MPA in Health Policy & Management-MD

It’s one thing to be able to recognize the physical factors contributing to disease in a human body. It’s another thing to recognize the social factors. But being able to recognize both—and know what they mean and how to work with or around them? That’s a whole different level of medicine. And that’s exactly where our MPA-MD program, offered in partnership with the NYU School of Medicine, wants to take you.

Integrating public service and medicine, this degree provides students with the cutting-edge concepts and skills needed to shape the future of health policy and management. You’ll graduate with a set of tools and experiences to help you understand both the delivery of healthcare services and the broader social, cultural, and economic factors that influence health outcomes. You’ll be uniquely positioned to work in every facet of the healthcare system—from health policy analysis to hospital management and managed care organizations to nonprofits, consulting firms, and government health agencies around the world.

Advisement

An important aspect of the dual-degree academic experience is the extensive, tailored, and coordinated advisement support from both schools. Students will work with advisors from both schools to carefully choose coursework that takes into consideration their unique academic and professional goals. The many sources of advisement that each school offers includes faculty advisors, offices of career services, program administrators, and peer advisors. 

Students leave the dual-degree program well supported and equipped with the frameworks and analytical skills that will serve them well in the complex and changing intersection of sectors and roles their careers may span. 

Your MD coursework will reduce the total number of credits you will need for the MPA to 36, from the standard 45. These 36 MPA credits will be comprised of:

Note: In addition to the credit requirements above, all MPA students must satisfy Wagner's Professional Experience Requirement (PER), unless it is waived for you upon admission based on prior professional experience.

MPA-MD students typically complete the dual-degree program in five years of full-time study. Below is a sample sequence with standard MPA credit allocations based on MPA-Health specialization. For a more detailed, term-by-term course plan, please consult with Wagner's dual-degree program advisor, Scott Statland (scott.statland@nyu.edu). 

  • Years 1-3: MD requirements

    Registration residency: School of Medicine
  • Year 4: MPA requirements

    Registration residency: Wagner
    • Health Services Management specializers: 24 credits
    • Health Financial Management specializers: 27 credits
    • Health Public Finance, Policy Analysis, and International Development specializers: 30 to 33 credits, including January/summer terms
  • Year 5: MD & MPA requirements

    Registration residency: School of Medicine
    • Health Services Management specializers: 12 credits
    • Health Financial Management specializers: 9 credits
    • Health Public Finance, Policy Analysis, and International Development specializers: 3 to 6 credits, including Capstone

Admissions

Applicants should first apply and gain admission to the NYU School of Medicine. Once admitted, students are encouraged to apply to NYU Wagner during their third year of study at the medical school. Upon admission to NYU Wagner, students enter the MPA-MD dual-degree program and begin courses at Wagner during their fourth year.

Students apply separately to each school and join the MPA-MD dual-degree program once they are admitted to both schools. Students enrolled in dual master's degree programs with other NYU schools are not eligible for NYU Wagner Named Fellowship programs.