Course Descriptions

For up-to-date information on courses offered in the Health Policy, Management & Behavior program, please check the University at Albany's course listing.

HPM 500 Health Care Organization, Delivery and Financing (3)
Introduction to health care policy and services; arrangements for organizing, delivering, paying for, and financing health care are examined with attention to their rationale, implementation, and effectiveness. Government interventions to ensure access, cost containment and quality are assessed and policy alternatives are considered. Prerequisite: graduate standing

HPM 501 (ECO 509) Health Policy Analysis and Management (3)
This course introduces students to policy analysis and management by examining issues in the health sector. It fosters an appreciation of the complexity of policy problems and provides the basic tools used in policy design, implementation and evaluation. Prerequisite: HPM500

HPM 503 Principles of Public Health (3)
Introduction to the basic principles of public health and their application to the development of activities that benefit the health status of populations. The skills of epidemiology, biostatistics, health care planning and policy development, health care administration, and community organization are applied to the assessment of public health needs and the development of prevention and control initiatives. This course is for students in the P.M.R. track only.

HPM 511 (ECO 511, PAD 503) Economic Analysis for Health Policy and Management I (3)
This course introduces students to the basic concepts of economic theory as they are applied to issues in the health sector. Topics include: the supply and demand of health services; resource allocation; the demand for health, health care and health insurance; and the role of government intervention and regulation in the health care market.

HPM 514 (EPI 514) Computer Programming for Data Management and Analysis in Public Health (3)
The course covers a major statistical computer program (e.g., SAS) used for the management, analysis and reporting of public health data. Topics include, how to access data stored in a variety of formats; techniques for identifying errors and outliers in data sets; combining data from multiple sources into a single data file; calculating statistical and epidemiologic measures; and report writing.

HPM 520 Fundamentals of Research Design (3)
This course introduces students to the steps involved in designing and/or evaluating a research paper. Topics include translating a curiosity into a researchable question and testable hypotheses, the logic of different modes of inquiry, choosing appropriate study designs and samples, measuring phenomena of interest, and interpreting results, as well as principles of research ethics. Prerequisites: STA/EPI552 or equivalent

HPM 521 Introduction to Family and Community Health (3)
This course provides students with an overview of key issues and contributing factors related to the health of families and communities. It includes focus on current and emerging public health concerns at each stage in the life-cycle, the needs of special populations and the range of policy and program responses. The course provides a framework for assessing the health of families and communities and for developing strategies for intervention and promotion of health and wellness. Prerequisites: Graduate standing

HPM 525 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health (3)
This course provides an introduction to the role of social, cultural, psychological, and behavioral factors in determining the health of populations. Students will: gain understanding of the significance of social, cultural, psychological, and behavioral factors in relation to health status and well-being; learn to analyze public health problems in terms of the social, psychological, cultural, economic, and demographic factors that contribute to or protect from vulnerability to disease, disability, and death; and improve their ability to apply social science theory, research, and principals to the critical analysis of the appropriateness of public health interventions. Prerequisites: graduate standing

HPM530 Childhood Obesity from a Public Health Perspective (3)
This course will examine the epidemic of obesity, particularly childhood obesity, and how various behavioral and environmental factors place children at risk of becoming overweight. Sources of influence that will be examined include: children’s nutritional and physical activity behaviors, the family environment, the school environment, and community characteristics such as fast food restaurants and access to safe walking and bicycling paths. In addition, this course will examine ethnic and socioeconomic differences in the prevalence of obesity and its predictors among children and adolescents. At its conclusion, this course will examine obesity prevention programs and their effectiveness. Prerequisites: graduate standing

HPM550/BUS681 Financial Management of Healthcare Institutions (3)
This course covers significant issues in the areas of working capital management, capital financing, cost analysis and rate setting, budgeting, reimbursement, managed care contracting, and cost controls. The course has been developed to maximize student opportunities for independent analysis, development of PC-based problem solving applications, and in-class discussion and evaluation of pertinent financial issues and problems. An emphasis is placed on uses of information generated through accounting and financial management systems to control operations in health care organizations. To promote such understanding, students receive problem oriented assignments and examinations in which they can apply knowledge and reasoning techniques gained from this and other courses to reach logical decisions that would effectively control operations in the simulated exercises.

