Course Descriptions

Foundation Course

HLTH 8001 Foundations for Graduate Study (1 cr.)
This course introduces students to Walden University and the requirements for successfully participating in an online curriculum, to provide a foundation for academic and professional success as a scholar-practitioner and social change agent. Course assignments focus on the practical application of writing and critical-thinking skills and the integration of professional practice with professional and academic excellence as they relate to practice in public policy and administration.

Research Core

RSCH 8100 Research Theory, Design, and Methods (4 cr.)
This research course provides students with core knowledge and skills for understanding, analyzing, and designing research at the doctoral level. Students explore the philosophy of science, the importance of theory in research, and research processes. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method research designs and methods are introduced. Ethical and social change implications of conducting research, producing knowledge, and engaging in scholarship are emphasized. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing elements of simple research plans. (Prerequisite: Foundations course or first course in a program)

RSCH 8200 Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis (4 cr.)
This research course provides students with core knowledge and skills for designing quantitative research at the doctoral level, including understanding data analysis and applying statistical concepts. Students explore classical quantitative research designs and common statistical tests; the importance of quality assurance; and ethical and social change implications of conducting quantitative research and producing knowledge. This course approaches statistics from a problem-solving perspective, with emphasis on selecting appropriate statistical tests for a research design. Students use statistical software to calculate statistics and interpret and present results. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a quantitative research plan. (Prerequisite: RSCH 8100P)

RSCH 8300 Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis (4 cr.)
This research course provides students with core knowledge and skills for designing qualitative research at the doctoral level, including understanding data analysis. Students explore the nature of qualitative inquiry; fieldwork strategies and the nature of observation; theoretical approaches to qualitative research; the importance of quality assurance; and the ethical, legal, and social change implications of conducting qualitative research and producing knowledge. Students use software to code data and interpret and present results. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a qualitative research plan. (Prerequisite: RSCH 8100)

HLTH 8550 Writing a Quality Prospectus (5 cr.)
This 5-credit course is focused specifically on the process of writing the dissertation prospectus. Students will use their preliminary research plan, developed previously, and develop a problem statement to be used in the dissertation. They will further refine the problem statement and carry out the planning and the library research that will bring them to the formulation of a dissertation prospectus. The prospectus is a brief paper, typically 15–20 pages in length, that lays out the background for the problem statement; the problem statement itself; a survey of the relevant literature; typically 25–75 references; and a research, implementation, and evaluation plan for the solution of the problem.

RSCH 8250 Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis (4 cr.)
This research course builds upon knowledge and skills acquired in RSCH 8200: Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis and provides experience applying them. It provides students with more specialized knowledge and skills for designing quantitative research at the doctoral level, including understanding multivariate data analysis and applying more advanced statistical concepts. Students explore comprehensive quantitative research designs and suitable statistical tests, the importance of quality assurance, and ethical considerations and social change implications of conducting quantitative research and producing knowledge. This course approaches statistics from a problem-solving perspective, with emphasis on selecting the appropriate research design and statistical tests for more complex research questions or problems. Students use statistical software to perform analyses and interpret and present results. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a quantitative research plan. (Prerequisite: RSCH 8200)

RSCH 8350 Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis (4 cr.)
This research course builds upon knowledge and skills acquired in RSCH 8300: Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis and provides experience applying them. It provides students with more specialized knowledge and skills within each of the common qualitative traditions for designing qualitative research at the doctoral level. Students explore more complex qualitative research designs and analyses, multiple approaches to coding and organizing data, core components of a qualitative write-up, the importance of quality assurance, and the ethical considerations and social change implications of conducting qualitative research and producing knowledge. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a qualitative research plan. (Prerequisite: RSCH 8300)

RSCH 8450 Advanced Mixed-Method Reasoning and Analysis (4 cr.)
This research course builds upon knowledge and skills acquired in RSCH 8200: Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis and 8300: Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis. It provides students with more specialized knowledge and skills for designing mixed-method research at the doctoral level. Students gain an understanding of the types of mixed-method designs and how to select the most appropriate approach for the research question. The course emphasizes integrating quantitative and qualitative elements into true mixed-method studies, practice in data analysis, and integration of qualitative and quantitative data within a research write-up. Reliability and validity of mixed-method approaches will be highlighted. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a truly mixed-method research plan that appropriately incorporates qualitative and quantitative elements. (Prerequisites: RSCH 8200 and RSCH 8300)

