A Doctor of Health Science (D.H.S./D.H.Sci) program is a professional degree designed to provide individuals with an advanced understanding of the systems, principles, strategies, and theories associated with the field of health sciences.
This type of program is typically ideal for those individuals who are working in the health sciences field, such as teachers, researchers, or healthcare professionals and want to become leaders in their chosen discipline.
These DHS programs are generally multi-disciplinary and offer a comprehensive approach to a variety of areas, such as health policy, healthcare administration, organizations, health law, epidemiology, public health, and health education.
This type of degree is usually offered through a mixture of coursework, research projects, and internships. By completing a Doctor of Health Science degree program, individuals will be prepared for a rewarding and successful career in the health sciences field.
Best Online Doctor of Health Science
UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT
HYBRID ONLINE HEALTH SCIENCES, D.H.Sc.
School Highlights: The University of Bridgeport is an excellent online school that provides a Doctor of Health Science hybrid online degree program that can be completed in just over three years and requires a one-week residency. The curriculum has a specialization in quantitative and qualitative research and supplies three concentration options.
Bridgeport trains leaders and movers in healthcare who have the knowledge and skillset to create positive change in any environment. Graduates have the refined ability to utilize research to develop ethical solutions to problems in whatever healthcare setting they work in.
Coursework Sample:
- Clinician
- Education
- Clinical Nutrition
Campus Location: Bridgeport, CT
Accreditation:
- New England Commission of Higher Education
Acceptance Rate: 73% Retention Rate: 68% Graduation Rate: 46%
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT’S HYBRID ONLINE HEALTH SCIENCES, D.H.Sc.
MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY & HEALTH SCIENCES
DOCTOR OF HEALTH SCIENCES (DHS) ONLINE
School Highlights: The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences offers a part-time online doctoral degree in Health Sciences that prepares educators, clinicians, and leaders to face the challenges of healthcare education and its myriad professions through the lens of evidence-based practice.
The 54-credit program was specifically designed to enhance the skills of practicing health professionals in educational institutions, clinical settings, and hospitals. There are several exciting concentration options available at MCPHS that take students into vastly different areas of the discipline.
Coursework Sample:
- Demographics and Population Health
- Safety and Risk Management
- Health Systems Monitoring and Evaluation
Campus Location: Boston, MA
Accreditation:
- New England Commission of Higher Education
Acceptance Rate: 98% Retention Rate: 85% Graduation Rate: 69%
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES’ ONLINE DOCTOR OF HEALTH SCIENCES (DHS)
HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
DOCTOR OF SCIENCE IN INTEGRATIVE HEALTHCARE ONLINE
School Highlights: This online school supplies one of the most distinctive doctoral degrees in Integrative Healthcare both nationally and internationally. Overall, the coursework has a strong focus on functional medicine as it applies to integrative approaches to patient care.
The curriculum supplies two concentration options, one of which is designed and implemented by Huntington University of Health Sciences, and the other is completely customizable.
The latter option provides a personalized pathway along which students can take major and elective classes that align with a particular healthcare goal.
Concentration Options:
- Clinical Nutrition
- Personalized Concentration
Campus Location: Knoxville, TN
Accreditation:
- Distance Education Accreditation Commission
Acceptance Rate: 100% Retention Rate: 73% Graduation Rate: 22%
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCE’S DOCTOR OF SCIENCE IN INTEGRATIVE HEALTHCARE ONLINE
UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
DOCTOR OF HEALTH SCIENCE
School Highlights: The University of Indianapolis supplies a 60-credit collaborative online doctoral degree in health sciences that requires a large amount of work between cohort members.
Students learn to operate with one another and act as leaders and educators throughout the distance coursework, and there are two required visits to campus throughout the duration of the program.
The curriculum can be completed in two-and-a-half years, culminating in a research project done in collaboration with the doctoral project committee. There are a tremendous amount of additional support services and resources at this online school, as well.
