The UW HSPop MPH program offers exceptional instruction in public health practice and research methods, health care systems, health economics, health promotion, and the social determinants of health.
All HSPop MPH students complete one of three concentrations.
Our concentrations in Social and Behavioral Sciences and Health Systems and Policy rank in the top 15 public health programs. -U.S. News & World Report, 2024
Prospective students should apply to only one of our three concentrations. Once admitted, students may change concentrations no later than the last day of winter quarter in the first year of the program. Prospective students are welcome to contact faculty representatives of the concentrations regarding current research activities and opportunities.
Concentrations
Course Substitution or Waiver Notice
Substitutions or waivers of the concentration requirements can be made with the approval of the concentration faculty lead. Waivers or substitutions for required core courses are rare and require pre-approval.
Generalist Concentration
The Generalist concentration is the most flexible course of study, offering the most electives. Students in the Generalist concentration must complete the following courses.
Applicants who feel drawn to one of the other two concentrations but wish for more flexibility may wish to apply to the Generalist track, and then use the HSP or SBS required course list as a guide as they select their electives.
Required Courses
Methods Courses
Complete two courses for a minimum of six credits.
HSERV 590/517: Advanced Qualitative Methods in Anthropology and Public Health
Spring Quarter | 3 Credits
HSERV 513: Health Policy Research
Winter Quarter | 3 Credits
HSERV 522: Health Program Evaluation
Autumn Quarter | 4 Credits
HSERV 527: Survey Research Methods
Spring Quarter | 4 Credits
HSERV 548: Research Methods of Social and Contextual Determinants of Health
Winter Quarter | 3 Credits
HSERV 583: Economic Evaluation in Health and Medicine
Autumn Quarter | 3 Credits
HSERV 584: Assessing Outcomes in Health and Medicine
Winter Quarter | 3 Credits
HSERV 523: Advanced Health Services Research Methods I – Large Public Databases; Big Data
Autumn Quarter | 4-5 Credits
HSERV 524: Advanced Health Services Research Methods II – Hierarchical and Incomplete Data
Winter Quarter | 4-5 Credits
HSERV 525: Advanced Health Services Research Methods III – Casual Inference Using Observational Data
Spring Quarter | 4-5 Credits
HSERV 589: Community Based Participatory Research and Health
Spring Quarter | 3 Credits
Elective Courses
Complete two courses for a minimum of four credits. Students also can choose electives from the methods courses they have not completed.
HSERV 507: Health Communication and Marketing for Health Promotion: Theory and Practice
Spring Quarter | 3 Credits
HSERV 512: Health Systems and Policy
Autumn Quarter | 3 Credits
HSERV 514: Social Determinants of Population Health and Health Disparities
Spring Quarter | 3 Credits
HSERV 515: War and Health
Spring Quarter | 5 Credits
HSERV 551: Public Health Law
Autumn Quarter | 2 Credits
HSERV 552: Health Policy Development
Autumn Quarter | 3 Credits
HSERV 555: Health Disparities
Winter Quarter | 2 Credits
HSERV 581: Strategies of Health Promotion
Winter Quarter | 4 Credits
HSMGMT 514: Health Economics
Spring Quarter | 3 Credits
HSERV 587: Health Policy Economics
Every Other Spring Quarter | 3 Credits
Health Systems and Policy Concentration
Faculty Lead: Molly Firth (she/her), MPH
The Health Systems and Policy (HSP) concentration is for students who seek a career of leadership in public or private efforts to improve the performance of the health system.
Students who complete the concentration will be well grounded in core competency areas of public policy development, health economics, law, and ethics. In addition, HSP MPH students will have a solid foundation in key analytic disciplines including biostatistics, epidemiology and qualitative methods. They can also acquire a deep understanding of how and where public policy is developed, what forms it takes, the relevant actors and institutions, and the economic and legal forces that affect and are affected by public policy.
While all HPPop MPH students have the choice to write a thesis or complete a capstone project, most students in the health systems and policy concentration choose a capstone project as their culminating project.
Social and Behavioral Sciences Concentration
Faculty Lead: Miruna Buta (she/her), PHD, MA
The Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) concentration is for students who wish to apply social and behavioral sciences theory and methods to the study, practice, and thought of public health. Survey research, statistics, behavioral measurement, ethnography, quality-of-life assessment, community-based participatory research, and cost-effectiveness analysis are highlighted.
The focus of the concentration is on research and application of knowledge concerning the relationships among:
- Social, cultural, and behavioral processes
- Health and illness
- What society does and can do to promote health and prevent illness
Graduates who complete the concentration will have the background and skills to pursue careers in research or public health practice.