BS/MPH: Public Health Policy & Management

BS / MPH

The MPH in Public Health Policy & Management (PHPM) prepares students to become the next generation of leaders shaping and analyzing policies and programs that impact the social, political, and economic determinants of health. Taking a “health in all policies” approach, students are prepared for real world intersectoral health challenges through training in policy theory and analysis, public health economics, and quantitative and qualitative methods.  

Through hands-on learning and mentored field placements, accelerated MPH students develop new specialized skills and ways to improve the health of communities. Public health at UWM is your home to learn, connect, and make a difference!

The BS in public health requires a minimum of 120 credits. The MPH with a concentration in Public Health Policy & Management requires 48 credits. Up to 30 graduate course credits may be double-counted toward the BS in public health

Undergraduate Courses

At least 33 credits in general education and foundations courses.

Public Health Major Required Courses (48 credits)

PH 101: Introduction to Public Health (3 credits)
PH 142: Exploring Global Environmental Health (3 credits)
PH 201: Public Health from Cells to Society I (3 credits)
PH 202: Public Health from Cells to Society II (3 credits)
KIN 270: Statistics in the Health Professions: Theory and Practice (3 credits)
Or SOCIOL 261: Introduction to Statistical Thinking in Sociology (3 credits)
PH 302: Health and Disease: Concepts and Contexts (3 credits)
PH 303: Climate Change, the Environment & Human Health (3 credits)
PH 304: Foundations of Epidemiology (3 credits)
PH 319: Introduction to Health Disparities (3 credits)
PH 327: Foundations for Action in Public Health (3 credits)
PH 346: Environmental Health and Disease (3 credits)
PH 355: Public Health Research Methods I (3 credits)
PH 410: True Lies — Consuming & Communicating Quantitative Information (3 credits)
PH 427: Strategies for Action in Public Health (3 credits)
PH 428: Project Implementation & Evaluation for a Healthy Society (3 credits)
PH 455: Public Health Research Methods II (3 credits)

Elective credits — up to nine credit hours to reach 120 credits

Graduate Courses

MPH Required Common Core Courses (at least 24 credits)

Course	Credits
PH 702: Introduction to Biostatistics	3
PH 703: Environmental Health Sciences	3
PH 704: Principles and Methods of Epidemiology	3
PH 705: Principles of Public Health Policy and Administration	3
PH 706: Perspectives on Community and Behavioral Health	3
PH 708: Health Systems and Population Health	3
PH 790: Field Experience in Public Health	3
PH 791: Leadership in Public Health	1
PH 800: Capstone in Public Health	2

Public Health Policy & Management Master’s Concentration Required Courses (15 credits)

Course	Credits
PH 776: Qualitative Approaches in Public Health Policy	3
PH 777: Quantitative Research Methods for Public Health Policy	3
PH 779: Public Health Policymaking and Policy Analysis	3
PH 781: Public Health Management	3
PH 785: Principles of Public Health Economics	3

Content Elective — choose at least one (three credits)

Course	Credits
PH 700: Structures of Inequality and Population Health	3
PH 719: Social Justice in Public Health	3
PH 752: Public Health and Mental Health	3
PH 769: Critical Perspectives on Nutritional Epidemiology and the Food System	3
PH 784: Social and Economic Policy as Health Policy	3
PH 820: Maternal and Child Health Foundations, Policy and Practice	3
PH 859: Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities in the United States	3
ED POL 630G: Race and Public Policy in Urban America	3
HCA 800: Value Based Care Models	3
HCA 868: Health Law and Ethics	3
HI 722: Legal, Ethical and Social Issues in Health Care Informatics	3
KIN 556G: Multilevel Approaches to Changing Physical Activity and Eating Behaviors	3
NUTR 555G: Public Health Nutrition and Food Politics	3

Methods and Practice Electives — Choose at least two (six credits)

Course	Credits
PH 726: Community Assessment	3
PH 727: Program Planning and Implementation in Public Health	3
PH 728: Program Evaluation in Public Health	3
PH 729: Survey Research Methods in Public Health	3
PH 763: Epidemiology for Equity	3
BUS ADM 766: Marketing for Non-profit Organizations	3
BUSMGMT 706: Managing in a Dynamic Environment	3
ED POL 601: Foundations of Community-Based Organizations	3
ED POL 602: Proposal Writing and Fundraising Skills for Community-Based Organizations	3
GEOG 726: Geographic Information Science	4
HCA 823: Strategic Planning in Health Care Organizations	3
HCA 865: Financial Management for Health Care Organizations	3
HCA 869: Health Care Compliance	3
HI 700: Introduction to Health Care Informatics	3
HI 723: Health Care Systems Applications—Administrative & Clinical	3
HI 742: Computational Intelligence in Health Informatics	3
NONPROF 791: Nonprofit Advocacy and Public Policy	3
PUB ADM 630: Budgeting and Finance in the Public Sector	3
URBPLAN 791: Introduction to Urban Geographic Information Systems for Planning	3

Other classes as approved by advisor.

Please note: All courses are subject to change. Please consult the Academic Catalog for the most up-to-date information.

Public Health Policy & Management Competencies

1. Integrate ethical principles into public health policy, practice, and research by ensuring respect for diverse values, beliefs, and cultures and the dignity of individuals and communities.
2. Conduct policy analysis in public health policy, identifying and assessing policy options, outcomes, and potential contributions to population health and health disparities.
3. Apply policy theory to identify the actors, structures and forces that influence and shape the public health policy process.
4. Analyze quantitative data to assess the relationship between policy, policy malleable factors, and public health relevant outcomes.
5. Collect and analyze qualitative data to inform public health policy recommendations.
6. Describe best-practice leadership and management principles as they relate to public health practice.

Please note: All courses are subject to change. Please consult the Academic Catalog for the most up-to-date information. Additional Resources

The MPH portion of the BS/MPH in in Public Health Policy & Management is offered in a hybrid format.

This format allows you to choose between in-person and online asynchronous options for most MPH core classes and electives. Please speak with your advisor for guidance.

Tuition for the hybrid program follows the standard on-campus model, with reduced tuition rates for Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Midwest residents. 

Accelerated MPH in Public Health Policy & Management Careers

Public Health Policy & Management MPH graduates go on to work for state and local health departments, federal agencies, nonprofits, research centers, policy think tanks, and advocacy organizations to analyze, develop, and implement health-related policies and programs.

Past job placements for Public Health Policy & Management Graduates include: 

• Local health departments across Wisconsin and beyond 
• Federal agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Nonprofit organizations such as Community Advocates Public Policy Institute 
• Academic research centers such as the Medical College of Wisconsin  
• State agencies such as the Wisconsin Department of Health Services  
• Health research consulting firms such as Mathematica  
• Highly competitive fellowships such as the Wisconsin Population Health Fellowship