Health Policy and Administration - HPA

The information below lists courses approved in this subject area effective Fall 2015. Not all courses will necessarily be offered these terms. Please consult the Schedule of Classes for a listing of courses offered for a specific term.

500-level courses require graduate standing.

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400 Principles of Management in Public Health
3 hours. A detailed discussion of the conceptual and theoretical foundations to the principles of management with an emphasis on public health and health care settings. Prerequisite(s): Enrollment restricted to public health students; other graduate, professional and advanced undergraduate students admitted by consent as space permits. To obtain consent, see the SPH registrar.

402 Social Ethics and Public Health
3 hours. Application of ideas from philosophy, law, political science and economics to analyze the ethical basis of public health policies and programs.

403 U.S. Health Care System
3 hours. Overview of the U.S. healthcare system, including its evolution, utilization patterns, providers - human, institutional and organizational - financing, regulating, evaluating, and reforming.

404 Ethical Issues in Healthcare Policy and Management
3 hours. Designed to provide students with an overview of some of the most debated and difficult ethical issues that arise in the healthcare industry. This will be a blended course. Combined synchronous online delivery and on site classroom delivery. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department.

405 Leadership in Public Health Practice
3 hours. Utilizing public health core functions, this course explores leadership style and practice through case studies and techniques which enhance leadership development. Same as CHSC 405. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

407 Foundations of Emergency Management and Continuity Programs
3 hours. Designed to provide the student with the core public health and emergency management practices and principles to prepare for and execute emergency management and business continuity planning and operations. Extensive computer use required. This is an online course. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or consent of the instructor.

410 Health Organizational Leadership
3 hours. Examines the roles, responsibilities, and impact of leaders of organizations in the health industry. Critical structures and techniques of effective organizational leaders are taught.

417 Quality Management in Health Services
3 hours. Surveys development of quality management and theoretical basics and diverse perspectives of quality management and regulation. Presents relevant research and management methodologies.

429 Introduction to Health Services Research
2 hours. Introduction to health services research using classic studies and current trends which examine access, cost, quality, and organization of health care. Prerequisite(s): HPA 400.

430 Introduction to Public Health Policy Analysis
3 hours. Explores the multiple influences on public health policy, such as politics and cultural and societal norms, and the impact that policy has had on population health. Prerequisite(s):

431 Law and Public Health
3 hours. Surveys basic concepts and content in major areas of health law; explains the sources of legal authority; and develop familiarity with legal language and thinking.

432 Public Health Advocacy and Issue Management
3 hours. Designed to provide prospective public health policy professionals strategies for collecting, assimilating and delivering pertinent health policy information to policy makers. Credit is not given for HPA 432 if the student has credit for HPA 430 prior to Spring 2015. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing.

434 Law and the Health Care System
3 hours. Survey of legal topics important to the management of health care organizations. They include: relationships among the parties involved in the delivery of health care and the law of business organizations. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing and approval of the department.

435 Argumentation and Negotiation in Public Health
3 hours. Equips the graduate student in public health who is studying leadership and policy development with the knowledge and practical skills to be an effective advocate, through concentration on critical reasoning, argumentation and negotiation.

436 GIS for Environmental and Public Health Professionals
4 hours. Aims to promote a critical understanding of the basic practices and techniques associated with GIS applications in the environmental and public health areas. Same as EOHS 436. Online course. Prerequisite(s): Students outside of EOHS must seek consent of the instructor. Corequisites: EOHS 475 / HPA 480. Recommended background: Computer skills (knowledge of Excel is a minimum) and a strong quantitative background.

437 Health Policy and Politics
3 hours. Health policy including economic implications is analyzed, applied, and evaluated from a comprehensive understanding of the state of the US healthcare system. This is a blended course. Combined synchronous online delivery and on site classroom delivery. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department.

441 Strategic Management of Healthcare Organizations
3 hours. Introduction to strategic analysis for healthcare organizations. Topics include: Healthcare competition, entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, multi-constituent environment, and human resources. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and approval of the department.

443 Health Planning Concepts and Practice
3 hours. Explores models of health planning used in assessing community health and within public health organizations. Prerequisite(s): HPA 400. Recommended background: Credit or concurrent registration in EPID 400 or EPID 403.

444 Strategic Planning and Budgeting
3 hours. Strategic planning within organizations, with constituencies and stakeholders. Introduces management control function, its activities, structure, process, and consequences, including quality measures and performance evaluation. Extensive computer use required. This is an online course. Prerequisite(s): HPA 400.