Foundation Core

HLTH 8410 U.S. Healthcare Delivery System (5 cr.)
This course provides the student with an understanding of the structure and components of health services and the health services delivery system in the United States. The components of the system, including patients, organizations, healthcare professionals, public and private third-party payers, regulators, reimbursement and reimbursement methods, and technology are identified and described, including the continuum of health services such as hospitals and hospital systems, ambulatory care services, long-term care services, wellness/prevention services, and community/public health services. In addition, the course provides an abbreviated history of health and health services in the U.S. and addresses the nature of population illness and disease. Contextual factors and challenges that are linked to the healthcare delivery system are addressed, and the impact of these challenges on the delivery of services and healthcare management is explored.

HLTH 8415 Organizational Development and Leadership (5 cr.)
This course addresses the unique structures of healthcare organizations and organizational behaviors within these organizations that impact organizational performance. The roles and responsibilities of management within healthcare organizations are addressed in this context, and include the macro (organization-wide) perspective and micro (individual and team performance) perspective. Key concepts of management—including understanding organizational values, mission, and vision—are addressed, as are the key concepts of defining the work to be carried out as well as the arrangements to effectively deliver services within healthcare organizations. The course addresses both the theory of organizational design and governance, as well as alternative organizational structures. The theory and practice of managing individuals and groups through motivation, communications, teamwork, leadership, power, organizational change, coalition building, negotiation, and conflict management/resolution are considered. Development of student self-awareness and management style through group work and personal assessment is a key component of this course.

HLTH 8420 Health Economics (5 cr.)
This course examines the application of economic principles to healthcare managerial decision-making regarding the amount, structure, and distribution of healthcare resources and services. Because of the complexity and uncertainty of the healthcare system, as well as the scope of resources consumed by health and health-related organizations, managers must appreciate the economic implications of decisions regarding allocation of resources. In this course, students will advance their knowledge of economic principles as reflected in the population’s demand for health; the demand for healthcare/medical care; the supply of health organizations and practitioners; the role of insurance, moral hazard, and adverse selection; the practice of cost-shifting; the structure, competitive nature, and dynamics of markets; differing objectives of for-profit and non-profit organizations; variation in consumer access to and utilization of services; roles of uncertainty and information asymmetry; strategies for consumer cost-sharing; and challenges that healthcare organizations face in the pricing, production, allocation, and distribution of health and medical services. Special attention is devoted to understanding how health services differ in a variety of competitive markets.

HLTH 8425 Health Policy (5 cr.)
This course provides an understanding of health policy, which reflects authoritative decisions and the process of decision-making, carried out at the federal, state, and local levels, which affect personal health and access to and delivery of health services in the United States. Health policy is based on laws, rules, and regulations to implement legislation or on legal standards established through judicial decisions. Students will gain knowledge of the levels within which health policy is carried out, the process for policy development and implementation, key stakeholders and interest groups involved in the health policy process, and how health policy changes over time within the U.S. Key health policy initiatives to address health issues in the U. S. are explored, including Medicare and Medicaid, access to care and the uninsured, disease-specific efforts such as HIV/AIDS and organ transplantation programs, emerging infectious diseases such as MRSA and the re-emergence of TB, and terrorism and emergency preparedness. Funding issues associated with health policy are discussed. The impact on healthcare organizations and the role of management in shaping and responding to health policy are addressed.

HLTH 8430 Healthcare Financial Management (5 cr.)
This course introduces the terminology, theory, concepts, and techniques used in the accounting and finance functions in healthcare organizations. Students gain an understanding of the important role of finance in healthcare organizations, as well as learn various techniques to develop, manage, and control finances. Using an applied approach in learning about healthcare finance, the course enables students to learn how to develop, apply, and interpret various financial tools, including budgets, sources of revenue/reimbursement by payer, income statements, balance sheets, dashboards, statements of cash flow, pro formas, return on investment analysis, financial ratios, capital budgeting, debt service and borrowing, depreciation, and cost allocation and cost accounting techniques.

