California

Susan Chapman, PhD The Experience of Returning to Work for Employed Women with Breast Cancer Professor, UCSF School of Nursing San Francisco, CA

Ann Chou, PhD Shared decision making: The selection process of treatment options and resulting quality of life implications for women with breast cancer Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, Health Sciences Center University of Oklahoma

Elizabeth Ciemins, PhD The Effect of Mental Health Parity on Children’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service Utilization in Massachusetts Director of Research and Analytics American Medical Group Association Foundation, Alexandria, VA

Janet Coffman, PhD All Capitated Systems are not Alike: Effects of Organizational Structure, Culture, and Climate on Medicaid Recipients Use of Inpatient Psychiatric Care Professor of Health Policy Institute for Health Policy Studies, UC San Francisco

Carrie Colla, PhD Effects of the San Francisco Employer Health Spending Mandate Professor of Health Economics Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover NH

Leeann Comfort, PhD Applications and Extensions of Organization Theory: The Context of Accountable Care Organizations Scientist Administrator, Social Science Researcher Division of Healthcare Delivery and Systems Research Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

David Contreras-Loya, PhD Managerial Practices and Altruism in Health Care Delivery Research Professor Escuela de Gobierno y Transformación Pública Tecnológico de Monterrey

Jan Cooper, PhD Money, Sex, and Power – An Analysis of Relationship Power in the Context of Conditional Cash Transfer Interventions to Reduce Risky Sex in Tanzania Researcher, Global Health and Policy Analysis Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Jae Corman, PhD Foreclosures and Health Senior Director of Analytics Folx Health

Alison Evans Cuellar, PhD Changing Markets and Hospital: Managed Care, Horizontal Integration and Vertical Alignment Professor of Health Administration and Policy Associate Dean of Research, College of Public Health George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

Julie Dang, PhD Two Shots to Cancer Prevention: Improving the Uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine among Preadolescent Patients of a Primary Care Network Assistant Professor & Executive Director, Office of Community Outreach and Engagement UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Maria Dieci, PhD Patient vs. provider incentives for malaria care: A cluster randomized controlled trial in Kenyan pharmacies Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management Emory University

Ebbin Dotson, PhD The Business Case for Leadership Diversity in Health Care Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI

April Falconi, PhD Perimenopause as a Sensitive Period for Women’s Health and Aging: A Review of the Chronic Disease Literature and Two Empirical Tests of Significance Associate Director, Elevance Health

Kevin Feeney, PhD Essays on Cash Transfers and Health Economist, Amazon Los Angeles, CA

Sara Fernandes-Taylor, PhD Provider Communication, Self-Reported Health, and Post-Treatment Regret among Young Breast Cancer Survivors Scientist III Department of Surgery University of Wisconsin School of Medicine

Robin Flagg, PhD Governor Decision Making: Expansion of Medicaid Under the Affordable Care Act Continuing Lecturer, Division of Health Policy and Management University of California, Berkeley

Jennifer Frehn, PhD Understanding the Influences and Organization of Systems to Improve Community Health Post-doctoral Research Fellow, School of Public Health UCLA

Vicki Fung, PhD The Effects of Losing Brand-Name Drug Coverage: Changes in Use of Inhaled Steroids and Clinical Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries with Asthma Associate Professor of Medicine, Mongan Institute for Health Policy Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA

Daniel Gentry, PhD Organizational Bureaucracy, Legitimacy, and “Thrival”: A Study of the Response by AIDS Service Organizations in Twenty California Counties to the Ryan White CARE Act of 1990 President & CEO, Association of University Programs in Health Administration

Gabrielle Goldstein, JD, PhD A Market for Ethics Counsel Nixon Peabody LLP San Francisco, CA

Julia Goodman, PhD Three Essays on Maternity Leave Policies, Utilization and Consequences Assistant Professor of Public Health OHSU & Portland State University School of Public Health

Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, PhD Gender norms as a social determinant of health and well-being of married adolescent girls and young women in South Asia Postdoctoral Fellow UCSF

Ilana Graetz, PhD The Impact of EHR and Teamwork on Care Transitions and Patient Outcomes Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management Rollins School of Public Health Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Chaoran Guo, PhD Social Learning in Health Insurance Choices: Evidence from Employer-Sponsored Health Plans Senior Data Scientist, Netflix Los Gatos, CA

Emily Hague, PhD Antecedents and Outcomes Associated with Hospital Participation in a Clinically Integrated Network Health Policy Researcher Mathematica Policy Research, Oakland, CA

Courtnee Hamity, PhD Social Influence and Innovation Adoption in the Clinical Setting Senior Program Officer, Evaluation and Data Strategy Blue Shield of California Foundation, San Francisco, CA

Alein Haro-Ramos, PhD Racism, Illegality, and Population Health: Mechanisms, Interventions, & Community-Engaged Research UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellow Department of Health, Society, and Behavior University of California, Irvine

Zoë K. Harris, PhD Private Health Insurance Sponsored Wellness Programs:  Examining Participation in the Healthy Lifestyle Rewards Financial Incentives Program on Health Care Costs, Utilization, and Risk Behaviors Executive Director, Head of Customer Engagement Strategy & Operations Genetech

Nianyi Hong, PhD Essays on Patient and Firm Behavior in Health Economics Analyst, Congressional Budget Office Washington, DC

Thomas Huber, PhD The Role of Micro and Macro Level Organizational Coordination in Accountable Care Organizations Adjunct Professor, The Ohio State University

Dorothy Hung, PhD Behavioral Preventive Service Delivery, Productivity, and Staff Turnover in Primary Care Practices: The Role of Participation in Decision Making and the Chronic Care Model Research Scientist and Director, Center for Lean and Engagement Research, School of Public Health University of California, Berkeley

Vanessa Hurley, PhD Collaborative Learning among Health Care Practice and Systems to Improve Patient-Centered Care Assistant Professor of Health Systems Administration Georgetown University

Jenny Hyun, PhD Person-Centered Care Program Philosophy in Capitated Community Mental Health Centers in Colorado Director, Business Intelligence Vituity, Emeryville, CA

Jennifer K. Ibrahim, PhD State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco Dependence Treatments: Implications for a Federal Mandate Dean and Professor, College of Public Health and School of Social Welfare Temple University, Philadelphia PA

Jae Kennedy, PhD Americans Needing Assistance with Activities of Daily Living: Current Estimates and Policy Implications Professor of Health Policy and Administration Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Washington State University, Spokane WA

Jung Kim, PhD Examining factors associated with learning and performance in primary care Graduate Medical Education organizations Assistant Professor, Health Systems Science Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine

Margae Knox, PhD Health System Efforts to Address Health Related Social Needs: Implications for Public Health, Health Services Use, and Quality Outcomes Postdoctoral Delivery Science Fellow Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente

Heather Knauer, PhD Parenting and Child Development in Rural Mexico: Examination of a Large-Scale Parenting Program Adjunct Assistant Professor School of Social Work University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Ada Kwan, PhD Can We Improve Quality of Care in Private Health Sectors? Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment in Kenya Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Medicine University of California, San Francisco

Susan Lehrman, PhD Hospitals’ Participation in the Nursing Home Market Professor and Dean Emeritus, Rohrer College of Business Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey

Jing Li, PhD Altruism and Efficiency Preferences of U.S Medical Students and their Expected Specialty Choice Assistant Professor of Health Economics School of Pharmacy, University of Washington

Rui Li, PhD Effect of Financial Incentives on Physician Productivity in Medical Groups Senior Economist, Division of Reproductive Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta GA

Michael Lin, PhD Nursing Home Quality: Structure and Strategy Senior Scientist, Telligen Denver, CO

Jenny Liu, PhD Healthy Time, Home Production, and Labor Supply: The Effect of Health Shocks on Time Use within Chinese Households during Economic Transition Professor of Health Economics School of Nursing University of California, San Francisco

Christopher Lowenstein, PhD Essays on labor markets and health: Employment conditions and drug, suicide, and alcohol-related mortality among working-age adults in the United States Postdoctoral Fellow, Epidemiology Stanford University

Martin Marciniak, PhD Too Good to Be True? The Effect of Nicotine Replacement Therapy on an Individual’s Ability to Quit Smoking Vice President and Head, US Health Outcomes Chiesi USA, Inc.

