Doctor of Health Science Degree in Downers Grove

Fast Facts

Degree

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

General Requirements

• Current license as a health professional from a U.S. jurisdiction
• Bachelor's degree plus demonstrated mastery of content equivalent to a Master's degree or Master's degree
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; strong applicants with a GPA of 2.75 to 2.99 will be considered on an individual basis
• GRE scores from within 5 years of matriculation
• Two letters of recommendation

Length of Program

4 years, part-time

Class Size

10

Curriculum, individual plan

• Pediatrics, geriatrics, health professions education emphasis areas
• Student-specific educational objectives
• Scholarly project

Career Opportunities

• Community advocate and leader
• Health professions educator
• Advanced clinical practice roles
• Clinical researcher

US Employment Projections through 2016

• 26.2% increase for health educators
• 14.2% increase for postsecondary education administrators
• 22.9% increase for postsecondary teachers

Median Salary Range (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2007)

• $95,440 Health Specialty Teachers, Postsecondary
• $84.980 Medical and Health Service Managers

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the Doctor of Health Science degree program must submit the following documented evidence:

0. Possess a current license as a health professional from a United States jurisdiction
0. Complete a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. It is anticipated that most students will have a Master's degree or higher. Students matriculating in the DHS Degree program without a Master's degree or higher will be required to demonstrate mastery of content equivalent to a Master's degree. A committee of three DHS faculty members will evaluate an applicant's knowledge in a clinical area and utilization of scholarly information. Evidence of knowledge in a clinical area requires one of the following criteria: graduation from a credentialed residency or fellowship program, or certification as a clinical specialist, or certification from a recognized professional organization (e.g.; certified by National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist®, certified by Academy Of Lymphatic Studies as a lymphedema specialist, neurodevelopment therapy certificate), or instructor of two or more distinct short courses on advanced practice topics approved by a professional association or state licensing body for continuing education of health professionals or completion of two or more clinically-oriented graduate courses with a grade of B or higher. Evidence of the ability to utilize scholarly information includes one of the following criteria: a scholarly publication in a peer-reviewed journal, or two or more scholarly presentations in peer-reviewed venues, or two or more chapters published in professional textbooks, or completion of two or more graduate courses with a grade of B or higher in research and statistics or requiring the analysis and synthesis of research. Applicants must submit notarized copies of certificates of completion, copies of publications, copies of handouts from invited presentations and documentation of teaching experience
0. Provide transcripts for all post-secondary and professional education
0. Demonstrate achievement of a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale; applicants with a cumulative GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 will be considered on an individual basis
0. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general examination scores taken within 5 years of matriculation. The Midwestern University institutional code for the GRE is 1769. For more information about the GRE, contact Educational Testing Services (ETS) at 866/473-4373 or visit www.gre.org
0. Provide two letters of reference that describe a candidate's potential to complete the DHS degree program
0. Successfully complete an interview with DHS faculty
0. Provide a statement of how the DHS degree fits into the applicant's career goals
0. Oral and written communications skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues
0. Commitment to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy
0. Passage of the Midwestern University criminal background check

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Program Description

Midwestern University's Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Programs jointly offer a course of study leading to the Doctor of Health Science (DHS) degree. The goal of this part-time program is to prepare licensed physical therapists, occupational therapists and other health professionals for advanced and specialized professional roles. The 72-credit, quarter-based curriculum includes 32 credits of required core courses, 16 credits in an emphasis area, 8 credits of elective coursework and 16 credits of practice scholarship that are specific to the emphasis areas of individual students. Twenty additional quarter credit hours of graduate level coursework will be required of students who are accepted for the DHS degree without a postbaccalaureate degree. Initially geriatrics, pediatrics, and health professions education emphasis areas will be offered. To accommodate the needs of working professionals, the coursework is offered in a variety of formats.

The focus of the post-professional doctorate degree program is to prepare licensed physical therapists, occupational therapists and other health professionals to advance their professions through leadership, scholarship and advocacy in a wide range of community, institutional, and non-traditional practice settings. The degree program also prepares graduates to develop and implement solutions to the health issues of our society and to teach in academic and clinical settings.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the Doctor of Health Science program, graduates are expected to be able to:

0. Evaluate and validate clinical practice through scientific investigation
0. Analyze and influence public policy related to health care services
0. Evaluate, synthesize, utilize, and disseminate the schoarship related to discovery, integration, applicaiton and teaching
0. Utilize evidence-based practice and outcomes assessment and scientific thinking for making clinical decisions
0. Synthesize the scholarship related to a specific area of practice and use it to develop novel solutions to practice problems
0. Write and defend a proposal for a scholarly project
0. Complete a scholarly project in an emphasis area at a depth and breadth that is suitable for dissemination in a peer-reviewed venue

These objectives are accomplished through:

0. An innovative, part-time interdisciplinary program
0. Individualized plans of study that are collaboratively developed by a student and a faculty advisor
0. A strong foundation of content in the scholarship of health professional practice
0. An emphasis on scholarly thinking, complex clinical decision-making, outcomes analysis, and evidence-based practice
0. An educational environment designed to promote learning
0. Coursework offered in a variety of formats including evening and weekend on-campus instruction, web-based instruction, and independent study

The Doctor of Health Science Program is a part-time program that may be completed in 4 years. The maximum allotted time for completion is 7 years.

Mission

The Doctor of Health Science degree shall prepare occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other licensed health professionals to become leaders in the areas of clinical research, academia, and clinical practice through the development of highly evolved and advanced practice reasoning skills, engagement in the scholarship of practice, and extension of knowledge and skills in a concentrated practice area. The degree advances the ability of graduates to make valuable contributions to society, health care, and the profession through advocacy, education, and scholarship.

Accreditation

Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504.

Related Links

Health Sciences as a Career

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

National Institute of Aging (NIA)

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

American Public Health Association (APHA)

Center for the Advancement of Health (CFAH)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities

National Institute of Mental Health

The Guide to Community Preventive Services

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control/CDC

US National Library of Medicine

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research