445 Organizational Leadership in Public Health
3 hours. Examines classic and contemporary leadership theory and practice as applied to the diverse organizational, systems and community settings in which public health leaders function. Extensive computer use required. This is an online course. Prerequisite(s): HPA 400.

446 Public Health Resource Management: Methods, Ethics and Policy
3 hours. Equips students to analyze, evaluate and address the relationships among budgets, resources, forces of change, and organizational and professional values as they pertain to managerial choices and decisions. Extensive computer use required. This is an online course. Prerequisite(s): HPA 400.

450 Public Health Informatics Certificate Integrative Paper
0 hours. Student will develop an integrative paper that will synthesize and apply the knowledge acquired from the program to address a public health informatics problem. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): HPA 465 and HPA 481 and HPA 563 and HPA 564 and HPA 565. Students must register for the integrative paper during the last semester of enrollment in the campus certificate program.

451 Health Care Finance
3 hours. Examines practical aspects of finance in health care and recent developments in financial management of health care organizations, and applications of financial management techniques to specific problems facing health care managers. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing and approval of the department.

455 Geographic Information Systems Integrative Project
2 hours. The integrative project aims to demonstrate a comprehensive mastery of the course materials, database theories, and GIS techniques by pursuing a project resembling those encountered by public health. Extensive computer use required. Taught Online. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

459 Introduction to Health Inequities in the United States
3 hours. Introduction to the origins, evolution and debates surrounding "disparities" in health. Through readings, discussions and lectures participants will be exposed to debates about health inequities in the US and how they might be eliminated. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; and consent of the instructor. Students in the Health Disparities Research Certificate will be given first priority for the online section of this course.

460 Introduction to the Economics of Health and Healthcare
3 hours. Introduces principles of economic analysis, with examples from public health and medical care. Examines how consumers and companies decide what to buy or sell, why markets determine a product' s price, and when public intervention improves welfare.

462 Quantitative Methods in Health Disparities Research
4 hours. Students will learn concepts and quantitative research methods in US health disparities with a focus on local Chicago data. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): At least one graduate level course in biostatistics or equivalent experience and graduate or professional standing or consent of the instructor. Students in the Health Disparities Research Certificate will be given first priority for the online section of this course. Recommended background: Knowledge of a statistical program. Priority will be given to students enrolled in the Health Disparities Research Certificate Program.

463 Managerial Health Economics
3 hours. Uses managerial economics to study health care system: demand for medical services; role of health insurance; productivity/cost measurement; labor markets and competition. Prerequisite(s): HPA 400 or consent of the instructor.

464 Sociocultural Dimensions of Health Disparities Research
3 hours. Addresses a range of measurement issues and additional concepts that are important when conceptualizing, planning, and conducting health disparities research. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; and consent of the instructor. Students in the Health Disparities Research Campus Certificate will be given first priority for the online section of this course. Recommended background: HPA 459.

465 Health Information and Decision Support Systems
4 hours. Introduction to computer assisted management information and decision systems in health organizations: analysis and design of databases; data and information flow; reports; and uses microcomputers. This is an on-line course.

466 Critical Infrastructure and Resource Protection Planning
3 hours. Introduces students to analysis and tools to identify critical private and public sector infrastructure and optimal protection strategies. Extensive computer use required. This is an online course. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department.

467 Health Policy Analysis
3 hours. A theoretical and applied overview of public health policy analysis focusing on economic and political aspects of policy decision making. Real-world public health policy issues are examined, with applications in the public sector, non-profit sector.

468 HPA MPH Capstone Experience
1 hours. An individual project in public health directed toward the MPH capstone experience which is required for the degree in health policy and administration.

469 Evidence Based Policy Development and Implementation: Health Disparity Case Studies
3 hours. This case study based course focuses on the development, implementation and evaluation of health policy that aims to reduce health disparities in the US. Emphasizes systematic public policy approaches to address health disparity issues. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; and consent of the instructor and completion of at least one graduate level course in health disparities. Students in the Health Disparities Research Campus Certificate will be given first priority for the online section of this course. Recommended background: Advanced master's level or concurrent doctoral level work in health policy, policy analysis and health disparity course work offered in the Health Disparities Research Certificate.

