Doctor of Health Sciences Health Sciences (DHSc)

The Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) is an advanced professional degree designed to facilitate advancement or career change for persons in healthcare, public health, clinical practice, administration, and education. The curriculum consists of 14 3-credit courses (42 credit hours) completed over three years. All courses are taught in an online format that allows students the ability to earn their degree while balancing work and other responsibilities.

MISSION

To prepare scholarly health services professionals to serve as leaders and change agents in their place of employment and in their communities.

VALUES

• Academic integrity is the foundation of higher education.
• The student-teacher relationship is based on mutual respect, trust, and a desire for shared learning experiences.
• Diversity in many forms will strengthen the learning environment.
• We are accountable and responsive to our constituents.

GOALS

1. Prepare professionals to effectively serve organizations and communities based on a curriculum of diverse yet interrelated topics.
2. Encourage scholarly learning that is dynamic, reflective, and applied.
3. Provide individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to function as leaders and innovators in a variety of health service and academic settings.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Graduates will be able to:

1. Explain how healthcare organization’s function, drive change, and issue best practices to employees.
2. Demonstrate the ability to communicate professionally and effectively using a variety of tools.
3. Apply key principles of financial management.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of healthcare systems and how to improve delivery of care.
5. Apply evidence and statistical reasoning principles in making data-driven decisions.
6. Analyze how health policy and strategy influence and shape healthcare organizations.
7. Demonstrate leadership skills and professionalism.

Admission

• A master’s or doctoral degree awarded by a regionally accredited institution in the field of healthcare, education, management, or related disciplines.
• Qualifying grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (on a 4-point scale), taken from the highest of the following two possible calculations:
  • Completed Undergraduate GPA (foreign degrees considered on a case by case basis)
  • Completed U.S. graduate degree GPA
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can reasonably assess the applicant’s ability to successfully complete our doctoral program. Make sure your recommenders submit this form through the GradCAS Evaluator portal.
• Personal essay of approximately 300-500 words describing how the Doctor of  Health  Sciences program will enhance the applicant’s academic and/or professional career goals.
• Current resume/CV documenting professional experience and educational achievements.
• Applicants must report all institutions attended and send all official transcripts to GradCAS. If you do not list or send official transcripts for all institutions attended, processing of your application may be delayed.
• Following the online instructions, applicants must contact every college or university attended and request transcripts be sent directly to GradCAS.
  • GradCAS accepts electronic transcripts from:
    • Credential Solutions
    • Parchment
    • National Student Clearinghouse
  • Sending transcripts to GradCAS by mail
    • Download a transcript request form after you enter each institution in GradCAS
    • Send the transcript request form to the institution registrar to send transcript by mail to the address below:

GradCAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9217
Watertown, MA 02471

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

English Proficiency Exams – Competitive applicants should achieve or surpass the following scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):

• 80 for the iBT (preferred),
• 213 for CBT or
• 550 for the PBT.

Scores must have been obtained within two years of the application date. This requirement will be waived for applicants who have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States.

• TOEFL School Code: B886

Transcript Evaluation – In addition to providing official transcripts, applicants must provide both a transcript evaluation and translation, including a course-by-course evaluation and an overall GPA calculation, through one of the following credentialing agencies:

• World Education Services
• Educational Credential Evaluators

Sending International Transcripts to GradCAS – GradCAS will ONLY accept the evaluation report from the credentialing agency. DO NOT SEND your foreign transcript to GradCAS.

All foreign transcript evaluations from a credentialing agency must be sent directly to GradCAS to the following address:

GradCAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9217
Watertown, MA 02471

Applicant Help Center

• Having trouble accessing the application? The preferred browsers are Google Chrome or Firefox
• Applicant Help Center
• If you have questions about your application status, please contact your GradCAS Customer Service Representative at 857.304.2086 or GradCASinfo@liaisonedu.com.

Technical Standards

The essential abilities and skills that candidates and students must possess in order to complete the education and training associated with the Doctor of Health Sciences program are referred to as technical standards.

1.0 Observation Skills Technical Standard

1.01 Demonstrate sufficient attention and accuracy in observation skills (visual, auditory and tactile) in the lecture hall, in clinical and educational settings and online.

2.02 Indicators include, but are not limited to, this example:

1. Accurate visualization and discrimination of text, numbers, patterns, graphic illustrations and other imaging texts.

2.0 Communication Skills Technical Standard

2.01 Demonstrate effective communication skills with professionals of varying cultures, ethnicities and personalities.

2.02 Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:

1. Clear, efficient and intelligible articulation of spoken English language.
2. Legible, efficient and intelligible written English language.
3. Accurate and efficient English language reading skills.
4. Accurate and efficient, expressive and receptive communication skills.
5. Ability to accurately follow directions (oral and written).

3.0 Critical Reasoning Skills Technical Standard

3.01 Demonstrate critical reasoning skills, including but not limited to intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities.

3.02 Indicators include but are not limited to these examples:

1. Demonstrate ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate and synthesize information.
2. Demonstrate ability to acquire, retain and apply new and learned information.

4.0 Motor and Sensory Function Technical Standard

4.01 Demonstrate sufficient motor and sensory function.

4.02 Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:

1. Execute motor movements that demonstrate safety and efficiency in the various learning settings (i.e., classroom, online).
2. Physical stamina sufficient to complete online didactic study, which will include prolonged periods of sitting.

5.0 Behavioral and Social Attributes Technical Standard

5.01 Demonstrate the behavioral and social attributes vital to participation in a graduate-level academic program.

5.02 Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:

1. Possess the emotional health required for full utilization of mental faculties (judgment, orientation, affect and cognition).
2. Ability to develop mature and effective professional relationships with faculty and other members of the educational and healthcare team.
3. Possess personal qualities that facilitate effective therapeutic interactions (compassion, empathy, integrity, honesty, benevolence, confidentiality).
4. Demonstrate impartial motives, attitudes, and values in roles, functions and relationships.
5. Ability to monitor and react appropriately to one’s own emotional needs and responses.
6. Display appropriate flexibility and adaptability in the face of stress or uncertainty in teaching and learning environments.
7. Compliance with standards, policies and practices set forth in the program handbook.

Curriculum Requirements

The program consists of 14 courses for a total of 42 credit hours, delivered in eight consecutive semesters via online, asynchronous instruction.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Course Sequence - 1st Year
Term 1 - Fall
DHSC 812	Strategic Communication	3
DHSC 816	Healthcare Delivery Systems	3
Term 2 - Spring
DHSC 813	Management of Organizational Change	3
DHSC 823	Conflict Analysis & Negotiation	3
Term 3 - Summer
DHSC 826	Population Health & Preventive Care	3
Course Sequence - 2nd Year
Term 4 - Fall
DHSC 834	Introduction to Healthcare Analytics	3
DHSC 837	Essentials of Financial Management	3
Term 5 - Spring
DHSC 835	Research Methods	3
DHSC 845	Program Evaluation	3
Term 6 - Summer
DHSC 832	Leadership and Professionalism	3
Course Sequence - 3rd Year
Term 7 - Fall
DHSC 856	Policy & Politics of Health	3
DHSC 857	Healthcare Strategy	3
Term 8 - Spring
DHSC 844	Information Technology for Healthcare Organizations	3
DHSC 890	Leading Innovation	3
Total Credit Hours		42