Understanding U.S. Health Care Law and Politics
Whether you plan to become a health care provider and want to better understand the system in which you’ll practice, or you envision a career advocating for or analyzing the impact of health care rules and regulations, SWAGÊÓƵ’s Health, Law, and Policy minor will give you an invaluable background in how the U.S. health care system functions. With a special emphasis on the public health sector, this minor introduces you to both the laws that govern health care in our country and the politics that shape those laws. An interdisciplinary and flexible program, this minor can be molded by your specific interests to position you well for a multitude of professions.
Why SWAGÊÓƵ for your Minor in Health, Law, and Policy
SWAGÊÓƵ’s minor in Health, Law, and Policy is designed as an introduction to the U.S. health care system and the political sphere in which it exists. The program is a perfect complement to your undergraduate studies if you plan to become a health care professional, or it can provide an ideal background for a number of fields that rely on knowledge of how and why health care policies are created, assessed, and altered.
- Interdisciplinary, drawing on multiple academic subjects
- Flexible, allowing you freedom to choose the courses that interest you most
- Hands-on, keeping you engaged and building a reservoir of real-world, transferrable skills
- Individualized, with small class sizes that afford you personal attention from faculty
The Health, Law, and Policy minor has been a great addition to my major and pre-health track. I’ve always been passionate about political science and activism, and this minor has given me a great insight and provided me tools to be more involved in the field."
Brooke McLaughlin ’23, Neuroscience major/Pre-Health Track/Health, Law, and Policy minor
What will you study? Minor in Health, Law, and Policy curriculum overview
Experiential Learning
Hands-on learning is a cornerstone of a SWAGÊÓƵ education. We believe that you learn best through real-world applications. The Health, Law, and Policy minor provides abundant opportunities — through engaging classroom activities, original research, and internships — to acquire the real-world experiences you’ll need to stand out to graduate schools and future employers alike.
Classroom Activities
Get ready to set down your textbooks and bring your studies to life. Our dynamic professors will engage you during class with active learning exercises, including:
- A week-long mock trial activity in which you’ll litigate a health care issue
- Group presentations that examine a potential health policy, considering its feasibility, constitutionality, economic and health impacts, and its incorporation of social determinants
Research
Conducting original research is a hands-on way to gain important skills. The highly interdisciplinary nature of the Health, Law, and Policy minor lends itself well to a wide array of health-related research topics that can bridge your major and minor programs and help you carve out your own special niche area. Possible topics include:
- The impacts of specific COVID-19 policies on various demographics
- The political challenges to expanding health care in the U.S.
- How living wage policies impact a community’s overall health
Internships
Gain real-world experience by interning in a professional setting. The knowledge you gain on the job will not only help you determine which fields are right for you but will also bolster your resume and career prospects after graduation.
- Assist with health policy in the office of a U.S. representative or senator
- Learn about health care administration at a hospital or other facility
- Develop an understanding of health law in a specialized law firm
Examples of Available Courses
With only one required course (Politics of Public Health), the Health, Law, and Policy minor allows for a great deal of flexibility and choice. The following are just some of the courses that you may consider:
- Introduction to Political Science
- Medical Sociology Health Economics
- Writing and Women’s Health
- Health Psychology
- Law and Ethics of Health Care
Curriculum
Students wishing to pursue a Health, Law, and Policy minor must have an advisor in the program and approval from the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Each student will work with a faculty advisor to design a minor consisting of six (6) courses that supports the student's interests, according to the following guidelines and availability.
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| PSC 325 – Politics of Public Health | 3 |
| One (1) Law Elective | 3 |
| One (1) Political Science Elective | 3 |
| One (1) Law Electives or Political Science Elective | 3 |
| Two (2) Health, Law and Policy Electives | 6 |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 18 |
|---|
Program Specific Elective Options
| Law Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| PSC 106 – Law & American Society | 3 |
| PSC 125 – Understanding the Law | 3 |
| PSC 203 – Politics of Law | 3 |
| PSC 210 – Constitutional Law | 3 |
| Political Science Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| PSC 101 – Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| PSC 105 – Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| PSC 200 – Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
| PSC 220 – Research Methods | 3 |
| PSC 432 – Autonomy/Politics of Reproduction | 3 |
| Health, Law and Policy Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANT 211 – Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| BUEC 385 – Health Economics | 3 |
| ENG 310 – Writing & Women's Health | 3 |
| HSM 370 – Law & Ethics of Health Care | 3 |
| PHI 406 – Human Genome Project Ethics | 3 |
| PSY 235 – Health Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 355 – Medical Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 460 – Social Policy and Planning | 3 |
| Internship | Variable |
For more information see the Academic Catalog.
Career Paths for your Minor in Health, Law, and Policy
Encompassing anthropological, sociological, psychological, and political science investigations of health and illness, the Health, Law, and Policy minor prepares you for a myriad of careers that directly or indirectly relate to health or medicine. You will be well-practiced for the social science sections on the MCAT and well-situated to apply to medical school or other health-focused graduate programs.
Positions benefitting from a background in health, law, and policy can be found in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Specific jobs include:
- Health Care
- Provider
- Politician
- Analyst
- Lobbyist
- Activist
- Health Care
- Administrator
- Lawyer
- Consultant
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Health, Law, and Policy Careers by the Numbers
average annual salary of a public health policy analyst
average annual salary of a health care administrator
Contact
Undergraduate Admissions
Contact Undergraduate Admissions at (800) 477-4863 or email admissions@une.edu. You can also stop by our office on the Biddeford Campus Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.