Coursework Sample:
- Theoretical Foundations in Health Behavior
- Curriculum Development in Health Sciences
- Standardized Assessments in Health
Campus Location: Indianapolis, IN
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Acceptance Rate: 78% Retention Rate: 66% Graduation Rate: 56%
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS’ ONLINE DOCTOR OF HEALTH SCIENCE
A.T. STILL UNIVERSITY
DOCTOR OF HEALTH SCIENCES DEGREE ONLINE
School Highlights: A.T. Still University is a highly respected school that delivers a vast number of outstanding health science and STEM-focused online degree programs, such as the Doctor of Health Sciences Degree Online.
This particular program prepares students to function more highly in decision-making, project management, establishing evidence-based standards, and organizational leadership.
Graduates have an exceedingly in-depth understanding of health science procedures, as well as the business and marketing aspects crucial to healthcare systems across the globe.
Concentration Options:
- Fundamentals of Education
- Global Health
- Leadership & Organizational Behavior
Campus Location: Kirksville, MO
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 9% Retention Rate: 71% Graduation Rate: 99%
LEARN MORE ABOUT A.T. STILL UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE DOCTOR OF HEALTH SCIENCES DEGREE
KEISER UNIVERSITY
HEALTH SCIENCE, DHSc
School Highlights: Keiser University is one of the most renowned online schools in the United States. It has appeared on innumerable lists of the finest distance education degree programs and maintains a superlative reputation among healthcare institutions worldwide.
The Doctor of Health Science is designed for healthcare professionals working in the fields of teaching, administration, and clinical practice.
The curriculum is focused on the evaluation and critical analysis of the issues that arise in professional practice. Graduates have a solid foundation in decision-making, project management, applied research, and managing organizational behavior.
Coursework Sample:
- Management and Leadership Approaches
- In-Depth Exploration of Organizational Behavior
- Transformational Leadership
Campus Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
- Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
Acceptance Rate: 96% Retention Rate: 72% Graduation Rate: 70%
LEARN MORE ABOUT KEISER UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE HEALTH SCIENCE, DHSc
EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL
HEALTH SCIENCES, DHSc
School Highlights: Eastern Virginia Medical School prepares practicing healthcare professionals to take the next step in their careers. The Doctor of Science in Health Sciences online coursework trains students to take on positions of leadership in any workplace setting, and the curriculum exposes learners to a broad range of topics in administration, business, and health.
Courses are delivered in a flexible, asynchronous format that makes balancing a job, school, and personal life incredibly approachable. EVMS supplies students of distinction with an exciting fast-track option that allows enrollees to finish in eight consecutive semesters!
Coursework Sample:
- Healthcare Delivery Systems
- Data Analytics
- Medical Simulation
Campus Location: Norfolk, VA
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 3% Retention Rate: 71% Graduation Rate: 96%
LEARN MORE ABOUT EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL’S ONLINE HEALTH SCIENCES, DHSc
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the Doctor of Health Science (D.H.S./D.H.Sci) degree online?
Yes, the D.H.S./D.H.Sci program is offered in a distance learning format by numerous institutions across the United States. This option, along with the hybrid learning format, is an option that caters to individuals who have neither the time nor the resources for on-campus learning.
Health Sciences as a broad discipline is not without its issues. Challenges are surrounding the quality, methods, cost, administration, and delivery of health care services. The D.H.S./D.H.Sci. program equips students with the skills to evaluate the state of healthcare, conduct in-depth research, interpret data, develop answers, and apply these solutions to benefit individual patients and the entire community.
What is the Doctor of Health Science (D.H.S./D.H.Sci) for?
D.H.S. is a doctorate for those who want rigorous training in the School of Health Arts and Sciences.
This program is designed for clinical health professionals who wish to advance their careers in medical practice, administration, research, and education. It also allows scholarly professionals to get specialized training in healthcare practice and clinical practices.
On account of the research-oriented nature of the D.H.S. program, many of its graduates end up in academia, assume teaching positions, and make research contributions to the health sciences. Essential topics in D.H.S. programs include:
- nutrition,
- biochemistry,
- pharmacology,
- human pathology,
- herbal therapies,
- alternative healing,
- microbiology,
- and integrated health systems.
A D.H.S. degree focuses on the application, dissemination, and translation of health science research to professional practice. They focus on the area of instruction and use their extensive exposure to diverse healthcare systems in their practice.