470 Quantitative Methods for Healthcare Managers
2 hours. Builds on basic statistical skills, teaching other quantitative methods within the context of specific decision-making issues encountered by healthcare managers and leaders. Prerequisite(s): BSTT 400; and approval of the department.

472 Clinical Research Methods I
4 hours. Introduces experimental and quasi-experimental study designs and descriptive statistics. Online course. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; and approval of the department.

473 Clinical Research Methods II
4 hours. Introduces OLS multivariate regression models, its assumptions, interpretation of outputs and departures, and surveys more advanced multivariate regression models. Online course. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): HPA 472; and graduate or professional standing; and approval of the department.

475 Contexts for Clinical Research
3 hours. Provides an overview of the healthcare system, epidemiological and research subject protections contexts for clinical research. Online course. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; and approval of the department.

477 Data Collection and Management for Clinical Research
3 hours. Provides basic statistical computing and data management concepts, an overview of qualitative research techniques, and a survey of survey design from sampling strategies to data collection, item and measure development and survey analysis. Online course. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): HPA 472; and graduate or professional standing; and approval of the department.

479 Evaluating Clinical Interventions
3 hours. Introduces the major approaches used to evaluate clinical interventions. Online course. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): HPA 472; and graduate or professional standing; and approval of the department.

480 Health Related Database Design and Analysis
4 hours. Introduces students to the design and analysis of health related relational and spatial databases. Same as EOHS 475. Extensive computer use required. Taught online only. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Recommended Background: Strong quantitative background recommended.

481 Development of Public Health Surveillance Information Systems
3 hours. Examination of the process and methods of designing and evaluating public health information surveillance systems. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): HPA 465.

483 Management of Communication Systems for Public Health Informatics Applications
4 hours. Focuses on the examination and management of current information communication systems and their applications in public health informatics. Extensive computer use required. This is an online course. Prerequisite(s): HPA 465.

485 Legal and Ethical Issues in Public Health Informatics
3 hours. Examination of the legal and ethical issues involved in the use of health related information in public health. Extensive computer use required. This is an online course. Prerequisite(s): HPA 465.

486 Survey of Public Health Information Systems
4 hours. Focuses on survey of various public health information systems with respect to their functionalities, planning, design, development, sustainability, interoperability, and management. Extensive computer use required. This is a online course. Prerequisite(s): HPA 465; and consent of the instructor.

487 Public Health Informatics Methods
3 hours. Course summarizes the three major methodological approaches for accessing and managing health information: Web-based information systems, data mining, and geographic information systems (GIS). Extensive computer use required. This is an online course. Prerequisite(s): HPA 465; and consent of the instructor.

488 Public Health Information Systems Evaluation and Project Management
3 hours. Introduces students to the fundamental principles of information systems project evaluation and project management, with specific references to public health practice. Extensive computer use required. This is an online course. Prerequisite(s): HPA 465; and consent of the instructor.

490 Topics in Healthcare Leadership
1 hours. Provides students with a series of explorations of various leadership specialty areas within the delivery of healthcare. The specific demands and skill of each will be covered. May be repeated to a maximum of 2 hours. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the Department.

494 Introductory Special Topics in Health Policy and Administration
1 TO 4 hours. Introductory topics in health administration, policy analysis, health care financing, cost-effectiveness evaluation. Topics vary by semesters.

495 MHA Preceptorship
1 TO 3 hours. Preceptor-guided field experience in health administration designed to promote critical thinking and problem solving skills, and application of management knowledge and skills in a practice setting. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing and approval of the department.

496 Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) Capstone
1 hours. Individual, integrative product in health administration designed to demonstrate student's mastery of health administration concepts and skills, including information access, synthesis and use in critical thinking. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing and approval of the department.

497 Integrative Project in Emergency Management
3 hours. Independent investigation that draws upon the professional experience and knowledge synthesis of the student. Students investigate a topic/problem in their field and write an article. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Extensive computer use required. This is an online course. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

511 Organization Theory Applied to Health Programs
3 hours. Classical and modern organization theories applied to health programs. Includes organization structure and goals, management functions and processes, and managerial controls and evaluation. Prerequisite(s): HPA 400 or consent of the instructor.

512 Ethics in Clinical Research
1 hours. Survey of key ethical issues involved in conducting research with human subjects, including informed consent, confidentiality, access and equity. Same as MHPE 512. Extensive computer use required. Requires completion of an online course in human subjects research, to be supplemented by classroom discussion of the topics raised in that course and others. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department. Students must be enrolled in the Master of Science in Public Health program.