Soledad Martinez, PhD Income, Health Insurance Type and the Quality of Primary Care Systems in Chile: Effects on Health Outcomes and Utilization of Services Assistant Professor School of Public Health at Universidad de Chile, Santiago Chile

Jill Marsteller, PhD The Relationship between Non-Racial Diversity in Team Composition and Performance and Creativity in a Chronic Illness Care Quality Improvement Intervention Professor, Health Policy and Management Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

Peter Martelli, PhD An Argument for Knowledge Variety in Evidence-Based Management Associate Professor of Healthcare Administration Sawyer Business School, Suffolk University, Boston, MA

Sean McClellan, PhD When does Adoption of Health Information Technology by Physician Practices Lead to Use by Physicians within the Practice? Health Policy Researcher Abt and Associates, Boston, MA

Rodney K. McCurdy, PhD Network Influence on Chronic Illness Care in Large Physician Organization:  A Study of the California Managed Care Network in 2001 and 2006 Professor and Program Director National University Detroit, MI

Kathryn McDonald, PhD Ambulatory Care Organizations: Improving Diagnosis Bloomberg Distinguished Professor Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine and Nursing

Sara McMenamin, PhD Organizational Support for Smoking Cessation Interventions in Physician Organizations Associate Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity University of California, San Diego

Angela Merrill, PhD Subjective Expectations of Nursing Home Use, Medicaid, and Economic Behavior by Older Americans Principal Researcher Mathematica Policy Research, Cambridge MA

Chris Miller-Rosales, PhD Advancing Organizational Capabilities to Improve Patient Engagement in Health Care Associate, Analysis Group Menlo Park, CA

Eric Nauenberg, PhD Air Pollution and Hospitalization for Asthma in Los Angeles County: Economic and Policy Implications Associate Professor of Health Economics Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care/Dept of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Canada

Zachary Olson, PhD Can a Conditional Cash Transfer Reduce Teen Fertility? The Case of Brazil’s Bolsa Familia Senior Economist, Amazon Seattle, WA

Michael K. Ong, MD, PhD The Effects of Regulatory Change on the Safety of Pharmaceutical Innovations Professor in Residence, Division of GIM & HSR Associate Chief of Staff for Research Department of Medicine, UCLA and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA

Laura Packel, PhD Who Changes How: Strategies and Motivation for Risk Reduction Behaviors in the Context of an Economic-based HIV Prevention Intervention in Tanzania Research Director, McCoy Research Group University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health

Mary Paterson, PhD Financial Status of Retiree Caregivers: An Analysis of the Asset Structure of the Retiree Caregiver Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing The Catholic University of America, Washington DC

Krista Perreira, PhD Exits, Recidivism, and Caseload Growth: The Effect of Private Health Insurance Markets on the Demand for Medicaid Professor of Health Economics University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine

Dana Petersen, PhD Social Capital, Social Support, and Quality of Life among Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors Senior Researcher Mathematic Policy Research, Oakland CA

Aryn Phillips, PhD The Impact of Retail Availability on Health Behaviors: Policy Applications for the Prevention & Management of Chronic Conditions Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management School of Public Health University of Maryland, College Park

Kathryn Phillips, PhD Public Policy and Screening: The Influence of State Policies on Utilization of Human Autoimmunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Screening Professor of Health Economics and Health Services Research UCSF School of Pharmacy, San Francisco CA

Jessica Poon, PhD Multilevel Pathways to Patient-Centered Care Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Division of Research Kaiser Permanente

Alexis Pozen, PhD Price Variation for Colonoscopy in a Commercially Insured Population Assistant Professor City University of New York School of Public Health New York NY

Brian Quinn, PhD The Effect of Community-Level Unemployment On Preventive Oral Health Care Utilization Associate Vice President, Research-Evaluation-Learning The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton NJ

Nadia Safaeinili, PhD Evaluation of a statewide integrated medical and social service case management policy innovation: A multi-level assessment of equitable implementation for frontline staff and high-risk, high-need Medicaid patients Research Scientist, School of Medicine Stanford University

Robert Schell, PhD Understanding the Role of Socioeconomic, Health Behavioral, and Genetic Factors in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Associate, Analysis Group Menlo Park, CA

Julie Schmittdiel, PhD The Effect on Primary Health Care Orientation on Chronic Care Management Research Scientist and Associate Director of Health Care Delivery and Policy Division of Research Kaiser Permanente Northern California Oakland CA

John Schneider, PhD Regulation and Regulatory Reform in the U.S. Hospital Industry, 1980-1996 CEO and Founder Avalon Health Economics, Morristown NJ

Neil J. Sehgal, PhD Social Influences on Healthcare Outcomes in a Major Academic Medical Center Associate Professor of Health Systems and Population Health School of Public Health, University of Washington

Tetine Sentell, PhD Literacy, Health, and Health Services Use in a Nationally Representative Sample Chin Sik & Hyun Sook Chung Endowed Chair Department of Health Policy and Management Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

Gordon Shen, PhD Global Mental Health Policy Diffusion, Institutionalization, and Innovation Assistant Professor of Management, Policy and Community Health The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health

Timothy Snail, PhD The Effects of Hospital Contracting for Physician Services on Hospital Performance Vice President, Charles River Associates Boston, MA

Sean Sullivan, PhD The Demand for Prescription Drugs in Elderly Americans Professor of Health Economics and Dean Emeritus School of Pharmacy, University of Washington

Aaron Tierney, PhD Virtual Diabetes and Hypertension Care in Community Health Centers: Use, Quality, and Patient Preferences Clinical Informatics Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Research Kaiser Permanente

Yi-Wen Tsai, PhD Cigarette Taxation, National Health Insurance Professor, Institute of Health and Welfare Policy National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan

Lauren van der Walt, PhD Increasing Women’s Access to Information about Safe Abortion Methods through Local and Global Hotlines Executive Director, Optio Berkeley, CA

Megan Vanneman, PhD Consequences of Devolution: Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Equity in California’s County-based Public Mental Health Care System Assistant Professor of Medicine and Population Health Sciences University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

Todd Wagner, PhD The Economics of Consumer Health Information Director, Health Economics Resource Center Department of Veterans Affairs Professor of Surgery Stanford University

Zachary Wagner, PhD Community Health Workers to Increase Use of ORS and Zinc to Treat Child Diarrhea in Uganda: A Cluster Randomized Trial Associate Policy Researcher, RAND Corporation Santa Monica, CA

Neal Wallace, PhD A Production Function Approach to Mental Health Service Coordination in California’s Publicly Financed Mental Health System Professor of Health Systems Management and Policy OHSU-Portland State University School of Public Health

Jessica Watterson, PhD Influences on the Effectiveness of Health Information Technology Innovations in Primary Health Care Senior Research Fellow in Public Health Monash University Melbourne, Australia

Christopher M. Whaley, PhD The Effects of Consumer Information and Cost-Sharing on Healthcare Prices Policy Researcher RAND Corporation

Justin White, PhD A Team-Based Behavioral Economics Experiment on Smoking Cessation Associate Professor of Health Economics Department of Health Law, Policy & Management, School of Public Health Boston University

Frances Wu, PhD The Role of Health Information Technology in Early Accountable Care Organizations in the U.S. Research Associate, The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Jill Yegian, PhD Politics, Economics, and Organizational Innovation in the Small Group Market for Health Insurance Principal, Yegian Health Insights, LLC Oakland, CA

Myoungsoon You, PhD Determinants of Risk Perception among Women with a Family History of Breast Cancer Professor Seoul National University, Korea

Jim Zazzali, PhD Executive Director, Head of Health Policy and Systems Research, and Modeling Genentech

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INFORMATION FOR

• Prospective Students
• Incoming Students
• myYSPH Members

At YSPH you can really explore your horizons, and that allowed me to branch out and develop expertise in multiple areas. Being able to now combine that expertise and have it coalesce has already served me well, and I expect it will continue moving forward.

PhD in Health Policy and Management

The doctoral program in Health Policy and Management (HPM) is designed to develop scholars that are able to apply theoretical frameworks from the social sciences (such as economics, political science, organizational theory and management, sociology) to address pressing health policy and management research questions. The program is purposefully interdisciplinary and seeks to prepare students for research careers in academics as well as in public and private sector agencies and organizations. Students complete courses in a broad set of health policy and management areas, biostatistics and econometrics, and a selected area of depth (i.e., economic theory and application, political and policy analysis, and organizational theory and management). Students in the department of HPM take qualifying examinations in:

• health policy and management
• quantitative methods
• their chosen area of depth.