The D.H.S. program produces leaders and educators in the clinical community and the health system.
What sort of accreditation should I look for in a D.H.S. school?
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) generally provides accreditation for many graduate programs including D.H.S. on a national level. Similarly, the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) accredits institutions that offer online programs or hybrid educational formats for students.
Most D.H.S. schools today have regional accreditations and pending endorsement status from HLC. In most cases, regional accreditation is acceptable; recognition from these committees is a testament to an educational institution’s credibility. You need to have a keen eye in choosing an accredited program.
How do I earn my D.H.S. degree?
The admissions requirements for a D.H.S. program are a master’s degree and at least two years of work experience or equivalent exposure in the healthcare industry. Some schools admit bachelor’s degree holders given that they will pursue a master’s degree and a D.H.S program on a single track. Financial aid is available.
After completing prerequisite courses, a D.H.S. can be completed in two to three years’ time if you are studying full-time or on a fast track. Part-time students, on the other hand, usually finish the program within four to five years.
Credit hour requirements vary from school to school. In some, you need to complete 54 credit units in total; others require as much as 125 credit hours inclusive of coursework, projects, and final requirements.
Requirements for D.H.S. graduation differ as well. Some demand a dissertation while others oblige students to accomplish a capstone project. A few D.H.S. schools don’t set any written requirements at all.
What type of degree do I need to pursue research or educate others in Health Sciences?
Any doctorate holder in the medical field is qualified to teach in a D.H.S. school. Other similar degrees which can be part of the faculty lineup are:
- Doctor of Public Health (D.P.H.),
- Doctor of Health Education (D.H.Ed.),
- Doctor of Health Administration (D.H.A.),
- Ph.D. in Health Science,
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D./D.O.), and many more.
The dissertations and capstone projects of graduate students are vital contributions to Health Science research.
How do I earn a transitional or bridge D.H.S. degree?
Almost all Doctor of Health Science programs are taken entirely online. If not, the institution adopts a hybrid arrangement. In some cases, the school may ask you to attend classes on campus, but most of the time, you will enjoy the distance learning setup.
To be sure about what you need to accomplish for admission to a conventional, online, or hybrid D.H.S. program, check with your university and request information.
What kind of career and salary can I expect with my D.H.S. degree?
Doctor of Health Science graduates are expected to hold leadership positions in medical institutions, teach in academia, conduct advanced medical research, or land all or a combination of these career paths.
In clinical settings, D.H.S. graduates manage teaching groups consisting of medical technicians, assistants, and therapists.
With a vast range of responsibilities, a Doctor of Health Science who works as a hospital administrator in a health system can earn as much as $104,830 annually. Professors with a D.H.S. degree make $80,840 every year.
Do I need a license to practice my expertise in Health Science?
Generally speaking, you don’t need a license to be called a Doctor of Health Science. However, the disciplines that you already specialize in before getting this degree might require one to allow you to practice. Some states do seek a form of a license from D.H.S. graduates who want to assume leadership roles in clinical settings that provide health care.
What schools offer D.H.S. degrees?
The Huntington University of Health Sciences (HUHS) in Knoxville, Tennessee is a nationally accredited D.H.S. program that offers 100% online learning.
Other regionally accredited schools providing the same include the University of Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana; and A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) in Kirksville, Missouri. These schools offer the D.H.S. program in an entirely online learning format.
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston, Massachusetts also offers D.H.S. 100 % online, but the program only allows students to study part-time for nine semesters. Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s D.H.S. program is exclusive for those who want to study on-campus. The University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut adopts a hybrid format.
The Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia entirely different. It offers a D.H.S. program that can be completed online, but the school does not require a dissertation or a capstone project from students as a requirement for graduation.
Do you seek a lifelong exploration of the health sciences to uncover and design actionable solutions to issues surrounding the health sector and modern medicine? A D.H.S. program lets you do all that.
Is a Doctor of Health Science degree worth it?
That depends on your individual circumstances and goals. An online Doctor of Health Science degree can open up better job opportunities, provide more expertise in the field of health care, and give you the credentials to teach or consult in the health field.
However, it all depends on whether or not you have the time and money to invest in the program and how it might benefit you in the long run.