HLTH 8435 Health Law and Ethics (5 cr.)
This course provides the student with an understanding of law, regulation, and court decisions that affect healthcare organizations, as well as ethical underpinnings and principles that healthcare organizations follow in the delivery of services. A review of key federal and state laws is provided, including regulatory oversight and licensing of facilities and practitioners, credentialing requirements and processes, scope of practice for practitioners, admission and discharge processes, privacy and confidentiality of patient information, patient protection including advanced directives, right to die, informed consent, malpractice, content of and access to patient records, organizational liability, apparent agency liability, fraud and abuse, safe harbor, conflict of interest legislation, antitrust law, contract law governing relationships with employed physicians and other providers, risk management, and organizational governance issues. In addition, accreditation as a form of regulation will be addressed. Key ethical principles underpinning healthcare organizations will be considered, as will recent court decisions that impact healthcare organizations and management roles.

Dissertation

HLTH 9001 Health Services Dissertation (20 cr. minimum—5 cr. per term for minimum 4 terms)
This course offers doctoral students the opportunity to integrate their program of study into an in-depth exploration of an interest area that includes the completion of a research study. Students complete the dissertation independently, with the guidance of a dissertation supervisory committee chair and committee members, in a learning platform classroom in which weekly participation is required. Students complete a prospectus, proposal, Institutional Review Board application, and dissertation. Once students register for HLTH 9001, they are registered each term until successful completion of the dissertation. (Prerequisites: Foundational and core curricula; appointment of an approved dissertation committee chair)

Community Health Education and Advocacy Specialization

HLTH 8460 Health Education and Community Advocacy (4 cr.)
This course studies the health education policies and interventions of social and behavioral change theories. Course assignments focus on the development of theory-based strategies and emphasize control, participation, efficacy, and empowerment. Topics include partnership models, including media advocacy and marketing strategies.

HLTH 8200 Organizing Community Action for Health Promotion and Education (5 cr.)
This course explores leadership in the effective organization of communities, interagency collaborative efforts, and work sites for collective action regarding health promotion and education. Course topics include analysis of risk factors at the community, work site, local, state, national, and international levels. (Prerequisites: Foundational and core curricula)

HLTH 8210 Public Campaigns for Health Promotion and Education (5 cr.)
This course investigates the persuasive use of mass communications media and marketing strategies in promoting health, reducing risk factors, and influencing community leadership to support healthful conditions. Topics include the design of mass media campaigns, target markets, and working with and responding to media, including broadcast, print, World Wide Web, and other electronic communication media. (Prerequisites: Foundational and core curricula)

HLTH 8219 Health Promotion and Education Interventions in Diverse Populations (5 cr.)
This course examines the planning and organization of health promotion programs for underserved, economically disadvantaged, and underrepresented populations. Students learn to design health promotion programs that consider the social, economic, and medical conditions influencing the health status of diverse populations. (Prerequisites: Foundational and core curricula)

Healthcare Administration Specialization

HLTH 8136 Leadership, Professionalism, and Ethics in Public Health Practice (4 cr.)
This course examines theories of leadership as well as the professional attributes, skills, styles, and strategies required to advance public health goals. Ethical choices, values, professionalism, opportunities for advocacy, and the application of principles of social justice implicit in public health decisions and practice are considered, with emphasis on the importance of a collaborative approach to working with diverse communities and constituencies.

HLTH 8015 Administration and Leadership of Public Health Programs (5 cr.)This course examines the administration of population-based health programs and the leadership skills needed to work effectively with diverse workforces and communities under varying political and economic conditions. Topics include organizational dynamics, team building, mediation, collaboration, systems thinking and planning, working within political structures, responding to political and economic forces, communicating public health issues, budgeting, funding proposal development, and grants management.

HLTH 8465 Strategic Planning: Collaboration, Cooperation, and Coordination (5 cr.)
In an increasingly complex world, leaders and managers in public, private, and nonprofit organizations need to be strategic in planning and creating effective, collaborative programs and services. This course explores the role and process of strategic planning, with an emphasis on collaboration, cooperation, and coordination within and among organizations. Students apply these concepts to real-life situations and organizations.

HLTH 8112 Governance and Public Policy (5 cr.)
Democratic principles are the foundation of modern life. The course provides an overview of democratic governance in public administration, public policy, or nonprofit/nongovernmental organizations in modern society. Students will examine the theoretical underpinnings of democratic governance and public policy in their chosen area of specialization necessary for doctoral-level research. Students will review fundamental theories of governance, research current literature on a specialized topic, and apply best practices within their area of specialization. The emphasis is on the context in which public and nonprofit leaders function and the social institutions that influence public policy and guide administrative decision-making.

