Health Policy and Administration

Health Policy and Administration is a timely major with great employment potential!! This powerful PSU program ranks in the top 10 for Health Degrees/low-cost programs in the field. Offered at the Lehigh Valley and seven other PSU campuses.

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In today’s highly complex healthcare industry, there’s no shortage of first-rate job opportunities. Penn State Lehigh Valley’s versatile Health Policy and Administration (HPA) program sets you up for a high-paying, long-term career that can be done in numerous health-related settings, be it a hospital, an assisted living community or a government agency. And thanks to the global reach of a Penn State degree, you’ll be able to do it anywhere, be it in the Lehigh Valley, where healthcare is the No. 1 employer, or beyond.

Overview

Taught by experts in the field, PSU-LV’s HPA program provides a seamless blend of liberal arts, business administration and health sciences courses designed to prepare you for a career or further advanced study. That flexibility gives you the chance to tailor your education to your specific healthcare interests. Courses include Consumer Choices in Health Care, Health Services Policy Issues, Financing Health Care, Long-term Care Management, Physician Practice Management, and Principles of Public Health Administration.

In addition, all HPA students are required to complete an internship in a healthcare setting, giving them valuable real-world experience and extensive industry contacts. With a nationally ranked hospital and health service system just minutes away from the campus, you’ll have no problem finding an opportunity that aligns with your goals.

Once you graduate, you’ll be able to work in numerous settings, including:

Managed care companies

Health systems

State and federal agencies

Research organizations

Human resources

Physician group practices

Note: Because many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed, those planning to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program should visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.

Testimonials

“At Penn State Lehigh Valley, I found an HPA program that allowed me to tailor my education around the role I wished to pursue post-graduation. And I loved that my professors could relate the coursework to real-life situations they encountered in their professional career. PSU-LV provided me with a great education where I utilize much of what I learned every day.” – Erica Hughes ’19, senior talent acquisition business partner at Lehigh Valley Health Network

“The main reason for my transfer to Penn State Lehigh Valley was due to their quality Health Policy and Administration program, which I was highly interested in. Today, I use every aspect of my degree in my job without even realizing it. The HPA degree provides you with a plethora of knowledge to work in any field and enjoy what you do. I wouldn’t have changed my time or experiences at PSU-LV. It’s because of the support from the campus that I landed where I am today.” – Nicole Grazio ’21, talent acquisition specialist at HNL Lab Medicine

Suggested Academic Plans

Suggested Academic Plans (SAP) provide the possible order of courses students might follow as they pursue a particular degree. SAPs are proposed schedules only. Individual student's schedules might look different if -- in consultation with an academic adviser -- the student has created a different plan. Care should be taken when changing the order of courses, as the SAP takes into account prerequisites and course controls. For the final work regarding the courses needed for graduation in a particular major, all students should consult the University Bulletin and their degree audit.

Suggested Academic Plans