Specialization in Health Policy
Specialization enrollment in health policy is limited. Please contact the director of the policy program before applying to this specialization.
The Ph.D. in Public Policy with a specialization in health will enable the doctoral graduate to understand the role of public policy and health care issues confronting society today. Health policy involves skills such as understanding agenda-setting, alternative specification, and policy formulation. Specific issue areas that may be of interest to the student include: Medicaid/Medicare, manager care organizations, the health care delivery system, and health care inflation. The study of public policy and health will prepare the student for positions in government at the local, state and federal level. Various health care agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Red Cross, and UNICEF would also be interested in students who have received this degree.
Specialization Faculty
- William Bailey, Ph.D. (Texas Tech University), Professor, Human Environmental Sciences
- Dr. Vaughn DeCoster, Ph.D. (Louisiana State University) Associate Professor, School of Social Work
- Dr. Ro Di Brezzo, Ph.D. (Texas Woman’s University) University Professor, Kinesiology, College of Education and Health Professions
- Barbara Shadden, Ph.D. (University of Tennessee), Professor, Rehabilitation Education and Research
Course of Study
This specialization requires twelve hours of post master’s studies. Among the course possibilities are:
- HLSC 6993. Seminar: Law & Policy Governing Health Care Delivery Systems. This course is intended to provide students with a working knowledge of health law, the functioning of the legal system, and the roles of different branches of government in creating, administering and enforcing the law in the United States. In addition, a wide range of current health care topics will be covered to familiarize the health professional with common legal and practical problems facing the industry.
- HLSC 5633. Health Planning. Emphasis is on examination of health planning process and concepts. Methods for health planning, functions, goals and authority of health planning agencies, issues in comprehensive health planning, and analysis of decision-making steps for program implementation will be addressed.
- HLSC 5613. Principles of Epidemiology. Distribution and patterns of disease or physiological conditions within populations; an examination of the nature of epidemiological research.
- HLSC 5633. Health Services Administration. Emphasis is on an examination of administrative factors related to health services. Administrative and professional authority, boards, consumers, delivery of services, federal role, and cost containment will also be addressed.
- HLSC 5563. Public Health. Acquaints the student with the structure, functions, and major problems in public health and with the role of education in public health.
Other Elective Courses
It will be the responsibility of the student's Doctoral Program Advisory Committee to assist in selecting appropriate electives when necessary. Through a special arrangement with the law school, students may take up to two law courses.