Health Policy

The Health Policy concentration within the MPP Program introduces students to key domestic and international issues in health policy, including the impact of social determinants of health, organization and financing of healthcare delivery systems, technology and health, and health and human rights.  Students choosing this concentration can focus their studies on domestic or global health policy in their choice of electives by taking courses offered at the Terry Sanford Institute and in other Duke departments.

Requirements

• PubPol 325, Introduction to Health Policy, usually taken in the first semester.
• Minimum of two electives (see below for partial list of elective options)
• Summer internship related to health policy (see Summer in Geneva option below).
• Master’s Project on a health policy issue.

Summer in Geneva

Students focusing on global health policy may fulfill their summer internship requirement through the Duke-HEI Program, which includes Health Policy in a Globalizing World as one of four study options. 

The program involves a 10-12 week internship at one of the many international health organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, and a course presented in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) providing an overview of the forces of globalization shaping health and healthcare.

Health Policy Electives

Listed below is a sample of Health Policy related courses offered over the last several academic years, which could be taken as Health Policy electives.  The sample is intended to be illustrative rather than exhaustive.  In addition to Public Policy classes, relevant courses are offered at other Duke schools (Law, Business, Nursing, Divinity), in other Duke departments (Sociology, Pastoral Care, Liberal Studies), and through UNC Chapel Hill and NC State University.

Course offerings are subject to change. Students should plan their course work based on the course offerings for a particular semester. Not all courses will be offered each semester; consult the schedule of classes for courses offered at each school, department and/or university.