516 Health Personnel Management
3 hours. Health personnel policies and programs, human resources requirements, recruitment, development, performance appraisal, salary and wage administration, and management/labor relations in the health industry. Prerequisite(s): HPA 400 and consent of the instructor.

522 Public Health Research Design and Methods
3 hours. Graduate level quantitative research methods course. Utilizes social science research methods with an emphasis on experimental and quasi-experimental research designs in the study of methodologically sound public health research investigations. Prerequisite(s): BSTT 400.

525 Population Based Healthcare Services Planning
3 hours. Examines the roles that health care delivery organizations can play, and methodologies used, in developing programs specific to the needs of the community they serve. Prerequisite(s): HPA 403 and HPA 410 and HPA 495.

527 Critical Issues in Long Term Care Policy
3 hours. Examines the policy process and policy implications affecting the organization, financing, delivery, and utilization of long-term care services. Same as CHSC 527. Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 400 and Credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 425; and graduate or professional standing; or consent of the instructor.

534 Research Design and Grant Writing
2 hours. Introduction to the skills necessary to plan a research project and write a research grant proposal using a systematic approach. Same as MHPE 534. Previously listed as MHPE 431. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; and approval of the department.

535 Translating Research into Practice
3 hours. Current theory and practical reality related to the adoption and use of new scientific findings in patient care. The influence of research on public policy. Same as MHPE 535. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; and approval of the department.

551 Marketing Health Programs
3 hours. Concepts of marketing as a management tool; application of marketing to health care: the marketing process, marketing resources, and strategies for accomplishing marketing objectives. Prerequisite(s): HPA 400 or MKTG 563 or consent of the instructor.

556 U.S. Mental Health Policy
2 hours. Public policies which have supported the U.S. mental health service system from 1946 to the present. Theory, development, and evaluation of mental health policy in the US. Prerequisite(s): HPA 400 and HPA 430 and either EPID 400 or BSTT 400.

557 Measurement in Health Services Research
3 hours. Presents measurement, reliability and validity theory and assessment using correlation, internal consistency, factor analysis and others. Application in developing, analyzing, and reporting behavioral and/or organizational measures. Prerequisite(s): BSTT 400 and BSTT 401; or consent of the instructor.

563 Web-Based Public Health Information Systems
4 hours. Examination of web based applications in public health practice and factors in the design of web based public health education and database systems. This is an on-line course. Prerequisite(s): HPA 465; and consent of the instructor. Unless otherwise permitted, limited to students in the public health informatics track of HPA.

564 Geographic Information System Application in Public Health
3 hours. Advanced level GIS course to promote critical understanding of the major practices associated with GIS in the many applications areas found in public health. Same as HPA 564. Extensive computer use required. This is an on-line course. Prerequisite(s): HPA 465 or HPA 436 or EOHS 436; and consent of the instructor.

565 Datamining Applications in Public Health
3 hours. Presents the key public health information system sources, describes the process of datamining and introduces the student to a sample of datamining techniques. Same as EOHS 565. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): BSTT 400.

573 Principles of Economic Evaluations of Health Care Interventions
3 hours. Principles, models and practical methods for the economic evaluation of health care services with an emphasis on pharmaceutical care. Same as PSOP 573. Previously listed as PMAD 573. Prerequisite(s): HPA 460; and consent of the instructor.

590 Grant Writing
1 hours. Students will learn how to write a grant application through the guidance of a mentoring committee. They will formulate a research proposal which will be presented to a panel of researchers who will critique the proposed study.

591 Grant Writing for New Investigators
3 hours. Fosters grant writing skills, and helps students learn the mechanics of an NIH grant application, particularly K awards, and how to peer review applications. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. MS in Clinical and Translational Science students are expected to have completed the required coursework for the program and to have made significant progress in their research project.

594 Advanced Special Topics in Health Policy and Administration
1 TO 4 hours. Advanced topics in health administration, policy analysis, health care financing, cost-effectiveness evaluation. Topics vary by semester. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

Information provided by the Office of Programs and Academic Assessment.

This listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract. Every attempt is made to provide the most current and correct information. Courses listed here are subject to change without advance notice. Courses are not necessarily offered every term or year. Individual departments or units should be consulted for information regarding frequency of course offerings.