You already know that working in the healthcare field is as rewarding as it is challenging. No matter if you’re currently working as a physician assistant, a clinical practice nurse or in any other healthcare role, you enjoy the sense of fulfillment from helping others with each day on the job.

But if you’re looking to take your career a step further and extend your reach to help an even larger audience, you may be wondering what to do next. For many already practicing in the healthcare field with an advanced degree (such as a master’s degree or PhD), pursuing a Doctor of Health Science degree is a logical next step.

What Is a Doctor of Health Science (DHSc)?

A Doctor of Health Science degree is an advanced degree that prepares students for successful careers in professional practice—most often in healthcare leadership roles. Compared to a “traditional” PhD, a DHSc generally takes less time to complete and offers a more specialized curriculum.

As a result, students pursuing a DHSc have more freedom to focus on the areas of study that most interest them.
Some common topics and concepts covered in a DHSc degree program include:

  • Global health issues
  • Clinical trial fundamentals
  • Health science research
  • Healthcare data analysis
  • Healthcare informatics
  • Healthcare leadership theory

Why Pursue a Doctor of Health Science (DHSc)?

If you’re already working in the healthcare field but want to make more of a difference in a leadership or similar role, then a DHSc degree can prepare you for career advancement. You can pursue various different areas of concentration or specialization with a DHSc degree, ranging from clinical nutrition to education and anything in between.

Because a DHSc program offers a much more specialized curriculum than a traditional PhD, students can focus on their areas of interest and use their degrees to advance their careers. There is a wide range of career opportunities available for those with this type of advanced degree, with common roles including:

  • Director Pharmaceutical Industry or Global Health Executive
  • Health educator/instructor
  • Clinical researcher

Whether you are interested in opening your own professional practice, managing a hospital system or even helping shape health policy, a DHSc degree can prepare you for the realities of these positions. Plus, with such an advanced degree, you could set yourself apart from other candidates and establish yourself as a thought leader in the field.

Educational Requirements

Ready to get started with a DHSc degree? While precise admission requirements may vary from one school and program to the next, you can expect some general education requirements before being admitted into a DHSc program.

Undergraduate Schooling

First, you’ll need to have earned an undergraduate degree (such as a bachelor’s degree). This doesn’t necessarily need to be a degree in health science or any healthcare-related field, though it certainly can be. A bachelor’s degree helps ensure you have the prerequisites to progress to a more advanced degree program in the health sciences field. Likewise, an undergraduate degree provides you with diverse course offerings to make you a better-rounded learner—which can pay off in your future work in the healthcare field.

Graduate Degree in Health Science

In addition to a bachelor’s degree, you’ll also need a graduate degree to be considered for a DHSc program. In most cases, this degree will need to be related to the health sciences field. This way, you would have the foundational knowledge needed to succeed in an intensive DHSc program without additional prerequisites.

Depending on the school and program to which you are applying, it’s also possible you’ll need to have maintained a particular grade point average (GPA) during your graduate degree program. If so, you can expect to send in documentation (copies of your transcripts) as proof along with your formal application.

Health Science Doctoral Program

In some instances, applicants to a DHSc program may already have a doctorate degree in the form of a PhD under their belts. Courses from a PhD, provided the degree is in a related field, may be used to fulfill DHSc coursework.

If you have the educational requirements needed to qualify for a DHSc, be sure to submit all application documents by your program’s posted deadline. If you need to send copies of transcripts or other application materials (like letters of recommendation), give yourself plenty of time to gather these so you’re not scrambling at the last minute. You don’t want to risk missing the application deadline and having to wait until the next term to enroll.

Necessary Career Experience

Depending on the program to which you apply, you may also need certain career experience. Be sure to check the admission requirements of your specific school and program to find out whether this is the case.

Requirements for a Doctoral Candidate

It is not uncommon for schools to require that DHSc candidates have at least a couple of years’ experience working in a healthcare-related field. This may include work as a nurse, healthcare practitioner or researcher. If you have experience teaching in the field (such as an adjunct instructor position), this may also be considered field experience.

In general, work experience can be paid or unpaid; this means if you completed an internship, independent research or similar work that wasn’t under a direct employer, this can still count towards your professional experience. You’ll just need to be sure you can properly articulate the scope of your work and its relevance to your DHSc if needed, ideally on a curriculum vitae (CV) you submit with your formal application materials.

