About This Program
Transform your career with a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management. This program equips you with the skills to tackle public health challenges, drive policy solutions and manage health services. Graduates are prepared for roles at hospitals, health departments, policy analysis and more. Start making a difference in public health today. Read more...
Contact Information
- Thomas Brewer | twbrewer@kent.edu |
330-672-4703
Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- Fully online
- Mostly online
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Medical and health services managers
- 31.5% much faster than the average
- 422,300 number of jobs
- $104,280 potential earnings
Additional careers
- Health policy analyst
- Regulatory affairs specialist
- Health insurance program manager
- Healthcare consultant
- Long-term care administration
- Pharmaceutical/medical device sales
- Non-profit management
Accreditation
The M.P.H. degree in Health Policy and Management is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale1
- Official transcript(s)
- Goal statement
- Résumé
- Two letters of recommendation
- English Language Proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:2
- Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 DET score
- 1
Students with less than a 3.000 GPA will be considered for conditional admission.
- 2
International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester
- Priority deadline: March 15 (international student)
All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission. - Rolling admissions (domestic student)
- Priority deadline: March 15 (international student)
- Spring Semester
- Priority deadline: August 15 (international student)
All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission. - Rolling admissions (domestic student)
- Priority deadline: August 15 (international student)
- Summer Term
- Rolling admissions (domestic student)
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| BST 62019 | BIOSTATISTICS IN PUBLIC HEALTH | 3 |
| EHS 62018 | ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH | 3 |
| EPI 62017 | FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGY | 3 |
| HPM 62016 | PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION | 3 |
| HPM 63003 | HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS | 3 |
| HPM 63004 | PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY, LAW AND ETHICS | 3 |
| HPM 63005 | FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS | 3 |
| HPM 63006 | COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IN PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS | 3 |
| HPM 63007 | PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS: PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION | 3 |
| HPM 63020 | COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT | 3 |
| PH 61199 | INTEGRATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE | 1 |
| SBS 64634 | SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BEHAVIORS | 3 |
| Major Electives, choose from the following: | 6-9 | |
| Culminating Requirement | ||
| HPM 60392 | APPLIED PRACTICE EXPERIENCE IN HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT 1 | 3-6 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 46 | |
- 1
It is expected that students enrolled in HPM 60392 who do not complete the course in one term will continuously register for HPM 60492 each semester, until all requirements have been met. Credit hours for HPM 60492 do not apply toward the minimum 46 credit hours for the degree.
Graduation Requirements
| Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
|---|---|
| - | 3.000 |
- Practicum placement at an approved public health agency under the guidance of a qualified preceptor (150 or 300 contact hours)
- Final portfolio/report and a seminar presentation integrating theory and practice
- Participation in at least one approved interprofessional education event; event requires students to participate at a specific time/date to be determined in consultation with the student's advisor
- No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
- Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
Evidence-Based Approaches to Public Health
- Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
- Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.
- Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.
Public Health and Health Care Systems
- Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
- Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels.
Planning and Management to Promote Health
- Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.
- Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
- Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
- Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
- Select methods to evaluate public health programs.
Policy in Public Health
- Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
- Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
- Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
- Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
Leadership
- Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making.
- Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
Communication
- Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
- Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
- Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.
Interprofessional Practice
- Perform effectively on interprofessional teams.
Systems Thinking
- Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.
Dual Degree with M.B.A. in Business Administration
Students have the opportunity to complete a dual degree program with the M.P.H. degree in Health Policy and Management and the M.B.A. degree in Business Administration. A separate application must be submitted for each program. Students can view admission requirements for each program on their respective catalog page.
The M.B.A./M.P.H. Health Policy and Management dual degree program prepares students for responsible leadership positions and offers an integrated business and public health curriculum designed to help students develop real-world knowledge and skills needed to pursue success and management opportunities in the public health industry.
Dual Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 63037 | FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING | 2 |
| ACCT 63038 | MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING | 2 |
| BA 64005 | ANALYTICS FOR DECISION MAKING | 2 |
| BA 64027 | SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT | 2 |
| BST 62019 | BIOSTATISTICS IN PUBLIC HEALTH | 3 |
| CIS 64042 | GLOBALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY | 2 |
| ECON 62021 | MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS | 2 |
| ECON 62022 | MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS | 2 |
| EHS 62018 | ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH | 3 |
| EPI 62017 | FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGY | 3 |
| FIN 66050 | LAW AND ETHICS | 2 |
| FIN 66060 | MANAGERIAL FINANCE | 2 |
| HPM 60392 | APPLIED PRACTICE EXPERIENCE IN HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| HPM 62016 | PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION | 3 |
| HPM 63003 | HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS | 3 |
| HPM 63006 | COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IN PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS | 3 |
| HPM 63007 | PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS: PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION | 3 |
| HPM 63020 | COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT | 3 |
| HRM 64271 | HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | 2 |
| MGMT 64158 | LEADERSHIP | 2 |
| MGMT 68051 | BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT I 1 | 1 |
| MKTG 65051 | MARKETING MANAGEMENT | 2 |
| SBS 64634 | SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BEHAVIORS | 3 |
| Culminating Requirement | ||
| MGMT 64399 | BUSINESS STRATEGY | 3 |
| PH 61199 | INTEGRATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE | 1 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 59 | |
- 1
MGMT 68051 may be waived for students with at least two years of full-time work experience. Students waived the course may graduate with fewer than 59 credit hours but no fewer than 58 credit hours.
Graduation Requirements
- Practicum placement at an approved public health agency under the guidance of a qualified preceptor (150 or 300 contact hours)
- Final portfolio/report and a seminar presentation integrating theory and practice
- Participation in at least one approved interprofessional education event; event requires students to participate at a specific time/date to be determined in consultation with the student's advisor
Full Description
The Master of Public Health degree in Health Policy and Management is designed to help students develop real world knowledge and skills needed to pursue success in the public health industry. The program prepares students to address public health risks and develop effective health services delivery models, and incorporates health services research, health policy analysis and health care planning and management. Given the active research of the college’s faculty in identifying service gaps and developing evidence-based practices and policy analysis, students emerge with strong skills in health services management, alternative models of service financing and strategies for improving services.
Career opportunities for graduates include administrative and management positions in hospitals, clinics, state and local health departments, nursing homes and mental health facilities; policy analyst positions in health planning organizations and governmental agencies; and planning and management positions in health maintenance organizations and health insurance companies.
The M.P.H. degree in Health Policy and Management can be paired with the Healthcare Compliance graduate certificate. Students may double count 12 credit hours toward both programs. Graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) examination through the Compliance Certification Board (CCB).
Students have the opportunity to complete a dual degree program with the Master of Business Administration degree. A separate application must be submitted for each program.