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This website provides updated information about our response to the pandemic and our ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This website has been updated with information for the Spring 2021 semester. A chronological list of the latest updates to this information is available on the page linked below.
Visit PageThe University of New Haven’s Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) program takes you to the top of your field — to a career in administration, teaching, or applied research or practice – where advanced capabilities in conceptual thinking, original research, data analysis, and writing are essential in order to advance to high-level executive positions or academic appointments. With our Doctor of Health Sciences degree in hand, you will have achieved the highest formal degree in the field and can increase your earning potential, job prospects, and respect from your peers.
The healthcare sector continues to show high demand for employees who have advanced skill sets and can provide effective leadership in both practice and higher education settings. In fact, there is currently a national shortage of doctoral-trained health science faculty with the qualifications to teach at the master’s or doctoral level. You can help fill that gap by earning your Doctorate in Health Sciences.
Our program is one of only 12 similar programs in the entire nation and one of only three in New England that offers a Doctor in Health Sciences degree. Within that group, no other program places as strong a focus on health leadership in the domains of education and administration as ours does.
This degree doesn’t just give you more knowledge. It prepares you to be a leader and a change agent in the numerous settings where healthcare is taught, practiced, or delivered. It starts with an innovative curriculum in a flexible, online format. Students can choose to study full-time or part-time.
The program progresses to two, short summer residencies and culminates — in the final year of the program — with a doctoral thesis, which will incorporate a research project, clinical project, or practical experience, depending on your career interests and program track. After undergoing preliminary coursework, you can choose one of two tracks: Educational Leadership or Healthcare Leadership.
Possible thesis topics could include:
All students are assigned a thesis advisor to oversee their project and mentor them throughout the experience.
You will emerge from the program prepared to direct the course of events in healthcare rather than to simply keep up with them. Through the program, you will acquire the advanced leadership skills that will set you apart as a go-to expert who doesn’t simply react to challenges in 21st century healthcare education and delivery but innovates solutions to them. You will become that expert by building competencies in:
This suite of high-level skills is the toolkit you will use to evaluate, plan, and implement solutions in either higher education or in practice settings such as hospitals, physician groups, managed care plans, long-term care, and nursing homes.
Many students received their B.S. in Health Sciences, went on to earn their Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) or Master of Public Health (MPH), and now will add the Doctor of Health Sciences as a natural extension to their portfolio of skills, knowledge, and capacity to make a real impact in their field. Current or recent alumni of University of New Haven MHA or MPH programs can complete the DHSc program in as few as 36 credit hours. Transfer credits from other institutions may also be accepted.
Other students who join our program come from a variety of academic backgrounds and have diverse practical experiences. Those who have previously earned a master’s degree in any discipline can complete the program in 48 credit hours.
However, a previous graduate degree is not required for admission to the DHSc program. Exceptional students who have earned a bachelor’s degree can pursue the DHSc program, earning an MHA or MPH degree en route.
Students can complete the program on a full-time or part-time basis, depending on their needs and interests.
Our faculty are leaders and innovators in their fields, bringing both deep professional experience and academic rigor to the classroom.
All University of New Haven students have access to the many resources available through the University’s Career Development Center, which has been named one of the best in the nation by The Princeton Review.
From career assessments, networking, and job shadowing to on-campus interviews and salary negotiation, the Career Development Center provides the skills and connections to identify a meaningful career and an opportunity to pursue your passion.
Learn MoreThis intensive 3-day on-campus course serves as the start of the Doctor of Health Sciences program. Students will be introduced to the core competencies of doctoral study, including pedagogy, research, and professional writing.
This course is designed to introduce students to qualitative research methods and analytic techniques in the health sciences using a combination of didactic, interactive, and applied techniques.
Students in the educational leadership track will take this course, which is focused on the analytic and developmental approach to the roles and functions of the health professional teacher. Discussions will focus on teaching roles, style and philosophy, and the application of learning theory to instructional design and lesson planning in higher education.
Students in the healthcare leadership track will take this course, which is focused on healthcare evaluation systems and the role of health informatics in quality improvement, clinical pathways, case management, utilization management, risk management, infection control, and medical staff credentialing.
All students will take this 6-credit course as the final thesis course, which addresses the written components of the thesis, including linking all elements of introduction, methods, analysis, results, and discussion in preparation for defense and dissemination of the thesis.
See a full list of courses in the course catalog.
The Charger Blog
Professor Karl Minges and his public health students are studying the coronavirus pandemic in real time, and he’s finding innovative ways to keep students connected during this time of online learning and social distancing.
There are a variety of opportunities for you to learn more about our master’s degree programs, what it is like to be a student here, and the scholarships, assistantships and financial aid that we offer. Whether you want to meet us on campus or online, we have something for you.
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An advanced degree from the University of New Haven will help you take your career to the next level. Each program offers convenient scheduling, personalized attention, and state-of-the-art facilities.
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The University of New Haven Graduate School is an excellent value with reasonable tuition. Of course, you will still have bills to pay and the Financial Aid office can help.
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