USC Master of Public Health Program (MPH)

Health Services and Policy Concentration

Health Services and Policy focuses on health care systems, governmental and organizational decisions plans, and actions that affect the health of populations. Health services concentrate on social, economic and behavioral factors affecting the use of health care services, whereas health policies focus on actions to improve health through legislation, research, direct care, community empowerment and regulations. Leading practitioners in the advancement of health services and policy lead students in examining and understanding the organization, financing and delivery of health services, offering a comprehensive and practice based foundation for students who wish to pursue careers in management, policy and research.

MPH students in this concentration will take the public health core courses plus 24 units of concentration-specific coursework (16 units of concentration core courses + 8 units of elective courses) ranging in topics that include policy analysis, health services research methods, quality in health care, and policy and politics.

Health Services and Policy Core Concentration Coursework

PM 508 Health Service Delivery in the U.S. (4 units)
Historical development of the American health care system; determinants of health care utilization; role of health care providers; health policy; public health services; and health care finance. Prerequisite: PM 502
PPD 503 Economics for Public Policy (4 units)
Economic theory as applied to public policy. Concepts of efficiency and equity, analysis of market failure and policy interventions.
AND Choose TWO from the following:
PM 504 Quality in Health Care (4 units)
Examines quality assessment at different levels of the health care system including health plans, physicians, hospital and integrated system performance.
Prerequisite: PM 502
PM 507 Public Health Services Research Methods (4 units)
A practical examination of methods and data sources used to evaluate public health services and conduct policy research and evaluation within health care delivery systems.
Prerequisite: PM 502 and PM 510L and PM 512
PM 547 Public Health Policy and Politics (4 units)
Examination of major policy issues in the U.S. health care delivery system to understand policy options in reforming health care and reducing health care disparities.
Prerequisite: PM 502

Health Services and Policy Concentration Elective Options

PM 504*	Quality in Health Care	(4 units)
PM 507*	Public Health Services Research Methods	(4 units)
PM 514	Detection and Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections	(4 units)
PM 528	Program Design & Evaluation	(4 units)
PM 530	Biological Basis of Disease	(4 units)
PM 536	Program Evaluation & Research	(4 units)
PM 540	Maternal & Child Nutrition: Practice and Policy	(4 units)
PM 542	Social Network Analysis	(4 units)
PM 547*	Public Health Policy & Politics	(4 units)
PM 555	Environmental Health, Policy & Practice	(4 units)
PM 568	Ethical Issues in Public Health	(4 units)
PM 577	Global Health, Law, & Human Rights	(4 units)
PM 578	Global Health Governance & Diplomacy	(4 units)
PM 585	Child Health Policy	(4 units)
PM 589	Global Health Governance and Diplomacy in Practice in Geneva	(4 units)
PPD 511	Health Information Systems	(2 units)
PPD 513	Legal Issues in Health Care Delivery	(2 units)
PPD 514	Economic Concepts Applied to Health	(4 units)
PPD 521a	Information Technology Management Systems in Health Care	(2 units)
PPD 542	Policy and Program Evaluation	(4 units)
PPD 555	Public Policy Formation & Implementation	(4 units)
PPD 560*	Methods for Policy Analysis	(4 units)

*May receive credit for concentration core or concentration elective only.
This document represents an effort on the part of your advisor to help you plan your academic program. It is not an official document.
For program requirements, please refer to your USC Catalogue .
Courses listed may be offered irregularly. Check the USC schedule of classes for semester-specific course offerings and/or meet with your advisor to discuss available options for your concentration.

Questions and Answers about Health Services and Policy Concentration

It is one of the three core areas of public health
It provides the mechanism to take what we know is important in public health and transforms these ideas into legislative action and policy at all levels of government
To improve the public's health through policy development and implementation at the local, state, and federal and global levels
To improve public health, including the health care delivery system, through advocacy, education, and research
To help pass and improve laws and regulations that promote health, improve access to health care, and to reduce disparities

Analyze bills and other forms of legislative or regulatory actions
Review and assess the impact of proposed or existing legislation on an organization or a population sub group
Develop policy briefs, prepare letters or testimony, and/or brief to others on the impact of policy
Form policies and help write and make comments on� bills or government regulations
Organize others around advocacy and policy development

Government affairs specialist
Public health policy analyst
Community advocate

A state or local public health department
A �county or a city governing body
Non-profit organizations
Hospital or physician groups
Advocacy organizations (i.e. American Cancer Society)
Governing bodies (i.e. State Legislature, congress, city council)
Government agencies (i.e. CDC)

DOCUMENTS

CONCENTRATION DIRECTORS

Michael Cousineau, Dr.PH.

cousinea@usc.edu

Sue Kim, PhD, MPH

sueekim@usc.edu

TESTIMONIALS

My MPH Degree has done exactly what I expected it would. It has opened doors to employment opportunities that had been unavailable to me previously, despite my extensive work experience. Having a USC Master's degree makes me a more desirable candidate, and more importantly, an expert in the field in which I desire to work and thrive. I didn't even have to leave the grounds to find a job, my employer came to the career fair and I landed an interview which led to a position in the field I desired.

--Sadara Abdus Shakoor, Class of 2019