Curriculum
A Fully Online Degree Program
The topics and concepts of the curriculum educate students in how to understand and lead population health management systems. Our MAS in Population Health Management program is one of the first five programs certified by the Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.
Students will complete 50 credits to graduate. The program is designed to be completed in two academic years (Sept-May). In addition to the coursework, students must complete an Integrative Activity, where newly acquired knowledge and skills are used to create an applicable activity (e.g., a service-learning project that showcases the collective impact on an aspect of public health) – with a final paper that describes the methodology used and the final assessment.
MAS Student Handbook
The Master of Applied Science (MAS) Programs Student Handbook provides essential information, policies, and procedures about MAS and Certificate programs
- OPAL MAS Student Handbook AY23-24
- MAS Programs Student Handbook AY24-25 (link to go live in June 2024)
Program Competencies
By the end of the program, students should be able to:
- Apply the essentials of public health practice to identifying determinants of population health that impact health outcomes in a community and design low cost interventions;
- Apply leadership in the formation and management of health systems organizations that consist of, and rely upon, diverse stakeholders in the organization and delivery of community-based systems of care;
- Communicate effectively to constituencies both within and outside of the health system;
- Articulate and apply frameworks for collecting, analyzing and using data to inform decisions, facilitate care coordination and improve health outcomes of targeted populations within and outside the health system;
- Support state and local public health agency efforts in assessing health needs, quality of services and strategies for health services research.
- Evaluate payment systems and risk mitigation strategies and develop new structures to function under evolving value-based payment models emphasizing low cost, high quality care;
- Describe new methods for assessing the health needs of a population, working with stakeholders to establish meaningful targets and applying scientific frameworks for measuring and reporting progress;
- Apply social and behavioral constructs to develop and enhance community engagement and involvement to improve health;
- Engage in a population health practicum designed to allow the student to work on a project to integrate clinical care and public health practice around an identified community need.
Curriculum Structure
Interested in a certificate option instead of the full master’s degree program? Learn about our Certificate in Population Health Management (25 credits). Masters students will earn the certificate in conjunction with their degree.
The curriculum structure for the population health management graduate program consists of the following:
| Academic Year | Academic Term | Curriculum |
Year 1 Curriculum (25 credits) | 0 | Introduction to Online Learning (0 credits, required) |
| 1 | Academic and Research Ethics (0 credits, required) Essentials of Population Health Management (3 credits) Principles and Applications of Advanced Payment Models in Population Health Management (3 credits) | |
| 2 | Collective Impact: Developing and Leading Community Partnerships to Improve Population Health (3 credits) Applications in Accountable Care: Assessing Quality and Effectiveness of Population Health Initiatives (3 credits) | |
| 3 | Introduction to Epidemiology (4 credits) Population and Consumer Health Informatics (3 credits) | |
| 4 | Statistical Concepts in Public Health 1 (3 credits) Managing Health Across the Continuum: Contemporary Models and Applications of Care Coordination and Management (3 credits) | |
Year 2 Curriculum (25 credits) | 1 | Applied Concepts and Foundations of High Performance for Population Health (3 credits) Health Behavior: Improving Health Through Health Education/Promotion (3 credits) |
| 2 | Organizing for Public Health: A Systems Approach (2 credits) Behavioral Economics and Risk: Value-Based Payment Methods and Incentives (4 credits) | |
| 3 | The Built Environment: Influences and Challenges to Improving Population Health (3 credits) Value-based Concepts of Socially-Responsible Leadership (3 credits) | |
| 4 | Integrative Activity (4 credits) Social & Cultural Basis for Community and Primary Health Programs (3 credits) |
Sample Course Content
Courses within the Population Health Management program utilize various delivery methods and types of content for learning.
In one session of 602.691 Managing Health Across the Continuum with Dr. Debra Thompson:
- Students learn about NCQA's Pop Health Mgmt standards, including the importance of addressing housing instability.
- A Vodcast shows the instructor interviewing the Deputy City Manager from Santa Monica (a lawyer who formerly worked in the Obama administration) regarding the local government approach to addressing homelessness. Footage from live City Council meetings is spliced in!
- One of the required readings is on Housing as a Social Determinant of Health
- Students listen to an NPR podcast on the debate regarding Housing as Healthcare.
- Students work through a simulation where they get real time feedback on whether they are grasping the material or not.
Click one of the images below to hear a sample faculty lecture for 602.671 Collective Impact (Dr. Mark Bittle) or 602.681 Applications in Accountable Care (Dr. David Baker).
602.681 Applications in Accountable Care
Preparing Students for Online Learning
Introduction to Online Learning is a free, mandatory prerequisite for all online courses offered. It’s open to prospective students and designed to give a thorough view into what the online experience on CoursePlus will be like. It also prepares students and faculty for success on the first day of class since everyone is already acclimated to the technology. Introduction to Online Learning will allow students to:
- Ensure all tools and applications are properly installed
- Troubleshoot any component that may not work properly
- Experience the online tools for peer-to-peer and instructor communication
- Become familiar with the coursework structure and learning management system
The course takes between 1-4 hours to complete, depending on the student's skills working online. LiveTalks are online, synchronous learning events that occur in online classes offered via CoursePlus. There is one, optional LiveTalk during each offering of Introduction to Online Learning. The optional session lasts for one hour. In order to complete the requirements for this course, you can either attend the live, optional LiveTalk session or watch the recording of the session once it is posted. Everything is done online. You will not be in a classroom in Baltimore. For details on the course, including assignments and requirements for completion, please see the Syllabus page.
Ready to test-drive online courses at BSPH? Register for this class. You can take this free course at any point before or during the application process!
Get in Touch
Request more information or call us at 410-955-3543 to speak with an admissions officer. You can also reach us via email at BSPH.Admissions@jhu.edu.