MSPH in Health Policy and Management (Health Policy)

The MSPH program in Health Policy combines academic coursework in health policy at a world-class institution with nine months of professional health policy work experience.

The proximity of Johns Hopkins to our nation's capital and the engagement of our faculty in Washington make the program ideal for those interested in pursuing careers in health policy.

There is a need for well-trained health policy professionals seeking solutions to problems affecting human health and well-being. The MSPH program in Health Policy prepares students to address the complex challenges inherent in the U.S. public health and healthcare systems.

Students seek answers to critical health policy questions, such as, How do we address the fact that so many Americans lack access to health care? How do we enact policies that support the nation’s frayed public health infrastructure? What are the best policy solutions to address the epidemics of gun violence and opioid addiction and overdose in the US? What can public health policy professionals do to advance the development of healthier environments in our nation’s communities?

Through the development of analysis, writing, research, and advocacy skills, MSPH in health policy graduates go on to impact the policies, regulations, and laws governing the health of populations within the U.S.

The MSPH in Health Policy is a professionally-oriented degree program designed for individuals seeking specialized academic training to establish or expand their careers as health policy analysts. The program requires one year of full-time residential academic coursework, followed by a nine-month field placement of full-time, paid employment in a professional health policy setting.

The competencies specific to the MSPH in Health Policy are met through coursework and a 9-month field placement. Upon successful completion of the program, students will have mastered the following program competencies:

• Evaluate critically the sources of vulnerability and related policy approaches to improve health and social outcomes in a specific vulnerable population.
• Appraise the range of policy mechanisms that can be used to improve health and social outcomes among vulnerable populations.
• Assess the feasibility of translating a good policy idea into a viable policy option.
• Apply skills and knowledge about policy formulation to advance health and social policy initiatives.
• Describe the legal principles that underlie health policy formulation.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will have mastered the following program competencies:

• Evaluate critically the sources of vulnerability and related policy approaches to improve health and social outcomes in a specific vulnerable population.
• Appraise the range of policy mechanisms that can be used to improve health and social outcomes among vulnerable populations.
• Assess the feasibility of translating a good policy idea into a viable policy option.
• Apply skills and knowledge about policy formulation to advance health and social policy initiatives.
• Describe the legal principles that underlie health policy formulation.

Core Courses

Core Policy Courses

• PH.300.651 Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare System
• PH.300.712 Formulating Policy: Strategies and Systems of Policymaking in the 21st Century
• PH.301.645 Health Advocacy
• PH.306.650 Public Health and the Law
• PH.312.655 Organizational Behavior and Management
• PH.318.603 Applied Microeconomics for Policymaking
• PH.318.623 Social Policy for Vulnerable Populations in the U.S.
• PH.308.867 MSPH Seminar in Health Policy 1

Core Methods Courses

• PH.340.721 Epidemiologic Inference in Public Health I
• PH.140.621 Statistical Methods in Public Health I
• PH.140.622 Statistical Methods in Public Health II
• PH.140.623 Statistical Methods in Public Health III
• PH.140.624 Statistical Methods in Public Health IV
• PH.300.713 Research and Evaluation Methods for Health Policy

Johns Hopkins MSPH degree in Health Policy qualifies graduates to work in exciting and rewarding positions across the health policy spectrum in both the public and private sectors.

Program graduates pursue careers as health policy analysts, legislative affairs specialists, lobbyists, public affairs experts, and health policy consultants.

Many of our graduates’ careers lead to senior management and executive positions in the health policy arena.

MSPH alumni are employed by organizations such as: