Health Care Policy (BS)

Brooks School of Public Policy

Program Website

Program Description

The Health Care Policy (HCP) major is offered within the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, and includes a curriculum grounded in the social sciences. HCP builds on the research strengths of the Brooks School faculty, who use the theories and methods from economics, sociology, political science, and demography to study the effects of government policies on individuals and families, public health, education, crime, product markets, financial markets, and a wide variety of other social impacts. The research tools learned and used—robust theory, rigorous empirical quantitative skills, and practical applications to real-world policy issues—are highly sought after by the best employers in the healthcare industry and government.

The HCP major prepares students for leadership roles in health policy. Some of these leadership roles require a strong foundation in the natural sciences, which is available as an option within the major. In addition, graduates will be prepared for careers that combine clinical health care with involvement in the broader health care system and public policy.

HCP will provide students with in-depth training in the analysis of health care and public policies that affect health, access to medical care, and medical spending. Students will learn to integrate analytical thinking and data analysis skills. HCP majors employ theories and methods from economics and demography to analyze health care and policy. Students will learn to apply theories designed to explain the development of government policies addressing health care and how the private health care system interacts with the public sector to affect health, access, and costs. The HCP requirements provides students flexibility in course selection to pursue either: a non-premedical track; or a premedical track that meets the course requirements for admission to medical school and other health professional graduate programs.

Academic Standards

Program Policies

Academic Support Courses

1000-level academic support courses do not count towards graduation requirements but do contribute towards maintaining full time semester status and towards good academic standing requirements. 

​First Year Writing Seminars

First Year Writing Seminar (FWS) courses may only apply toward the FWS requirement. For example, an FWS in the MATH department may not meet the FWS requirement.

Semester Credit Limits

Full-time matriculated students must carry a minimum of 12 credits (excluding physical education) to maintain full-time status. 

Undergraduate students in the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy are typically limited to 18 credits per semester. Students who have completed more than two semesters at Cornell and have maintained a GPA of at least 3.5 may petition to enroll in up to 22 academic credits. 

Students who have been at Cornell for fewer than two semesters or have a GPA below 3.5 may only petition for additional credits if they are for physical education or academic support classes (e.g., MATH 1006).

Eligibility to petition does not guarantee approval to exceed 18 credits. Students must also have the support of an academic advisor from the Brooks School Office of Admissions, Student Services and Career Management. An advisor may require a meeting to discuss your petition. 

Approvals to exceed 18 credits are granted under limited circumstances, and petitions will not be accepted during the pre-enrollment period.

Study Abroad Credit Limits

Students participating in full semester study abroad programs offered through the Office of Global Learning may apply a maximum of 18 study abroad credits toward the 120 credits required for graduation. Students must complete the petition process to transfer these credits from their host institution to Cornell. Credits earned through an approved Global Learning program will automatically apply toward the 120 credit graduation requirement.

To request to have a course count towards a major or distribution requirements, students must complete a curriculum substitution petition. Core PUBPOL courses cannot be taken abroad. If a student receives approval for multiple courses to count towards PUBPOL credits, no more than 8 credits per semester abroad may apply towards the Health and Policy Elective credits.  

Teaching Apprenticeship

Students cannot TA (PUBPOL 4030 ) the same course for credit more than once or take and TA the same course simultaneously. PUBPOL 4030 does not fulfill any requirements towards the major. Registration for PUBPOL 4030 may not exceed 5 credit hours per semester.

Tracking Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate students must track their progress towards graduation by reviewing degree requirements in this catalog. It is the responsibility of students to plan their course selections carefully to ensure they meet all graduation requirements within eight semesters. Transfer students may have a different timeline based on the number of transferable credits they receive upon admission. Students who require additional semesters to fulfill graduation requirements must schedule a meeting with an advisor at the Brooks Office of Admissions, Student Services, and Career Management. During this meeting, they can request to petition for an extension.

Transfer Credit Policies

All students are expected to follow the university transfer credit policy.   

Prior to enrolling in the course, students must complete a petition to have an external course count towards a Brooks School requirement. Petitions are not required for test credit. See the curriculum requirements tab for more information about how test credit may meet degree requirements.

Academic Standing

Bachelor of Science students in Health Care Policy are expected to meet the following academic standards: 

  • Maintain a minimum semester and cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
  • Complete at least 12 credits per semester, excluding physical education courses, unless an approved petition for a reduced course load has been granted. 
  • Complete the First-Year Writing Seminar (FWS) requirement during the first two semesters at Cornell.
  • Make satisfactory progress toward a Brooks School bachelor’s degree.
  • Carry no more than two incomplete grades at any time. 
  • Students who matriculated as first-year students: Complete a minimum of one 3-credit PUBPOL course each semester during their first four semesters, excluding winter and summer sessions.
  • Transfer students: Complete six credits of PUBPOL coursework in each of their first two semesters in the Brooks School.   
  • Receive a grade of C- or better in major requirements.

For additional information about the academic standing review process, refer to the Brooks School Policies and Procedures.