Health Services Research

This MPH degree is administered jointly with the department of health administration and is designed for persons with interests that include assessment of health-care organization and maintenance. Students gain the skills needed for health services administration and epidemiologic research in the health organization setting. Topics include cost-benefit, productivity, quality assessment, and exposure/outcomes research. Graduates from this program should have broad employment opportunities which range from administration of health-care organizations to research leadership within the health care field.

Program Goals Prerequisites Corequisite Degree Requirements Minimum Units Required

Program Goals

The program in health services research provides the skills necessary to:

1. Evaluate health-care organization and management using epidemiologic research methods and health administration knowledge.

2. Apply outcomes research methods to assess different aspects of health-care quality, e.g., patient perception, treatment, procedures, etc.

3. Apply decision-tree analysis in decision-making processes and strategic planning.

4. Evaluate the role of clinical policies/guidelines.

5. Assist in developing policies for treatment/control of diseases within the health-care environment.

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Prerequisites

Two courses in biological science (preferred courses include anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology, etc.)

College algebra or equivalent (calculus preferred)

Corequisite

(may be taken during first two quarters of program in addition to units required for degree)

HADM-541-Financial Accounting for Health Care --Organizations (3) or one course in ----accounting

Degree Requirements

Public health core courses (20 units)

• ENVH-509-Principles of Environmental Health-(3)
• EPDM-509-Principles of Epidemiology I-(3)
• HADM-509-Principles of Administration in Public Health-(3)
• HPRO-509-Health Behavior Change -(3)
• ±REL-5__-Religion -(3)
• SHCJ-605-Philosophy of Public Health -(1)
• STAT-521-Biostatistics I -(4)
• Health services research core courses (47 units)
• EPDM -510-Principles of Epidemiology II -(3)
• *EPDM -512-Multivariate Modeling in Epidemiology -(1, 3)
• EPDM -515-Clinical Trials -(3)
• #EPDM -544-Epidemiology of Infectious Disease -(3)
• EPDM -555-Epidemiologic Methods in Outcomes Research and--Continuous Quality Improvement -(3)
• #EPDM -565-Epidemiology of Cancer -(3)
• #EPDM -566 -Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease -(3)
• HADM -528-Organizational Behavior in Health Care -(3)
• HADM -534-Legal and Regulatory Issues in Health Administration -(3)
• HADM -542-Managerial Accounting for Health Care Organizations -(3)
• HADM -559-Health Care Marketing -(3)
• HADM -564-Health Care Finance -(3)
• HADM -601-Health-Systems Operations Management-(3)
• HADM -604-Health-Systems Strategic Planning -(3)
• STAT -522-Biostatistics II -(4)
• STAT -548-Analytical Applications of SAS -(2)
• *STAT -557-Research-Data Management -(3)
• STAT -564-Survey and Advanced Research Methods -(3)
• STAT -568-Data Analysis -(2)
• Field practicum (400 clock hours^)

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Minimum Units Required: 67

• *-may take EPDM 512 for 3 units or EPDM 512 for 1 unit plus STAT 557
• #-select 3 units in consultation with adviser
• ^-one project approved and administered by both EPDM/STAT and HADM departments
• ±-offered in another school of the University; refer to pages 40-42 for description

Research and department forums

Students are required to attend a minimum of ten forums in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and/or Center for Health Research forums during their program. Attendance at these forums will be in addition to attendance at the public health seminars.

Professional membership

Students are required to secure and maintain membership in an approved professional society, such as the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Health administration colloquia

Participation is required in a minimum of ten noncredit colloquia designed to acquaint students with various aspects of the health care industry. Attendance at these colloquia will be in addition to attendance at the public health seminars.

Culminating activity

In order to obtain the degree, the student must successfully complete an appropriate culminating activity as determined by both departments.

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