Doctor of Health Administration

Last updated

The Doctor of Health Administration (D.H.A.) is a doctoral degree focused with the development of theoretical knowledge in health administration and on the applied application of the said knowledge in the field of health administration. The D.H.A. requires significant coursework beyond the master's level and often requires a dissertation or capstone project that contributes to knowledge or practice.

Contents

Description

The Doctor of Health Administration is a research degree. The research can be theoretical [1] or applied. [2] According to the United States Department of Education, research doctoral degrees such as the Doctor of Health Administration and the Doctor of Business Administration are equivalent to the PhD [3] The PhD is just one of the many degree titles associated with research doctoral degrees. A difference between the DHA and PhD is that the DHA's dissertation allows for a theoretical or applied approach rather than a strictly theoretical approach. [4]

History

The Doctor of Health Administration was first introduced in the U.S. in the late 1990s at the Medical University of South Carolina as an advanced professional doctorate in health leadership. [5] Prior to this the only D.H.A. degrees awarded were in Canada and Europe. The American version of this doctoral degree focuses on advanced professional knowledge and applied research in health administration, policy, and leadership. [6] New programs have been instituted at other universities providing substantial amounts of online coursework. Most D.H.A. students are working health professionals who seek doctoral education. Admission to the three year degree typically requires two years of coursework beyond the master's degree (i.e. M.H.A., M.P.A., M.S.A., or M.P.H.) and an applied or theoretical dissertation to be completed in the third year. [7]

Program structure

Most D.H.A. programs require about 70 credit hours beyond the master's degree. Students are expected to take a number of core classes, electives, research/method classes, and dissertation credits. Candidates typically work with a committee and advisors throughout the process and the dissertation eventually requires an oral defense to the student's committee. Curricula may be offered on a full-time or part-time basis. The normal duration of a doctorate should correspond to 3–5 years of full-time graduate study or 7–10 years of sustained part-time graduate study.

Purpose

The Doctor of Health Administration program prepares health professionals to become innovative leaders and problem solvers within the healthcare industry. By blending the theoretical with the practical, the coursework of this advanced doctorate of health administration degree program provides students with the holistic knowledge needed to transition into careers that improve and influence healthcare administration systems. [8]

Schools offering this degree

Schools of medicine & health sciences

Non-medical & health sciences schools

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psychologist</span> Professional who evaluates, diagnoses, treats and studies behavior and mental processes

A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and interpretation of how individuals relate to each other and to their environments.

Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for academic or professional degrees, academic or professional certificates, academic or professional diplomas, or other qualifications for which a first or bachelor's degree generally is required, and it is normally considered to be part of higher education. In North America, this level is typically referred to as graduate school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctorate</span> Academic or professional degree

A doctorate or doctor's degree or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism licentia docendi. In most countries, a research degree qualifies the holder to teach at university level in the degree's field or work in a specific profession. There are a number of doctoral degrees; the most common is the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), awarded in many different fields, ranging from the humanities to scientific disciplines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graduate school</span> School that awards postgraduate degrees

A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate (bachelor's) degree. A distinction is typically made between graduate schools and professional schools, which offer specialized advanced degrees in professional fields such as medicine, nursing, business, engineering, speech–language pathology, or law. The distinction between graduate schools and professional schools is not absolute since various professional schools offer graduate degrees and vice versa.

The Doctor of Education is a research or professional doctoral degree that focuses on the field of education. It prepares the holder for academic, research, administrative, clinical, or professional positions in educational, civil, private organizations, or public institutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor of Psychology</span> Doctoral degree

The Doctor of Psychology is a professional doctoral degree intended to prepare graduates for careers that apply scientific knowledge of psychology and deliver empirically based service to individuals, groups and organizations. Earning the degree was originally completed through one of two established training models for clinical psychology. However, Psy.D. programs are no longer limited to Clinical Psychology as several universities and professional schools have begun to award professional doctorates in Business Psychology, Organizational Development, Forensic Psychology, Counseling Psychology, and School Psychology.

The Doctor of Business Administration is either a professional doctorate or a research doctorate, depending on the granting university, awarded on the basis of advanced study, examinations, project work, and research in business administration. The D.B.A. is a terminal degree in business administration. Although some universities also combine the business administration field with technology-related disciplines. Along with the Ph.D. or D.Phil., it represents the highest academic qualification in business administration, and is typically required to gain employment as a full-time, tenure-track university professor or postdoctoral researcher in the field. As with other earned doctorates, individuals with the degree are awarded the academic title doctor, which is often represented via the English honorific "Dr." or the post-nominal letters "D.B.A.".

The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate degree. In the United States, an MPhil typically includes a taught portion and a significant research portion, during which a thesis project is conducted under supervision. An MPhil may be awarded to postgraduate students after completing taught coursework and one to two years of original research, which may also serve as a provisional enrollment for a PhD programme.

The Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A.) is a terminal applied-research doctoral degree in the field of public administration (a part of public service). The D.P.A. requires significant coursework beyond the masters level and a dissertation that contributes to theory or practice. Upon successful completion, the title of "Doctor" is awarded and the post-nominal letters of D.P.A. or DPA can be used.

A terminal degree is a college degree that is the highest level college degree that can be achieved and awarded in a specific academic or professional field. In other cases, it is a degree that is awarded when a candidate completes a certain amount of coursework but cannot continue to doctoral studies. For certain professions and research grants, a terminal degree is a minimum eligibility requirement.

The Doctor of Ministry is a professional doctorate, often including a research component, that may be earned by a minister of religion while concurrently engaged in some form of ministry. It is categorized as an advanced program oriented toward ministerial and/or academic leadership.

The Doctor of Engineering, or Engineering Doctorate, is a degree awarded on the basis of advanced study and a practical project in the engineering and applied science for solving problems in the industry. In the United States, it is a terminal professional doctorate. A DEng/EngD is equivalent to a PhD in engineering, but different in that it has a solid industrial base and an additional taught element. The degree is usually aimed toward working professionals.

The Doctor of Professional Studies is a doctoral degree for experienced professionals who wish to undertake a program that is applied in nature and of practical value to their career. The DProf is based on applied research of real world problems. The DProf has been available to graduate students in the United Kingdom since the 1980s. The first Doctor of Professional Studies program was started in 1972 at Pace University. As another form of research doctorate and a doctoral level academic qualification, the DProf is equvalent to the PhD in terms of academic level and rigour, with the difference between the two lying in the type of research conducted and consequently in the type of knowledge generated.

The Doctor of Health Science is a post-professional academic doctoral degree for those who intend to pursue or advance a professional practice career in Health Sciences and Health Care Delivery Systems, which can include clinical practice, education, administration, and research. Master's credentials are a requirement for DHSc programs. Individuals who complete the DHSc face the particular challenge of understanding and adapting scientific knowledge in order to achieve health gain and results. This degree leads to a career in high-level administration, teaching, applied research, or practice, where advanced analytical and conceptual capabilities are required. The Doctor of Health Science is a degree that prepares scholarly professionals in healthcare and leadership roles. The first Doctor of Health Science degree was offered in 2000 by the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

The Doctor of Management is an applied research doctorate with a degree focus in management, leadership, and organizational topics."

The degree of Doctor of Computer Science is an applied research doctorate in computer science awarded on the basis of advanced study and research in the field of computer science. While it is considered a terminal degree and requires coursework and research beyond the masters' level, the DCS is not considered equivalent to a Ph.D. or a Doctor of Science in computer science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor of Philosophy</span> Postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities in many countries

A Doctor of Philosophy is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is an earned research degree, those studying for a PhD are required to produce original research that expands the boundaries of knowledge, normally in the form of a dissertation, and defend their work before a panel of other experts in the field. The completion of a PhD is often a requirement for employment as a university professor, researcher, or scientist in many fields. Individuals who have earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree may, in many jurisdictions, use the title Doctor with their name, although the proper etiquette associated with this usage may also be subject to the professional ethics of their own scholarly field, culture, or society. Those who teach at universities or work in academic, educational, or research fields are usually addressed by this title "professionally and socially in a salutation or conversation." Alternatively, holders may use post-nominal letters such as "Ph.D.", "PhD", or "DPhil". It is, however, considered incorrect to use both the title and post-nominals at the same time.

PhD in management is one of the highest academic degrees awarded in the study of management science. The degree was designed for those seeking academic research and teaching careers as faculty or professors in the study of management at business schools worldwide.

The Doctor of Criminal Justice (D.C.J.) is a doctoral degree in the field of criminal justice. As a terminal degree, it prepares the holder for administrative, research, academic or professional positions in the criminal justice field at both public and private institutions.

References

  1. ↑ "Doctor of Health Administration Degree Online". www.atsu.edu. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  2. ↑ "Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA)". Health Administration Degrees. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  3. ↑ "Structure of the U.S. Education System: Research Doctorate Degrees". The U.S. Department of Education.
  4. ↑ "Doctor of Health Administration Degree Online". www.atsu.edu. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  5. ↑ Johnson, JA (2001). "The Doctor of Health Administration: an educational innovation for healthcare executives". J Health Adm Educ. 19: 333–9. PMID   11764843.
  6. ↑ "A Brief History of Healthcare Management" (PDF). healthmanagementcareers.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-04.
  7. ↑ "How to Get a DBA or PhD in Health Care Administration".
  8. ↑ "Your Career as a Healthcare Executive".
  9. ↑ "Higher Learning Commission".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.