In addition, students work directly with a specific faculty member on an individualized readings course on which they will also take a qualifying examination. The program typically requires 4-5 years to complete, including 2 years of coursework followed by 2-3 years to complete and defend the doctoral dissertation. Individuals applying to this program usually have a master’s degree and/or relevant research experience, however the minimum requirement is a bachelor’s degree.

This program requires General GRE test scores. Please send them to institution code 3987 (there is no department code).

Degree Requirements - PhD in Health Policy and Management

2023-24 matriculation.

All courses are 1 unit unless otherwise noted.

The Ph.D. degree in Health Policy and Management requires a total of 16 course units with the option of obtaining credits for previous courses. With the approval of the academic adviser and DGS, course substitutions that better suit the needs of the student may satisfy the course work requirement.

PhD Required Courses (5 course units)

• EPH 508 Foundations of Epidemiology and Public Health
• EPH 600 Research Ethics and Responsibilities (0 units)
• EPH 608 Frontiers of Public Health*
• HPM 610 Applied Area Readings
• HPM 617 Colloquium in Health Services Research (0 units)
• HPM 618 Colloquium in Health Services Research (0 units)
• HPM XXX Additional course TBD

PhD Required Methods and Statistics Courses (minimum 4 course units)

• BIS 623 Advanced Regression Models
• BIS 628 Longitudinal and Multilevel Data Analysis
• ECON 556 Topics in Empirical Economics and Public Policy
• ECON 558 Econometrics
• HPM 583 Methods in Health Services Research
• MGMT 737 Applied Empirical Methods
• PLSC 500 Foundations of Statistical Inference
• PLSC 503 Theory and Practice of Quantitative Methods
• SBS 580 Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health
• SOCY 580 Introduction to Methods in Quantitative Sociology
• SOCY 581 Intermediate Methods in Quantitative Sociology
• SOCY 582 Statistics III; Advanced Quantitative Analysis for Social Scientists
• S&DS 563 Multivariate Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences
• S&DS 565 Introductory Machine Learning

PhD Required Health Policy and Management Courses (minimum 2 course units, all with PhD Readings)

• EPH 510 Health Policy and Health Care Systems
• HPM 514 Health Politics, Governance, and Policy
• HPM 570 Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and Decision Making
• HPM 573 Advanced Topics in Modeling Health Care Decisions
• HPM 587 Advanced Health Economics

Additional Elective(s)

Minimum of 1 additional elective. Must be approved by advisor.

Specializations

Economics Specialization Required Courses (minimum 4 course units)

• ECON 545 Microeconomics May substitute for an alternative with permission of advisor and GSEC representative
• ECON 558 Econometrics Must take substitution course if taken as Methods course.

Students take two field courses in at least one concentration to develop expertise. Sets of courses across topics can be selected to meet research interests with advisor permission:

• MGMT 758 Foundations of Behavioral Economics
• PSYC 553 Behavioral Decision Making I: Choice
• ECON 600 Industrial Organization I
• ECON 601 Industrial Organization II
• ECON 630 Labor Economics
• ECON 631 Labor Economics
• ECON 680 Public Finance I
• ECON 681 Public Finance II

Organizational Theory and Management Specialization Required Courses (4 course units)

Courses are selected in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Political and Policy Analysis Specialization Required Courses (4 course units)

Suggested courses:

• PLSC 800 Introduction to American Politics
• PLSC 801 Political Preferences and American Political Behavior
• PLSC 803 American Politics III: Institutions

Course offerings subject to change.

rev. 07.10.2023

Recent Dissertation Projects

Research in HPM applies the conceptual frameworks and research methods from economics, health policy, and organizational theory and management. Examples of ongoing faculty research include the following:

• The Role of Pharmacists in Primary Care: Analyzing Predictors and Outcomes of Pharmacist Integration in Connecticut
• The Determinants and Consequences of Cognitive Aging: Evidence and Implications for Public Policy
• Essays on Quality Improvement: Three Active Approaches to Improving Care for Nursing Home Users
• Efficiency and Equity in Private Markets for Public Health Care Services
• The Role of the Physician-Patient Relationship in Chronic Disease Patients
• The Effects of Hospital Network Entry and Exit on Organizational Performance

Learn more about the Department of Health Policy and Management

• Career Outcomes and the YSPH Career Management Center

MyYSPH.Yale.Edu

Doctor of Philosophy in Health Policy and Management

UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

The PhD in Health Policy and Management is an academic degree emphasizing the in-depth expertise necessary for a research career. It emphasizes the integration of theory and research in a focused substantive area (cognate). This includes classroom instruction; non-credit seminars; independent study; research projects; academic apprenticeships; and interaction with faculty, fellow students, and other professionals within and outside the UCLA campus.

Because each student has unique and specific interests, doctoral training is individualized to the needs and interests of the particular student.

The doctoral program encompasses the following major elements and stages:

• Course work in the major and cognate/minor fields
• Written qualifying examination
• Proposal for the dissertation
• Oral qualifying examination on the proposal for the dissertation (advancement to candidacy)

Dissertation

• Oral defense of the dissertation

Course Work

Students must have a minimum of 17 courses (70 units). All students are required to specialize in a particular area of study, a cognate, which requires additional coursework. Of these, 11-12 courses (46-50 units) are required, five courses (20 units) are electives, and remaining units may be fulfilled with additional electives or from the cognate coursework.

Required Courses (11-12 courses/44-50 units)

• HLT POL 200A: Health Systems Organization and Financing, I
• HLT POL 226A: Readings in Health Service Research (2 Units)
• HLT POL 226B: Readings in Health Service Research (2 Units)
• HLT POL 227B: Special Topics in Health Services
• HLT POL 225A: Health Services Research Design (6 Units)
• HLT POL 225B: Health Services Research Design (6 Units)
• HLT POL 423 Practices of Evaluation in Health Services
• HLT POL 237C: Health Services Research Methodology (6 Units)
• BIOSTATS 201A: Applied Regression
• BIOSTATS 201B: Applied Regression
• EPIDEM 100 or an equivalent introductory survey course or show proof of an equivalent graduate-level introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an MPH, MS, PhD, or MD program
• One (or more) additional statistics course (200-level or above) ONLY this additional statistics course may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis. All other courses MUST be graded.

Elective Courses (5 courses/20 units)

• Students select four or more elective courses

Cognate Requirements

Cognate studies give students a depth of knowledge in a field that is complementary to health policy and management. Students are required to take PhD level coursework that satisfies the requirements of at least one cognate. Students choose a cognate from areas such as economics, epidemiology, health care outcomes research, organizational behavior, and public policy studies, or may design their own cognate with a faculty member.

Qualifying Exam

Students generally take the qualifying exam after the completion of all course work, usually in the beginning of their third year of doctoral studies. The purpose of the written qualifying exam is to prepare and evaluate students’ knowledge and application of a number of areas, and to assess students’ readiness to undertake independent research.

Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal describes the student’s desired area of research, the methods that will be used to examine relevant data and how it will support the dissertation findings, and explain the dissertation’s contribution to the field.

Dissertation Proposal Defense (Oral Qualifying Examination)

The purpose of the dissertation proposal defense (also known as the oral qualifying examination) is twofold: 1) to evaluate the research being proposed for the dissertation and 2) to assess the student’s ability to conduct this research. The defense focuses on the proposal for the dissertation.

The dissertation reports the results of the research conducted based on the proposal. The dissertation should demonstrate the scientific merit of the work itself and the student’s mastery over its substance and methods. It must demonstrate that the student is qualified to conduct independent research.

Dissertation Defense

The final oral examination is a defense of the dissertation. The purpose of this examination is twofold: 1) to evaluate the research conducted for the dissertation 2) to assess the student’s ability to conduct independent research. The exam focuses on the dissertation.

The PhD is generally obtained in four or five years.

View a list of faculty in the Department of Health Policy and Management.

Many graduates of the program pursue research and teaching careers in health care management and health policy analysis.

Examples of position held by graduates include:

• Tenure-Track Faculty
• Research Director

For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the  registrar's office .

Please see the cost and aid section of our website for information on awards, scholarships, training opportunities, employment, summer internship funding, and need-based aid. Please note that opportunities listed under 'Summer Internship Funding' are only applicable to MPH students.

