Certificate in Health Service Management and Policy

Certificate of Advanced Study

The health care industry in America is in a rapid stage of change as pressure to reduce costs and enhance quality heightens.  The fee-for-service system of independent providers is moving toward more globally financed networks of practitioners and organizations. Consumers are becoming more involved in their care. Technology is changing the way care is delivered. These changes create new challenges and opportunities for managers and public policy makers. The health care professionals responsible for managing this change will play a large part in determining how successful the health care system will be in terms of access, cost, and quality in the future. The 12-credit (four-course) Health Services Management and Policy Certificate is open to midcareer professionals who require a policy background to operate effectively in a dynamic health care sector.

The program requires completion of two core health policy courses (PPA 782 and 783) offered through the Maxwell School and  two electives selected from approved courses offered by participating schools and colleges within the University in such areas as health and social policy, health law, demography, management, and economics. The Certificate is designed for two semesters of study and may be pursued independently or part of a masters or PhD program.  All courses may be applied to the Master of Arts in Public Administration degree program.

The culmination of the Certificate is a capstone experience that may be a research paper or a supervised field experience that concludes with the development of a written paper. For Master of Arts in Public Administration students, the Certificate capstone earns 3 credits and serves as the Master’s Project.  For those pursuing the Certificate independently, the capstone does not earn additional credit.

Associated Faculty