Online Doctor of Health Science
Doctor of Health Science Curriculum (DHSc)
Program facts
Get the essentials before you explore the curriculum, admissions process, and next steps.
credits
48 semester creditsformat
100% online, 8-week coursesstart dates
Six per yearaccreditation
WSCUCtuition
$700 per semester credittransfer credits
Up to 6 creditsThe Touro University Worldwide (TUW) Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) is designed to prepare health care professionals in becoming leaders in healthcare. Graduates of the program will acquire knowledge on how applied and theoretical principles for health science can inform evidence-based practice. In other words, students will learn to apply real-world research to contemporary healthcare settings.
The program will provide students comprehension of the theories and research in health science to expand competencies in their allied health professions as they face the challenges of individual and institutional functioning in today’s technologically sophisticated, media-connected, and culturally diverse global environment.
Note: This degree does not lead to any form of licensure or certification.
What makes the online Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) degree at TUW different?
- 100% online
- Learn from scholar-practitioners with expertise in the field of Health Science.
- Affordable tuition
- Nonprofit Accredited University
- No residency required
- No GMAT or GRE required
- Accelerated admissions process
- 6 starts throughout the year
- 8 week session
The Doctorate of Health Science (DHSc) program aims to empower current health professionals to be innovative in administrative, leadership, education and research positions in an evolving health profession setting.
The course content is designed to advance the student beyond the educational accomplishments of a Master’s degree program, and it is open to all health professionals seeking leadership roles included but not limited to: Nurse Practitioner, Health Administrators, Nurses, Nutritionists, Couple and Family Therapists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Respiratory Therapist, Radiologic or Ultrasound Technologist, Behavioral or Mental Health Specialists, Physician Assistants, Global Health, Public Health, or other healthcare professionals.
The DHSc provides the foundation for research in the any specialized area of healthcare and health science including practicing practitioners and educators.
The TUW Doctor of Health Science has several unique features:
- Instructors themselves are health science experts actively involved in private, government agencies, and or not for profit organizations striving to solve problems and improving health outcomes to keep pace with trends.
- The program is designed and delivered online with a unique pedagogy which offers students the flexibility to conveniently advance their education and still maintain their professional and personal schedules.
- Course content, including assignments and research opportunities, are structured to offer students flexibility while also providing maintaining the ability to complete the doctoral process at an individual pace.
What Can You Do With a Doctor of Health Sciences Degree?
The Doctor of Health Sciences (DHS) degree from Touro University Worldwide prepares graduates for vast opportunities in the health sciences field. TUW Graduates are prepared for leadership positions in local, state, and federal organizations. The skills acquired in the DHS program can also prepare students for leadership positions in the private sector. Potential job titles include:
- Community Health Services Director
- Health Science Researcher
- Chief Public Health Administrator
- School Health Services Manager
- Public Health Policy Analyst
- Community Program Director
The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for medical and health services managers is $117,960. The BLS also projects 29% job growth in the field over the next decade. The TUW Doctor of Health Science degree prepares you for success in this in-demand field.
BLS: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-1
Alumni
See how graduates put the program to work.
Proud TUW Alumna reflects on their academic experience at TUW
Courses and requirements
Core Requirements
36 Semester Credits
The course provides an orientation to the Doctorate of Health Science program, and the application of the scholar practitioner model. Utilizing various methods, students develop an understanding of the history of health promotion and disease prevention by examining biological, psychological, behavioral, and socio-cultural factors that influence and impact the development of healthy communities and populations from a practitioners perspective. A brief history of health, the impact of policy on health, and an overview of the implementation and evaluation of health programs and its relationship to today’s health professionals will be examined.
Credits: 3
In this course, students examine health behavior and health education theories and models relevant to health science professionals. Students will explore a scholar-practitioner approach and associated health theories to chronic and infectious diseases.
Credits: 3
In this course, students explore ethics and professional leadership necessary to excel as health science professionals across multiple environments. Students will explore techniques and tools to address a variety of contemporary ethical concerns in the field of health science.
Credits: 3
This course provides an overview of health informatics. Students will explore the role of technology in consumer services (patient care) and medical care (healthcare marketplace). This course will also explore new and emerging trends in health technology as well as a range of healthcare informatics.
Credits: 3
The course provides students with an in-depth examination of program development and evaluation for health professionals. Students learn application to theory in developing and evaluating a health promotion program. Special emphasis is on program development and evaluation utilizing managerial skills.
Credits: 3
This course provides students the opportunity to apply basic principles and methods of epidemiology across various health science domains. Special emphasis will be placed on study designs, measures of frequency, and their application in assessing health phenomena.
Credits: 3
In this course, students examine domestic and international policy and legislation that impacts human health such as economic environments contributing to the labor force, health care systems, and disease prevention. Special emphasis is on current global health challenges and policies.
Credits: 3
This course serves as an introduction to biostatistics for health professionals. Course content will present descriptive and inferential statistics which are the fundamental concepts for more advanced doctoral work.
Credits: 3
In this course, students receive an introduction to the fields of environmental and occupational health. Special emphasis is placed on the recognition and prevention of diseases across multiple environments coupled with examining special risk populations in terms of disease and injury.
Credits: 3
In this course, students learn quantitative research methods and analytical techniques useful for health science professionals. Special emphasis is on application of these learned skillsets to address real-world health disparities. The concepts and techniques used in this course may serve as foundational tools for the doctoral research project.
Credits: 3
This course provides students with an in-depth examination of the qualitative research methods and analytical techniques which includes but not limited to ethnographies and focus groups. Students have an opportunity to apply learned qualitative research skills to address current real-world health disparities. The concepts and techniques used in this course may serve as foundational tools for the doctoral research project.
