Master of Public Health (Health Administration)

Description

Summary of the Program

The programme aims to develop public health administrations for those who are interested to work to improve the health of the community at large, serving as leaders of public and non-governmental sector organisations that provide health services and disseminate information about health and well-being. The Master of Public Health in Health Administration (MPH-HA) programme offers a curriculum focused on the management principles and methods that are essential to advance the health of communities. The programme aims to develop the competence and aptitude necessary to manage the finances, human resources and knowledge that support public health programs and initiatives. The MPH-HA programme is aimed to equip the students with an understanding of the concepts, principles and theories related to public health practice and the role of health services systems as an organisation in improving population health. The programme will help the learner to understand the evolution of Indian health services and the multifarious factors that contributed to their growth and development. Of the various agencies that render public health services, government health services have a dominant role and have robust health services delivery systems in place. Both the National Health Policy and the National Health Mission (NHM) emphasise the need to have trained public health professionals as an important requirement to bring out improvements in the health situation in the country. In terms of employment and revenue, the public health sector has been one of the largest sectors and is growing at a rapid pace.

The MPH-HA is a two-year, post-graduate degree programme consisting of four semesters and the students will accumulate credits in each semester and the Degree will be awarded after successful completion of all the academic requirements of four semesters. The MPH-HA programme has a multi-disciplinary curriculum that includes theoretical courses, internships and research dissertation, which also has an option of completing within a maximum period of five years from the date of registration.

The details of the internships offered during the MPH-HA programme are given in brief below:
The First Internship is of 8 weeks duration in the Second Semester (8 credits), where the students are placed in the rural health services of the Government of India. This internship provides exposure to the rural healthcare delivery systems and challenges associated with it. They are able to gain skills with respect to the administration of health services and management of national health programmes at the grassroots.

The Second Internship is of 8 weeks duration in the Third Semester (8 credits), where the students are placed in the rural non-governmental organisations. The students gain insight and skills in the areas of administration of NGOs, health planning, social determinants of health, gender issues, and community engagement.

The third Internship is of 6 weeks duration in the Fourth Semester (6 credits), where the students are placed in urban health services systems to understand the challenges and problems faced by the urban healthcare delivery systems.

Students who graduate with an MPH-HA have the opportunity to work for various employers in the public, non-profit, education, and private sectors. Many based on their interest and experience work as programme managers in non-governmental organisations, consultants or officers with NHM, national and state health systems resource centre (NHSRC, SHSRC), as monitoring and evaluation officers or programme or technical consultants for the government as well as international organisations such as WHO, UNICEF, and UNAIDS.

Program Objectives

• Provide a comprehensive understanding of public health systems and health administration by integrating concepts from management, policy, and community health.
• Train students in qualitative and quantitative data handling and evidence-based decision-making to evaluate healthcare delivery systems, monitor program effectiveness, and design impactful health interventions.
• Equip students to understand and address inequities in health outcomes caused by caste, class, gender, and other social vulnerabilities, emphasizing community-centered approaches.
• Orient students on public health issues, including universal health coverage, sustainability in healthcare systems, health financing, and global health priorities, enabling them to shape policy frameworks.
• Foster skills in leadership, program management, and research methodologies to prepare students for roles in health systems, data-driven decision-making, and achieving sustainable development goals.

Program Outcomes

The MPH-HA programme equips students with the knowledge and skills to address public health challenges, focusing on health administration, community health improvement, and health system strengthening. Students develop expertise in managing finances, human resources, and knowledge systems to effectively support public health initiatives. The programme provides an in-depth understanding of public health practices, the evolution of health services in India, and the pivotal role of government health systems in population health improvement. Through structured internships in rural and urban health systems and non-governmental organizations, students gain hands-on experience in addressing health challenges, understanding social determinants of health, promoting gender equity, and engaging communities. The multi-disciplinary curriculum fosters analytical and problem-solving abilities, enabling graduates to pursue diverse career paths as program managers, monitoring and evaluation officers, health consultants, or technical advisors in public, private, organizations. This comprehensive training ensures MPH-HA graduates are prepared to lead public health efforts, contribute to evidence-based policymaking, and advance sustainable health outcomes.

The programme outcome will involve:

• Developing skills to manage public health systems and resources effectively
• Gaining comprehensive understanding of public health practices and India's health service evolution
• Acquiring hands-on experience in rural, urban, and NGO healthcare settings
• Building capacity to evaluate healthcare systems, monitor program effectiveness, and design evidence-based interventions
• Preparing for diverse roles in program management, monitoring and evaluation, and health consulting in various sectors

Distribution of Credit Hours:

Semesterwise Courses:

Note:

1. The list indicating the total number of credits, list of CBCS/ Swayam courses and semester-wise listing of courses is provisional, and may undergo some changes.
2. Health internships are scheduled across various states and students will have to make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation. The NGO decided by internship co-ordinators will be final
3. As per the curricular requirement, the School of Health Systems Studies organizes the internships and all students are required mandatorily to undergo and complete all the requirements of the internships.
4. Value-added courses (0 credit) will be compulsory at the end of Semesters I and III (30 hours each or 60 hours total).
5. Exit option is available at the end of Year I

Note:The curriculum structure is tentative and subject to change.

Fee Structure:

 *Institute reserves the rights to revise the Fees Structure of programme if necessary.

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