Desired Qualifications

In addition to meeting the University’s minimum requirements , the Department of Health Policy and Management recommends a master’s degree in public health or other appropriate graduate degree in a related field with a grade-point average of at least 3.5 for graduate studies. In addition, although not required for admission, research experience in the field is viewed favorably when competing applications are judged. Students do not need to identify a faculty mentor in order to apply for the program.

Admissions Process

Visit the application guide to learn about our admissions process.

Please note:

This information is intended as an overview, and should be used as a guide only. Requirements, course offerings and other elements may change, and this overview may not list all details of the program. 

Admission requirements listed are departmental requirements, and are in addition to the University's minimum requirements. Many programs receive more applicants than can be admitted, so meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not ensure admission. Every effort is made to ensure minimum admissions requirements are up to date - for the most up-to-date information on the University's minimum requirements, please visit the  UCLA Graduate Division .

Fees are subject to change and should be used as a guide only. For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the  registrar's office.

Related Programs

Health Policy

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The program involves more than 100 faculty members from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. You will choose your path from among five disciplines: decision sciences, economics, management, methods for policy research, and political analysis.

Students in the program have worked on a wide range of topics, including access to and utilization of health care, disability rights, physician decision-making, and health system organization. Examples of dissertations include “The Use of Information Technology in US Health Care Delivery,” “Understanding Mental Health Care Use and Outcomes among Individuals with Reduced Access to Care,” and “The Consequences of Government Provision and Regulation of Health Insurance.”

Supportive alumni can be a critical link to beginning your successful post-graduate career. Graduates of the program have secured faculty positions at institutions across the globe, including Stanford University; University of California, Los Angeles; and Yale University. Others have gone on to careers with the RAND Corporation, the Congressional Budget Office, the World Bank, and Kaiser Family Foundation.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the PhD Program in Health Policy and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies . 

Areas of Study

Decision Sciences | Economics | Management | Methods for Policy Research | Political Analysis

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the PhD Program in Health Policy .

Academic Background

All applicants must apply to a specific concentration of the program and must indicate this choice in their statement of purpose. Up to two concentration areas may be specified. Additionally, applicants should indicate policy areas that are of interest.

Statement of Purpose

Describe your reasons and motivations for pursuing a PhD in Health Policy at Harvard. What experiences led you to your research ambitions? Concisely state your past work in your intended field of study and in related fields. Briefly indicate your career objectives. Your statement should not exceed 1,000 words. You should also include your concentration(s) and policy area(s) of interest.

Standardized Tests

GRE General (or GMAT): Optional for Decision Sciences, Economics, Methods for Policy Research, and Political Analysis. Required for Management iBT TOEFL minimum score: 100 IELTS minimum score: 7.5

Fall Grades

Fall term grades should be sent when available if attending school while applying to the program (prospective students may add this information to the Fall Grade Report, available in the Applicant Portal, after they have submitted their application).

Those interested in earning an MD/PhD in Health Policy apply through the American Medical College Application Service . Once enrolled, MD/PhD students submit application materials to Harvard Griffin GSAS prior to beginning their PhD studies.

For the coordinated JD/PhD , applicants must apply separately to each program and indicate in the application to the PhD Program in Health Policy that a concurrent application has been submitted to Harvard Law School.

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Health Policy

See list of Health Policy faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD Residential)

Our mission.

The mission of the PhD Program in Health Policy and Management is to provide students with the skills to conduct innovative high impact health services and health policy research that can be used to foster the most effective ways to organize, manage, finance, and deliver high quality health care; increase efficiency and improve patient safety. Housed in the top rated Gillings School of Global Public Health’s Department of Health Policy and Management, we offer a curriculum that provides students with rigorous training in quantitative and qualitative research methods, the academic foundation, and research experience to become independent and creative health services and health policy researchers.

PhD Student Spotlight

Friedman lead author on rural medicare patient admissions study.

HPM PhD student Hannah Friedman and HPM Professor Mark Holmes are authors of a study that suggests Medicare patients may be bypassing rural hospitals altogether and traveling longer distances to seek care at urban hospitals.

PhD Alumni Spotlight

Hpm alums and faculty author new article in health services research.

Karen Swietek is first author on " Duration of medical home participation and quality of care for patients with chronic conditions ," which also features work by alumni Lexie Grove and Chris Beadles and HPM professor Marisa Domino.

Our Training Program

During the first two years in the PhD Program in Health Policy and Management, students take courses in health services research, research design, quantitative and qualitative methods, and health policy.

• See a typical course schedule
• Options for Policy Courses

Information for Applicants

There are many reasons to attend UNC, including our student-centered culture; emphasis on professional development; outstanding and engaged faculty; our commitment to inclusive excellence ; and our culture of collaboration. It is also a great place to live. Finally, our students get top jobs in academic settings, research organizations and government agencies after graduation.

• Student-centered culture: HPM works hard to create a student-centered culture. There are many opportunities for informal interactions between students and faculty. Students also have a voice into decisions about the PhD program through the PhD Advisory Committee. This committee has four student members, one from each cohort and alumni representatives. This ensures that students have a cohort representative who can provide input into all aspects of the PhD program.
• Emphasis on professional development: UNC’s PhD program in HPM provides students with rigorous training in research and analytical methods, as well as content knowledge in health services and health policy. We also emphasize professional development skills that are essential to our graduates’ long-term success, including: evidence-based research practices; conducting research in interdisciplinary teams; writing for diverse audiences; and teaching.
• Faculty: Our faculty are recognized locally and nationally for their research and teaching. When students are admitted, they will have a commitment from a faculty member with overlapping interests who is excited to serve as the advisor and dissertation chair. This will help ensure that the student has a faculty member who advocates for and supports them, even before they arrive at UNC. See our list of faculty advisors .
• Culture of collaboration: We have strong collegial relationships with research centers, institutes, and think tanks throughout the area. At UNC, these include:
• Departments within the Gillings School of Global Public Health
• UNC Schools of Medicine , Pharmacy , Dentistry , Nursing
• Sheps Center for Health Services Research
• Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Carolina Population Center
• UNC Healthcare System
• Duke and North Carolina State University
• The Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina
• RTI International
• Community Care of North Carolina
• Bristol-Myers-Squibb
• North Carolina Institute of Medicine
• Great place to live: The Research Triangle area is one of the most desirable places in the country to live. Chapel Hill has been named one of the best small towns and cities in the US and one of the best cities for college basketball fans. Durham, adjacent to Chapel Hill, was rated as one of the top 41 places in the world to visit . Chapel Hill is also within easy driving distance of the beach or mountains. With two major colleges (UNC and Duke), there are many inexpensive things to do. For example:
• UNC and Duke sporting events (free except men’s basketball and football)
• Carolina Performing Arts
• Playmakers Repertory Company
• Durham Performing Arts Center
• Great restaurants
• Professional sports, including the Durham Bulls and Carolina Hurricanes

All students must select a minor area that may be either disciplinary or interdisciplinary. They must take at least 15 credit hours in their minor area. Our minors are:

• Decision Sciences and Outcomes Research
• Financial Management
• Health Politics and Policy
• Organization and Implementation Science
• Quality and Access

UNC offers an MSPH-to-PhD track within the PhD Program. The MSPH-to PhD option complements our existing PhD program by allowing students who may lack experience in health policy or health services research and want a Master’s degree before embarking on a PhD dissertation. This program adds an additional year of coursework on to the PhD curriculum, but students receive both an MSPH and a PhD upon completion of the program. See a sample coursework schedule here .

• Institutional pre-doctoral training grants within the Department, the Sheps Center for Health Services Research , the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center , the Carolina Population Center , and NC TraCS
• A pre-doctoral fellowship through Bristol-Myers-Squibb
• Dissertation awards from the federal government
• Research Assistantships on a large range of funded research projects
• Job placement list of HPM Alumni
• Profiles of some of our current students can been seen here.
• Profiles of our students on the job market can be seen here.

Applications for Fall 2024 will open in August 2023. Please see our Application Deadlines page for specific deadline dates. Application fees may be waived for qualifying applications. Please see the graduate school Application Fee Waiver page for more information.

• Required application materials list (includes MSPH to PhD)
• Go to the application page.
• Tips for a strong application can be found here.

CAHME serves the public interest by advancing the quality of healthcare management education.

