Graduate Certificate in Health Economics & Outcomes Research is designed to train scientists to engage in modern economic research related to questions pertinent to health policy, health behaviors, and health care services. The unique analytic skill set delivered in this certificate is sought out health care agencies, state agencies, and consulting firms in the Denver area that are looking for employees who know how to use health data to answer research questions. Upon earning this certificate, students will:

1. Have sufficient knowledge of econometric theory and techniques to make them an effective consumer and producer of empirical research in health economics.
2. Understand the challenges in identifying causal relationships using health data. 
3. Understand the fundamentals of the potential outcomes framework, randomized experiments, natural experiments, panel data models, matching, instrumental variables and regression discontinuity designs.
4. Understand the economic approach to studying the healthcare sector, health behaviors, and health outcomes.
5. Understand how different markets function in the health care sector, such as the market for health care, health insurance, health labor (such as physicians and nursing), and pharmaceuticals.

These certificate requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic department, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their certificate advisor and CLAS advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.

Program Delivery

This is an on-campus program.

General Requirements

Click here  for information about Academic Policies.

Admission Requirments 

• Degree: BA/BS
• A minimum GPA of 3.00 is recommended

Application Process

Applicants for a Graduate Certificate Program will send the following documents to the Certificate Program Director:

• Graduate Certificate Application Form
• Official Transcripts
• Resume
• Letter of interest

Upon approval of the student’s admission by the Graduate Certificate Program, the program director will send the student’s certificate admission file to the Graduate School. The Graduate School will confirm the applicant’s credentials, will determine whether the student meets the general academic requirements of the Graduate School, will admit the student and inform the student of his/her admission to the Graduate Certificate Program.

Additional Requirements

• Students may be enrolled as a CU Denver graduate student in any discipline, or as a CU Denver non-degree seeking student with a bachelor’s degree.
• Have completed Introduction to Econometrics (ECON 4811), or equivalent coursework, or have professional experience in statistical analysis.
• International students must submit TOEFL scores or otherwise satisfy the University’s English Language Proficiency requirement.