Graduate Program in Health Administration & Policy
The Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy (GPHAP) program is a Program of Study. You must be accepted first to SSA and then by the individual Program of Study. Prospective students interested in the GPHAP Program must fill out an additional, separate application form that is due in early September.
Overview
The Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy (GPHAP) provides students with the interdisciplinary training needed to face various economic, ethical, and social issues in today’s complex health care environment. GPHAP has an impressive legacy of providing students with the preparation and competitive advantage they need to be leaders in the health care field, by drawing on faculty from public policy, social work, and health studies and providing a range of activities beyond the core curriculum. Upon completing the interdisciplinary program requirements, students may earn either a Certificate in Health Administration and Policy or a Certificate in Health Administration and Policy with a concentration in Global Health.
Program
The program aims to provide the conceptual frameworks and analytical skills students need to be effective in a broad range of health care careers, exposing students to a range of perspectives outside their immediate field. GPHAP, an interdisciplinary program, draws students from the Booth School of Business, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School and the School of Social Service Administration (SSA). GPHAP is intended for those considering careers in health services, management, policy, research, consulting, and finance. With a strong foundation in health care system structure, contemporary health care issues, and health care policy, the core curriculum is complemented by internships and co-curricular activities.
Global Health Certificate
The global burden of disease poses a significant barrier to the well-being of people around the world. Students today are interested in addressing issues that cross national borders, including global health. To address this need, GPHAP, the Center for Global Health (CGH), and the Pritzker School of Medicine (PSOM) have collaborated to develop a new Global Health Certificate Program at SSA. The program will address issues in global health from the perspective of a variety of disciplines, including biomedicine, business, law, economics, public policy, social work and socio-cultural studies. Courses from across the university are included in the curriculum to draw on the wealth of talented faculty at the University of Chicago. The requirements of the Global Health Certificate Program are similar to the regular GPHAP program. All GPHAP students must complete four courses consisting of two required courses and two health electives. Global Health Certificate program students may take U.S.-focused health administration and policy courses as electives.
Curriculum for SSA Students
SSA students participating in GPHAP generally take the social administration concentration. The GPHAP certificate program includes four health related courses, consisting of two required courses and two health electives. In addition, SSA students complete a health related practicum, which may be satisfied by a health-related field placement. Other opportunities to satisfy the GPHAP practicum requirement exist. Finally, GPHAP students engage in three co-curricular activities per quarter such as seminars, workshops, and networking events, and provide written summaries of these experiences. Clinical students interested in GPHAP should speak with the Deputy Dean for Curriculum or the Director of GPHAP prior to applying for GPHAP. Clinical students must take one additional elective related to finance or administration.
Fellowships and Other Program Opportunities
GPHAP is fortunate in its ability to support a number of fellowship and other program opportunities.
- The Ray E. Brown Fellowships are awarded over the summer to an incoming student from each of the participating GPHAP schools.
- The Quern Fellowships aim to foster innovative thinking and leadership in GPHAP students who wish to pursue creative and self-initiated health related projects over the summer between their first and second years.
- Erikson Fellowships: The Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy partners with University of Chicago Medicine to offer GPHAP students a range of summer internships in hospital administration.
- Research Assistantships: GPHAP identifies and supports a number of Research Assistantships throughout the university and medical center.
- The Student Representative program provides a stipend for selected individuals looking to develop leadership skills and work with GPHAP staff to add value to the program.
Field Placement
SSA’s Field Placement office has identified a number of field placement opportunities for SSA students in provider, public health, and policy settings.
Career Opportunities
Recent graduates of the program have successfully entered a range of health care careers, including:
- Hospital administration
- Health care policy and advocacy
- Health care consulting
- Community and public health care centers
- Pharmaceutical industry
- State and federal government agencies
- World health organizations
- Entrepreneurial endeavors
Contact Information
Laura K. Botwinick
Director, GPHAP Program
773.702.1324
Jelani McEwen
When Jelani McEwen begins his new job as Charter Support Manager of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools upon graduation from the School of Social Service Administration in June 2013, in some ways he will have come full circle.