Concentration in Health and Public Policy
Offered By: Department of Health Policy and Management
Onsite | Full-Time | 4 -5 years
About the Concentration in Health and Public Policy
The concentration in Health and Public Policy is designed for students interested in preventing leading public health problems through the development, analysis, implementation, and evaluation of public health policies. Students in this concentration consider a broad array of public health policies which affect health, safety and quality of life and acquire skills that enable them to conduct rigorous research to inform policy solutions, effectively translate their scholarly work to policy and practice, and emerge as leaders in public health policy. The emphasis on prevention policy makes this concentration one of the few nationwide with a cadre of faculty advancing policy research to prevent leading public health problems.
Students in Health and Public Policy may choose specialized areas identified to help focus their electives in such a way as to best provide the background needed for their dissertation work. Areas include Environmental and Occupational Health Policy, Injury Prevention and Control, Social Policy and Health, and the Practice of Prevention.
Environmental and Occupational Health Policy
Factors in the human environment that affect health require a multidisciplinary approach for evaluation. Environmental and Occupational Health Policy integrates courses from the Departments of Epidemiology, Environmental Health and Engineering, and Health Policy and Management to provide a foundation for the application of science to occupational and environmental policy. Evaluation, development, and refinement of policies at local, state, federal and international levels are emphasized.
Injury Prevention and Control
In conjunction with the Center for Injury Research and Policy, students focus on injuries of all types, including road traffic injuries, falls, burns, drowning and violence. The epidemiology of these injuries is assessed, and strategies to prevent injuries are formulated, implemented, and evaluated. Students who focus their electives in this area may also decide to complete the Certificate in Injury and Violence Prevention.
Social Policy and Health
Social policy and health examines how social policies influence public health and/or the relationship between healthcare policy and other social policies.
Practice of Prevention
The practice of prevention examines specific public health problems such as AIDS, tobacco, obesity, and violence and develops strategies for addressing problems through traditional and innovative policies.
What Can You Do With a Graduate Degree In Health And Public Policy?
The program prepares students for successful research careers as health policy experts. Former students have gone onto careers in academia, government, research-oriented non-profits, and the private sector. Visit the Graduate Employment Outcomes Dashboard to learn about Bloomberg School graduates' employment status, sector, and salaries.
View a list of selected recent graduates and dissertation titles for the PhD Concentration in Health and Public Policy.
Curriculum for the Concentration in Health and Public Policy
Browse an overview of the requirements for this PhD program in the JHU Academic Catalogue and explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School Course Directory.
Admissions Requirements
For general admissions requirements, please visit the How to Apply page.
Prior Graduate Degree
Not required, but highly recommended.
Prior Work Experience
Not required, but successful applicants generally have 2-3 years of full-time work experience in a related field.
Standardized Test Scores
Standardized test scores are not required and not reviewed for this program. If you have taken a standardized test such as the GRE, GMAT, or MCAT and want to submit your scores, please note that they will not be used as a metric during the application review. Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all required application components.
Cassandra Crifasi, PhD '14, MPH,
studies how evidence-based policies and programs can reduce violence and advance equity.
Tuition and Funding
Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the JHU PhD Union, the minimum guaranteed 2025-2026 academic year stipend is $50,000 for all PhD students with a 4% increase the following year. Tuition, fees, and medical benefits are provided, including health insurance premiums for PhD student’s children and spouses of international students, depending on visa type. The minimum stipend and tuition coverage is guaranteed for at least the first four years of a BSPH PhD program; specific amounts and the number of years supported, as well as work expectations related to that stipend will vary across departments and funding source. Please refer to the CBA to review specific benefits, compensation, and other terms.
Need-Based Relocation Grants
Students who are admitted to PhD programs at JHU starting in Fall 2023 or beyond can apply to receive a need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to be able to attend JHU. These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to afford to relocate to JHU for their PhD program. This is not a merit-based grant. Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need. View more information about the need-based relocation grants for PhD students.
Contact Us
Questions about the program? We're happy to help.
HPM_Admissions@jhu.edu