The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) is a global network of colleges, universities, faculty, individuals and organizations dedicated to the improvement of health and healthcare delivery through excellence in healthcare management and policy education.

The UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is a cancer research and treatment center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Serving patients at the N.C. Basnight Cancer Hospital, UNC Lineberger is the only public comprehensive cancer center in the state of North Carolina.

Information for:

Health Policy and Management

The Health Policy and Management (HPM) area of study focuses on developing the critical thinking and applied problem-solving skills needed to address a wide variety of challenges throughout the health care delivery, public policy, and public health systems.  

Our educational programs focus on helping students develop the critical thinking and applied problem-solving skills needed to address a wide variety of public health challenges.   

Department overview

The Department of Health Policy and Management is dedicated to improving the health care delivery system and mitigating public health risks in the United States and abroad.    

Degree programs

The Master of Science degree is designed for applicants with doctoral degrees in medicine, dentistry, or other health-related disciplines, and have a pre-established research project with a member of the faculty at Harvard Chan, or at the Harvard Medical School.  

• Abbreviation: SM-42.5  
• Degree format: On campus  
• Time commitment: Full-time or part-time  
• Average program length: One year full-time, two years part-time

The Master of Public Health 45-credit degree provides established professionals with the requisite knowledge and powerful global network needed to progress their career in public health.  

• Abbreviation: MPH-45  
• Health Policy Field of Study  
• Health Management Field of Study  
• Average Program Length: One year full-time, two years part-time  

The Master of Public Health 65-credit degree provides early career professionals with the breadth of knowledge and subject-specific expertise needed to forge a successful career in public health.  

• Abbreviation: MPH-65  
• Health Management Field of Study
• Average program length: 1.5 years full-time, three years part-time

Student interests 

Candidates of the Health Policy and Management (HPM) area of study are interested in academic programs that focus on developing the critical thinking and applied problem-solving skills needed to address a wide variety of challenges throughout the health care delivery, public policy, and public health systems.  

Master of Science in Health Policy and Management (HPM) Degree Program  

The One-Year Master of Science Program (SM-42.5) is an academic degree program designed for individuals with doctoral degrees in medicine, dentistry, or other health-related disciplines who are pursuing research careers and desire intensive exposure to analytic and quantitative skills. The program is appropriate for students who plan to pursue health policy research and for students interested in domestic or international research questions.  

Health Management Field of Study (HM 45/65-credit)  

The health management field of study prepares students for management careers in the unique environment of health care. Students who choose the management field of study select from courses providing practical management skills, such as accounting, finance, operations, marketing, quality improvement, leadership and management of people, and strategy. Students will be able to analyze and take actions to improve organizational performance using the skills and frameworks learned in coursework and through field experiences.  

Health Policy Field of Study (HP 45/65-credit)  

Students in the health policy field of study develop skills in applying economic, legal, and political analysis to the design, implementation, and evaluation of health care and public health policies. Through the study of biostatistics, epidemiology, and other quantitative disciplines, they also acquire skill in interpreting and evaluating scientific evidence to inform their policy work. Students are encouraged to choose elective courses that will help them develop an area of interest and expertise, such as access to care, health care quality, pharmaceutical policy, injury prevention, or health care financing.  

Career outcomes 

HPM candidates receive a well-rounded curriculum that can be applied across a variety of disciplines for career growth.  

Graduates have found employment as:  

• Program managers at community-based organizations  
• Project directors at city, state, and federal health commissions  
• Leadership positions at non-profit organizations  
• Research-based positions, postdoctoral level positions  
• Program graduates have filled many management and leadership roles in health care organizations, including public or private sector health delivery systems, health insurance plans, and supply sector organizations, as well as working as consultants.  
• This field of study prepares students for policy positions in the public, nonprofit, or private sectors, and many pursue careers as policymakers or as policy analysts, advocates, or consultants, or in policymaking positions in other public health and health care organizations.  

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School of Public Health

A nationally top-ranked institution that offers a superior array of advanced degrees and is home to world-renowned research and training centers.

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• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Health Services Research, Policy & Administration PHD

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• Student Resources
• Our PhD Students
• Recent Grads
• Cheré Williams [email protected]
• Director of Graduate Studies Karen Kuntz [email protected]

Transform healthcare with this multidisciplinary degree.

With a Health Services Research, Policy & Administration PhD you will engage in a multidisciplinary examination of the social, political, and economic forces that affect the organization, financing, and delivery of healthcare.

This program prepares students for a career in applied research as well as influencing policy that can have an impact on healthcare systems. Our graduates find meaningful and challenging positions at universities, government agencies, think tanks, health insurance providers, managed care organizations, and consulting firms.

• Program Brochure

Health Services Research, Policy & Administration PHD Profiles

Ben Weideman

I am working to build equitable outcomes for LGBTQIA+ people.

Taylor Bucy

I’m interested in the care experiences of older adults with serious mental illness.

Janet Porter

Janet Porter, PhD '94, is the 2018 recipient of the Gaylord Anderson Leadership Award.

Advantages of the Program

• Location.  The School of Public Health is located within the Academic Health Center and a research university, allowing for collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach to learning.
• Tailored Options. Six areas of emphasis allow you to tailor your education to your interests. Our program also offers a joint degree in Law, Health and the Life Sciences (JD/PhD) with the Law School and an MD/PhD joint degree with medicine. More on joint and dual degrees.
• Collaborative Degree.  Through a collaboration with the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, you can focus your studies on workplace injury policy with the Occupational Health Services Research and Policy PhD .
• Breadth.  The Division of Health Policy and Management is home to five research centers that provide research opportunities to students and are rich sources for dissertation data.

Connect with Us

• Request More Information
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Contact 420 Delaware St. S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455

612-626-3500 [email protected]

Stanford University

Stanford Health Policy is a joint effort of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the Stanford School of Medicine

Health Policy Graduate Programs

PhD in Health Policy

Stanford Health Policy offers a PhD program that promises to educate students who will be scholarly leaders in the field of health policy, and will be highly knowledgeable about the theoretical and empirical approaches that can be applied in the development of improvements in health policy and the health care system. These students will be well prepared for positions in academic institutions, government institutions, and private sector organizations with a demand for high-level analysis of health policy issues.

The curriculum offers courses across a wide range of health policy areas including health economics, health insurance and government program operation, health financing, international health policy and economic development, cost-effectiveness analysis and the evaluation of new technologies, relevant statistical and methodological approaches, and health policy issues related to public health concerns like obesity and chronic disease. In addition to taking a set of core courses, students are expected to complete coursework in content- and methods-specific tracks.

MS in Health Policy

Stanford Health Policy also offers a Masters in Health Policy Program.  Most students admitted to this program have an MD (or comparable advanced degree) and are in the fellowship stages of their training, or have worked in a health care related field.  The program provides advanced students with the skills to conduct independent research in health policy. MS students must satisfy a concentration requirement in one of four content areas:  empirical methods, clinical decision-making, health policy, or implementation science.  The MS program is typically completed in two years of study in residence.

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Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health

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Become well prepared to take on independent research roles

The PhD in Health Policy and Management program at the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health is ideal for students who are interested in developing the analytical, methodological, and professional skills needed to tackle the many health policy and management challenges facing Indiana, our nation, and the world.

As a core discipline within the field of public health, health policy and management focuses on the creation of new knowledge that informs the advancement of health services delivery within and across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

See the admissions criteria and apply »

Let us know your interests and how we can help you »

With a PhD degree in HPM, you will be well prepared to take on independent research roles as academic faculty members.

Students pursuing this degree must complete at least 90 credit hours that include advanced graduate coursework, passing a qualifying examination, and researching and defending a dissertation that makes an original contribution to the field.

The department’s distinguished faculty members instruct, mentor, and collaborate closely with students. You’ll benefit from working with faculty members who are nationally recognized for their research in health information technology, healthcare organizations, health policy and law, health impact assessment, and more.

To support this research, faculty members have a diverse research funding portfolio that includes grants and contracts from the NIH, AHRQ, SAMHSA, NCAA, CDC, and numerous Indiana state agencies.

You will have access to outside expertise through the department’s longstanding close collaborations with the IU School of Medicine, the Regenstrief Institute, the IU Kelley School of Business, the IU McKinney School of Law, the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, the Indiana Hospital Association, the Indiana State Department of Health, and top health systems and professional organizations throughout the state and nation.

