Online Doctorates in Healthcare Admin (DHA): View Top Schools

Earning a doctorate in healthcare administration means you are serious about becoming a leader in the healthcare field, whether as an educator at a university or a high-level supervisor at a medical facility. If this interests you, pursuing a healthcare administration degree online can be a great option for busy professionals.

In this EduMed guide, we’ve spotlighted three quality doctorate of healthcare administration programs that are primarily online. We’ve also answered some common questions that potential DHA students like you might have and summarized common job options for DHA graduates.

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Uncovering Online Doctorate in Healthcare Administration Programs

The primary purpose for earning a doctorate in healthcare administration is the same regardless of the specific degree program: to prepare graduates to become effective and influential leaders at the very highest levels of the profession. It’s about more than just managing an organization’s operations, instead moving the entire industry ahead by enacting real, positive change. Most doctorate programs will focus on core competencies including communication, leadership, healthcare policies, and regulation. There may also be an opportunity to specialize.

Most online healthcare administration doctoral programs feature fully online coursework. Virtually all of them, however, also require some in-person student participation, typically in the form of one or more short-term residencies. These residencies normally take place on the school’s physical campus, but some programs feature off-campus options at locations throughout their state, region, or even around the country.

Specific in-person requirements vary from program to program, so be sure to carefully review all degree requirements – including those involving in-person participation – before you enroll. You’ll also want to carefully review tuition costs and opportunities for financial aid. The following three programs combine the flexibility of online learning with quality instruction and are a great place to start your search for a doctoral program.

Doctor of Health Administration – National University

The Doctor of Health Administration program at National University is offered completely online, with no on-campus residency requirements. The program consists of 20 courses covering legal and ethical issues in the industry, healthcare policy, and leadership strategies, as well as a dissertation. The program is completely online, and students are not required to be on campus at any point. It also offers weekly start dates, making it easy for working professionals to get started right away. Graduates of the program will be prepared to lead private and public healthcare organizations at the highest level.

Duration: 60 credit hours

Mode: Online

Cost: $921/credit

Admissions Requirements:

  • A master’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution
  • 3-5 years of work experience
  • No GRE or GMATs are required

Curriculum:

  • Health Leadership and Systems Thinking
  • Communication, Marketing, and Public Relations for Healthcare Administration Leaders
  • Health Law, Ethics, and Policy
  • Applied Research Projects in Healthcare
  • Data-Driven Decision Making
  • Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Data Collection
  • Healthcare Financial Management and Economics
  • Human Resource Management for Healthcare Administrators
  • Advanced Application of Practice-Based Research in Health

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Doctor of Healthcare Administration – Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

This online DHA program from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences is intended to be completed part-time, allowing students to continuing moving forward in their careers. Students can start in the fall or spring and are expected to take 6-7 credits per semester, year-round.

The curriculum covers five areas: healthcare systems and environments of care; healthcare leadership and finance; operations and data analytics; the doctoral research core; and contemporary topics. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to serve as leaders and advanced problem solvers in the healthcare field.

Duration: 54 credit hours

Mode: Online

Cost: $1,160/credit

Admissions Requirements:

  • Applicants must have a master’s or doctorate degree from a regionally accredited college or university
  • A 3.0 minimum GPA
  • 3-5 years of healthcare-related work experience
  • Submit a resume and personal statement
  • Successfully complete a faculty interview

Curriculum:

  • Healthcare Systems and Environments of Care
  • Healthcare Leadership and Finance
  • Operations and Data Analytics
  • Academic & Scholarly Writing in Healthcare
  • Introduction to Action Research
  • Applied Practice-Based Research Project
  • Political Determinants of Health
  • Disabilities in Healthcare
  • Grant Writing

Doctor of Healthcare Administration – Oklahoma State University

The DHA from Oklahoma State University is a professional degree intended for professionals in the healthcare industry. There is no dissertation requirement, and all content is delivered online, primarily in an asynchronous format. The program provides instruction in both technical, healthcare-specific knowledge and leadership skills such as communication and emotional intelligence. Accepted students can transfer up to 30 credits. At a cost of $364 per credit hour, this program is also a very affordable option for healthcare professionals looking to broaden their horizons.

Duration: 62 credits

Mode: Online

Cost: $364/credit hour

Admissions Requirements:

  • Have a 3.0 GPA or higher in the final 60 credit hours of undergraduate or graduate-level coursework
  • No GRE or GMAT scores are required
  • A personal statement is part of the application

Curriculum:

  • Dynamics of Health Care Markets
  • Healthcare Public Policy
  • Advanced Clinical Operations Management
  • Advanced Cases in Health Care Leadership
  • Contemporary Topics in Health Care Management
  • Cases in Health Care Quality and Process Improvement
  • Advanced Health Care Law
  • Graduate Seminar – Various Offerings

Frequently Asked Questions From Online Healthcare Administration Doctoral Students

Are online doctorate healthcare administration degrees accredited?

