Program Overview

Health Law and Policy (Graduate Certificate)

Program Description

The health law and policy certificate is a pivotal component in launching a health law career. The program is designed to immerse students in multiple areas of public health law, policy, and ethics, broadening their knowledge and skills in preparation for practice in public and private sectors, policy development, or academic work.

At a Glance

• College/school: Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
• Location: Downtown Phoenix
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree Requirements

• Required Core (5 credit hours)
  • LAW 650 Health Law (3)
  • LAW 651 Public Health Law (2)
• Electives (10 credit hours)
  • Culminating Experience: writing requirement and active participation in health law
• Additional Curriculum Information
  • Students are required to participate in at least one of the following activities; other activities consistent with this listing also may be considered by the program or certificate director or designee:
    • active participation as an officer for at least one year in the student Health Law Society
    • editorial board position for at least one year with Jurimetrics
    • health or public health law-based externships, upon approval from program director or designee, for at least one semester or summer session
    • research assistant for at least one semester or summer session with the Public Health Law and Policy program or other centers or programs at ASU Law, provided that research is focused predominantly on health-related topics
  • The student must write a substantial paper on a health or public health law topic, under the guidance of a College of Law faculty member. The paper must be at least 15 single-spaced pages. Papers that satisfy the college's graduation writing requirement, flexible writing requirement, or law journal requirements can fulfill this certificate requirement, including as part of seminar courses among the elective courses.
  • Each student must earn a cumulative average grade of at least 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") for courses taken to satisfy the substantive requirements of the health law and policy certificate. A student also must earn a minimum grade of "B" in any course applied toward the certificate.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements: All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.
• Applicants must be existing Juris Doctor or Master of Laws students who are currently enrolled in coursework and in good academic standing with the ASU College of Law.
• Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
• All applicants must submit:
  1. admission application for the certificate program through Law Interactive
  2. proof of English proficiency
• Additional Application Information: An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency.

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Career Opportunities

ASU Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, and Master of Legal Studies graduates who focus on health law and policy are finding career placements across the United States in an array of positions with diverse employers, including:

• government agencies at all levels
• health care entities
• health insurers
• law firms
• policy think tanks and academic institutions

Research Areas

• Global Health Law
• Health Law
• Health Reform
• Privacy
• Public Health Ethics
• Public Health Law
• Reproduction
• Research
• Bioethics
• Medical