Health Policy Program Overview

Health policy is the study of factors influencing the delivery of health care and the status of health. By its nature, this endeavor cuts across many fields, including social sciences, statistics, law, and medicine. As a result, health policy requires special creativity and originality to bring differing perspectives and bodies of knowledge to bear on important social issues.

The ability to analyze health policy has become central to the functioning of almost every kind of organization involved in the health care system, whether for-profit, nonprofit, or governmental. Even among those not directly involved in policy analysis—business managers, financial personnel, clinicians, and others—an understanding of health policy is crucial to effective, professional work. USP is in a unique position to promote interdisciplinary learning in all aspects of health policy with its depth of resources across the health science disciplines.

USP's program in Health Policy—including the master of science and doctoral degrees—will train you in the range of skills and knowledge necessary to pursue careers in the field of health policy.

As a graduate you'll be prepared for positions in private, governmental, and academic settings. You'll have coursework and research opportunities that cover health policy as it applies to the range of players in the system, including hospitals, health systems, pharmaceutical firms, government agencies, clinicians, insurance companies, managed care organizations, and entrepreneurial ventures. The depth of resources and expertise at USP related to pharmaceuticals makes this an area of special interest and provides you with unique opportunities to explore policy and management aspects of this industry.