Department of Health Policy and Management

Academic Programs

The Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM) is committed to training and inspiring the next generation of health care leaders. Our academic programs focus on developing the critical thinking and applied problem-solving skills needed to address a wide variety of challenges throughout the health care delivery, public policy, and public health systems.

Master of Science in Health Policy and Management (HPM) Degree Program

The One-Year Master of Science Program (SM1) is an academic degree program designed for individuals with doctoral degrees in medicine, dentistry, or other health-related disciplines who are pursuing research careers and desire intensive exposure to analytic and quantitative skills. The program is appropriate for students who plan to pursue health policy research and for students interested in domestic or international research questions.

Click here for a detailed degree description of the SM1 Degree Program

Click here for more information from the Admissions Office regarding application requirements.

Click here for information on how to apply.

Master of Public Health Degree Program  

The Department of Health Policy and Management offers fields of study in the of the two variants of the MPH degree—the 45-credit and the 65-credit MPH.  The MPH degree program enables students to gain specialized expertise in particular areas that match their public health interests, professional goals, and prior experience.

The 45-credit MPH (MPH-45) in our department is for students who hold a graduate degree or have at least five years of relevant work experience in the field of public health or a related field.  Applicants holding only a bachelor’s degree are eligible for the MPH-45 in the health management or the health policy field of study if they also have at least five years of relevant work experience in public health or a related field.

The 65-credit MPH (MPH-65) is open to those with a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of relevant work experience in public health or a related field.

Health Management Field of Study (HM 45/65-credit)

The health management field of study prepares students for management careers in the unique environment of health care. Students who choose the management field of study select from courses providing practical management skills, such as accounting, finance, operations, marketing, quality improvement, leadership and management of people, and strategy. Students will be able to analyze and take actions to improve organizational performance using the skills and frameworks learned in coursework and through field experiences.
Program graduates have filled many management and leadership roles in health care organizations, including public or private sector health delivery systems, health insurance plans, and supply sector organizations, as well as working as consultants.

Health Policy Field of Study (HP 45/65-credit)

Students in the health policy field of study develop skills in applying economic, legal, and political analysis to the design, implementation, and evaluation of health care and public health policies. Through the study of biostatistics, epidemiology, and other quantitative disciplines, they also acquire skill in interpreting and evaluating scientific evidence to inform their policy work. Students are encouraged to choose elective courses that will help them develop an area of interest and expertise, such as access to care, health care quality, pharmaceutical policy, injury prevention, or health care financing.

This field of study prepares students for policy positions in the public, nonprofit, or private sectors, directly as policymakers or as policy analysts, advocates, or consultants, or in policymaking positions in other public health and health care organizations.

Click here to connect directly to the MPH Program Office.

Click here for more information from the Admissions Office regarding application requirements for the MPH 45 and 65 Credit Programs.

Click here for information on how to apply.

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Courses

The Harvard doctor of public health (DrPH) will prepare you for high-level leadership to make a difference in the fields of public health and health care. This first-of-its-kind, multidisciplinary degree provides advanced education in public health along with mastery of skills in management, leadership, communications, and innovation thinking. This is accomplished within a highly collaborative, small-group learning environment. In just three years—two years at Harvard plus one year in a field-based doctoral project—you will learn how to address complex problems of public health policy and use advanced analytical and managerial tools to lead organizational and societal change. You will learn the scholarship of translation, assembling scientific evidence and using it to achieve real results in the field. And you will gain hands-on experience working to achieve a specific public health objective under the guidance of Harvard’s world-renowned faculty.

Click here for an overview of the DrPH Program and Curriculum.

Click here for more information from the Admissions Office regarding application requirements for the DrPH Program.

Click here for information on how to apply.


policyMaster in Health Care Management (HCM) Degree Program

– The 42.5-credit Master in Health Care Management program trains clinicians in the executive skills required for management. The professional degree is targeted to mid-career MDs, DMDs, and DDSs with significant management responsibilities who wish to be more effective in their roles in the health care sector. Applicants accepted into the program must demonstrate, through grades and standardized test scores (MCATs or GREs), the potential to learn effectively in a challenging educational environment. Managerial experience and responsibilities indicating executive leadership potential are required.

Click here for an overview of the MCHM Program, and here for curriculum information

Click here for more information regarding application requirements for the MCHM Program.

Click here for information on how to apply.