The increasingly complex health care system in the United States relies heavily on quality improvement, interprofessional collaboration, patient outcomes, health policy legislation, and advocacy. While important, most of these issues are outside the scope of the traditional entry master’s-level or entry doctoral level education program—necessitating the development of methods to help advanced practice providers obtain additional skills. The solution of choice, for many professions, has been the introduction of the professional doctorate as a complementary alternative to the typical research-focused doctoral program, such as the PhD.

Rather than theory, the workplace demands the application of knowledge geared toward daily professional duties. The DHSc graduate is seen as doctorally-prepared practitioner who has less skill in the creation or validation of pure, theoretical research but who is able to apply theory to everyday problems in the workplace. Rather than devalue the contributions of classical PhD training, this model proposes the creation of a hybrid curriculum that would prepare individuals to use applied, transformational research.

The Bay Path University Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) program is a 48 credit online nonresidency program that will prepare healthcare professionals for the challenges in healthcare now and in the future. The DHSc prepares students to complete an academic terminal doctoral degree which will provide opportunities for employment in institutions of higher education, healthcare and research clinics, hospital settings and other healthcare venues. This advanced online health science degree program provides health professionals with the knowledge and skills to excel in leadership, project management and decision-making, teaching to evidence-based standards, and gaining competencies to apply research in their professional practice. Challenging coursework takes students from theory to concept to practice. Academic learning is complemented by extensive online collaboration with faculty and peers. Students will grow into visionary leaders in the healthcare industry who inspire effective teams, companies, and communities.

The Doctor of Health Science program requires the completion of 48 credits to meet degree requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

The DHSc Program is committed to the development of the healthcare professional who can:

1. Validate one’s own personal leadership practices and recognize a leader’s influence on healthcare effectiveness.
2. Organize and evaluate strategic practices based on various theories, models, and approaches for achieving healthcare transformation.
3. Analyze and evaluate the role of ethical leadership in planning and guiding the change process.
4. Examine the dynamics of power and politics on the delivery of healthcare, with a focus on the interrelationships of leadership, human capital, vision, and transformational change.
5. Differentiate the characteristics of skilled practitioners who use evidence-based medicine in support of the change process.
6. Critique practices for building leadership capacity, coalitions and constituent support while working with resistance and conflict.
7. Develop a solid foundation through the integration of theory and practice to implement a planned change process in health services delivery.
8. Design and complete independent research projects using advanced methodologies on the individual, social and healthcare delivery system factors influencing health and/or academic outcomes.
9. Translate evidence-based interventions and programs into health practice and policy through dissemination and implementation of scientific methodologies.