Justin Blackburn, PhD Associate Professor and PhD Program Director

The Health Policy and Management (HPM) department is comprised of a renowned, award-winning and connected faculty. The faculty’s research interests are varied and focused on important local and global health issues, including health information technology, population health, healthcare organizations, health policy and law, health impact assessment, and public health systems and services.

All PhD students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 90 credits. For those without a recent MPH degree in health policy, the curriculum would consist of required core courses, methods courses, elective courses, a doctoral minor, doctoral research seminars and guided dissertation research. 

• PhD in Health Policy & Management curriculum
• PhD Minor in HPM curricula

Competencies

The PhD in Health Policy & Management focuses on 10 core competencies that serve as a measure of growth and criteria for assessment. 

PhD students in the HPM department come from diverse backgrounds and have varied research interests. The students’ research interests include health information technology, mental health services, the organization of public health systems, and the impact of health policies and laws.

Learn what you must complete in order to be admitted to this degree program.

Still have questions?

Our associate director of graduate affairs, Shawne Mathis, is available to meet with you virtually or in-person.

Admissions deadline

See the deadline to apply to our doctoral programs.

View the deadlines

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PhD in Health Policy and Clinical Practice

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Learn more about the innovative research opportunities offered in our PhD program:

• Program Overview

The Dartmouth Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is designed for those pursuing a career involving major research or leadership roles in the areas of health policy and clinical practice.

Our PhD Program offers in-depth, multi-disciplinary training in the conduct of research and teaching in the areas of special expertise at the Institute. The doctoral program is designed so that each student-researcher works closely with a faculty advisor and his or her research group to design a course of study and participate in ongoing research.

The doctoral program involves a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates relevant theories, methodological strategies, and evidence from a variety of fields. Disciplines represented by the faculty include clinical medicine, decision science, economics, epidemiology, health services research, geography, political science, psychology, public health, and sociology.

PhD students are encouraged to investigate a specialized area in-depth while also gaining an informed appreciation of other core areas. They are trained in independent and team-based strategies to integrate these perspectives into research. Our PhD graduates are expected to further the development of these core areas, to lead in the design, initiation and management of effective change in health care, and to contribute to the education of future scholars in health policy and clinical practice. Graduates of the doctoral program go into academic, government, and corporate positions involving health services research and health policy. 

Recent dissertation topics that PhD students have worked on include:

• Digital technology for health promotion among individuals with serious mental illness
• Treatment decision making in multi-vessel coronary artery disease
• Serious choices: Decision-making support for seriously ill patients at risk of death
• Patient-centered communication about early abortion methods in the United States 

To learn more about the PhD curriculum and program structure, review our PhD Handbook .

Applying for the PhD Program

Admission to our PhD program is highly selective. Around 2 students will be admitted each year.

The application deadline is  December 1, 2022 . Students will apply through the online application portal for the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies at Dartmouth. When applying to the program, select 'Health Policy and Clinical Practice' as the program of study. 

For frequently asked questions about the application process and a list of application requirements, please refer to the Guarini School of Graduate Studies Application FAQs .

Full applications will be reviewed by the PhD Admissions Committee and qualified applicants will be invited for an interview with prospective faculty advisors and members of the Admissions Committee.

"When I had the opportunity to choose between schools, Dartmouth was just the clear decision. I can go there and get this really great education, work with literal world leaders, and be in the heart of the Upper Valley… I think if I went anywhere else, I wouldn't have all of these opportunities."

Enzo Plaitano - 2nd Year Ph.D. Student 

In the news, geisel ms students make strong showing at national big data competition, dartmouth’s geisel school of medicine appoints craig westling as associate dean for health sciences education, dartmouth generations connects students and older adults.

Receive the latest updates on applying to Dartmouth

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[email protected] (603) 646-5598

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Health Policy and Management Programs

Ranked in 2024, part of Best Public Affairs Schools

A master's degree in health policy and management

A master's degree in health policy and management readies graduates to work as hospital leaders, policy analysts and health care advocates. These are the best public affairs schools for health policy and management. Read the methodology »

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This concentration prepares students to utilize their analytic skills to plan, implement, and evaluate health policy, analyze factors that impact the organization and financing of health care delivery systems, and produce research evidence to inform policy development and support decision making. Graduates may find health policy analyst positions in provider organizations, health service delivery systems, government and non-profit health agencies, academic institutions, think tanks, healthcare research and consulting firms as well as community-based organizations.

Required Courses (6 Credit Hours)

• HA 8160 - Introduciton to the US Health Care System 3 Credit Hours

or PHPB 7160 - Fundamentals of Health Systems, Leadership, and Policy     3 Credit Hours

• HA 8250 - Health Economics and Financing 3 Credit Hours

or PHPB 8250 - Health Economics and Policy     3 Credit Hours

or ECON 8210 - Health Economics and Policy     3 Credit Hours

Elective Courses (6-9 Credit Hours)

Select two or three courses from the following:

• PMAP 8561 - GIS Applications 3 Credit Hours
• PMAP 8941 - Internship 3 Credit Hours
• PHPH 7011 - Epidemiology for Public Health 3 Credit Hours
• PHPB 7025 - Health Disparities 3 Credit Hours
• PHPB 7140 - Health Promotion Planning, Administration and Evaluation 3 Credit Hours
• PHPH 7150 - Environmental Health 3 Credit Hours
• PHPB 7170 - Public Health Leadership and Policy 3 Credit Hours
• PHPH 7340 - Built Environment and Health 3 Credit Hours
• PHPB 7565 - Disability Policy 3 Credit Hours
• SOCI 7110 - Aging Policy and Services 3 Credit Hours or  GERO 7110 - Aging Policy and Services     3 Credit Hours
• SOCI 9230 - Sociology of Health & Illness 3 Credit Hours
• [SNHP 8500] - Systemic Meta-Analysis
• [LAW 7244] - Public Health Law
• HA 8190 - Health Policy and Ethics 3 Credit Hours
• HA 8700 - Health Services Research and Evaluation Methods 3 Credit Hours

Healthcare Management Graduate Programs in the New Orleans Area

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Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

New Orleans, LA •

Tulane University •

Graduate School

• • Rating 4.35 out of 5   20 reviews

Alum: Tulane is a fun school that treats you like you are family even if you are a distance learner. Professors are knowledgeable and have decades of experience. I was a certificate student. All of my classes were online, and for the most part, flowed smoothly. The only exception was when the school was hit by a hurricane. Classes, even online ones, were canceled for weeks. Teachers then had to hurry through the material to catch up which was stressful at times. Graduation is typically one big party that spills into the street as a parade in true NOLA style. I would return to complete my graduate degree. ... Read 20 reviews

Blue checkmark.

Tulane University ,

Graduate School ,

NEW ORLEANS, LA ,

20 Niche users give it an average review of 4.4 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Tulane is a fun school that treats you like you are family even if you are a distance learner. Professors are knowledgeable and have decades of experience. I was a certificate student. All of my... .

Read 20 reviews.

University of Holy Cross

• • Rating 4.67 out of 5   15 reviews

Current Master's student: I am seeking a master degree in teaching and learning. I am learning a lot about educational system in the United States and how to lead and manage heterogeneous classrooms. I love teaching! It’s my passion! ... Read 15 reviews

15 Niche users give it an average review of 4.7 stars.

Featured Review: Current Master's student says I am seeking a master degree in teaching and learning. I am learning a lot about educational system in the United States and how to lead and manage heterogeneous classrooms. I love teaching! It’s my... .

Read 15 reviews.

College of Business Administration - University of New Orleans

University of New Orleans •

• • Rating 4.5 out of 5   4 reviews

Master's Student: The coursework is really useful for the real life. Very closely to real life to my work as an accountant. My graduate degree is MBA, undergraduate is accounting. So the accounting classes have material that really useful in real life. So far the management classes have some material in real life. Also economics. Overall the course works are useful in real life. ... Read 4 reviews

University of New Orleans ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The coursework is really useful for the real life. Very closely to real life to my work as an accountant. My graduate degree is MBA, undergraduate is accounting. So the accounting classes have... .

Read 4 reviews.

