Health Policy and Management
Degree Programs

The Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM) within the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health has a decades-long tradition of preparing students who can immediately step into significant roles. As part of their education, students develop strong managerial and analytical skills, a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. healthcare system, and a grounding in the principles of public health. The healthcare field continues to change in a multitude of ways, from an increased reliance on data to drive decisions to the greater attention and accountability among healthcare systems and policymakers in addressing health disparities and the roles of racism, discrimination, and other social determinants of health. HPM graduates are equipped to help shape those changes in ways that will promote the health and well-being of the populations they serve. The department’s loyal and highly engaged network of graduates and other stakeholders ensures a wealth of potential mentorship, internship, and employment opportunities. The department also has affiliations with major UCLA research centers that hire and provide internship opportunities for HPM students. An HPM education prepares leaders in the health policy and management fields who will have substantial impact on the health of individuals and populations. 

students learning in classroom

HPM prepares students through the following degree programs: 

  • Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Policy and Management

    The Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Policy and Management provides students with skills to contribute to advancing the health of populations by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of health services in private and public health organizations, as well as providing a strong foundation in policy analysis with a set of social values rooted in public health. Following one of two tracks — health policy or healthcare management — students engage in a rigorous two-year curriculum that addresses critical issues facing the U.S. healthcare system, and also receive important learning experiences in the field. Graduates work in policy and management settings in both the public and private sectors — as administrators, consultants, project managers, advocates, financial analysts, and researchers, to name a few.

    Students with prior doctoral-level training (MD, JD, PhD, or equivalent) can pursue a one-year MPH degree through a program in which they build on their existing expertise through the acquisition of skills and study the issues and disciplines involved in the organization and analysis of health policy and services.

  • Executive MPH (EMPH) in Health Policy and  Management

    The Executive MPH (EMPH) in Health Policy and  Management is a fully accredited MPH degree that equips working professionals with knowledge, skills, and resources to master the challenges of the rapidly evolving healthcare and policy environment. Each cohort of EMPH students attends classes twice a month on Fridays and Saturdays in a two-year program, following a curriculum that mirrors that of the full-time day MPH program and is taught by the department’s world-class faculty.

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  • Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

    The online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) builds specialized knowledge and hands-on experience managers and executives need in order to make an impact. Students have the flexibility to continue working full-time while completing the MHA in two years through a rigorous curriculum taught by the department’s world-class faculty — a curriculum designed to expand their skills in strategic decision-making, analytical problem-solving, and business leadership while preparing them to succeed in a fast-growing field. The program prepares graduates to work in a variety of healthcare administration settings, including as clinical administrators, C-suite executives, healthcare planners, and managers.

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  • Master of Science (MS) in Health Policy and Management

    The Master of Science (MS) in Health Policy and Management is a two-year program for students interested in a research career. Some MS graduates continue their studies in pursuit of a PhD. In addition to foundational courses on health services organization, financing, and management, the MS provides rigorous training in quantitative research methods, including coursework in research design, contemporary econometric methods, epidemiology, and biostatistics. Graduates pursue research careers in fields such as health economics, quality of care, technology assessment, cost-effectiveness analysis, demography, and political economy. 

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  • PhD in Health Policy and Management

    The PhD in Health Policy and Management equips students with an academic degree emphasizing the in-depth expertise necessary for a research career. To prepare them for the team science approach that is important in research, students are trained across disciplines before choosing a field of concentration. The program includes classroom instruction, non-credit seminars, independent study, research projects, academic apprenticeships, and interactions with faculty, fellow students, and other professionals within and outside the UCLA campus. Graduates of the program pursue research and teaching careers in public health, healthcare management, and health policy analysis.  

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