Master's in Health Policy & Management: Curriculum
- Core Curriculum
- Electives
- Other Required Courses
- Concentration in Public Health
- Concentration in Practice Management
- Field Experience
- Capstone Project
- Joint Degrees Programs
Core Curriculum
At the center of the curriculum is a required core course of study providing a foundation of knowledge and skills for effective performance in health policy and management. For either track, the following courses are required. Students are advised to take theses courses as early as possible in order to inform their selection of a track.
20 credits:
- HPM 570 The American Healthcare System (3 credits)
- HPM 574 Community Health and Medical Care (3 credits)
- HPM 530 Fundamentals of Leadership in Health Care (2 credits)
- HPM 676 Healthcare Planning and Marketing (3 credits)
- HPM 678 Health Law (3 credits)
- HPM 681 Quality and Outcomes of Healthcare (3 credits)
- PPM 611 Economics Public Policy and Management with Health module (3 credits)
Policy Track
For those students electing the Policy track, the following additional core courses are required:
In order to reach the 47 credits required for the degree, students who have declared a Policy track will staisfy 16 additional credits among the elective courses that are available to them.
Management Track
For those students electing the Management track, the following additional core courses are required:
- HPM 634 Health Care Finance I (2 credits)
- HPM 636 Health Information Management (3 credits)
- HPM 680 Health Resource Seminar (1 credits)
- HPM 684 Health Care Finance II (2 credits)
- MBA 504 Probability and Statistics for Business Decision Making (3 credits)
- PPM 632 Human Resource Management in Public, Non-Profit, and Health Organizations (3 credits)
In order to reach the 47 credits required for the degree, students who have declared a Management track will staisfy 8 additional credits among the elective courses that are available to them.
Electives
To satisfy elective credits, students may select from the above courses which are not required for a student's selected track. Students may also select courses from the following list. Finally, students, with advisor approval, may substitute other graduate level courses offered at USM to satisfy elective requirements.
- AMS 535 Epidemiologic Research
- HPM 679a Research Seminar in Health Policy: Mental Health Policy
- HPM 679b Research Seminar in Health Policy: Long Term Care
- HPM 682 Social and Behavioral Foundations for Public Health
- HPM 683 Topics in Practice Management
- PPM 602 Research Methods
- PPM 603 Advanced Research Methods
- PPM 604 Evaluation Methods
- PPM 524 Gender, Race and Politics in Public Policy
- PPM 526 Public Policy and Children
- PPM 630 Organizational Dynamics
Other Required Courses
Concentration in Public Health
The concentration in public health further emphasizes public health competencies in epidemiology, biostatistics, community health, evaluation, social health as well as management, all within a public policy context. In addition to the core courses, the concentration specifies the completion of AMS 535, PPM 604, and HPM 682. Students are also required to complete their field experience and capstone project in an area of public health.
Concentration in Practice Management
The concentration in Practice Management further emphasizes those skills related to the management of physician and other professional health care practices. The concentration specifies the completion of the Management Track plus HPM 683. Students are also required to complete their field experience and capstone project in an area of practice management.
Field Experience
Each student is required to demonstrate proficiency in the skills learned in the program in one of two ways. Students with substantial work experience in a health care setting have the option of a 2-credit independent study that focuses on a topic related to their current or recent work experience. For students with limited experience, or for those interested in broadening their experience, a 2-credit field experience is required in a participating health care organization under the direction of an approved preceptor. Either of these options is available to students who have earned at least 24 credits in the HPM program.
Capstone Project
The capstone project is undertaken by students working independently under faculty supervision. It requires the student to integrate knowledge and skills acquired in the HPM program and to demonstrate competence in their application to a specific topic in health policy or management. The project may take many forms, including a policy or management research project, the development of a strategic plan for a health care organization, an organizational or human resource analysis, or a financial study, among others. The precise form will be determined by the student in consultation with his or her capstone advisor.
Joint Degrees Programs
Students may pursue a joint degrees program with either the University of Maine School of Law for a JD and MS or the USM School of Business for an MBA and MS. Separate admissions are required.
