Master of Public Health in Health Policy
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
The MPH in Health Policy provides students with the skills to contribute to advancing the health of populations by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of personal and other health services in private and public health organizations. This two-year program integrates a strong foundation in healthcare management and policy analysis with a set of social values rooted in the discipline of public health. The broad, general healthcare management and policy curriculum addresses critical issues facing the U.S. healthcare system through coursework, as well as a field training component.
Individuals with a previous academic or professional doctoral-level degree who have already worked in healthcare for several years and wish to refine their health services skills may apply for the one-year program. Physicians, dentists, attorneys, social scientists, and other professionals enter this program to gain an understanding of the complexities and process of the healthcare system. This program provides individuals with a strong foundation in health services to complement and broaden their expertise in their functional area.
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Program Requirements
A total of 78 quarter-credit units are needed to complete the program.
1. Required Courses in the Department of Health Policy and Management
- HLT POL 200B: Health Systems Organization & Financing II
- HLT POL M233: Policy Analysis
- HLT POL M236: Microeconomic Theory of the Health Sector
- HLT POL 286: American Political Institutions & Health Policy
- HLT POL M287: Politics of Health Policy
- HLT POL 400: Internship and Consulting Report
- HLT POL M422: Practices of Evaluation in Health Services
- HLT POL 439: Data Software for Public Health Professionals
- HLT POL 441: Data Analytics
2. Core Course Requirements in Public Health
- PH 200A and B: Foundations in Public Health
- PH 401: Public Health as a Profession
3. Additional Course Requirements
- Elective Courses (6 courses/24 units)
4. Applied Practice Experience (APEx)
To supplement the classroom experience, students must complete a summer internship (10 weeks) with a health care organization. During the summer internship and in the fall quarter following, students prepare a written consulting report including a proposal, literature review, and policy implications. The consulting report will focus on an operational problem or decision identified during the summer placement. This might be any organizational issue, process management initiative, policy white paper, research project, strategic, business plan, or any of a number of analyses. Health care settings may include hospitals, managed care organizations, medical groups, government agencies or departments, consulting firms, community organizations, advocacy agencies, or related health settings. After completing their summer internship, students often work part-time at their summer placement site. Students enroll in HLT POL 400 in the fall quarter to successfully complete the summer internship requirement and consulting report.
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Typical Course Sequencing
The curriculum consists of a three-term sequence of academic coursework, followed by a summer field work placement of at least ten weeks, followed by a final three terms of further academic coursework.
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Time to Degree
The MPH degree is typically obtained after two academic years (six quarters of full-time study), including a required 400-hour internship, usually completed in the summer between the first and second years.
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Department Faculty
View a list of faculty in the Department of Health Policy and Management.
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Career Outcomes
Students graduate with a comprehensive knowledge base to understand the implications of the field as well as a set of skills and competencies to apply in furtherance of moving us toward a more efficient, equitable and quality health care system.
Examples of positions held by graduates include:
- Policy consultant
- Health policy analyst
- Health policy advocate
- City/county/state/federal health employee
- Project manager
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Tuition and Fees
For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the registrar's office.
Please see the cost and aid section of our website for information on awards, scholarships, training opportunities, employment, summer internship funding, and need-based aid. Please note that opportunities listed under 'Summer Internship Funding' are only applicable to MPH students.
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Admissions
Desired Qualifications
In addition to meeting the University’s minimum requirements, prior work experience in a hospital or clinical setting is strongly considered in the evaluation of applicants for admission.
Admissions Process
Visit the application guide to learn about our admissions process.
Application Guide
Please note:
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This information is intended as an overview, and should be used as a guide only. Requirements, course offerings and other elements may change, and this overview may not list all details of the program.
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Admission requirements listed are departmental requirements, and are in addition to the University's minimum requirements. Many programs receive more applicants than can be admitted, so meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not ensure admission. Every effort is made to ensure minimum admissions requirements are up to date - for the most up-to-date information on the University's minimum requirements, please visit the UCLA Graduate Division.
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Fees are subject to change and should be used as a guide only. For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the registrar's office.