What Can I Do with an MPH in Health Services Policy and Management?

Improve the systems behind better health.

Healthcare and public health need people who can understand policy, organizations, operations, financing and the systems that shape access to care.

An MPH in Health Services Policy and Management prepares you to help organizations work better and help health systems serve people better. USC’s MPH curriculum includes training in operations management, health policy, law and the organizational side of health services.

You'll ask and answer questions like: How could this health system work better? How does this policy affect access to care? How can we improve quality without wasting resources? How do we turn a good public health idea into something that actually works?

What careers will I be prepared for?

Health Services Manager

Help plan, coordinate and improve health services within hospitals, clinics, public health agencies and other organizations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of medical and health services managers to grow 23% from 2024 to 2034. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Health Policy Analyst

Study health policies, regulations and programs and use evidence to inform decisions that affect health care and public health.

Public Health Program Manager

Lead programs, coordinate teams and partnerships, manage resources and keep public health initiatives moving forward.

Health Care Operations Specialist

Find ways to make health organizations more efficient, effective and responsive to the people they serve.

Quality Improvement Specialist

Use data and performance measures to identify opportunities to improve health care quality, safety and outcomes.

Public Health Analyst

Bring together data, policy and program information to support public health planning and decision-making.

Healthcare Consultant

Help health systems, government agencies and other organizations tackle challenges involving strategy, operations, policy and performance.

Population Health Program Manager

Coordinate programs designed to improve health outcomes across patient populations and communities.

Where are some places MPH graduates can work?

Hospitals and health systems
Government agencies
Health departments
Insurance and managed care organizations
Consulting firms
Nonprofits
Research and policy organizations

Make better health possible at the systems level.

USC’s HSPM competencies specifically include applying operations management concepts to organizational performance and understanding the legal and regulatory environment surrounding health policy and management. If you want to understand how healthcare works, why policy matters and how organizations can do better, the MPH gives you the tools to help lead that change.

Elijah Christian, MPH, is Manager of Community Programs at Prisma Health, where he leads community health coalitions, supports Community Health Needs Assessment efforts and helps teams use data to guide strategy.

A graduate of USC’s Health Services Policy and Management MPH program, Christian applies the analytical, leadership and evaluation skills he built at the Arnold School to improve community health across South Carolina.

“You’d be surprised how quickly you take information from the classroom to the real world.”

Arnold School of Public Health

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