HPM 612 (ECO 512) Applications in Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation (3)
Current issues and research in health policy are analyzed using a political economy framework that builds on tools developed in HPM 501/ECO 509 and HPM 511/ECO 511. Policy topics include: Controlling risk and uncertainty in insurance and health care markets, Incentives for profit and non-profit status, Health care quality and cost-contingent n fee-for-service and managed care regimes, Rules vs. Incentives for health care delivery, Graduate medical education and malpractice reforms, Industry incentives in technology acquisition, and Equity and ethical dilemmas in efficiency evaluations. Prerequisite: HPM 501/ECO 509 and HPM 511/ECO 511.

HPM619 Communication and Public Health (3)
This course will provide an overview to communication and public health. It will introduce theories and introduce various topics, including interpersonal and organizational health communication, risk communication, media campaigns, and media effects on health. The course will also look at advertising and the influence of new media on public health. Prerequisite: graduate standing

HPM 620 Health Disparities and Community Health (3)
The goal of this course is to understand what contributes to health disparities in the United States. The course will discuss underlying assumptions of group definitions, why particular groups may experience disparities and individual versus ecological approaches to health in our current health system. This course will also cover theoretical frameworks for understanding and addressing health disparities in health promotion. The course is geared for students to critically think about and discuss health disparities and use the knowledge gained through the class in their work as public health professionals and researchers.

HPM623 Stress, Social Support Systems and Health (3)
This course examines the epidemiology of stress and health, and addresses the roles that networks of personal social relationships can play in coping with stressful life experiences. The course will address the effects of a wide variety of life stressors – such as chronic illness, the death of a loved one, childhood trauma, and financial hardship – on health problems such as substance abuse, mental disorders, and physical illness. Likewise, a variety of social support structures for coping with these life stressors will be discussed, including peer groups, family support, and community-level social networks.

HPM 625 Introduction to Public Health and Aging (3)
This course will provide an overview of the demography, epidemiology and examples of successful aging in our society. Areas to be covered also include: chronic disease, health promotion/wellness programs, health services needs and programs for older persons and their caregivers and ethical issues.

HPM 626 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Chronic Illness (3)
This course examines social and behavioral factors in chronic illness. Theoretical and conceptual frameworks for viewing chronic illness in the context of individual and family development across the life course will be discussed. The course will focus on the impact of chronic illness on families, psychosocial factors influencing adaptation to chronic illness, and interventions to promote self-management of chronic illness. Prerequisite: HPM 525 or permission of instructor. Prerequisites: HPM525

HPM 627 Public Health Education: Targeting Social, Organizational and Behavioral Factors to Promote Health (3)
This course provides an introduction to the application of theory, research, and field experience to the development of social and behavioral interventions targeting public health problems. Students will learn to: apply a systematic diagnosis process to determine appropriate targets and levels of intervention; be able to distinguish between individual, group, organizational, and community levels of intervention, and identify the strengths and limitations of each; and identify and apply relevant theory and research to intervention design. Prerequisites: HPM 525 or equivalent.

HPM635 Economic Evaluation in Health Care (3)
Economic evaluation methods such as cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, and cost-utility analysis are presented as paradigms for addressing health care allocation issues and for purposes of program planning. This is an application-oriented course that incorporates economic analysis and its role in medical decision-making and health policy evaluation.

