HPS Degree Programs
Distribution or General Education Requirements
39-41 hours
English Composition: | 6 hours |
Foreign Language: | 8 hours |
Math: | 3 or 4 hours |
Arts (Art History or Music History): | 3 hours |
Behavioral and Social Analysis(Anth, Psyc, Econ, Pol): | 6 hours |
Biological & Physical Sciences: | 7 or 8 hours |
History(can be upper division): | 3 hours |
Letters(Coml, Engl, Hum, Phil): | 3 hours |
Diversity requirement is not an extra course and may be fulfilled by one of many different UM-D courses from a list.
(HPS requires Econ 201, Principles of Macroeconomics; any 100 or 200 philosophy course, especially Phil 240, Ethics; and Soc 200, Intro or Soc 201, Social Problems; all of which should be taken as Distribution requirements. The 39-41 hours is for HPS majors only).
The Program
One of the most important elements of American society is its health care system. A vast and complex enterprise, it provides vital services to the entire population and is one of the largest employers in the country. The study of American health policy and the development of the healthcare system is an important and timely enterprise, attracting students in universities and colleges all over the country. At the University of Michigan-Dearborn, students interested in the various health professions can begin their pre-professional education by enrolling in the program in health policy studies (HPS). This program provides interdisciplinary perspectives on many aspects of health policy and health care delivery. By taking courses rooted in sociology, political sciences, humanities, economics, management, and education, the student receives liberal arts and pre-professional preparation for both graduate school and the job market. The program is built on three foundations: the University's general liberal arts distribution requirements, the HPS core, and the specialty tracks or minors. The HPS core includes courses the provide multiple perspectives on American Health policy and health care system.
The four specialty tracks include:
- administration (pdf)
- planning (pdf)
- health behavior and education (pdf)
- an individualized track (pdf)
Depending on which specialty a student chooses, course work will be in carefully selected, appropriate areas. The program also provides an opportunity for the student to tailor the curriculum to his/her own interests through elective courses. This curriculum reconceptualizes traditional, disciplinary study to focus on a topic-oriented interdisciplinary program with an applied orientation. It combines the best of UM-D's liberal arts tradition with a practical, real-world orientation.
Health Policy Studies as a Minor
Because of the social importance of this field and its frequent prominence as a national and state policy issue, many students in other fields find HPS a useful minor. This is accomplished by taking five of the core courses (15 hours). Students choosing this minor are encouraged to meet with the program director to work out an appropriate selection of courses.
Pre-Medical Students
It is increasingly crucial that future physicians understand the health care system, its continuous development and its policy issues. For pre-medical students, the program recommends taking some combination of medical sociology, health policy, medical ethics, health care and the law, financing the health care system, comparative health care systems, and the senior seminar. This would constitute an important minor. Nationally, employment for people with business backgrounds is growing in the health care field, making HPS an excellent minor for business, economics, and students with other majors. Choose from courses listed above and consider medical information systems as well.