Health Policy and Administration, B.S. at Penn State
Shape the future of healthcare and public wellbeing with a degree in Health Policy and Administration (HPA).
HPA is the strategic framework of healthcare, integrating the study of clinical care, public policy, and administrative systems—mental health, addiction treatment, school wellness, and artificial intelligence—to improve patient outcomes and create effective and accessible medical services.
At Penn State Beaver, you’ll master high-level problem-solving through the analysis of Harvard case health care studies. This rigorous approach to real-world scenarios sets our graduates apart by providing a professional toolkit for identifying systemic health care issues and implementing data-driven solutions. This experience proves you can navigate the complexities of modern healthcare, from managing AI integration to shaping public safety regulations on issues like texting while driving and the safety of athletes in sports.
In addition to having access to expert faculty, you’ll participate in student-led learning activities to apply and test cutting-edge administrative practices. You’ll examine issues in-depth and find solutions to real-world problems affecting everyone from children and young adults to office workers and senior citizens.
What You’ll Learn
- How health care affects people’s lives
- How regulations surrounding healthcare are developed
- How health varies across populations of people
- How lobbyists influence public health policy and how you can be a part of that process
- How economics, business, law, risk management and insurance affect health policy
Internships & Careers
Penn State Beaver students have completed internships or gained employment at many companies including:
- American Heart Association
- CVS Health
- Heritage Valley Health System
- Johnson & Johnson
- PhyNet
- Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation
- Teledoc Health
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital
Career Paths
- Health policy analyst
- Government lobbyist
- Healthcare administrator for rehabilitative care, athletic training facilities, or hospitals
- Clinical manager
- Healthcare consultant
- Population health analyst
- Health equity analyst
Healthcare financial manager
