Admission Requirements 

Applicants must: 

• Possess a bachelor’s degree from a four-year, U.S. accredited institution 

• Have a minimum 3.00 GPA in all undergraduate and graduate coursework 

• Ensure they are in good academic standing with their current academic program 

• Enroll as a non-degree seeking student or in conjunction with their academic degree program. 

Each year 15 scholars are chosen from the Meharry student body with full tuition remission towards completion of the health policy certificate. To qualify, current enrollment at Meharry Medical College as a medical, dental, Ph.D., or MSPH student, is required. Ph.D. students must have earned candidacy before applying. All requirements for the certificate must be met prior to completion of the regular degree program. 

Non-Meharrians can apply and pay out of pocket for tuition.

In addition to the above mentioned requirements, applicants must submit the following materials to apply: 

1. Completed Application Form 
2. Statement of Purpose 
3. Two (2) Letters of Recommendation 
4. Undergraduate and Current Graduate Transcripts 

Certificate In Health Policy Requirements 

All students who are accepted into the program are required to: 

• Complete a minimum of 12-credit hours by their anticipated graduation date (if currently enrolled) or within three years 

• Maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher in the student’s primary academic program 

• Maintain a 80% attendance rate in all classes 

GSHP 701
The Challenges in Measuring Health Disparities: Politics, Policy and Methods: (2 credits hours)

GSHP 702
Race, Ethnicity and Health (3 credits hours)

GSHP 703
Comparative Analysis of U.S. & International Health Care Systems (2 credit hours)

 GSHP 704
Achieving Health Equity: Frameworks, Data Tools, and Policy Interventions: (3 credits hours)

 GSHP 705
Health Disparities & Health Policy I (3 credit hours)

GSHP 706
Health Disparities & Health Policy II (3 credit hours)

GSHP 707
Health Policy & Society I (3 credit hours)

GSHP 708
Social Dynamics of Mental Health (3 credit hours)

GSHP 709
Health Policy & Society II (3 credit hours)

GSHP 710
Public Health, Public Policy, and the Law (3 credit hours)

GSHP 711
Race, Class and Access: Contemporary Health Issues: (3 credit hours)

GSHP 712
Health Policy Externship/Field Placement (3 credit hours)Center for Health Policy 3

GSHP 713
Managed Care (3 credit hours)

GSHP 714
US Health Policy (3 credit hours)

GSHP 715
Critical Literature Reviews of Health Disparities I: (3 credit hours)

GSHP 716
Implications of Mental Health & Health Policy (3 credit hours)

GSHP 717
Special Topics in Health Policy (3 credit hours)

GSHP 718
Critical Literature Reviews of Health Disparities II (3 credit hours)

GSHP 719
Leading Change in Population Health (2 credit hours)

GSHP 720
Cost Effectiveness Analysis and Decision Making: (2 credit hours)

GSHP 721
The Emerging Importance of Arts to Health Policy and Practice” (2 credit hours)

GSHP 722
Managing People in Healthcare Organizations and Policy Environments” (2 credit hours)

GSHP 723
Health Reform and Health Equity (2 Credit Hours)

GSHP 724
Introduction to Social Epidemiology (2 credit hours)

This year, there are fifteen (15) slots available for Meharry students with full tuition remission towards completion of the health policy certificate.

