Program Overview

Online Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) Program

Overview

Our DHSc program offers an original approach to doctoral education that meets the needs of learners throughout their careers. Health professionals earning a doctorate from our School of Health Sciences acquire the higher level of skills and training needed to be true leaders and to even change the course of healthcare in a variety of settings.

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

1. Apply advanced knowledge in health sciences systems thinking, scholarship, pedagogy, and evidence-based practice.
2. Develop an evidence-based, innovative solution for a contemporary issue in healthcare.
3. Demonstrate advanced communication skills by disseminating research findings to targeted audiences.
4. Explain how Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) relate to each other and why IPC is important in healthcare practice.

Program Structure

The DHSc program is a 45-credit program that can be completed in 2-3 calendar years, depending on full-time or part-time progression. The program is designed to be a flexible online asynchronous program for adult learners, with two required in-person meetings, called "residencies," where students interact with peers and instructors.

Concentrations

The DHSc coursework prepares students to critically analyze ongoing challenges in the health sciences, with a focus on one of two select concentrations:

• Educational Leadership (EL)
• Healthcare Leadership (HL)

Courses

For a list and description of DHSc courses, please visit the course catalog.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

• An advanced degree from an accredited institution is required.
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.
• A writing sample and personal statement are required.

Application Submission

Applications are accepted throughout the calendar year. The DHSc Admissions Committee will review completed applications monthly.

Candidate Meetings

Upon admission, candidates will be invited to meet with the program director to discuss their application, academic goals, and program course schedule.

Admissions Notification

Applicants will be notified within one month following their interview.

Priority Deposit Deadline

April 15 (note: the priority deposit deadline is the same regardless of when you apply or receive an admissions decision).

Faculty

Our faculty are leaders and innovators in their fields, bringing both deep professional experience and academic rigor to the classroom.

Residencies

There are two required in-person residencies:

• HLTH 7701 Academia for Health Professionals serves as the first course in the program. The course includes a 2-day on-campus residency where students will earn course credit while interacting with their peers and interact with DHSc faculty to support student success within their DHSc program.
• HLTH 7707 Foundations of Scholarly Inquiry and Professional Writing in Health Sciences includes a 3-day on-campus residency where students will engage with each other and their scientific writing instructor as they begin to plan their Doctoral Thesis Projects.

Doctoral Thesis

DHSc students are expected to complete a culminating project that integrates knowledge and experience. The project can be clinical in nature (i.e., quality improvement), practical (i.e., course development), or research (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods). Students receive support in the form of 18 credits taken over three semesters as well as a doctoral thesis chair and committee members.

Certificates

Students who have been admitted into the DHSc program (both current students and Alumni) have the option of completing both concentrations via the DHSc Degree Program and one 12-credit certificate.

• Educational Leadership in Health Sciences Certificate
• Healthcare Leadership in Health Sciences Certificate