MS in Health Policy and Management
Become a strong researcher and leader with a master's degree in health policy and management.
Strengthen your research, technical, and organizational skills. Gain expertise in planning and evaluation. Learn how to be a capable administrator and an advocate for social change in the health care system with UMass Amherst’s MS in health policy and management.
Our two-year, 48-credit program provides a strong foundation for health services research and an excellent path for career growth in the private or public sector. The curriculum features a balanced mix of courses providing a solid background in health care issues, policy, skills, and experience.
MS Health Policy and Management course requirements:
- Five public health core courses, including Introductory Biostatistics (13 credits)
- Two health policy and management core courses, including Health Care Organization and Administration (6 credits)
- Four courses in research fundamentals (12 credits)
- Three concentration courses in health policy and management (9 credits)
- Master’s thesis (8 credits)
Benefits list
Master’s Thesis
Health policy and management MS degree candidates must complete an 8-credit thesis that demonstrates competence in research methodology. You can seek guidance from an academic advisor, a faculty member, and one outside member to complete and defend your thesis.
Research Opportunities Await
You’ll find a wealth of opportunities to research health policy issues and explore field work through the Center for Community Health Equity Research, Center for Program Evaluation, and Institute for Global Health, all of which are led by Health Promotion and Policy faculty.
CEPH Accreditation
Every program in the Department of Health Promotion and Policy, like every other department within the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, is fully accredited by the Council of Education for Public Health, a key benefit of attending UMass.
Featured class
Introduction to major health issues in the developing world, factors which affect health status, models for tackling these problems, and the role of industrialized countries in improving global health.
Featured faculty
Airín Denise Martínez
Focus on community-based participatory research; racial and ethnic health disparities; Latinx immigrants; mixed methods; health policy.
Kimberley Geissler
Focus on health economics, health insurance, empirical methods, physician referrals, access to care.
Laura Attanasio
Focus on maternal health; women’s reproductive health; health equity; patient-provider relationship
David Chin
Focus on health care quality measurement, health policy, health informatics, and high-dimensional data.
Application information & deadlines
Prospective students must apply first through the SOPHAS site and then the UMass Graduate School Supplemental Application, which will be emailed to you upon completion of the SOPHAS application.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is Feb. 1.
Health Policy and Management
Providing leadership skills to help solve complex health-related problems.