Skip to main content

318.640.01
Practical Politics, Policy and Public Health

Course Status
Discontinued

Location
East Baltimore
Term
2nd Term
Department
Health Policy and Management
Credit(s)
3
Academic Year
2017 - 2018
Instruction Method
TBD
Class Time(s)
Tuesday, 3:30 - 5:20pm
Auditors Allowed
No
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Description
How does one effectively influence policy? What is the connection between policy and politics? This course will explore how the two are related via a practical and hands-on approach to health reform focusing on effectiveness, influencing the legislative process, and practical skills. Students will learn how to approach legislators and other policy makers, gain insight into the political process, understand how bills are drafted and amended, develop persuasive arguments, and build strategic political coalitions.
Explores how one effectively influences policy and the connection between policy and politics. Addresses how the two are related via a practical and hands-on approach, focusing on effectiveness, influencing the legislative process, and practical skills. Addresses how to approach legislators and other policy makers, gain insight into the political process, understand how bills are drafted and amended, develop persuasive arguments, and build strategic political coalitions. A sample of issues, with a focus at the state level, include: insurance regulation, reproductive rights, mental health systems, air/water quality, programs for the disabled, and gun policy. Also considers non-health care issues, including education funding and policy, transportation, criminal justice system and jails, gambling/gaming, building development, and election law.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe the pivotal role of government, particularly states, in formulating a broad range of health policy objectives
  2. Effectively use science and data to formulate policy and persuade while recognizing limitations
  3. Explain the role of advocacy groups and how to use them to build coalitions and consensus
  4. Develop arguments used to impact the public debate and policy makers’ decisions
  5. Describe key issues facing health reform and topical legislative issues, including health professions, payment schemes, and changing societal values
  6. Utilize the technical aspects of the legislative process: bill drafting, filing, amending, and enacting
  7. Employ related social issues to impact public health policy