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Doctor of Health Administration degree online

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Doctor of Health Administration degree online

The Doctor of Health Administration degree program at A.T. Still University (ATSU) prepares health professionals to become innovative leaders and problem solvers within the healthcare industry. By blending the theoretical with the practical, the coursework of this advanced doctorate of health administration degree program provides students with the holistic knowledge needed to transition into careers that improve and influence healthcare administration systems.

Offered through ATSU’s College of Graduate Health Studies (CGHS), the respected Doctor of Health Administration degree program is designed to seamlessly integrate advanced business education that provides working healthcare professionals with advanced business strategies and innovative healthcare leadership insight.

ATSU-College of Graduate Health Studies’ doctorate of health administration is a 62-credit-hour program, consisting of 14 core courses (42 credit-hours), and a dissertation (20 credit-hours). Coursework for the Doctor of Health Administration degree is completed 100 percent online. The ATSU-College of Graduate Health Studies program allows students tremendous flexibility, including the freedom to choose between an applied or theoretical dissertation.

ATSU’s unique partnership with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) provides candidates invaluable access to industry professionals, in addition to outstanding faculty who are leaders in their fields. Engage with a mentor of your choosing from the ACHE to help fulfill your dissertation and earn the esteemed credentials necessary to achieve your career goals.

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online flexibility

100% ONLINE
flexibility

certificates

Applied Doctoral
Research Project

graduate

GRADUATE IN
3-5 years

mentors

access to ache
mentors

support

Guided Doctoral Research Project Support

start date

4 START DATES
PER YEAR

Program essentials

Overview
Course list
Tuition
Faculty/Staff
ATSU
Curriculum
Admission requirements
Career Advancement
Core Curriculum
Doctoral Research Project Courses
Cost
Financial Aid
Administration
Faculty
University Catalog
Accreditation

Doctor of Health Administration Curriculum Overview

The Doctor of Health Administration degree curriculum is grounded in extensive research and provides a full continuum of healthcare specific knowledge and skills essential for effective industry leadership.

ATSU’s College of Graduate Health Studies provides broad training, integrated online instruction, directed readings, email and chat room interactions. The University’s mission driven, context-based curriculum design assesses student learning through authentic embedded assessments.

Academic areas of focus include:

  • Healthcare law
  • The economics of medical care
  • Organizational theory and its effect in the health industry
  • Health policy
  • The financing of healthcare
  • Effectiveness/cost-benefit analysis in the healthcare industry
  • Health information systems
  • Quantitative methods
  • Management science

All courses in the Doctor of Health Administration program at ATSU-CGHS are Quality Matters Certified.

Career Advancement

According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, the healthcare field is predicted to grow by 2.4 million jobs by 2029 - more than any other industry.

  • Executive-level management of hospital systems
  • Healthcare advocacy leadership
  • Healthcare consultant
  • Medical director
  • Practice manager
  • Healthcare insurance administrator
  • U.S. military/military/armed forces administrative officer
  • Academic leadership

Requirements

  1. Application:
    • Completed and signed admissions application along with a nonrefundable application fee.
  2. Academic:

    • An accredited masters degree or higher from a university recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Applicants who received their qualifying degree from a university outside the United States will have to provide a degree equivalency evaluation.*
    • Official transcript from the qualifying degree-granting institution. For students using VA benefits transcripts for all institutions attended are required.
    • Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) at the qualifying degree institution.
    • Currently holds a leadership position in healthcare or has a minimum of 3 years experience in healthcare.
  3. Elements of Success:

    • A current resume
    • Completion of an essay
    • English Proficiency **
    • Meet technology requirements***

*Applicants who have graduated from a foreign college or university should submit acceptable evidence of U.S. degree/course equivalency. All course work taken at the foreign institution must be evaluated for American institution equivalence by one of the following services:

**Applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in English when applying to A.T. Still University’s College of Graduate Studies. Written and spoken proficiency in the English language may be demonstrated by one of the following options:

  • Option 1 - English is your first language.
  • Option 2 - Graduated from a regionally accredited four year college/university in the United States with a BA/BS or graduate degree.
  • Option 3 - You are demonstrating your English proficiency by submitting acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Accepted test types for CGHS are:
The Computer Based Test (CBT), Internet Based Test (iBT), or the Paper Based Test (PBT) are accepted. The following are the minimum required score based on test type:

  • CBT - minimum total score of 213
  • iBT - minimum total score of 80
  • PBT - minimum total score of 550

The TOEFL is administered by TOEFL/TSE Services, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ, 08541-6151, USA 609. 771.7100. A.T. Still University’s institutional code is 0339. Please be sure to include this information when you submit your application packet. TOEFL Educational Testing Services P.O. Box 6151 Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, 609.771.7100

