Bioscience and Health Policy

Overview

The objectives of this interdisciplinary degree are:

  • To equip students with advanced bioscience skills
  • To achieve dual professional competency in science and policy analysis and development
  • To teach quantitative skills and data analysis
  • To equip students with leadership, communication, and research skills to conduct independent studies enabling them to understand and formulate public policy recommendations
  • To gain exposure in a real-life experience in technology policy development by participating in an internship
  • To train students how to integrate their science knowledge into creating better policies and practices

This program deepens your background in science and broadens it with courses in business, management, sociology, economics, and policy studies to foster your understanding of the role of science in policymaking and the role of public policy in science. The coursework provides communication training, professional development, policy writing, and study skills enabling you to develop specific policy recommendations. You also acquire the tool-set to become knowledgeable in the formulation and execution of public policy. The direct access to the Baker Institute allows you to work closely with policy scholars, meet with many of the leaders in science and technology policy, and attend discussions on the latest topics in bioscience and health policy. You can tailor your studies to your career focus and adjust your courses to fit interests in policy, health care management, bioinformatics, data analytics/science, technology transfer, and/or prepare better for medical school.

Faculty involved in the Bioscience and Health Policy Program:

Tom Killian, Dean of Wiess School of Natural Sciences

Ed Nikonowicz, Department Chair of BioSciences

Dan Wagner, Program Advisor, BioSciences

Janet Braam, Program Advisor, BioSciences
Susan Cates, Program Advisor, BioSciences
Kirstin Matthews, Program Advisor, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
Dan Wagner, Program Advisor, BioSciences
George Bennett, BioSciences
Mary Purugganan/Amy Sisson, PSM Professional Communication Team