Health Sciences, D.H.Sc.

C. Dana Hall Room 142
Telephone (203) 576-4260
Fax: (203) 576-4051

Program Overview

The Doctor of Health Sciences (D.H.Sc.) is a terminal academic degree program that can be described as a combination of the Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) and the Doctor of Public Health (DPH) degrees. The goal is to provide a solid foundation in the health sciences while developing skills in research design and analysis, best-practices in clinical care and education. It is envisioned to contribute significantly to the personal and professional growth of healthcare professionals and educators. This program offers students with master’s degrees the opportunity for continuing academic training and advancement in their fields. There are currently three areas of concentration: clinician, nutrition, and education. The Doctor of Health Sciences is an academic degree and not a clinical healthcare degree, but one which prepares healthcare professionals with tools of administration and scholarship. The goals are to enable health professionals to become better clinicians, teach in colleges and universities, or become health care administrators. For those interested in research, this program provides the foundation for both qualitative and quantitative research as core values in the educational process.

Concentration Areas

This D.H.Sc. program is currently designed with three tracks:

1. Clinician track
2. Nutrition track
3. Education track

Students will have the option of taking courses from other tracks as electives.

This program has the potential to grow and add new tracks as demands and needs arise in the future.

Outcomes of the Program

• Become leaders with the skills and knowledge to initiate changes in healthcare environments;
• Have the ability to analyze and influence public policy related to healthcare services;
• Possess the skills necessary to effectively utilize evidence to support best practice clinical decisions;
• Have the knowledge to integrate evidence-informed complementary medicine modalities into care delivery;
• Have the ability to use research to solve problems and make ethical decisions in healthcare settings;
• Effectively serve as consultants to patients, clients, community organizations, and professional colleagues;
• Generate more professors with improved higher education pedagogy.

Dissertation

Dissertation Process

Upon the successful completion of all online coursework, a student enters the dissertation phase of the Doctor of Health Sciences program. The dissertation phase includes three (3) required courses: HSCI 890 - Dissertation Seminar (Required) , HSCI 891 - Dissertation I (Required) , and HSCI 892 - Dissertation II (Required) . Each course is graded Pass/Fail. The dissertation topic can be an area of interest selected by the student, with the approval of their adviser and the Program Director. To complete the degree, students must take the required dissertation sequence and submit their dissertation which must be accepted and approved by a dissertation committee, and then by the Program Director. The dissertation for the D.H.Sc. degree may involve original research, or it can be a research paper, literature review, meta-analysis, or a systematic review. The dissertation is a high-quality scholarly paper, presenting the student’s research and findings, that is submitted in support of candidature for the Doctor of Health Sciences degree.

Dissertation Committee

At the beginning of HSCI 891 - Dissertation I (Required) , each student will be assigned a faculty advisor who will also act as their committee chairperson. The dissertation committee will be formed, during HSCI 892 - Dissertation II (Required) , after the adviser determines that the dissertation is ready to be submitted to a committee. The dissertation committee will consist of a minimum of three qualified faculty members. At least two members of the committee should be from the faculty of the University of Bridgeport. All committee members must possess a terminal degree and have some expertise in the area. An individual who is not a member of the University of Bridgeport faculty, but possesses the required qualifications, may serve as a third member on the committee with the approval of the Program Director.

The student will work closely with their dissertation adviser/committee chairperson, who will be responsible for supervising the student’s work and guiding the student through the process.

The responsibility of the entire committee is to examine the dissertation to make a final determination concerning its acceptability. After the dissertation receives unanimous approval from the committee, it is then sent to the Program Director for final review and approval.