Health Care Policy Minor

ECO 336 Economics of Health Care Sys 3 Credits

This course presents ways in which economic analysis can be used to explain issues in the health care industry. Microeconomic tools will be used to describe the behavior of consumers, producers, and third parties of the health care sector. The course also investigates the role of government in regulating the health care sector, and in providing services to the poor and elderly. Finally, we will use this foundation to examine some recent changes in this industry, and to analyze the most recent proposals for further changes.

Prerequisite(s): ECO 201 or HTH 205.

GLS 325 Global Perspectives on Health and Illness 3 Credits

Explores the different international perspectives on health and illness. Themes include how men, women, and children in respective civilizations are treated and viewed within their communities or nations, as they become ill. Particular attention is given to the contrast between various types of traditional healing and Western medical practices, and their interactions. Discussions will also compare the usefulness of national versus international health agencies in dealing with global health problems.

HCP 301 Global Health Care Systems 3 Credits

Global Health Care Systems is an introduction to visions of global health care, drawing upon the fields of medical anthropology, global public health, and public policy. The course focuses upon different understandings of health care, reflected in the actual health systems in place around the world. Because responsible health-giving health systems respond to societies’ changing needs and situations, students will learn about the skills needed for this kind of problem-solving, but also come to understand that there is an urgent and vital global need for the exchange of ideas in global health care systems.

HCP 302 Environmental Epidemiology, Pandemics and Globalization 3 Credits

This course is intended to provide basic knowledge of principles and methods of environmental epidemiology for students whose career interests in a health-related field may include using epidemiologic information. The course presents a holistic view of global health by crossing several disciplines, including medical anthropology and disease history, focusing upon the social processes by which groups are stigmatized during disease outbreaks, and public health policies for confronting outbreaks of epidemics and pandemics. The course emphasizes the conceptual aspects of epidemiologic investigation and application of these concepts in global health policy and related professions. Topics include: disease surveillance; population screening; interpreting epidemiologic associations, and the health risks and benefits of globalization. Salient foci will be: the evaluation of the role of health diplomacy in addressing shared global health problems among countries, and the evaluation of cultural, ethical, social, systemic, and anthropological determinants of global health problems.

HCP 303 Global Health and Human Rights 3 Credits

This course introduces students to the basic concepts of human rights and their links to national/global health, as well as to issues where human rights and health collide. Students will become familiar with global efforts for developing practical and effective responses to global health challenges with a human rights framework.

HCP 304 Health Policy, Administration, and Compliance 3 Credits

Health Policy, Administration, and Compliance explores the politics of health care policy at the local level. The course identifies and evaluates various measures of the health and function of populations, organizations, partnerships, systems, and communities. The course provides students with an overview of the realities, challenges, and requirements of practicing community oriented primary health care.

HTH 205 Introduction to Health Care 3 Credits

This course is an introduction to the components of the health care industry in the United States and to the interactions of these components in producing and supplying health care. We examine the nature of health, and the various institutions and personnel which seek to provide health services; we explore the means by which we pay for these services; we assess the relationship of technology to provision of health care services; we study the various ways that our government interacts with the providers of health care services; we investigate the ethical implications of issues in health care; and we explore health care sectors from an international perspective.

POL 100 U.S. Politics in Crisis 3 Credits

It often seems like the American government achieves little other than stoking political animosities amongst the American people. We see daily news stories about gridlock, polarization, partisanship, and corruption. This course introduces students to the basic principles of the U.S. constitutional system and how they are served by the three branches of government, paying special attention to the democratic process, vital public issues, and civil rights and civil liberties. Students will gain a critical understanding of the function and dysfunction in American politics and government, as well as concrete ideas about what can be done about it. This course counts towards the fulfillment of the Disciplinary Perspectives element of the CLAS general education curriculum.

POL 201 Policy Issues, Advocacy, and Budgeting 3 Credits

Surveys various domestic economic and social policy issues, the government budgeting process, and how citizens and groups advocate their interest through organizing, coalition-building and lobbying. Emphasis on developing practical skills in issue analysis, lobbying, legislative tracking, and public budgeting.

POL 205 Introduction to Public Policy 3 Credits

The course provides students with an introduction to the study of public policy by linking the theoretical with the practical. The course focuses on three areas of analysis: 1) descriptive 2) evaluative and 3) prescriptive. Students will develop skills required to define and critically examine policy problems, articulate relevant decision-making criteria and assess alternative policy options. Last the course provides examples of public policy problems through the substantive policy areas of health, environment and education.

POL 206 Healthcare Regulation and Governance 3 Credits

Health Regulation and Governance explores the institutions, processes and actors involved in governing and regulating the healthcare system in the US. The course engages the topic through the lens of federalism by examining the role of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government in regulating and governing healthcare at the national level as well as the role of the states in this policy area. Students will not only be introduced to the structure of regulation and governance of healthcare in the US, but will also be able to contextualize contemporary issues in healthcare in order to not simply addresses problems in the sector, but to also begin to identify solutions to issues that impact the population.

POL 230 Methods of Political Analysis 3 Credits

An overview of the various qualitative and quantitative methods that political scientists use to study their discipline. Themes include analyses of political participation and support, methods of studying elections, measures of political tolerance and liberalism.

POL 325 Public Administration 3 Credits

Public administration in modern society, emphasizing the administrative formulation of public policy and its implementation. Attention on who gets what, when, and how from the decisions of administrative units; the role administrators have in policy-making compared to elected legislators, chief executives and judges; the effect administrators have on the benefits citizens receive from government; and the effect administrators have on citizens’ behavior. Note: This course is cross-listed as HLS 325. Students may not get credit for both HLS 325 and POL 325.

POL 327 Contemporary Issues in American Public Policy 3 Credits

An in-depth examination of current issues in American politics. Drunk driving, political corruption, drug policy, education, and poverty are among the issues to be considered. Emphasis on analyzing policy problems and on developing and evaluating proposed solutions.