Visit Financial Aid for Cost of Attendance Information

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1. Convenient classes. The program’s courses are only offered in the evenings on weekdays and during the summer to make it as convenient as possible for anyone to attend. Whether you are a full-time working professional or full-time student, there are courses available to accommodate your busy schedule and that are tailored to your educational and research interests. 
2. Small class sizes. On average, each class has approximately 15 students enrolled. Students can expect to receive one-on-one attention from our faculty.
3. World-class faculty. One of our greatest assets is our faculty. Students gain access to the best scholars, researchers, and executives at the forefront of today’s health policy landscape. Courses are taught by Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University faculty as well as notable visiting professors. Through our Scholars-in-Residence Visiting Professor Program, we invite nationally renowned practitioners, sociologists, economists, political scientists, and health policy experts to guest lecture for our courses and special events. Past lecturers have included: David Williams, Ph.D., of Harvard University, Thomas LaVeist, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins University, Gail Christopher, D.N., of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, former Nashville mayor Bill Purcell, and Guy David, Ph.D., of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. 
4. Distance learning. With the help of today’s technology, the Center for Health Policy is equipped with the latest videoconferencing software to offer distance learning options. Students can take classes from anywhere by logging into a virtual classroom to participate in live discussions taking place on campus. 
5. Mentorship. All of our faculty members, visiting professors and guest lecturers are available to provide mentorship opportunities that will further one’s career endeavors and research interests. Students have direct access to professors during office hours. We also connect students with practitioners during our Executive Roundtables, where senior executives serve as coaches and mentors to give one-on-one career advice and host group mentoring sessions. 
6. Professional development. The Center for Health Policy’s Professional Development Program provides a variety of training and development opportunities for affiliated faculty, fellows, and scholars. Throughout the academic year, we bring in consultants to teach workshops ranging from qualitative research training to academic writing and career development. During the summer months, we have sent students who wanted to enhance their research skills to attend training programs across the country. These programs include the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) Summer Program in Quantitative Methods, Media Training Institute at the RWJF Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico, and the Workshop on Research Design for Causal Inference at Northwestern University. 
7. Paid and unpaid summer externships. Our Summer Externship Program is designed for students to augment the health policy studies taking place in the classroom with experiential, real-world, experience in a policy work environment. We have partnerships with some of the nation’s largest and prominent health policy organizations, academic research institutions, and governmental agencies. Students are interviewed and competitively selected by the externship sites to spend 6-8 weeks doing health policy work. Learn more about the program here. 
8. Conference travel funding. Based on available budgeted funds, we select students to attend various national conferences, mostly during the summer months, and cover their travel and conference registration expenses. Preference is given to students who are presenting their research at a conference or seminar. In recent years, the Center’s students and staff have attended the following conferences and annual meetings: 
   • AcademyHealth ARM 
   • AcademyHealth Health Policy Confernece 
   • American Economic Association (AEA) 
   • American Medical Student Association (AMSA) 
   • American Political Science Association (APSA) 
   • American Public Health Association (APHA) 
   • American Sociological Association (ASA) 
   • International Conference on Health in the African Diaspora (I-CHAD) 
   • National Dental Association (NDA) 
   • National Medical Association (NMA) 
   • Population Association of America 
   • RWJF Scholars in Health Policy Research Annual Meeting 
9. Networking events. The Center for Health Policy hosts a multitude of opportunities to network with fellow cohorts, faculty, visiting professors, and guest consultants. Health policy mixers, meet-and-greets, and socials create a casual environment to learn about each other’s research and educational interests. In the fall we host the Meharry-Vanderbilt Health Policy Partnership Reception, where we bring together both institutions to celebrate the accomplishments of the Center. During the spring we host the National Scholars’ Current Issues in Health Policy Lecture Series, which is a series of seminars aimed at creating a discussion around the latest health policy topics. Our Health Policy Writing Collaborative brings together students and faculty investigators for an opportunity to collaborate on research studies and manuscript submissions. 
10. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Leadership Network and Human Capital Network. As a student affiliated with our Center, you will have access to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s broad network of physicians, practitioners, researchers, students, and programs. The RWJF Leadership Network is a place for people who are professionally connected to RWJF to engage in discussion, and to share information about topics related to improving the health and health care of all Americans. The RWJF Human Capital Network is a community for RWJF Human Capital grantees, scholars, and alumni to connect with each other and Foundation staff, and share ideas, news, and resources. Additionally, students can contribute to the online health policy discussion by publishing articles on the Culture of Health Blog