***ATSU technology requirements

Core Curriculum

  • Introduction to Doctoral Studies +

    • Credits: 3
      This initial course in the Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) program prepares students to successfully integrate academic excellence into the world of healthcare leadership by connecting theory to practice. Students will be introduced to the competency model of the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) as well as the specific competencies and requirements of the DHA program at ATSU. Students will have multiple opportunities to strengthen their skills in information gathering, self-development, critical thinking, research, and academic writing. This course must be taken in the first block and students must receive a passing grade to continue in the program.
  • Leadership and Practice +

    • Credits: 3
      Theoretical perspectives will allow students to discover the importance of incorporating leadership into healthcare practice. Each student will be able to link these theories to developing personal leadership competency. Students will also learn the features and benefits of involvement with a professional health care organization such as the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
  • Population Health +

    • Credits: 3
      In this executive course students will investigate healthy people and healthy populations. Students will understand historical perspectives and emerging trends of health issues, populations, shared concerns of society and vulnerable groups. This will include public health risks and how they relate to epidemiology, globalization, changing demographics, and other factors that can affect the health and welfare of the overall population. The role of the health care administrator in promoting population health and wellbeing, as well as identification of potential resources for data and optimization of services will be explored.
  • Quality Improvement & Performance Excellence +

    • Credits: 3
      In this executive course, concepts and principles of continuous improvement and patient safety using the Baldrige Criteria will be used. Group work and case studies will allow participants to develop evidence based management principles leading to patient centered, quality driven practices that will result in improved patient outcomes and more efficient and effective organizational practices.
  • Health Policy, Law and Regulation +

    • Credits: 3
      This executive course will cover significant legislation affecting the health care industry, including current topics in health care reform, advocacy, and policy development. Students will learn about significant legal issues and ethical questions affecting health care administrators, as well as the health policy analysis process.
  • Research Methods I +

    • Credits: 3
      This course focuses on the fundamental techniques involved in the research process and designing empirical studies, including scientific thinking, effective evaluation of literature, identification of problems, and development of purpose statements and hypotheses. This course will also include reviews of basic statistics, institutional review board and ethical considerations in conducting research, and interpretation of statistical analyses.
  • Research Methods II +

    • Credits: 3
      This course examines qualitative approaches in health administration research. Students will focus on the researcher’s role in these types of studies, data collection techniques, data recording methods, data analysis, and validation of results. This course will also evaluate computer software for analyzing qualitative and quantitative data.
  • Research Methods III +

    • Credits: 3
      This course focuses on the principles and techniques involved in quantitative and mixed methods research. Topics addressed include survey research; sampling design; hypothesis development and testing; data exploration, display, and examination; correlation and regression analyses; multivariate analysis; reliability and validity testing; and presentation of study results. This course will also cover mixed methods issues such as sequencing and integration of study findings.
  • Healthcare Economics and Financial Management +

    • Credits: 3
      Students will use key financial and economic principles to examine executive level decisions relative to capitalization, credit ratings, debt capacity, alternate funding sources, business plan development, and overall organizational finance strategy. The concepts will be considered from both non-profit and for-profit healthcare organizational perspectives.
  • Health Organization Governance +

    • Credits: 3
      In this executive course students are involved in processes used to identify and recruit governing boards, and the use of effective management and communication skills to establish board accountability and buy-in. Board development, board composition, fiduciary responsibility, leadership roles and the governing role of the board and its infrastructure are examined.
  • Strategic Change Management for Healthcare Organizations +

    • Credits: 3
      In this executive course, students will investigate and integrate change management practices to strategically position the healthcare organization for the future. Students will assess their organization’s current strategic position and apply relevant theoretical models and the necessary change management practices resulting developing organizational adaptability.
  • Healthcare Organization Informatics +

    • Credits: 3
      In this executive course, students will investigate the qualities necessary to strategically evaluate, select and implement system wide informatics. Consideration is given to the effects of the rapidly evolving informatics field and resulting organizational adaptation. Decision support systems integrating financial, human resources, continuous quality improvement, and strategy and resource utilization will be introduced and applied.

