Doctor of Health Science (D.H.Sc.)

The Office of Admissions processes applications on a rolling admission basis throughout the year. Applicants can apply for admission for any one of four starting dates during any academic year: January, April, July, and September. Each term runs for 12 weeks. Admission deadlines for submitted application and required documents are as follows:

Term Application Deadline Dates:

• Spring - December 2 - March 1
• Summer - March 2 - June 1
• Fall - June 2 - August 15
• Winter - August 16 - December 1

Before the applicant can be reviewed for possible admission, the following must be submitted:

• A completed Health Science Doctoral application form
• $50 non-refundable application fee

Send transcripts and all required documents to:
Nova Southeastern University
Enrollment Processing Services (EPS)
College of Health Care Sciences
Health Science Doctoral Admissions
P.O. Box 299000
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33329-9905

• Official and final transcripts from all previously attended undergraduate, professional, and graduate institutions of higher learning. Conferral degree and conferral date must be on the transcript(s) from where you earned a degree.
• All coursework from international institution(s), Applicant is responsible for contacting one of the evaluation services listed here. The evaluation must be course by course including a cumulative GPA The official evaluation must be sent directly from the evaluation service to the NSU EPS address shown above for all documents:
  
  Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
  International Education Consultants
  7101 SW 102nd Avenue
  Miami, FL 33173
  Phone: (305) 273-1616
  Fax: (305) 273-1338
  www.jsilny.org
  
  Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
  P.O. Box 415070
  Milwaukee, WI 53203
  (414) 289-3400
  www.ece.org
  
  World Education Services, Inc.
  P.O. Box 745
  Old Chelsea Station
  New York, NY 10113-0745
  (212) 966-6311
  www.wes.org
  
  
• Copy of national allied health professional certification or licensure, if applicable.
• Copy of current state licensure, registration or certification.
• An up-to-date resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Personal interview with Committee on Admissions MAY be required in some cases. Phone interview and/or advisement may be substituted upon approval.

1. Prior to matriculation, applicants must have completed a master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
2. Applicants must demonstrate a cumulative master's degree GPA at or above a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to be eligible for regular admission.
3. Prior health care experience is required and is strongly considered in the admissions process. The D.H.Sc is a post professional degree designed for health practitioners, public health professionals, and health care administrators from a wide variety of disciplines. The commonality exhibited by our students is the expert practice of a recognized health occupation at a professional level, or five years of administrative experience in a health care organization with progressively increasing responsibilities over that time frame.
   The successful applicant's health profession may emphasize delivery of services to individual clients (e.g., PA, PT, RN, LCSW, etc.) or be population-based (MPH, MHA). An appropriate level of professional practice is generally recognized by either health professions licensure (e.g., RN, PT), a national certification or registration (e.g., PA-C, RVT, RRT, CRNA, FACHE), a recognized health professions academic credential (e.g., M.P.H., M.S.N., M.S.W., M.H.A., M.B.A.), or a combination of the above. The successful administrative (non-clinical) applicant will demonstrate at least five years of professional administrative experience with increasing levels of responsibility in a health care setting. Professional experience will be documented by an organizational chart demonstrating the applicant's position within the organization. Fellowship or certification by a nationally-recognized health certifying body (FACHE, etc.) is desirable. Possession of an appropriate master's degree is also necessary.
   All questions regarding the appropriateness of an applicant's qualifications for admission can be discussed with the department chair or program director on an informal basis, but the official recommendations are made by the Committee on Admissions to the dean of the College of Health Care Sciences, who makes the final determination. Successful past applicants and graduates have included physicians, dentists, nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician assistants, master's degree-level social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dental hygienists, and athletic trainers. We have recently expanded the program to include health care administrators, and our graduates now include a hospital CEO and an assistant Surgeon General of the US Public Health Service.
4. All applicants must show evidence of computer skills through coursework or self study prior to the end of the first term. Students may obtain instruction through the NSU Student Computer Laboratory, the D.H.Sc. online Orientation, or other training facilities.

Send your transcripts and evaluations to NSU's Enrollment Processing Services at:

Nova Southeastern University
Enrollment Processing Services
3301 College Avenue
P.O. Box 299000
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33329-9905

Please note, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not currently required for the D.H.Sc. Program. The GRE is required prior to admission to the Ph.D. program.

The generalist D.H.Sc. program requires completion of a minimum of 46 semester hours of coursework. This includes 42 semester hours didactic coursework and 4 semester hours experiential coursework.

During the generalist course of study, the student must complete a practicum or internship approved by the D.H.Sc program director and practicum faculty members in an area of healthcare including, but not limited to, health care leadership, education, policy or delivery.

At the standard pace established by the program, the course of study can be completed in three years. It is required that all coursework be completed within seven years. 

Core Courses - Block 1

Four of the following are required; either DHS 8090 or DHS 9095 may fulfill the Health Policy requirement. Either 8040 or 8045 will fulfill the Ethics requirement. You must complete 1 policy and 1 ethics course, unless you obtain program director approval. Courses not taken as requirements may be used as electives.

Core Courses - Block 2

Two of the following courses are required. The other courses may be omitted or used as electives.

Experiential

Total is 4 credit hours.

Note: Students choose between the practicum or internship.

Summer Residential Institute

The institute is held virtually. Total is 4 credit hours.

Electives

Three of the following should be taken. Block 1 and Block 2 courses may be substituted for these courses. Please check with the program.

 

The program is designed to be completed in an online format. The only residency requirement is a 1-week summer seminar attended twice during your program of study. You’ll need an internet connection to access course materials and the online student center.

There is no dissertation required: it has been replaced with an internship and practicum. As with most doctoral programs of study, papers compose a large portion. Many courses also require a journal to be kept, as well as discussion board postings. Keep in mind, this is an online program. The majority of communications will be in writing.

Each professor determines the need for a textbook and online readings. You will be responsible for purchasing the required text(s) for each course. Because this is a doctoral level program, primary source readings, instead of textbooks, are emphasized. Use of the NSU library is required and is available at a distance.

The online courses work very much like a classroom and you will be required to interact with the professor and the other students in your virtual classroom, as well as adhere to any assignment due dates. There is an online student center where you can post messages, questions, and have chats with classmates. You will also find the schedule, course plans, links, library resources and much more.

How much time you spend will be based on several factors to include your study style, time management, the professors methods, and your study area.

We consider one class per semester to be full time. At one class per semester, with the exception of one summer institute that will require two courses, and completing the internship or practicum while taking another course, the program can be completed in 3.5 years. At two courses per semester, a student may complete the program in just over 2 years.