Master of Public Health Program

PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY & LAW (PHPL) - MPH MAJOR

The Public Health Policy and Law was created to meet the demands of today’s public health professionals who must develop appropriate and effective policy while navigating complicated, changing and often confusing rules, regulations and laws governing the public health sector.

Majors will learn how to advocate for and influence policy decisions; understand the professionals’ legal roles and ethical responsibilities in public health; and learn to read and comprehend legal documents, cases and judicial decisions.

The PHPL major also provides a complementary graduate degree to students pursuing law, business and healthcare degrees.

Graduates of the Public Health Policy and Law major program will possess the following major competencies:

  • Demonstrate how legal rules from cases, statutes and regulations apply to specific factual situations.
  • Interpret when legal authority can intervene in public health based on powers and limitations.
  • Select appropriate kinds of legal intervention to address specific public health issues and evaluate the merits of the interventions.
  • Evaluate and weigh the relative merits of various local, state and federal legal interventions for public health.
  • Interpret key policy concerns and ethical considerations shaping public health law and distinguish the roles of public health professionals and lawyers in exercising these responsibilities.
  • Influence health policy and program decision-making using scientific knowledge, analysis, communication and consensus building.
  • Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts.
Last Updated: 6/27/22