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MS in Health Studies

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David Nitsch, PhD, MPH
Program Director

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Curriculum

The curriculum for the MS in Health Studies (30 credits) includes the following 4 components: 

Core Courses (6 Credits)

Courses to develop competencies central to pursuit of research and scholarship in focus area:

  • Research Methods (3 credits)
  • Scholarly Writing (2 credits)
  • Responsible Conduct of Research (1 credits)

Focus Area (12 Credits)

Focus areas are designed to provide students with the opportunity to acquire fundamental knowledge of a specific topic area. Students may choose one of the pre-designed focus areas of study listed below or choose courses of interest from across several Schools and Colleges within the University.

The Health Career Leadership focus area is designed for students seeking advanced preparation in leading complex organizations, teams, and systems across healthcare and related professional settings. This focus area offers a flexible selection of courses that build competency in strategic leadership, organizational performance, innovation, conflict management, and digital transformation. Students may use this focus area to strengthen their ability to lead change, improve organizational effectiveness, and navigate dynamic professional environments while tailoring course choices to their individual career goals and interests.

  • LDSP 510 Team Dynamics & Collaboration              
  • LDSP 515 Organizational Innovation, Creativity & Change                 
  • LDSP 520 Strategic Leadership in a VUCA World    
  • LDSP 580 HR & Employee Development     
  • LDSP 590 Organizational Awareness              
  • LDSP 605 Leading in the Digital Age                
  • LDSP 610 Organizational Performance Metrics                
  • LDSP 620 Global Leadership               
  • LDSP 625 Organizational Consulting I           
  • LDSP 640 Conflict & Negotiation in Organizations 
  • LDSP 700 Leadership Myths, Mysteries, Misconceptions 

The Data Analytics and Management focus area is designed for graduate students seeking advanced preparation in the collection, analysis, interpretation, and application of data to support decision-making across healthcare and related sectors. This focus area offers a flexible selection of courses that build competency in data analytics, artificial intelligence, research methods, and visualization. Students may use this focus area to strengthen their ability to manage data-driven projects, translate complex information into actionable insight, and apply analytical tools to improve organizational and health outcomes while aligning course choices with their professional goals.

  • HDS 500 Fundamentals of Data Wrangling 
  • HDS 501 Health Informatics, Analytics & AI 
  • HDS 502 Exploratory Data Analysis & Unsupervised Learning
  • HDS 518 Supervised Learning & Unsupervised Learning
  • HDS 527 Analytics & AI Leadership 
  • HDS 532 Data Visualization 
  • HDS 538 Implementation Science 
  • HPL 513 Effective Communication and Dissemination of Data 
  • PBH 510 Health Research Methods
  • PBH 609 GIS Mapping

The Policy and Advocacy focus area is designed for graduate students seeking advanced preparation in the development, analysis, communication, and implementation of policy across healthcare, public health, and related systems. This focus area offers a flexible selection of courses that build competency in health policy, regulation, law, advocacy, ethics, and comparative health systems. Students may use this focus area to strengthen their ability to evaluate policy environments, advocate for change, and apply policy approaches to improve organizational or health outcomes while aligning course choices with their professional interests and goals.

  • HPL 500 US Healthcare Organization & Delivery 
  • HPL 504 Health Law & Regulatory Issues 
  • HPL 506 Health Policy: Analysis & Advocacy 
  • HPL 511 Policy Approaches to Addressing SDOH 
  • HPL 512 Medicare and Medicaid 
  • HPL 513 Effective Communication and Dissemination of Data 
  • HPL 516 Delivering Health Services in Resource-limited Countries 
  • HPL 520 Fundamentals of Practice-based Statistics 
  • HPL 550 Comparative Health Systems 
  • PBH 513 Public Health Law & Ethics
  • PBH 518 Applied Policy & Advocacy
  • CSO 522 Cannabis Policy Politics & Regulation 
  • CSO 523 Cannabis Social Justice and Equity Policies

Electives (9 Credits)

Students will broaden their knowledge, skills, and understanding by completing additional electives. Students have the flexibility to choose electives in their focus area or courses from across various Schools and Colleges within the University.

Capstone Course (3 Credits)

Students must complete the HST 699 Capstone in Health Studies courses. This is a non-cohorted mentored capstone course that allows students the flexibility to choose an area of interest for their original research project.

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