
Welcome to the Healthcare Policy Major!
The Healthcare Policy Major is a cross-disciplinary program designed for students seeking a career in the healthcare policy sector. Students will complete courses taught by political science, biology, and psychology faculty. This program will train students in both the science and politics of healthcare. Students may choose to focus on local, national or international healthcare policy issues, and will participate in either a travel study that involves a world healthcare issue or an internship in the healthcare field, ensuring an education in both theory and practice.
Students may combine the major with minors offered in our department including Pre-Law and International Relations. This academic training will prepare students well for work in the pharmaceutical industry, governmental agencies, advocacy organizations, or graduate work.
The Global Healthcare Policy Concentration is an option for Healthcare Policy Majors. The Global Healthcare Policy Minor may be coupled with any major.
The Healthcare Policy major is a unique opportunity for undergraduates in what is the fastest growing employment field in the nation. I invite you to review our requirements, and contact me to discuss your future.
Dr. Lia Roberts
Department Chair
Department of History and Political Science
Jackie Filla
Advisor for the Healthcare Policy Major
Department of History and Political Science
Degree Requirements
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Healthcare Policy BA Degree (or Major)+-
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Department Affiliation: History And Political Science

The Healthcare Policy Major is a cross-disciplinary program designed for students seeking a career in the healthcare policy sector. Students will complete courses taught by political science, nursing, biology, and psychology faculty. This program will train students in both the science and politics of healthcare. Students may choose to focus on local, national or international health care policy issues. Students participate in either a travel study that involves a world healthcare issue or an internship in the healthcare field, ensuring an education in both theory and practice. Graduates of this program will be well prepared for positions with pharmaceutical companies; lobbying organizations; government agencies; and healthcare advocacy organizations.
Healthcare Policy BA Degree (or Major)
Required Courses
Lower Division: 12 units
- POL 1 American Government and Institutions (3)
- POL 2 Introduction to World Politics (3)
- PSY 1 Introduction to Psychology (3)
- BIO 10 Health Science (3) or BIO 5 Life Sciences (3)
Upper Division: 15 units
- HCP 112 Healthcare Law and Policy (3) or POL 112 Healthcare Law and Policy (3)
- POL 101 Research Methods (3)
- POL 102 Women and the Law (3) or POL 147 Women and Development (3) or HCP 155 Politics of Women's Health Care in California (3) or POL 156 Women and Politics (3)
- POL 176 Public Policy (3)
- POL 191 Internship (3)
Approved Healthcare Policy Electives (9 units)
To be eligible to apply to the Accelerated Nursing Program, Healthcare Policy Majors must meet GPA requirements, and complete the following approved electives:
- BIO 3 General Microbiology (with Lab) (3)
- BIO 50A Human Anatomy (with Lab) (3)
- BIO 50B Human Physiology (with Lab) (3)
- CHE 3 Foundations of Chemistry or PHY 1A Introductory Physics (3)
- PHY 1A Introductory Physics IA (4)
- SOC 1 Introduction to Sociology (3)
- PSY 12 Child/Human Development (3)
- PSY 102 Issues in Human Development (3)
Other Approved Healthcare Policy Electives include:
- HCP 155 Politics of Women's Health Care in California (3)
- HCP 157 AIDS As Case Study (3)
- POL 102 Women and the Law (3)
- POL 120 Legislative Process (3)
- POL 131 International Relations (3)
- POL 147 Women and Development (3)
- POL 151 Humanitarian Intervention (3)
- POL 155 Politics of Women's Health Care in California (3)
- POL 156 Women and Politics (3)
- POL 157 AIDS As Case Study (3)
- POL 180 State and Local Government (3)
- *Courses approved by the Chair of the History and Political Science Department
Total units required for the major: 36
Students must complete all General Studies requirements and at least a total of 124 units to graduate.
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Healthcare Policy Minor+-
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Students wishing to minor in Healthcare Policy are required to take POL 1, BIO 10, NUR 124, POL 176 plus 4 upper division courses approved by the students' academic advisors.
Global Women in STEM and Policy (GWSTEM)
The Global Women in STEM and Policy Undergraduate Research Training Honors Program (GWSTEM URTP) trains cohorts of undergraduate women to conduct basic and applied research in both the sciences and social sciences with a focus on global and interdisciplinary approaches. This program is a reflection of the Mount's mission and strategic plan to empower women, engage in a global environment, and to increase undergraduate research opportunities. Take courses in Policy and STEM. Engage in Summer Research Abroad!
Open to Majors in:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- History
- Healthcare Policy
- Global Politics