The program is designed to educate qualified students to solve the complex problems created by changes in the organization, delivery and financing of health care services in the United States. Candidates for this degree must demonstrate knowledge, competency in health care finance and economics, health management and health policy, analytic skills and community health. Courses emphasize the competencies and conceptual frameworks associated with effective health management practice. Electives permit specialization in such areas as finance, marketing, quality management, and evaluation. This area is designed to provide specialized training related to national, state, and local health policies as well as public and private sector health and medical care programs.
Required courses emphasize theory and methods in policy analysis and program evaluation.
Elective courses emphasize applications and may be selected from courses in other USF departments as appropriate. Students learn principles and techniques of health policy and management relevant to any geographic area as well as the cultural, socioeconomic and technological conditions of countries, especially developing nations. Students who plan to focus primarily in research or analysis may select the Master of Science in Public Health in any of the above four MPH tracks. Each program of study is tailored to the individual. A typical course of study would include core courses in the department, specialty areas selected and approved by a faculty committee, and appropriate research, and analytic tools course.