Leadership Specialization

HLTH 8015 Administration and Leadership of Public Health Programs (5 cr.)
This course examines the administration of population-based health programs and the leadership skills needed to work effectively with diverse workforces and communities under varying political and economic conditions. Topics include organizational dynamics, team building, mediation, collaboration, systems thinking and planning, working within political structures, responding to political and economic forces, communicating about public health issues, budgeting, funding proposal development, and grants management.

HLTH 8111 Leadership and Organizational Change (5 cr.)
Successful public sector organizations require high-caliber leaders who are accountable to multiple constituencies. A rapidly accelerating rate of change and blurring of organizational boundaries contribute to the need for leaders who are equipped to meet the challenge. This course explores the theoretical underpinnings of leadership and the important role of the leader in organizational change. By exploring leadership theory, current research, and practice within an area of public administration or nonprofit/nongovernmental organizations, students will demonstrate their understanding of leadership in organizations that are increasingly complex in nature. Ethical dimensions, boundary-spanning functions, and how leaders influence positive social change are key factors of this course. The course draws on historical and current events, and the personal experiences of students, to examine the demands of leadership.

HLTH 8392 The Language of Leadership (5 cr.)
In today’s complex environment, leaders engaged in shaping public policy must know how to use the emotional as well as the intellectual power of language to motivate, inspire, and competently manage their organizations. Dynamic leadership requires the understanding and use of techniques that affect both conscious and unconscious influences on human behavior. Effective communication connects at many different levels. This course provides students with both theoretical and practical information demonstrating the necessary components for making such connections and shows them why stories, symbols, and metaphors are an essential element in the language of leadership.

Public Health Policy Specialization

HLTH 8175 Health Policy and Management (4 cr.)
This course examines the factors that influence and improve health outcomes of individuals and populations, with attention to the goals of Healthy People 2010 and the main components and issues of organization, financing, and delivery of health services and public health systems in the United States. Topics include management theories and processes, systems thinking, strategic planning and partnerships, quality and performance improvement, leadership, and organizational behavior. The policy process as well as the advocacy role of the public health professional in influencing local, state, and federal policy is addressed. The impact of global trends on public health practice, policy, and systems is also considered.

HLTH 8215 Public Health Policy Design and Implementation (5 cr.)
This course examines the application of scientific data in the formulation of policy recommendations, and the drafting of legislation and ordinances to promote equitable distribution of health resources, healthy living conditions, and other activities to reduce health risk. Students learn leadership strategies for effective lobbying of decision-makers and community leaders. (Prerequisites: Foundational and core curricula)

HLTH 8381 Public Policy and Evaluation (5 cr.)
This course provides an introduction to the tools used by policymakers and policy analysts to evaluate the impact of social programs. Topics include selecting programs to evaluate, crafting program descriptions, identifying stakeholders and their interests, developing logic models, framing evaluation questions, applying utilization-focused evaluation techniques, using quantitative and qualitative tools to complete formative and summative evaluations, formulating evaluation reports, and providing feedback to decision-makers. By the end of the course, each student develops a program evaluation design for a social program.

HLTH 8382 Public Policy and Finance (5 cr.)
This course covers both micro- and macroeconomic models used in policy formulation and how public finance influences policy choices as well as implementation alternatives. Students examine tax policies and tax incentive models, budgeting, public/private models, market influences on policy, the impact of government expenditures on income redistribution, and the economic considerations of welfare, food stamps, workers’ compensation, and Social Security. Outsourcing of public programs is also examined.

Self-Designed Specialization

HLTH 8015 Administration and Leadership of Public Health Programs (5 cr.)
This course examines the administration of population-based health programs and the leadership skills needed to work effectively with diverse workforces and communities under varying political and economic conditions. Topics include organizational dynamics, team building, mediation, collaboration, systems thinking and planning, working within political structures, responding to political and economic forces, communicating about public health issues, budgeting, funding proposal development, and grants management.

HLTH 8220 Health Promotion and Education Interventions in Diverse Populations (5 cr.)
This course examines the planning and organization of health promotion programs for underserved, economically disadvantaged, and underrepresented populations. Students learn to design health promotion programs that consider the social, economic, and medical conditions influencing the health status of diverse populations. (Prerequisites: Foundational and core curricula)