This advanced graduate level public health policy course provides students with the opportunity to: 1) critically engage with key frameworks for public health policymaking and policy analysis, 2) apply these frameworks to a real-world public health problem of their choice; and 3) create an applied policy brief. Taking a health in all policies approach, public health problems are broadly defined, and students are encouraged to think about the health implications of policy topics traditionally seen as outside the domain of health policy.

Students will become familiar with the traditional rationales for policy interventions, how problems and policies reach the political agenda, and the art and science of policy analysis. Students work to build the critical thinking skills necessary for informed and politically savvy policy decision-making, as well as refining their communication and research translation skills.

This online course introduces students to foundational qualitative research approaches for use in public health, with a focus on those relevant for research and practice in policy & administration. This is a collaborative, workshop-like that class provides students with applied experience in qualitative research design, data collection, analysis, and writing. In addition to weekly 75-minute synchronous workshops students will also complete required readings, watch recorded lecture materials, and participate in asynchronous Canvas activities each week. Students will also be expected to download the qualitative data analysis software package MAXQDA.

Since one semester is insufficient to both learn methods and develop and complete a full qualitative study, students will have the opportunity practice key skills as they develop a proposal for a larger study as their final project. MPH students will work in small groups to achieve this, while PhD students may choose to work independently in order to explore their dissertation ideas.

The Capstone Course is the integrative and culminating learning experience of the MPH Program. Through a project-based format, students will have the opportunity for sustained deep learning on a particular topic and for application of classroom and practical skills across multiple domains of public health. The projects will be linked to specific MPH Program and Track competencies focusing on a real-world public health issue or problem. The Capstone course will include a limited number of weekly sessions featuring topics for the whole group. Students will spend the rest of the time working on their Capstone projects, with support from Capstone faculty. All students participate in a schoolwide Capstone Poster Day.