The health care industry is experiencing remarkable job growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), health care jobs are expected to grow 13% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
As the industry continues to expand, professionals are increasingly needed to lead in various health-related fields, including clinical practice, education, administration, and research. Learn how a Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) can help you advance in your career.
Who Is a Good Candidate to Earn a DHSc?
“Anyone who currently holds a master’s degree and works in the health care field is a good candidate to earn a DHSc,” says Christopher Gallucci, DHSc, academic department chair for the public health and health education programs at Purdue Global.
A Doctor of Health Science is a terminal degree, meaning it is the highest achievable degree in an academic field or professional discipline. Most often, someone seeking a terminal degree is in pursuit of career advancement either within their current place of employment or in a new organization.
“For example, a clinician or public health professional who aspires to assume a higher-level administrative or leadership role may consider this degree,” Gallucci says. “Another example is someone teaching undergraduate courses who wants to teach at the graduate level or obtain an administrative position within higher education.”
DHSc vs PhD: Which Should You Pursue?
It all depends on where your interests and goals lie.
“One of the main differences between a PhD and a DHSc is the research component,” Gallucci says. “Although there may be some crossover, a PhD program sets students up to become experts in a more narrowly defined practice or discipline. The DHSc, however, focuses less on research and more on practical applications.”
Purdue Global's DHSc program focuses on professional practice.
“Although research is not the central focus of the DHSc pathway, it is still important in the sense that it helps professionals to remain current in the field,” Gallucci says. “Newly discovered paradigms may be adopted by those in the professional world and then tested and honed through experience and practice. If a PhD contributes to the field, a DHSc polishes,” he says.
The length of the program is another differentiator. A PhD in Health Science can take anywhere from 4 to 7 years to complete. A DHSc program can be completed in as few as 2.5 years based on a full-time degree plan.
“The DHSc may be a more practical choice that could allow graduates to advance in their careers much sooner, with less student debt, and with far greater flexibility in terms of career paths,” Gallucci says.
What Do You Learn in a DHSc Program?
Students in a DHSc degree program take a set of core courses that examine health care policy, issues and trends, leadership, and advanced research methods. At Purdue Global, you will also complete an applied project that addresses a challenge or need in health care policy, administration, higher education, or clinical practice.
Graduate-level health sciences micro-credentials and electives enable you to customize your Purdue Global degree. You can specialize in such areas as global health, health care administration, data systems, and more.
“This flexibility to choose electives or a micro-credential that aligns with their career goals allows students to maximize the value they receive,” Gallucci says.
Earn a Doctor of Health Science With Purdue Global
The demand for professionals who can lead in this rapidly evolving field is high. With an online DHSc degree from Purdue Global, you’ll expand your subject expertise and apply it to real-world practice that aligns with your professional goals.
“Purdue Global is constantly on the lookout for ways to stay ahead of trends and cater to the needs of the job market,” Gallucci says. “We offer a top-tier program that people can rely on to supply future generations of leaders, administrators, and instructors — in a way that is truly unique and innovative.”
Learn more about the online Doctor of Health Science degree from Purdue Global. Or reach out today to connect with an advisor.
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