D'Youville University

Graduate School •

BUFFALO, NY

• • Rating 4.08 out of 5   26

David D. Reh School of Business

Clarkson University •

POTSDAM, NY

• • Rating 5 out of 5   6

Radford University Carilion

ROANOKE, VA

• • Rating 4.86 out of 5   7

Sacred Heart University

FAIRFIELD, CT

• • Rating 4.4 out of 5   45

Florida Institute of Technology

MELBOURNE, FL

• • Rating 4.6 out of 5   65

Valparaiso University

VALPARAISO, IN

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Public Health / Education / Graduate Programs and Certificates / Micro-Certificates of Graduate Study

Micro-Certificates of Graduate Study

The Public Health Program offers eight 9-credit, online Micro-Certificates of Graduate Study, each focusing on a specific topic area: Public Health, Health Equity, Epidemiology, Public Health Informatics, Global Health, Climate Change & Human Health, Health Services Administration, or Health Policy & Law.

Micro-Certificate of Graduate Study in Global Health

The University of Vermont’s online Micro-Certificate of Graduate Study in Global Health is a 9-credit (3-course) program that gives students the opportunity to explore the global nature of health and disease including the environment, infectious disease, climate change, global health data, and social health determinants.

Micro-Certificate of Graduate Study in Climate Change and Human Health

The Larner College of Medicine Division of Public Health’s Micro-Certificate Graduate Study in Climate Change and Human Health is a 9-credit, 3-course program that gives students the opportunity to explore the human health impacts of climate change.

Micro-Certificate of Graduate Study in Healthcare Services Administration

The Larner College of Medicine Division of Public Health’s Micro-Certificate Graduate Study in Healthcare Services Administration is a 9-credit, 3-course program that gives students the opportunity learn skills related to the management of healthcare systems.

Micro-Certificate of Graduate Study in Health Policy and Law

The Larner College of Medicine Division of Public Health’s Micro-Certificate Graduate Study in Health Policy and Law is a 9-credit, 3-course program that gives students the opportunity to explore health-related policymaking.

Micro-Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health

The Larner College of Medicine Division of Public Health’s Micro-Certificate Graduate Study in Public Health is a 9-credit, 3-course program that gives students the opportunity to explore the field of Public Health, where the focus is on promoting healthy practices and preventing disease among entire populations, rather than on treating individual illness.

Micro-Certificate of Graduate Study in Health Equity

The Larner College of Medicine Division of Public Health’s Micro-Certificate Graduate Study in Health Equity is a 9-credit, 3-course program that gives students the opportunity to explore healthy practices and disease prevention across all populations.

Micro-Certificate of Graduate Study in Epidemiology

The Larner College of Medicine Division of Public Health’s Micro-Certificate Graduate Study in Epidemiology is a 9-credit, 3-course program that gives students the opportunity to explore the study of the origin and causes of diseases in populations.

Micro-Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health Informatics

The Larner College of Medicine Division of Public Health’s Micro-Certificate Graduate Study in Public Health Informatics is a 9-credit, 3-course program that will provide students with introductory competency in public health informatics and quantitative public health sciences.

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Conference Facilitates Talk on Hot Topics in Health Policy and Management

From artificial intelligence to alternative medicine and quality care to communications: the annual Health Policy and Management (HPM) Healthcare Conference was a sounding board for ideas on all manner of timely issues affecting organizational leaders, policymakers, and not least, everyone at the receiving end of health care services.  The all-day event on April 12 brought together faculty, students, policymakers, and industry leaders. The event was sponsored by The Commonwealth Fund and held at Columbia University event space The Forum.

Sherry Glied, Dean of New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and former HPM chair, opened the conference with a keynote address on the future of healthcare in New York State and beyond. Glied, who chairs the New York State Commission of the Future of Healthcare, said her goal was to recommit the state to measuring success through “the health and well-being of individual people.”

A morning panel titled  Communicating Topics in Public Health Effectively  shed light on strategies to convey health information to the public despite the challenging political environment. HPM Professor Robert Shepardson moderated the panel, which included White House Assistant Press Secretary Kevin Munoz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Planning and Speechwriter for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Brian Reich, and Environmental Health Sciences Professor Julie Herbstman . When asked why communications is important, Herbstman, who is director of Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health noted, “I love working with data, but the reason I’m doing public health research is so that it goes somewhere, it has some kind of impact. My job isn’t done when I publish a paper.”

Afternoon sessions covered topics including food justice, developments in alternative medicine, PEPFAR reauthorization, and a lunch salon focused on digital health. The latter discussion was led by HPM student Andera Marx, senior marketing manager at Amazon Health Services and senior product marketing manager at One Medical.

The closing panel considered the deployment of AI in healthcare and what that could mean for equitable access to services. Columbia Mailman Biostatistics Professor and Associate Dean for Data Science Jeff Goldsmith moderated the event, which included panelists Julia Iyasere, director of the Dalio Center of Health Justice; Ashley Beecy, medical director of AI Operations at NewYork-Presbyterian; and physician-strategist Rebecca Winkour.

The day concluded with a networking reception and panel for admitted students led by current master’s students. Amey Kamdar, MHA ’24, appreciated how the conference brought together providers, researchers, policymakers, and students, adding, “That made for great dialogue and broadening of horizons.” HPM Chair and Professor of Health Policy and Management Michael Sparer echoed Kamdar’s comments, saying, “This is a special day where we come together once a year and we hear great talks, but we also have an opportunity to network and be with each other.”

Master in Public Policy

Understand complex public problems and craft concrete solutions in this rigorous two-year program

Key Program Information

Program Length: Two years (varies for students pursuing joint or concurrent degrees)

Degree Awarded: Master in Public Policy

Admission Application Deadline: December 2024

Financial Aid Application Deadline: January 2025

Contact the MPP Program

79 John F. Kennedy Street Littauer Building, Room 133 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Become an expert problem solver

The Master in Public Policy Program provides you with a conceptual toolkit rooted in the social sciences and adapted for action.

A defining feature of the Master in Public Policy (MPP) Program is its commitment to practice. Take what you learn here and apply it right away—through capstone exercises, case studies, experiential learning opportunities, and optional internships—to deliver lasting results.

At the heart of the program is a cross-disciplinary core curriculum that exposes you to the analytic methods, conceptual frameworks, and habits of mind that empower you to craft solutions for real-world public problems.

“At HKS, my professors taught me valuable quantitative skills, strategies on working multilaterally with different stakeholders in different sectors, the power of storytelling, and how to build an effective organization.”  —Sebastian Agignoae MPP 2022

About the MPP Program

Curriculum overview.

The MPP curriculum will broaden your perspective and sharpen skills to prepare you for a successful career in public service.

The first year of the MPP Program focuses on the cross-disciplinary fundamentals of policy design, analysis, and implementation. You will take core courses to develop professional competencies in: 

• Financial management
• Negotiation
• Policy design and delivery
• Quantitative analysis
• Applied history

Areas of Focus

As a complement to the MPP core curriculum, you will also choose a  Policy Area of Concentration (PAC)  in one of five areas: 

• Business and Government Policy
• Democracy, Politics, and Institutions
• International and Global Affairs 
• Political and Economic Development
• Social and Urban Policy 

Summer Internships

While it isn’t a formal requirement, most MPP students take on a  policy-oriented internship  during the summer after the first year. You’ll apply what you’ve learned in class to gain deeper insights; use new skills; and face challenges in different professional areas, policy fields, or parts of the world.

Core Curriculum

Most first-year MPP students take 38 credits, which consists of 18 core course credits in the fall and 16 core course credits credits in the spring. Many students also begin taking elective courses in the spring of their first year.

Required Core Courses (First Year)

• Resources, Incentives, and Choices I: Markets and Market Failures (API-101, 4 credits)
• Quantitative Analysis and Empirical Methods (API-201, 4 credits)
• Policy Design and Delivery I (API-501, 4 credits)
• Race and Racism in the Making of the United States as a Global Power (DPI-385M, 2 credits)
• Race and Racism in Public Policies, Practices, and Perspectives (DPI-386M, 2 credits)
• Fundamentals of Negotiation Analysis and Practice (MLD-220M, 2 credits)
• Resources, Incentives, and Choices II: Analysis of Public Policy (API-102, 4 credits)
• Empirical Methods II ( API-202M , 2 credits & API-203M , 2 credits)
• Politics and Ethics in Unstable Times (DPI-200, 4 credits)
• Spring Exercise (API-500M, 0 credits)

Spring Exercise

The first-year MPP curriculum culminates in the Spring Exercise, a two-week simulation that applies the tools and concepts of the first-year core to a real-world, real-time policy issue. 