HPM 641 Organization and Management in Health Institutions (3)
This course is designed to cover the major aspects of managing both public and private health care organizations. These aspects include managing external relationships with key stakeholders like patients and providers, understanding the individual and group dynamics that occur within health care delivery settings, and applying the business and emerging tools used in managing on an everyday basis in health care delivery settings. Topics that would be covered in this course include the strategic management process in health care (overview), forming organizational alliances, human resources issues in managing health care professionals, organizational behavior and culture, business essentials in the areas of marketing, accounting, and finance as they apply to specific health management needs, and emerging management tools like quality management and health information systems. Prerequisites: HPM 500

HPM643 Long-term Care Administration (3)
This course provides an overview of long-term care policy, financing, and management with concentration on nursing home administration. Discussion will focus on nursing home organization, resident care, personnel, financial, environmental and regulatory management. Effective management, measured by indicators cush as quality of care and quality of life of nursing home residents, will be presented. Student evaluations are based on class participation, two in-class exams, and a paper. Prerequisites: HPM500 or permission of instructor

HPM 645 International Health (3)
Public health and health care systems of different types throughout the world are surveyed; their major health problems, policy and management choices identified; and their morbidity, mortality, cost and quality outcomes evaluated. Each student selects a different country for in-depth study and similarly presents its health problems and choices, and makes recommendations for improving its outcomes. Programs of International Health agencies, aid programs of donor countries, nongovernmental health organizations and international conference recommendations. Prerequisite: EPI 501 or permission of instructor.

HPM646 Child Health: Problems, Programs, and Policies (3)
This course gives students an opportunity for in-depth study of child health problems, policies, and programs. Emphasis is given to helping students develop an understanding of the complex factors influencing the health of children, especially low income children, and to helping students refine their ability to critically analyze child health programs and policies. Prerequisites: HPM500 or permission of instructor.

HPM 647 Program Evaluation (3)
Provide students with a basic understanding of and skills in the uses and principles of evaluation models and methodologies. The course will provide an overview of evaluation, evaluation models, evaluation design methodology, principles of sampling, principles of measurement and data collection, the application of qualitative and quantitative analysis tools to evaluation data, as well as methods for enhancing the likelihood that evaluation results are utilized. Both quantitative and qualitative models and methods will be discussed. Prerequisites: HPM525, EPI 501 or EPI/STA 552.

HPM 648 (PAD 644) Health Care Finance (4)
Examines major policy and implementation issues in the financing of health care, particularly the poor. Among the topics addressed are health cost containment, Medicaid, long term care, AIDS, and the provision of care to the uninsured. Prerequisites: PAD 503 and PAD 505 (or equivalent).

HPM 650 Strategy & Leadership Applications in Health Management (3)
This course deals with the application of strategic management principles, organization theory, and leadership skills to a variety of "real world" management issues in both private and public sector health organizations. Primary focus is placed on using a strategic framework for identifying, thinking about, and addressing these issues as a health care manager. The course emphasized group decision-making processes and case-based learning. In addition, leadership and an understanding of organizational dynamics in health care are included as critical factors determining how well the strategic planning process will work. In this course, it is expected that students will bring knowledge learned in other courses to bear in making strategic assessments and decisions for various cases. Thus, it is strongly recommended that students take this course toward the end of their program of study. Prerequisites: HPM500 and HPM641

HPM 652 Quantitative Methods in Health Policy (3)
Students are introduced to a variety of statistical methods and problems encountered by health policy analysts, planners and administrators. Quantitative methods for solving these problems and journal articles provide real-world examples for students. Methods include: nonparametric statistical methods; medical and health policy decision analysis; quantitative methods for health policy analysis. Prerequisites: STA 552 and STA 553, EPI/HPM 514 or Permission of Instructor.

HPM 669 Topics in Health Policy and Management (3)
Seminar format to study selected health policy issues. Possible topics include assessing the regulation of the medical care industry in New York; public policy for trauma prevention and care; learning about quality of care implications for public policy; improving the health of people in poverty; setting priorities in environmental and occupational health, theory and practice of health systems planning, nutrition programs and policy, international health, topics in women's health. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

HPM 690 HPM Field Placement (3)
A field experience in which the student works closely with a mentor on a project in health policy, management, or social behavior and community health. The field placement will often provide the basis for the master's paper. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

HPM 695 Master's Project in Health Policy, Management and Behavior (3)
Selected project in Health Policy, Management and Behavior for each student. A report representing the entire semester of study is written on the subject studied.

HPM 697 Independent Study and Research in Health Policy and Management (2-6)
Supervised independent study or research of selected topics and problems of health policy and management. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.