New Health Policy Certificate Aimed at Complex, Changing Health Care System

INDIANAPOLIS – Like a navigational device that allows ships to sail safely across stormy seas, the IU School of Public & Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at IUPUI is offering a graduate certificate that will enable its graduates to plot a course through a complex, evolving health care environment.

The Certificate in Health Policy, a 17-18 credit-hour program of study, examines rapid changes occurring in health care, the escalating costs, complex ethical issues, and complicated financing systems.

“Our health care system is incredibly complex and constantly changing in response to new medical technologies, rising public expectations, and changing governmental regulation,” said Eric R. Wright, associate professor and Director of Health Policy at SPEA’s Center for Urban Policy and the Environment. “It is not surprising that students and professionals find it hard to fully grasp the many facets of this very dynamic system. The health policy certificate is designed to help students and working professionals develop a broad and multidisciplinary view of the health care system and to prepare them to apply the knowledge and skills in health care leadership positions in the public and private sector.”

The program will feature faculty expertise and instruction from the highly respected Indiana University Schools of Medicine, Law, Nursing, Public and Environmental Affairs, and Liberal Arts and include courses in ethics, epidemiology, health economics, health policy, law, and other electives based on health policy areas of interest.

An online application and additional information may be obtained from www.spea.iupui.edu. Minimum preferred requirements for admission include a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher. Application deadlines for the certificate programs are before May 15 for the fall semester, before September 15 for the spring semester, and before March 15 for summer sessions.

For more information, contact Luke Bickel at 317-278-0308 or lbickel@iupui.edu.