Accreditation is the process through which academic programs – and the schools that offer them – are evaluated for quality, ensuring that these institutions and programs meet certain specified higher education standards. There are currently no U.S.-based agencies that specifically accredit healthcare administration doctoral programs, online or on-campus. Accreditation of colleges and universities as a whole (institutional accreditation) in the U.S. is administered by several national and regional agencies recognized by the Department of Education.

Proper accreditation is an absolute must for any degree program you consider, online or on-campus, so be sure to confirm your school’s institutional accreditation before you sign up. You can check a school’s accreditation by visiting the school’s website, contacting the school directly, or searching the Department of Education’s official accreditation database.

What are the admissions requirements to get into a good online healthcare administration doctoral program?

Not surprisingly, specific admissions requirements vary from program to program, so check them closely before submitting any program application. Nevertheless, the following admissions requirements are typical:

  • Master’s degree in healthcare administration or management, or closely related field of study. Most programs additionally require meeting a stated minimum GPA (3.0 is not uncommon) for the degree and/or other completed relevant graduate-level coursework.
  • Substantial work experience, typically in a position in mid-level healthcare administration or management, health policy, or closely related field. Five-year minimum is not uncommon.
  • Other requirements may include a current resume or CV, written career goal statement or personal essay, letters of recommendation, and proof of English proficiency (for non-native English-speaking applicants).

Are there specialization opportunities in Doctor of Healthcare Administration programs?

Some online programs allow students to tailor their studies to explore specific interests within the larger healthcare administration field, either by offering formal specialization or concentration track options or through flexibility in their elective course choices. Some examples of specializations include Healthcare Administration, Healthcare Leadership, Healthcare Analytics, Healthcare Professions, Advocacy and Policy.

Is healthcare experience required for admission to a DHA program?

Yes. In general, DHA programs are intended for working professionals. In addition to a master’s degree in the healthcare field, many programs also require 3-5 years of work experience to be considered for admission. A DHA is the highest degree conferred in the field and as such, it’s intended for mid-to-senior level professionals.

Will I earn a PhD at the completion of my program?

No. Both a DHA and a PhD are terminal doctoral degrees in the healthcare administration field, both focus on research, and both typically require about the same time commitment to complete. There are a few important differences, most notably in career outcomes.

PhD students are usually required to complete a dissertation and seek roles in research or teaching. DHA students, on the other hand, often complete a final project and are more likely to serve in leadership and administrative positions.

Future Career Roles: What to Expect With a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration

Healthcare administration doctoral degree earners typically find careers that take them to the executive level of corporations and nonprofit organizations throughout the healthcare industry, as well as onto the faculties of prestigious colleges and universities. Advanced positions in research and administration are also available with both state and federal government agencies.

Many graduates find satisfying and lucrative careers as independent consultants. While a doctorate takes significant time and energy, many graduates find an advanced degree in healthcare administration to be worth it. The five roles outlined below are some of the most common career paths for DHA graduates.

Postsecondary Healthcare Educator

Postsecondary educators are responsible for preparing the next generation of healthcare industry leaders. Duties include preparing course materials and evaluating student progress through assignments, papers, and exams. Most importantly, postsecondary educators must continuously keep themselves informed of all recent developments and future trends – theories, policies, and practices – in the healthcare management field by reading the latest academic journals, attending professional conferences and seminars, and consulting with fellow colleagues. Job titles include Professor, Assistant Professor, Instructor, and Lecturer.

Chief Executive Officer

The very top of the career ladder for many healthcare administration professionals, CEOs are responsible for all organizational operations. Specific duties include formulating and implementing organization policies, objectives, and activities; creating budgets and coordinating financing activities such as funding and investments; evaluating organization performance and effectiveness and seeking ways to cut costs and improve efficiencies; and appointing department heads and other management professionals, and delegating duties to them. Compensation for this position may be high, but long hours are also the norm.

Healthcare Consultant

Healthcare consultants provide several specialized services for clients of all kinds throughout the healthcare industry. Consultants meet with clients to identify and define problems and issues within an organization and then conduct studies and reviews to find solutions to those problems and issues. They are typically independent contractors working with a variety of clients but may also be fully employed by a single large private healthcare corporation, non-profit organization, or governmental agency.

Hospital Administrator

A hospital administrator manages the day-to-day operations, staff, and finances of a hospital system. Job responsibilities may include recruiting and hiring staff, creating budgets, quality insurance, compliance, and overseeing patient care. Administrator jobs can be fulfilling leadership positions but may also require long hours.

Nursing Home Administrator

A nursing home administrator has similar responsibilities to a hospital administrator, but with a focus on long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and retirement homes. A nursing home administrator will often have special training for working with the elderly and may work non-traditional hours, including weekends and holidays.

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