HLTH 4021 - Health Policy

Course Description

In this course, students explore the role and impact of policy on everyday health and community practice, examining policy as a framework for decision-making and the way in which challenges such as reaching consensus between key policy players affect policy implementation and dissemination. Health policy development processes are explored, and students participate in a simulated health policy development community, with a focus on perspective-taking. Students work both individually and collaboratively to analyze health policies and apply the Integrated Policy Framework method to plan the development of a new health policy.

Learning outcomes

• Explain the role and impact of policy in everyday health and community practice.
• Describe private and public sector health policy development processes from an array of perspectives.
• Assess the complex interplay of influences on public policymaking in local, national, and global contexts.
• Analyze health policies from the academic, professional practice, and community perspectives.
• Create a development plan for either a new or revised health policy using the Integrated Policy Framework method.  

Course topics

• Unit 1: An Introduction to Health Policy
• Unit 2: Understanding Health Policy from an Array of Perspectives
• Unit 3: The Health Policy Analysis and Development Process
• Unit 4: Factors Shaping Local, National, and Global Health Policy
• Unit 5: Health Policies from the Academic, Professional Practice, and Community Perspectives
• Unit 6: The Integrated Policy Framework Method

Required text and materials

There is no required textbook to purchase. All materials will be provided within the course.

Assessments

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course and 50% or higher on the mandatory Final Exam.