The Doctorate in Health Sciences equips seasoned health professionals with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to take their careers to the next level. Offered in a flexible format and convenient environment and designed for health professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, the D.H.Sc. program empowers health professionals with the leadership skills needed to become change agents within the fields of healthcare, community and public health, and higher education. Graduating students may pursue opportunities as health service directors/managers, health educators, public health officers, healthcare delivery administrators, researchers, and/or university faculty.
Students will select to pursue one of three 12-credit (4 courses) concentrations designed to build students’ knowledge, skills and abilities within that content area:
The mission of the online, interprofessional Doctor of Health Sciences (D.H.Sc.) degree program is to equip a wide range of health professionals with a diverse body of knowledge and skills necessary to excel within today’s everchanging health systems and institutions of higher education.
Goals/Program Outcomes:
We are honored that you are considering the D.H.Sc. online program. Admission to the program is competitive and each applicants’ skills, experiences, passions and overall preparation for the program are evaluated holistically by a faculty panel. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling admission basis.
The following will be required as part of the application and admission process:
The D.H.Sc. program is a 42-credit fully online degree program which can be completed over 7 sequential semesters, taking 6 credits (2 courses) per semester. A residency component is not required. Students will select to pursue one of three 12-credit (4 courses) concentrations either when applying or within the first semester of courses.
Semester 1: Fall
Professional Communication in Healthcare
Health Equity & Advocacy
Semester 2: Spring
HSCI 715: Quantitative Research Methods
Concentration Courses:
Semester 3: Summer
Qualitative Research Methods
Concentration Courses:
Semester 4: Fall
Epidemiology
Concentration Courses:
Semester 5: Spring
Capstone
Concentration Courses:
Semester 6: Summer
Healthcare Ethics & Law
700-800 Elective
Semester 7: Fall
Capstone
Health Information Systems
Upon graduation, students will have the ability to use their D.H.Sc. degree to pursue career opportunities across a variety of health-related fields including but not limited to:
How many students are accepted each year? Can students begin the semester in any semester?
The D.H.Sc. program is highly selective and currently, a new cohort of 12 students
are admitted to start in the fall of each year. A student may petition to start early,
but this decision would be made by the Program Director on a case by case basis.
What is the application deadline?
Student applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis.
What the program tuition costs and fees?
View the tuition and fees for Radford University at Carilion.
Are transfer credits for courses completed at other universities accepted into the program?
Up to 12 credits may be transferred into the program; however, there are a number of conditions that must be met for the courses a student would like to transfer in:
Is the GRE required for admission to the program?
No, the GRE is not required to be accepted to the program
What is the culminating capstone project like?
The capstone project is a rigorous 6-credit applied scholarly capstone project specifically
designed around the students interests and experience can be completed over two semesters.
Each student will choose their topic and be assigned an advisory committee composed
of a chair from RU and RUC faculty, and two other committee members. The committee
will guide the student throughout the project so it can be completed within two semesters.
The overall project includes a proposal and implementation phase, culminating in a
final project defense.
Is there a residency requirement?
While some students do visit the campus and meet with the program faculty in person,
at this time, there is no residency requirement and the program can be completed 100%
online.
Is there a deadline for completion of the program?
Yes; the program must be completed in eight years from the date the first course is
taken.
What if a students’ cumulative GPA is lower than 3.0? Can they still apply?
As part of the initial screening process, your application materials will be reviewed
by a panel in order to better understand your past grades and determine if an interview
is to be granted. If your application is accepted for admittance following the interview
process, you will be admitted on a conditional basis and your grades evaluated after
completion of the first semester of courses.
Are there any opportunities for graduate assistantships in the D.H.Sc. program?
Due to the majority of our students being working professionals, we do not currently
offer graduate assistantships for our D.H.Sc. students. However, there may be opportunities
for assistantships that do arise through grants and other funding sources.
In the event of family, work, and/or financial constraints, are students allowed to
only take one course per semester?
Students are not required to take two courses per semester; however, note that courses
are generally offered once per year and always in the same semester. That is, a Fall
class is offered fall only, and not Fall and Spring. Therefore, if a course is missed
in any given semester, students will need to wait until the following year to take
the course. Most students, with good planning with their academic advisor, have not
found this to be an issue.
What’s the difference between a D.H.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Health Sciences
While a D.H.Sc. is recognized as equivalent to a Ph.D., there are several differences
between the two programs; (1) D.H.Sc. programs are focused more on the application
of evidence-based practice in health-related career fields and less on research while
Ph.D. programs focus more on research and preparing students for careers in academia;
(2) D.H.Sc. programs are geared more towards working professionals as they can typically
be completed in 3 years or less while Ph.D. programs typically take 4 or more years
to complete; (3) The culminating project of a D.H.Sc. program is typically an applied,
evidence-based project while a Ph.D. requires completion of a dissertation.
How can I learn more about the program?
Please email Kim Baskette, Ph.D., CHES®, Graduate Program Director.
She will be happy to schedule a time to personally meet with you to discuss the program
and answer any questions you may have.
Radford University is authorized by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
(SCHEV) to offer postsecondary education in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Radford University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Colleges to award Associate, Baccalaureate, Masters and Doctorate degrees.
Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Radford University.
Kim Baskette, PhD, CHES®
Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director
Department of Public Health & Healthcare Leadership
Waldron College of Health and Human Services
101 Elm Ave SE
Roanoke VA 24013
100% online program
100% online program
Online classes are engaging and use the latest technologies to allow the student to interact with the professor and classmates, with no residency requirement.
Self-paced learning
Self-paced learning
Though most students take a course load of 2 classes per semester (6 classes per year), a student may opt to slow down or speed up the program according to student needs.
Capstone Projects
Capstone Projects
The capstone project prepares the students for future high level evidence-based work at an academic institution or in the healthcare industry.
“The concentration in administration and leadership, and the focus on professional writing and analytical speaking truly helped me step up my game in my profession. In my role at work, being able to think about problems strategically and critically is absolutely essential for success.”
Amy Kageals, D.H.Sc. '20Senior Director at Carilion Children's Professional Network
We want to get to know you better and we are excited that you are ready to take your next step and learn more about us. We are here to help you and look forward to working with you during your college search process.