Credits: 3
In this course, students explore survey design as a necessary tool for a health science professional.
Students learn to assess instruments via literature useful in determining factors of interest to the health science professional such as biological, psychological, behavioral, and socio-cultural. Concepts learned in this course may be applicable for use in the doctoral research project. This is a transitional course to the doctoral research project proposal development phase, which means students are introduced to the Doctoral Management System (DMS) for the selection of a Chair and completion of their research project.
Credits: 3
Proposal Development
6 Semester Credits
In this course, students work independently with their Chair through their desired research project. Students identify and begin to prepare a research project applicable to the health science field. Students work closely with their Chair to develop and build a conceptual model relevant to their research topic with fundamental supportive literature.
Credits: 3
In this course students will continue to work with their faculty Chair and committee members. In this phase of the research project, students will finalize the methods they will use to carry out the project. During this phase, students will present their research project to their Chair and committee for their research project oral proposal defense. Upon completion of the proposal defense, students will submit their proposal to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) application for approval. Students should continue to enhance previous work while the application to IRB is pending.
Credits: 3
Doctoral Research Project
6 Semester Credits
In this course, students continue to work with the Chair and committee members on the proposed research project. Students will work on data collection as applicable to complete their project and begin forming an analytic plan. Additionally, students simultaneously work on strengthening other portions of their project, e.g., enhanced literature review etc.
Credits: 3
In this final phase of the doctoral program, students finalize and orally defend their research project. Students should submit a completed project to their Chair no later than the 4th week of the session. Students will work with the Chair to schedule an oral defense where the student will present their completed research project.
Credits: 3
Tuition Information
TUW’s tuition for the Doctorate of Health Science is $700 per semester credit unit.
Your employer may offer a tuition assistance program so speak with your human resource representative to find out if financial support is available to you. A TUW Tuition Assistance Counselor is available to you in order to determine your eligibility for financial aid and other tuition assistance programs.
The program includes several phases. The first phase includes required courses in theoretical foundations in Health Science, contemporary topics in the field of healthcare, and applicable research for healthcare professionals.
Upon completion of the required courses, the student begins the first phase of the research project with each student working closely with a faculty chair and committee in completion of the research project phase proposal. In this phase, students personalize their academic journey for greater outcomes, by selecting a topic of interest applicable to lessons learned in their field and or developing skills specific to a research area of interest.
In the final phase, students finalize their research area of interest with a product that lends to real-world solutions while simultaneously achieving their desired goal in the program as a Doctor in the Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) Program.
For additional information, please visit the TUW Catalog.
Students seeking to enroll in Touro University Worldwide’s Doctor of Health Science program must meet the following criteria to be considered for admission:
- Have earned a Master’s degree from an accredited institution. If the degree was awarded overseas, it must be from an institution that is approved by the Ministry of Education.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.4 in the accredited Master’s Program
Students, who meet the above criteria, will be required to complete the following steps in order to be admitted and enrolled at TUW:
- Submit an application to the University.
- Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended. Transcripts must come directly from the issuing institutions. Students who completed college coursework outside the United States must have their transcripts translated and evaluated. (See Foreign Credit for additional information.)
- Submit two letters of recommendation: one from someone familiar with the prospective student’s academic work; and a professional reference from someone who has supervised the prospective student in a work environment (preferably the current supervisor, excluding family members ).
- Submit a Doctoral Entrance Essay: The entrance essay is an essential part of the Doctoral Program and serves as the initial component of the student’s research portfolio. The entrance essay takes the form of a narrative presenting candidates’ biography, career plan, and goals in pursuing the doctorate at Touro University Worldwide.
The Doctoral Admissions Committee will evaluate the essay. Committee members seek evidence regarding critical qualities and abilities including:
- Motivation, maturity of judgment, and creativity;
- Evidence of a sound personal agenda that includes achievable personal and professional objectives;
- Awareness of intellectual strengths as well as skills needing development;
- Awareness of program requirements
- Proficiency with standard written English including the ability to express concepts and communicate meaning in concise writing
The Doctoral Entrance Essay components should include the following:
- Biographical Component
Earlier learning experiences, both formal and informal, should be described. Characterize in terms of the nature and general outcome prior study, related work experience, and participation in scholarly research (if any). - Career Plan Component
Explain how a doctoral-level education fits with stated career plan and goals. How will doctoral study, in conjunction with background and interests, further those goals? - Goals in Pursuing the Doctorate
Briefly discuss why the reasons for enrolling in doctoral study at Touro University Worldwide, including but not limited to:- The reasons for selecting the TUW program rather than another doctoral program;
- The particular goals anticipated to be attained through completion of the doctoral curriculum;
- Proposed topics being considered for the doctoral research project.
The Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) supports TUW’s mission and commitment to professional education and serves the needs of students globally desiring an advanced professional degree using an online delivery mode. The DHSc program provides an opportunity for growth, development, and application of critical skills necessary for today’s modern health professional.
The program is designed to:
- Provide students with the professional skills and tools to design evidence-based solutions in the field of health science.
- Provide a doctoral level environment that includes faculty research guidance, technology and learning opportunities that lead to the development of the research professional competencies needed to translate theory into practical solutions that lead to successful individual or organizational change and development in health science settings.
- Provides a support system dedicated to student success at the Doctoral level
The time it will take to complete the Doctor of Health Science (DHS) degree online can vary. The duration of the program depends on several factors, including the number of credits accepted for transfer and whether or not students take time off between semesters.
The typical length of time for the Doctor of Health Science (DHS) is two (2) years.
Disclaimer:
Students who enroll full-time (12 credits per semester for three semesters each academic year) can complete the degree in one and half (1.5) years. Students who enroll part-time (six credits per semester for three semesters each academic year) will complete the DHS program in 2.5 years.