The solution of public health problems through the development, analysis, implementation, and evaluation of health and health policies is the focus of the PhD program in Health and Public Policy. Public policy is viewed in its broad sense, encompassing social issues, law, politics, environment and science. Students in this program study the impacts of public policy on the health of populations, and the application of public policy to relieve the burdens of disease and injury. The implementation of policies into programmatic efforts to advance the practice of public health is also emphasized. Faculty employ an interdisciplinary approach to their teaching and research which is reflected by their backgrounds in medicine, epidemiology, public health practice, social and political science, law, environmental health and risk sciences. Within this program, students may focus their studies in the areas of social policy and health, injury control, the practice of prevention, as well as environmental and occupational health policy.Through coursework and research, students are prepared to apply the general principles of social policy and health, the impact of social policies on the level of health and well-being of populations is emphasized, as is the relationship between health care and social care. For those with a focus in injury control, preventing injuries, reducing disability and providing emergency services and rehabilitation are major areas of emphasis. The practice of prevention focus examines specific public health problems such as AIDs, tobacco, obesity, and violence and develops stratgies for addressing these problems through traditional and innovative policies. Students interested in environmental and occupational health policy examine those factors in the human environment that impact population health, methods for assessing risks, and the development and evaluation of policies to improve environmental public health. | 