During the Exercise, you are assigned to a five-person team tasked with forging solutions to a deliberately tough challenge. You’ll conduct research, attend sessions and presentations that link the topic to your core courses, and work with your team to prepare a package of policy and management recommendations. 

Required Core Courses (Second Year)

• Policy Area of Concentration year-long seminar (or “PAC Seminar”), including completion of the Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) (4 credits)
• PAC electives (8-20 credits dependent on PAC/Concentration)

Policy Analysis Exercise

The Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE)  is the capstone of the MPP experience.

The PAC Seminars familiarize you with key issues and policy debates in your particular area and guide you through the PAE writing process. Once you declare your PAE topic, you will be assigned a faculty advisor with the expertise to help you succeed.  

During the PAE, you develop solutions for a policy or management problem that your client—a public or nonprofit organization—is grappling with. You and your client work together to scope the problem, examine the context,  gather data, formulate and evaluate options, and make actionable recommendations. The final analysis—usually around 40 pages or 10,000 words—gives you the opportunity to integrate the technical skills and specialized knowledge you have gained from the MPP curriculum while also helping your client organization create public value.

Learn more about the Policy Analysis Exercise and read past examples. 

Degree Requirements

The MPP Program consists of four semesters of full-time coursework in residence at HKS. 

To graduate, you must: 

• Earn at least 72 credits, which must include the required core curriculum, your PAC requirements, capstone experiences, and electives
• Matriculate as a full-time, in-residence student and take between 12-24 credits per semester
• Finish with a GPA of B or better
• Earn a B- or higher in all required MPP core courses, and PAC requirements, as well as a passing grade for the Spring Exercise, PAE, and PAC Seminar

Joint and Concurrent Degrees

You might consider  pursuing a second degree jointly or concurrently  if you’re interested in how the world’s challenges can be addressed at the intersection of public policy and business, law, medicine, design, or other fields.

Pursuing a joint or concurrent degree reduces coursework and residency requirements and makes it possible to earn two degrees in a shorter amount of time.

Joint Degrees

As an MPP student, you can pursue a joint degree —either an MBA at  Harvard Business School  or a JD at  Harvard Law School —that involves carefully crafted and integrated coursework.

Concurrent Degrees

You can pursue a concurrent degree in business, law, medicine, design, or another field—as long as it is:

• A professional degree (an MBA, MD, or JD; not a PhD or an academic master’s)
• At least a two-year program
• Completed at a partner school

The concurrent degree program allows you to pursue degrees at HKS and at a partner school; however, the coursework is not as closely integrated as the joint degree program. As a concurrent degree student, you are responsible for weaving together the two halves of your learning experience.

Faculty members  at HKS aren’t just teachers. They are global experts who shape public policy, advise governments, and help run major institutions in the United States and abroad. Learn more about our core MPP faculty members.

John Donahue

MPP Faculty Chair; Raymond Vernon Senior Lecturer in Public Policy

Marcella Alsan

Angelopoulos Professor of Public Policy

Desmond Ang

Assistant Professor of Public Policy

Christopher Norio Avery

Roy E. Larsen Professor of Public Policy

Gloria Ayee

Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy

Jeeyang Rhee Baum

Jonathan Borck

Cornell Brooks

Hauser Professor of the Practice of Nonprofit Organizations; Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership 

Michela Carlana

Dara Kay Cohen

Professor of Public Policy

Suzanne Cooper

Academic Dean for Teaching and Curriculum; Edith M. Stokey Senior Lecturer in Public Policy

Justin de Benedictis-Kessner

Pınar Doğan

Senior Lecturer in Public Policy

Lecturer in Public Policy

Anthony Foxx

Emma Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership

Archon Fung

Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government

Jason Furman

Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy

Sharad Goel

Yanilda Gonzlez

Juan Jimenez

Juliette Kayyem

Belfer Senior Lecturer in International Security

Robert Lawrence

Albert L. Williams Professor of International Trade and Investment

30th Anniversary Associate Professor of Health Care Policy, HMS

Elizabeth Linos

Emma Bloomberg Associate Professor of Public Policy and Management

Brian Mandell

Mohamed Kamal Senior Lecturer in Negotiation and Public Policy

Liz McKenna

Julia Minson

Associate Professor of Public Policy

Khalil Gibran Muhammad

Ford Foundation Professor of History, Race, and Public Policy

Thomas Patterson

Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press

Christopher Robichaud

Senior Lecturer in Ethics and Public Policy

Eric Rosenbach

Juan Saavedra

Benjamin Schneer

Daniel Schneider

Malcolm Wiener Professor of Social Policy, HKS; Professor of Sociology, FAS

Mark Shepard

Kathryn Sikkink

Ryan Family Professor of Human Rights Policy

Sandra Susan Smith

Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Professor of Criminal Justice, HKS; Professor of Sociology, FAS; Carol K. Pforzheimer Professor, Radcliffe

Teddy Svoronos

Charles Taylor

Stephen Walt

Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs

Setti Warren

Mpp at a glance.

*Statistics are based on a five-year average.

Employment Snapshot: MPP Class of 2023 Employment Sectors

Featured MPP stories

A new graduate heads for u.s. space force.

Megan Cordone MPP 2023 is a rocket enthusiast who combined her strengths in physics and policy to pursue a public service career.

Strengthening public institutions

Austin Boral MPP/MBA 2023 wants public officials to retain and share what they learn tackling the most complex public problems.

Shaping AI policy

Grace Park MPP 2023 is exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and public policy.

“I believe every public servant should be polished in a basic toolset: economics, ethics, statistics, policy analysis, negotiations, leadership. The MPP core offers that and more.” 

Hiram ríos hernández mpp 2017 , applying to the mpp program, prerequisites.

To apply to the MPP Program, you  must have:

• A bachelor’s degree with a strong academic record 
• Evidence of quantitative proficiency such as success in undergraduate-level economics, statistics, or calculus courses, regardless of your undergraduate major

Work experience is not strictly required but is an advantage for admission, and more importantly, for making the most of the MPP experience. Incoming MPP students typically have 2-3 years of professional work experience.

How to Apply

A complete application to the MPP Program includes: 

• Online application
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE or GMAT required
• Non-native English speakers who did not earn an undergraduate degree conducted in English must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge English exam results
• Academic transcripts
• $100 application fee or waiver

Read more about how to apply .  

The application for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available in September 2024. There is one admission application deadline and one start date for each degree program per year. You may apply to only one master's degree program per admissions cycle. 

Tuition & Fees

The cost of attendance for the 2024-2025 academic year is outlined in  Funding Your Master’s Education  to help you plan financially for our master’s degree programs. Living expense costs are based on residence in Cambridge. The 2025-2026 academic year rates will be published in March 2025. HKS tuition and fees are subject to change without notice. 

Financing your education is a partnership—we are here to help guide you. You are strongly encouraged to explore all  funding opportunities .

Learn more about the HKS community

Student life, student stories, admissions & financial aid blog.

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Diane Dahl P.h.D., RN

Academics Faculty

• Interim Dean of Health Programs and Chief Nursing Administrator Nursing , College of Arts and Sciences

Diane has been involved in nursing education and leadership for 30 years. She is the interim dean of health programs and Chief Nursing Administrator. Her interests include curriculum development, assessment, accreditation, and international programming.

Started at Bethel

• University of Minnesota - PhD in Education; Department of Curriculum and Instruction, 2010
• Grand Valley State University - Masters in Nursing Education, 1995

Diane Dahl started at Bethel in 1998, primarily teaching medical surgical nursing, cultural diversity, foundations, and leadership courses. In 2002, she became the program director for Bethel's RN to BSN program and taught in this program and graduate programs. She has served in various dean roles since 2010.  Diane assisted in the development of multiple nursing programs and assisted with successful accreditation visits. She has served as a CCNE accreditation evaluator since 2013. She has traveled to Uganda Christian University multiple times, facilitating nursing curriculum development and teaching in UCU's Masters of Nursing Education courses.  She is an active leader in the Minnesota Association of Colleges of Nursing. 

2012:  Fulbrignt Specialist Award

Certificates and Licenses

Professional organizations, committees, and boards.

Co-president, Minnesota Association of Colleges of Nursing

Team Leader/Evaluator,  CCNE

Member,  Health Education Industry Partnership Statewide Group

Member, Minnesota Homecare Association Workforce Taskforce