Doctoral Research Project Courses

  • Proposal Preparation for Doctoral Research Project:+

    • Students will complete their doctoral research project planning, including the activities related to the Introduction section of the project while also considering study participants and data sources. Students will write the Introduction section of the research project, and begin a literature review for their chosen research project.
  • Literature Review for Doctoral Research Project:+

    • Students will complete a systematic and comprehensive literature review for each study construct, and the associated dimensions of, and indicators for their chosen research project. Students will also write the Literature Review section and update the Introduction section of their doctoral research project.
  • Research Design for Doctoral Research Project:+

    • Students will execute all activities related to the preparation of the Method section of their doctoral research project. Students will complete and submit all Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications and obtain written approvals from all involved IRBs. Students will write the Method section of their doctoral research project. Students will also assemble their doctoral research project proposal (including the Introduction, Literature Review, and Method sections) and prepare and deliver an oral presentation of the project proposal.
  • Completion and Publication of Doctoral Research Project:+

    • Students will complete all activities related to the Discussion section of their doctoral research project. Students will write the Discussion section of their doctoral research project. Students will assemble the entire doctoral research project, and prepare and deliver an oral presentation of the entire project. Students will also select academic or professional peer-reviewed journals that are relevant to their research topic, study the author guidelines of these journals, and prepare and submit their research project for publication. By the end of this course, students will be required to submit their completed project to an appropriate publication.

Tuition

Review tuition and fees for the Doctor of Health Administration program. Please note tuition and fees are subject to change.

Financial Aid

Federal financial aid is available for qualifying students. For more information visit Enrollment Services or contact them at 660.626.2019 or by email at enrollmentservices@atsu.edu.

Lihua Dishman, DBA, MBA, FACHE
Lihua Dishman, DBA, MBA, FACHE
Associate Professor
Read Bio
+
Lihua Dishman, DBA, MBA, FACHE LinkedIn

Lihua Dishman, DBA, MBA, earned a master of business administration in finance, business, and economics from Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich., and a bachelor of science in statistics and economics from Shanghai University of Finance & Economics in Shanghai, China.

She has nearly 27 years teaching experience with traditional and non-traditional graduate and undergraduate degree programs in managerial finance, statistics, research methodology, and more. Ms. Dishman has delivered courses in 100 percent online, residential, and hybrid modalities. In addition, she has nearly two decades of global financial management experience. Her expertise includes global corporate treasury, global capital markets, and more.

Ms. Dishman led the structure and issuance of multi-billion dollar asset-backed securities within a global treasury group. As lead auditor for a multinational corporation, she successfully completed high profile and strategically critical international assignments. She was a consultant of global corporate finance with a Fortune 10 company for nearly five years following more than six years in private investment banking and institutional asset consulting.

 

As a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Detroit, her research interests include financial impact of healthcare reform on healthcare providers, healthcare cost effectiveness of promoting health well-being at workplaces, and how to invest donor assets prudently in not-for-profit healthcare systems.

John Fick, EdD, FACHE
John Fick, EdD, FACHE
Associate Professor
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+
John Fick, EdD, FACHE LinkedIn

John Fick, EdD, FACHE, is an associate professor at ATSU’s College of Graduate Health Studies. He received his Doctor of Educational Leadership with a focus on higher education administration from Argosy University, Sarasota, Fla., in 2007, and an Master of Science degree with a specialization in community health services from the School of Medicine, Wayne State University (1983). He joined ATSU as an adjunct faculty member in 2007 and in 2009 became a full-time faculty member in the Health Administration program. At ATSU, has served on the curriculum committee and currently serves on the new faculty hiring committee.

Dr. Fick’s research interests include adult learners and online learning. He is board-certified in healthcare management and is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. He has served as a fellow of ACEHSA (now CAHME) and was recently awarded the 2010 Distinguished Faculty Award by ACHE Regent in Mich., as well as nominated in 2010 for Faculty of the Year by students in the Master of Health Administration program at ATSU.

Robert Clegg, PhD, MPH, MCHES
Robert Clegg, PhD, MPH, MCHES
Chair, Health Administration Programs
Read Bio
+

Robert Clegg, PhD, has nearly 20 years of on-ground and distance learning (online) university-level curriculum development and academic instruction focusing on healthcare management, public health, and nursing. He also possesses over 18 years of progressive healthcare management experience, including program development, organizational leadership, operating and capital budget development, implementation of cost controls, risk management, quality, and regulatory and corporate compliance.

Dr. Clegg began with ATSU as Chair of the Health Administration programs in March 2021. His areas of research primarily consist of patient safety, quality of care, hospital accreditation and compliance, public health and health promotion. Prior to his academic/teaching career, Dr. Clegg spent nearly a decade as the Patient Safety Officer at a large acute care hospital and in various leadership roles in the not-for-profit sector in the State of California. Philanthropically, Dr. Clegg proudly volunteers his time, talent and treasure on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross and serve on the Alumni and Volunteer Corporation, Inc., for Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at California State University, Fresno (Fresno State).

