Health Policy Certificate
Health Policy Certificate Overview
51ÉçÇø’s College of Health Sciences and Professions offers a 100% online, graduate-level Health Policy Certificate that includes a comprehensive curriculum to help students and working health care professionals better understand public health and the health policy environment in the United States. Students will gain fundamental skills in the analysis, interpretation and ability to seek solutions to problems affecting population health and health care.
By completing the certificate, students will strengthen their professional practice through enhanced understanding of how health policy impacts the work they do and be prepared to effectively engage with the health policy process as policy advocates, policy analysts or policy influencers.
At 51ÉçÇø’s College of Health Sciences and Professions, you can earn a Health Policy Certificate at an affordable cost and in a 100% online format.
Interested in obtaining a master's degree by combining your specific areas of interest?
This certificate is part of a unique stackable certificate option that can lead to obtaining a Master of Integrated Health Studies.
Simply choose any two of the following designated graduate certificates and complete a set of core courses.
Opportunities upon Completion:
Students who complete the health policy certificate will be prepared to effectively engage with the health policy process as policy advocates, policy analysts, or policy influencers. For many students, completing the certificate will enhance their professional practice through enhanced understanding of how health policy impacts the work they do and the environment in which they do it. Other students may seek positions as policy advocates for health care/public health sector employers or professional associations of which they are members or as health policy analysts with health research organizations.
Required Courses:
IHS 5300- Fundamental Health Policy: Concepts, Components and Systems
IHS 5301-The Health Policy Making Process
IHS 5302- Health Policy: Current Issues, Trends and Emerging Topics
MPA 5850- Policy Analysis for Public Affairs and Leadership
Graduation Requirements:
1) Minimum semester hours required: 12
2) Thesis requirement: No
3) Qualifying exam: No
4) Expected time to completion if studying fulltime: 1.5-2 semesters
5) The Health Policy Graduate Certificate consists of four courses for a total of twelve semester credit hours. Upon applying for graduation (for degree-seeking students) or completion of the certificate requirements (for non-degree students), you must contact the program coordinator for verification of completion and the awarding of the certificate.
Admission Requirements:
The Health Policy Graduate Certificate program will accept students in two categories: (1) those who have been admitted to an advanced degree program at 51ÉçÇø and (2) those who possess a bachelor’s or advanced degree but are not currently in a degree program at 51ÉçÇø. Master of Integrated Health Studies (MIHS) students do not need to apply for each certificate separately. Each MIHS student will identify their two certificates of choice when applying to the degree program.
1) Students who have already been admitted to an advanced degree program at 51ÉçÇø (degree-seeking graduate students).
- Complete an Application for Update of Graduate Academic Program. This application can be obtained online or in person from the Graduate College. The certificate code is CTHPCG.
- The completed application, including the signature of an advisor (if applicable) should be submitted to the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Studies, in Grover W182, or emailed to Stephanie Johnson to obtain the certificate director's signature.
- After the certificate director has signed the form, it will be sent to the Graduate College for processing.
2) To apply to an individual certificate program for those who are not currently enrolled in an advanced degree program at 51ÉçÇø:
- Submit an application to the Graduate College. Admission requirements include the following:
- 4-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. university/college or equivalent from a non-U.S. institution
- Ability to manage graduate studies as evidenced by undergraduate performance, current professional responsibilities, and/or similar criteria.
Apply for the certificate program as a non-degree student.
Fall 2025 Applications are now open.