The certificate in Health Policy offered through the La Follette School of Public Affairs prepares undergraduate students to navigate and shape health policy in Wisconsin and in the United States. Coursework covers key concepts and contemporary issues relevant to work within the complex world of U.S. health policy. Courses also build familiarity with analytic methods and approaches used to foster evidence-based health policy, focusing especially on policy levers that influence health equity.
UW–Madison graduates occupy a wide range of professional roles in the health sector, such as health care providers, accountants, IT professionals, small business owners, researchers, human resources specialists, engineers, and advocates. Across these roles, a foundational understanding of health policy has emerged as a key professional competency. Recognizing that leaders in this realm must engage diverse perspectives to successfully address complex issues, required courses are designed to foster interdisciplinary discussion and analysis, and a fieldwork experience will deepen learning in a professional setting.
How to Get in
No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, see Advising & Careers.
To declare the Certificate in Health Policy through the La Follette School of Public Affairs, students must:
- Hold UW-Madison sophomore standing or above and be in good academic standing, according to the rules of your school or college
- Have taken, are enrolled, or are registered for at least one class that meets certificate requirements
Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of four courses, one from each area listed below, and a minimum of 12 total credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Course (complete one): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Health Policy in the United States | ||
| Analytic Tools for Health Policy (complete one): | 3 | |
| Foundations of Data Analysis for Health Policy | ||
| Discovering What Works in Health Policy | ||
| Internship/Fieldwork Experience (complete at least 3 credits) | 3 | |
| Administrative Internship | ||
| Workshop in Health Policy | ||
| Workshop in Public Policy | ||
| International Internship | ||
| Health Impacts of Unmet Social Needs | ||
POLI SCI 402 | ||
| Policy Specialization (complete one course from any one area below): | 3 | |
Social Policy, Human Services, Demography and Health | ||
| Inequality, Race and Public Policy | ||
| Policy, Privacy, and Personal Identity in the Postgenomics Era | ||
| Science, Medicine, and Race: A History | ||
| Race, American Medicine and Public Health | ||
| Introduction to Culture and Health | ||
| Immigrant Health and Wellbeing | ||
| Dimensions of Latinx/e Mental Health Services | ||
| Prevention and Intervention in Mental Health Across the Lifespan | ||
| Human Trafficking: Global and Local Perspectives | ||
| The Human Rights of Children and Youth: Global and Local Perspectives | ||
| Framing Fatness: Gender, Size, Constructing Health | ||
| Gender, Sexuality, and Reproduction: Public Health Perspectives | ||
| Women's Global Health and Human Rights | ||
| Special Topics in LGBTQ+ Health | ||
| International Migration, Health, and Human Rights | ||
| Families & Poverty | ||
| Health, Disease and Healing II | ||
| Disease, Medicine and Public Health in the History of Latin America and the Caribbean | ||
| Justice and Health Care | ||
| Psychology, Law, and Social Policy | ||
| The Criminal Mind: Forensic and Psychobiological Perspectives | ||
| Sociology of Health and Medicine | ||
| Health Care Issues for Individuals, Families and Society | ||
| Sociological Perspectives on the Life Course and Aging | ||
| Poverty and Place | ||
| Introduction to Social Policy | ||
| Poverty and Social Welfare | ||
| Social Issues in Aging | ||
Life Sciences Communication | ||
| Science, Media and Society | ||
| Health Communication in the Information Age | ||
| Introduction to Health Communication | ||
Economics and Health | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Global Health: Economics, Natural Systems, and Policy | ||
| The Economics of Health Care | ||
| Human Resources and Economic Growth | ||
| Insuring Life's Risks: Health, Aging, and Policy | ||
| Health Analytics | ||
| Risk Analytics and Behavioral Science | ||
Environment and Health | ||
| Introduction to Air Quality | ||
| Global Food Production and Health | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Health | ||
| Air Pollution and Human Health | ||
| Environment and Behavior Studio - Designing Health Promoting Environments | ||
Medical Care Systems | ||
| Health Systems Engineering | ||
| Ethical Issues in Health Care | ||
| Design Thinking for Transformation | ||
Public Health | ||
| The Development of Public Health in America | ||
| Community Nutrition and Health Equity | ||
| Public Health in Rural & Urban Communities | ||
| Health Care Issues for Individuals, Families and Society | ||
| Public Health Ethics | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Residence and Quality of Work
- At least 6 certificate credits must be completed in residence.
- Minimum 2.000 GPA on all certificate courses.
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate understanding of major underpinnings and challenges of contemporary U.S. health policy, and how to approach issues using a public policy lens.
- Gain knowledge and demonstrate application of analytical and methodological tools used in the health sector (e.g., policy writing, analysis, familiarity with data used in health policy and clinical research, and quantitative and qualitative methods used in social policy).
- Demonstrate understanding and application of knowledge regarding a substantive health policy interest of their choice, such as health care policy and innovation, social determinants of health, reproductive health policy, social policy, analysis of health behaviors, and others.
- Gain applied experience in a setting relevant for navigating, interpreting, and contributing to effective health policy throughout their careers.
Advising and Careers
Declare or Cancel This Certificate
Please follow the process described on the La Follette School of Public Affairs website.
Please visit our undergraduate advising page to connect with our team.
Careers
Health policy issues affect every resident and community in the United States. Because of its complexity, people working in the health sector benefit from understanding specific terminology, issues, and systems involved in policymaking. Through this certificate in Health Policy, students will build the knowledge base for this work while also gaining skills in quantitative analysis, communication, writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving. More and more, employers across the health sector value this combination of skills and insights.
Students interested in health care, advocacy, business, or research will earn a credential highlighting highly sought-after skills that, through the fieldwork component of the certificate, they have applied in the context of real-world practice. Focused on evidence-based health policy and practice, courses help students hone skills to gather data and information from a variety of sources, analyze and synthesize the findings, and communicate key insights using clear, concise communication strategies.
Career development is an integral part of the La Follette School experience, with staff members and alumni eager to support and mentor students with diverse interests. Students benefit from networking opportunities, employer visits, professional development seminars, and other services.
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students