 

Academically, Dr. Clegg earned both his Bachelor of Science in Health Science and a Master of Public Health at Fresno State, and a Doctorate in Human Services with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration (graduation with distinction) from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN. Furthermore, he is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

Marisa Hastie, EdD, MS, ACSM-EP, PN-1, FACSM
Marisa Hastie, EdD, MS, ACSM-EP, PN-1, FACSM
Dean
Read Bio
+
Marisa Hastie, EdD, MS, ACSM-EP, PN-1, FACSM LinkedIn

Marisa Hastie, EdD, MS, ACSM-EP, PN-1, FACSM is the Dean of the College of Graduate Health Studies at AT Still University. Dr. Hastie received her doctor of education from George Fox University (2013), her master of science in exercise and sport science with an emphasis in biomechanics from the University of Oregon (2003), and her bachelor of science in exercise science from Gonzaga University (2001). She is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and is a certified Exercise Physiologist.

Prior to joining ATSU, she was a Professor of Exercise Science and Program Chair for the Exercise Science Program at Lasell University (Newton, MA). Dr. Hastie also served as the Faculty Fellow for the Fuss Center for Research on Intergenerational Education and Aging and received the deWitt Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from Lasell University. Dr. Hastie served as Faculty Chair of the University’s governance system.

Dr. Hastie has served in several leadership roles at the regional and national level of the ACSM, which include her current roles on the Professional Education Committee at the national level and as the President-Elect for the New England chapter. Her research interests have included exploring the connection between lifelong physical activity and long-term health outcomes, the relationship between exercise training and cognition, and the effects of discrimination experiences on health-related coping behaviors.

Dr. Hastie has extensive experience in online program development, teaching, and assessment. She developed an online Master of Science in Nutrition for Human Performance program and has 18 years of experience in both synchronous and asynchronous teaching formats. She became an educator because she strongly believes in the development of the whole student as a crucial responsibility of higher education institutions.

Robert Clegg, PhD, MPH, MCHES
Robert Clegg, PhD, MPH, MCHES
Chair, Health Administration Programs
Read Bio
+

Robert Clegg, PhD, has nearly 20 years of on-ground and distance learning (online) university-level curriculum development and academic instruction focusing on healthcare management, public health, and nursing. He also possesses over 18 years of progressive healthcare management experience, including program development, organizational leadership, operating and capital budget development, implementation of cost controls, risk management, quality, and regulatory and corporate compliance.

Dr. Clegg began with ATSU as Chair of the Health Administration programs in March 2021. His areas of research primarily consist of patient safety, quality of care, hospital accreditation and compliance, public health and health promotion. Prior to his academic/teaching career, Dr. Clegg spent nearly a decade as the Patient Safety Officer at a large acute care hospital and in various leadership roles in the not-for-profit sector in the State of California. Philanthropically, Dr. Clegg proudly volunteers his time, talent and treasure on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross and serve on the Alumni and Volunteer Corporation, Inc., for Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at California State University, Fresno (Fresno State).

 

Academically, Dr. Clegg earned both his Bachelor of Science in Health Science and a Master of Public Health at Fresno State, and a Doctorate in Human Services with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration (graduation with distinction) from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN. Furthermore, he is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

University Catalog

University Catalog Program guide

Read the University Catalog to learn more about the Doctor of Health Administration online program and university.

A.T. Still University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

230 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500,
Chicago, IL 60604

Phone: 800.621.7440 | Fax: 312.263.7462
Email: info@hlcommission.org

hlcommission.org


Doctor of Health Administration Degree Faculty

The Doctor of Health Administration program offers a challenging, interdisciplinary educational experience that enables intellectual and professional advancement. The ATSU College of Graduate Health Studies (CGHS) faculty and staff are dedicated to your success, and comprehensive student services are available, including advising, tutoring and technical support. CGHS instructors have diverse academic and working backgrounds in management and healthcare fields, and all hold doctoral degrees or are in the final stage of obtaining a doctorate. Their academic areas of interest include healthcare law, the economics of medical care, organizational theory and its effect in the health industry, health policy, the financing of healthcare, effectiveness/cost-benefit analysis in the healthcare industry, health information systems, quantitative methods and management science.
Lihua Dishman, DBA, MBA
Associate Professor
Marisa Hastie, EdD, MS, ACSM EP-C, PN-1, FACSM
Dean
Dr. Craig Phelps, DO
President
Clinton Normore
VP of Diversity & Inclusion

Faculty Forums

ATSU Faculty Forum
What to Expect from the Doctor of Health Administration Program?
ATSU Faculty Forum
Health Administration Professors on What Makes ATSU-CGHS Unique

Application

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For additional information contact an Enrollment Counselor:
877.626.5577 or cghsonlineadmissions@atsu.edu

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Missouri Campus

800 W. Jefferson Street Kirksville, MO 63501
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Not sure if the DHA is right for you?

ATSU-CGHS offers a variety of doctoral programs that meet your professionals needs and career goals.