Health Policy Leadership Concentration
Program Update
Thank you for your interest in the Health Policy Leadership concentration. The concentration is on pause for fall 2024, but please consider these other Public Health concentrations:
What is Health Policy Leadership?
The MPH Health Policy Leadership concentration develops skills and knowledge in public health systems, leadership, strategy, policy design and implementation, political analysis, ethics, and epidemiology. The in-person classes are located in California's state capital, Sacramento. The USF Sacramento Campus is the ideal setting for students looking to immerse themselves in health policy and leadership. Full time and adjunct faculty include experienced leaders in varied California state government agencies, the California legislature, national and state-wide foundations, county government, and more.
This two-year, hybrid program affords students seminar classes with strong faculty support for professional development. The program operationalizes a commitment to health equity in public health systems, including proficiency in management skills in the crafting and execution of strategy and program plans, and the development of policies in public and nonprofit organizations and programs at the county, state, or national level. Students develop a deeper understanding and paths for effective action in California, in the United States, and internationally.
Professor Richard Callahan
Director, Health Services Administration Concentration, Master of Public Administration; Co-Director of the Health Policy Leadership Concentration, Sacramento
What is the MPH Public Health Leadership concentration focus?
The MPH Policy Leadership program has allowed me to focus on how we provide care to people and advanced population health by leading or working in more effective organizations. It's not an abstract discussion of policy."
Professor Richard Callahan
Director, Health Services Administration Concentration, Master of Public Administration; Co-Director of the Health Policy Leadership Concentration, Sacramento
Program Highlights
- Open to students with a Baccalaureate degree in any field from an accredited institution.
- The MPH Health Policy Leadership concentration requires 42 credits to graduate (26 credits of core courses + 16 credits of Health Policy Leadership courses).
- Courses are offered in person year round one evening per week over the course of two years. Courses meet in person one week and online the alternating week. Off-site assignments are conducted during the weeks that you're not attending class in person.
- Program has a particular emphasis on public health systems, evidence-based best practices, policy analysis, and leadership best practices.
- Advanced coursework in leadership and public health policy.
- Particularly suited to aspiring leaders in health administration and public health policy, as well as candidates aspiring for entry into doctoral programs.
Concentration Competencies
- Predict how health policies may impact risks and health outcome drivers at the health system and public health sector level.
- Synthesize evidence from literature review and databases to write a policy options paper for a specific audience, identifying a problem and proposing alternative approaches to meet health needs in underserved communities.
- Design a leadership plan and strategies to manage stakeholders and related political processes, addressing conflict, resistance, and cooperation in the implementation process.
- Communicate recommendations to improve organizational strategies and capacity to implement health policy
- Apply scientifically-based criteria and regulatory knowledge to enhance accountability in the creation and implementation of public health policies.
Offered in Sacramento