Choosing a Doctoral Program

There’s a lot to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a DHSc degree program. After all, no two programs are exactly alike, nor are they all created equal. Ultimately, the degree program that is right for you will offer the specialized curriculum you need to explore your interests. It will also be a program for which you meet all the qualifications and admission requirements without the need to pursue an additional degree or further your work experience before applying.

Degree Requirements

With any DHSc program you’re considering, take the time to explore the admission requirements to find out what kind of previous education and degree(s) you need to qualify. In most cases, you will need both an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in a related field. However, if you do not have a master’s degree, some schools may allow you to enroll if you have a bachelor’s degree and some relevant work experience in the healthcare field.

Keep in mind that you will need to submit transcripts from your past degree programs, and there is also a chance you will need to have maintained a certain GPA (especially if you want to qualify for any financial aid).

Practicum and Clinical Experience

In addition to previous education, you’ll want to find out what kind of practicum and clinical experience are needed to enroll in the DHSc program of your choice. If you’re not quite there with your clinical experience, you may need to wait a bit longer and get more experience before applying.

Role of a Doctor of Health Science

One of the biggest draws of a Doctor of Health Science is that it’s such a versatile degree. Despite where your interests lie, there’s a lot you could do with this advanced degree—working in any number of settings ranging from “traditional” hospitals to schools and more.

Usually, those who pursue a DHSc end up working in some kind of healthcare education or leadership role. They may serve as healthcare executives, health educators and clinical researchers to make a real difference in the field.

Common Tasks and Responsibilities

The everyday tasks and responsibilities of a DHSc will depend on the role being fulfilled. For a healthcare educator, for example, a typical day may involve developing community programs, workshops and events to educate the public on how to better manage their health and wellness. Part of this line of work may also involve some level of independent research and data collection.

Meanwhile, someone working as a health service manager or healthcare executive may be more involved with the day-to-day operations of a healthcare facility, such as a hospital or independent practice. These professionals might work with doctors, nurses and other caregivers to provide training, hire new team members and keep the entire facility running smoothly.

No matter what you do with your doctorate in health science, you can rest assured you’ll be making a difference in the lives of your patients as well as the physicians and nurses caring for them.

Common Career Paths

If you’re looking for a degree program that gives you the versatility and flexibility to explore what really matters to you in healthcare, a DHSc degree makes sense. This specialized degree allows you to pursue knowledge in the foundational topics most important to you and your career goals.

Whether you’re interested in teaching, researching or working as a healthcare executive, there’s sure to be a career path that will put your DHSc degree to good use.

Healthcare Career Path

The most common career path for those with a DHSc degree is in healthcare, where you may work in a hospital or private practice. You might be hired as a healthcare executive or administrator, working to keep a facility running smoothly while being involved in just about every aspect of its operations.

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities also need clinical researchers, who are responsible for testing the safety and efficacy of new treatments, medical devices, drugs and the like. This type of work requires commitment yet is highly rewarding and ideal for those who prefer more variety in their everyday work.

Other Common Career Paths

In addition to clinical research and executive roles, those who graduate with a DHSc degree may also be eligible for teaching jobs. These teaching positions may be available at local colleges and universities or offered directly through local hospital systems. Regardless, the purpose of a healthcare educator is to provide patients and even medical students with the fundamental tools and knowledge they need to better care for themselves and others.

Explore Health Science Programs at Keiser University

A doctorate in health sciences could help you take your career to new levels, whether you see yourself working as a healthcare researcher, an educator or a healthcare system executive. Of course, not every DHSc program is created equal—which is why taking the time to research your options and choose the right program is so critical.

At Keiser University, we’re proud to offer a wide range of quality graduate degree programs, including an online Doctor of Health Science program that could prepare you for meaningful work in numerous advanced health professions. This program includes 36 core credit hours, nine credit hours in research, 12 credit hours in dissertation and two doctoral residencies. From there, you’ll be ready to explore all the Doctor of Health Science career opportunities available to you.

Learn more about Keiser University’s DHSc degree by requesting information or speaking with an admissions counselor today!