Specific learning objectives below are met through a combination of formal coursework, a field placement experience, and an integrating paper. Upon completion of the MHS program in Health Policy, graduates will have the skills and knowledge to meet the program learning objectives: Demonstrate knowledge of the health status of Americans, the major public health challenges they face, and the programs designed to address these problems: • Exhibit familiarity with major public health problems in the United States
• Describe the health status and demographic profile of the US population, including the incidence and prevalence of disease, as well as mortality rates and life expectancy in the US
• Describe the financing and organization of healthcare services in the United States
• Describe and critique the role and structure of public health agencies in addressing public health problems; the role of political actors in the formation and implementation of health policy; and the impact of law and regulation on the health of the public Demonstrate effective health policy development, analysis and evaluation skills: • Analyze and critique the government’s role in health policy and understand how political processes have shaped that role
• Analyze and evaluate the process of public policy-making and how it affects the design, implementation and performance of health policies
• Identify the political constraints and opportunities within health policy organizations and understand how they can achieve their objectives strategically
• Collect, analyze, and synthesize information about health policy problems and issues
• Develop alternative policy options and asses their economic, political, administrative, legal and social implications
• Identify public health laws, regulations, and policies related to specific programs and assess their impact
• Establish evaluation criteria to monitor and evaluate policies and programs Skillfully apply the appropriate quantitative tools to evidence-based health policy analysis and program evaluation: • Determine the appropriate use of data and quantitative methods for problem identification and resolution
• Evaluate the integrity and comparability of data and identify gaps in data sources
• Recognize basic research designs used in public health
• Analyze the quality of published research findings and determine their applicability to a particular health policy issue Communicate effectively in both oral and written form: • Present demographic, statistical, programmatic, and scientific information accurately and effectively to a wide variety of audiences
• Write professional quality analyses of health policy issues with the appropriate and skillful use of evidence and citations
• Collect, organize and summarize information from individuals, organizations, government agencies and communities Demonstrate career planning skills for the health policy arena: • Recognize the major players in the health policy arena, including public agencies and private organizations that conduct health policy research and analysis
• Plan and execute a job search in the health policy arena
• Demonstrate effective job-related writing skills, including resumes and cover letters
• Develop effective career skills, including setting up informational interviews, successfully navigating telephone and in-person job interviews and salary negotiations
• Develop professional networking and community-building skills.
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