Doctor of Health Sciences
The Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) is a post-professional degree designed for master’s or doctorate prepared health professionals. The program aims to develop and enhance the professional skills needed to provide competent leadership in today’s challenging healthcare systems. This advanced degree prepares graduates to better understand and effectively engage in efforts targeting healthcare, wellness, health promotion, health education, public health, and research. The DHSc program provides current health professionals with the knowledge and skills to excel in project management, decision-making, organizational leadership, establishing evidence-based standards, and gaining the competencies to apply research to professional practice.
Students have the opportunity to focus on one of three concentration areas, which include global health, leadership and organizational behavior, and fundamentals of education. The program also promotes application of research to professional practice through completion of an Applied Research Project (ARP). The ARP consists of five courses within the program of study.
Program Purpose, Vision, and Goals
Purpose
The Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) program provides a rigorous interdisciplinary education for healthcare professionals, preparing students to be effective leaders and change agents in a variety of health settings. The program offers innovative curriculum in a flexible, asynchronous format to best meet student needs. Courses are facilitated by experienced faculty through an interdisciplinary and interprofessional approach. Coursework prepares students to critically analyze ongoing domestic and global challenges of access, cost, education and quality in healthcare, and builds competencies to skillfully evaluate, plan and implement solutions to these challenges.
Vision
The DHSc program has adopted the vision statement of the College of Graduate Heath Studies, adapting it to the program:
The DHSc program will be the preeminent online program for leaders in the health professions. We will provide a contemporary and flexible curriculum that empowers our students to translate knowledge to meet the growing needs of domestic and global health and wellness.
Goals
Goals of the DHSc program are to provide an online environment that:
- Promotes diversity of student experiences.
- Fosters student success.
- Honors professionalism and ethical practice.
- Supports a curriculum that develops critical and analytical thinking skills through an integrative approach of instruction, research, and evidence-based resources.
- Promotes and supports excellence in faculty performance in teaching, scholarship, and service.
Length of Program
The Doctor of Health Sciences program consists of 19 courses, or 70 credit hours.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees are billed by the semester at the per-credit-hour rate and are due the first week of class. Rates are subject to change each academic year for all enrolled students. Delinquent tuition penalties accrue at 1.5 percent per month, which is 18 percent per year.
For ATSU programs approved to certify for Title IV funding, a Cost of Attendance (COA) is available which provides estimated amounts for direct and indirect expenses for a period of enrollment.
| Tuition |
Student Technology Fee |
| $634 per credit hour |
$40 per credit hour |
Program Outcomes
Demonstrate advanced knowledge in health sciences fields, scholarship, and evidence-based practice.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills for designing, conducting, analyzing and disseminating health sciences research.
- Demonstrate knowledge in critical analytical thinking skills in foundational areas of health sciences.
- Demonstrate advanced and effective skills in communication, professionalism, ethical practice, systematic thought, and writing.
Courses