Online Health Policy Graduate Certificate
Overview
The Online Health Policy Graduate Certificate provides students with an opportunity to develop substantive knowledge of health policy and practical policy-analysis skills that can be applied across a variety of public, nonprofit, and health-related settings.
The program is designed for students and professionals interested in understanding how public policy shapes health systems, programs, institutions, and communities. Coursework examines the policy process, health policy, public management, program evaluation, and state and local approaches to public health policy.
The certificate may be especially relevant for students interested in careers in government public health agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care organizations, community health centers, policy research, advocacy, and public program management.
A completed graduate certificate waives the GRE requirement for those considering application to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program. In addition, each class counted toward the graduate certificate will be accepted into the MPP program for certificate holders who apply and are accepted, so long as the student earned a 3.0 (B average) or higher in the course.
All applicants must fulfill the program’s admissions requirements. The links below describe what applicants must do and provide in order to be admitted into the program.
Program information
The Online Health Policy Graduate Certificate Program is designed to provide students with:
- an understanding of how public institutions and policy processes shape health policy in the United States
- knowledge of contemporary health policy issues at the federal, state, regional, and local levels
- practical analytical skills for evaluating public programs and policy alternatives
- an understanding of the management and organizational challenges faced by public and nonprofit institutions
- preparation for policy-related work in government, nonprofit, health care, advocacy, research, and community-based settings
Successful completion of the certificate should enhance a student's current career or aid in the development of new job skills.
Students must complete 12 total credits (four courses), including two required courses and two approved electives.
Two (2) Required Courses
- POL 500 - Public Institutions and the Policy Process
- POL 557 - Health Policy
Choose two (2) electives from the following list
- POL 510 - Public Management
- POL 531 - Program Evaluation
- POL 558 - Subnational Public Health Policy
Detailed course descriptions can be viewed on our Course Descriptions page. Students can complete the certificate online within two semesters.
Fall
| Course | Offered |
|---|---|
| POL 500 - Public Institutions & the Policy Process | First 7 Weeks of Semester |
| POL 510 - Public Management | Second 7 Weeks of Semester |
| POL 531 - Program Evaluation | First 7 Weeks of Semester |
| POL 557 - Health Policy | To be confirmed |
Winter
| Course | Offered |
|---|---|
| To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Spring
| Course | Offered |
|---|---|
| POL 500 - Public Institutions & the Policy Process | First 7 Weeks of Semester |
| POL 510 - Public Management | Second 7 Weeks of Semester |
| POL 557 - Health Policy | First 7 Weeks of Semester (Offered Spring 2027; Fall only thereafter) |
| POL 558 - Subnational Policy | Second 7 Weeks of Semester |
Summer
| Course | Offered |
|---|---|
| To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Attention Students: Course offering schedules are subject to change, and in such cases this information will be updated. Any changes in schedule will respect the commitment that a student can complete the certificate in two semesters. Please refer to Online & Continuing Education for information on upcoming courses.
When students are close to completing their studies and plan to graduate, they will need to declare their intention to graduate.
A completed graduate certificate waives the GRE requirement, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and transcript retrieval for those considering application to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program.
In addition, each class counted toward the graduate certificate will be accepted into the MPP program for certificate holders who apply and are accepted, so long as the student earned a 3.0 (B average) or higher in the course.
For students pursuing the Health Policy concentration within the MPP, POL 500 applies toward the MPP core requirements. The remaining certificate coursework can be applied toward the Health Policy concentration requirements.
Students successfully completing the graduate certificate in Health Policy who wish to apply to the MPP program are expected to achieve a B (3.0) or higher in each of the four courses taken to comprise the graduate certificate program. Students who fail to meet this minimum requirement are unlikely to be admitted to the MPP program.
Apply to the MPP now at Online & Continuing Education.