Ivan Allen College Launches New Minor in Health Policy and Economics

Posted September 25, 2023

The Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts has launched a Health Policy and Economics minor, offered jointly through the School of Economics and the School of Public Policy. 

The 15-credit hour program offers students a comprehensive overview of health policy and the healthcare system in the U.S. They develop skills in data analytics, economic modeling, and policy analysis and apply them to issues such as health equity and access, participation in risky behaviors, and healthcare cost containment. This multidisciplinary lens prepares students for a range of opportunities in the public and private sectors as well as for graduate study in medicine or public health. 

Students begin the program with foundational courses in U.S. Health Policy and the Economics of Health and Health Care. Through electives, they can explore timely topics in classes such as Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, The Economics of Risky Health Behaviors, Health Disparities, and Stem Cell Science, Policy, and Ethics. Explore the complete list of minor courses here. 

The Ivan Allen College has expanded its health expertise with recent faculty hires in economics and policy who study areas as diverse as the impacts of substance use on health and communities, the effects of AI in healthcare, and the effectiveness of child protection policies. Learn more about these faculty and their work at the Health Economics and Policy Innovation Collaborative. 

“Economics and policy are good partners when it comes to healthcare,” said Kaye Husbands Fealing, Dean and Ivan Allen Jr. Chair of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. “Teaching students to approach today’s pressing healthcare questions using interdisciplinary methodologies will help them bring a broader perspective into their careers.”

The Health Policy and Economics minor is open to students from all majors.