PUBPOL 5455

Comparative Public and Healthcare Administration

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

The purpose of this seminar is to provide graduate students with an introduction to the scholarly development of comparative public and health administration, as well as criteria for comparison in public and healthcare leadership. Topics will explore the economic, political, and sociocultural factors that influence policy design and healthcare outcomes. Students are expected to comply with all university, school, and program policies related to both local and international travel. (MPA-INTPMN, MPA-PUBNON, MPA-SOCPOL, MPA-TPA)

Fees Field trip, $2500. This covers double occupancy accommodations in San Jose (single occupancy is available for an additional cost), in-country transportation, programming, and some meals. Students are responsible for airfare, which will vary depending on departure location.

Program Requirements (MPA-INTPMN, MPA-PUBNON, MPA-SOCPOL, MPA-TPA)

Last 4 Terms Offered 2025FA, 2024FA, 2023FA, 2022FA

Learning Outcomes

• Explain key theories and concepts in public administration and health administration (e.g., governance, bureaucracy, decentralization, New Public Management, health systems frameworks).
• Describe the structure and functions of public and health administration systems across different countries.
• Analyze how political, economic, social, and cultural contexts shape administrative systems and health outcomes.
• Apply comparative frameworks to assess administrative reforms in public and health sectors and critically evaluate policy responses to major health challenges.
• Assess how governance structures affect health equity and service delivery and examine corruption, regulatory capacity, and institutional quality in comparative perspective.
• Draft a comparative case study on cross-national best practices and policy transfer using qualitative and quantitative method.

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