The Health Systems Management program prepares future managers and leaders who will improve the healthcare delivery services in diverse organizational settings worldwide. Students learn the fundamental areas of management of health services through coursework and practicum experience, preparing them for entry-level managerial roles in healthcare settings. Taking a systems approach, courses emphasize active management in planning, financing, implementing, evaluating, and maintaining complex systems.
Program Competencies
At the completion of the MPH degree, the student will be able to:
Apply population-based and public health findings and principles in assessing individuals and groups at risk of disease and injury and making recommendations for improved health in clinical practice settings. Identify the theoretical and applied bases of economics in health care in the delivery of care to populations; access to care of populations; and organization of medical service delivery organizations. Explain and analyze the issues of quality, access, and efficiency of healthcare service delivery. Identify and describe the main components of the organization, financing and delivery of health services and public health systems in the U.S. and other contexts. Describe frameworks for understanding and assessing health systems performance. Apply “systems thinking” approaches to viewing complex situations, defining problems, and formulating solutions. Apply basic managerial concepts and tools to program planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation of organizational and community-based initiatives. Incorporate knowledge of the public health core areas of epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health systems management, and the biological, behavioral, social and cultural aspects of health and disease, in addressing and solving problems.
The MPH Degree in Health Systems Management requires 45 credits that includes:
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPHTM Foundational Requirements | ||
| SPHL 6020 | Foundations in Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6050 | Biostatistics for Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6060 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6070 | Health Systems Policy and Management | 3 |
| SPHL 6080 | Design Strategies in Public Health Programs | 3 |
| Program Course Requirements | ||
| HPAM 6140 | Leadership for Clinical Improvement | 3 |
| HPAM 6170 | Quality Management in Health Care | 3 |
| HPAM 6380 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| HPAM 6450 | Health Economics | 3 |
| HPAM 6540 | Managerial Accounting for Health Care Managers | 3 |
| HPAM 6780 | 3 | |
| Elective Courses | 12 | |
| SPHL 9980 | Applied Practice Experience 2 | 0 |
| SPHL 7950 | Integrative Learning Experience 3 | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |
- 1
Selected from courses offered within the department, school, or university in consultation with an academic advisor.
- 2
The Practicum or Applied Practice Experience (APE) is a supervised practice experience conducted in an agency or organization external to the university to gain practical experience. The Practicum allows students to demonstrate attainment of at least five competencies, including at least 3 from the foundational competencies (CEPH Criterion D2). The Practicum is conducted after completion of the foundational courses. After identifying the Practicum setting and defining the competencies, students enter the information into Terra Dotta. A Practicum report is required that summarizes the field experiences.
- 3
All students must complete an Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) (formerly culminating experience) that demonstrates the synthesis of foundational and concentration competencies. Students in the MPH in Epidemiology conduct a public health analysis.
Model Course Schedule
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| SPHL 6020 | Foundations in Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6050 | Biostatistics for Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6070 | Health Systems Policy and Management | 3 |
| HPAM 6380 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPHL 6060 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6080 | Design Strategies in Public Health Programs | 3 |
| HPAM 6170 | Quality Management in Health Care | 3 |
| HPAM 6540 | Managerial Accounting for Health Care Managers | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Summer Session | ||
| SPHL 9980 | Applied Practice Experience | 0 |
| Credit Hours | 0 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPHL 7950 | Integrative Learning Experience (Public Health Analysis) | 0 |
| HPAM 6140 | Leadership for Clinical Improvement | 3 |
| HPAM 6450 | Health Economics | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| HPAM 6780 | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |