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DHA Course Sequence

Amy DoreThe Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) program at Central Michigan University is a superior doctoral program providing students with diverse educational opportunities in a setting conducive to the working individual.

The program is an applied program affording students the opportunity to apply their current work experiences while simultaneously broadening their knowledge base. The program structure allowed me to rigorously explore my research interests while building a foundation of educational excellence through collegial relationships among the faculty and students.

As a DHA student, I was continually impressed by the dedication of the DHA faculty and staff. While considered a distance-learning program, the faculty was always available and invested in my educational success. The program is structured to provide high-value educational experiences that go above and beyond the typical classroom. Whether working online or attending a seminar, the DHA faculty created an environment where faculty and students were peers – learning from each other, sharing knowledge, and forming enduring lifelong experiences.

Amy Dore, DHA (2009)
Assistant Professor
Health Care Management Program
Metropolitan Sate College of Denver

A doctorate for health care executives…

  • Cutting edge
  • Academically sound
  • Practice-based
  • Flexible

The DHA from CMU’s Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions combines academic rigor with the practical convenience of online delivery and occasional short face-to-face seminars.

This applied doctorate program is directed toward preparing students with the theoretical foundations, applied skills, and practical expertise required for leadership positions in health care. Students will choose either a three year or five year sequence of courses.

For more information, contact 877-268-4636.

Program Director VideoWatch a short video presentation about this program.

Three and Five Year Sequence of Courses

Three Year Sequence of Courses
Term Courses and Seminars
Year 1
Fall II
(SEP-DEC)
DHA 700 Leadership Foundations & Strategies for Healthcare (3 credits)
DHA 702 Probability & Statistics for Health Professions (3 credits)
Spring
(JAN-MAR)
DHA 704 Population Health (3 credits)
DHA 705 Seminar in Public Health (1 credit)
DHA 706 Quantitative Analysis in Health Organizations (3 credits)
Summer
(APR-JUN)
DHA 708 Organizational Theory & Behavior for Health Professions (3credits)
DHA 709 Seminar in Health Dynamics: Current Issues, Trends and Change (1 credit)
DHA 710 Qualitative Analysis in Healthcare (3 credits)
Fall I
(JUL-AUG)
DHA 712 Research Methods & Practice for Health Professions (3 credits)
DHA 713 Seminar in Health Services Research (1 credit)
Year 2
Fall II
(SEP-DEC)
DHA 714 Health Systems Thinking & Practice (3 credits)
DHA 716 Communication in Health Organizations (3 credits)
DHA 717 Seminar in Healthcare Dynamics: Stakeholder Relations (1 credit)
Spring
(JAN-MAR)
DHA 718 Healthcare Law, Regulations & Ethics (3 credits)
DHA 720 Health Economics (3 credits)
DHA 721 Seminar in Healthcare Policy & Politics (1 credit)
Summer
(APR-JUN)
DHA 722 Health Informatics (3 credits)
DHA 724 Fiscal Responsibility & Accountability for Health Entities (3 credits)
DHA 725 Seminar in Strategic Planning for Health Organizations (1 credit)
Fall I
(JUL-AUG)
DHA 726 Applied Leadership (3 credits)
DHA 728 Comparative Health Systems (3 credits)
Comprehensive Examination
Year 3
  Admission to Candidacy
DHA 898 Dissertation (12 credits)

Students, who wish to take any of the international travel courses will fit them into the schedule. DHA students may elect to substitute up to two international travel courses for two of the 1-credit seminars in the degree plan; or they may elect to enroll in all DHA courses as well as any of the international travel courses.

Five Year Sequence of Courses
Term Courses and Seminars
Year 1
Fall II
(SEP-DEC)
DHA 702 Probability & Statistics for Health Professions (3 credits)
Spring
(JAN-MAR)
DHA 706 Quantitative Analysis in Health Organizations (3 credits)
Summer
(APR-JUN)
DHA 710 Qualitative Analysis in Healthcare (3 credits)
Fall I
(JUL-AUG)
DHA 712 Research Methods & Practice for Health Professions (3 credits)
DHA 713 Seminar in Health Services Research (1 credit)
Year 2
Fall II
(SEP-DEC)
DHA 716 Communication in Health Organizations (3 credits)
Spring
(JAN-MAR)
DHA 720 Health Economics (3 credits)
Summer
(APR-JUN)
DHA 724 Fiscal Responsibility & Accountability for Health Entities (3 credits)
Fall I
(JUL-AUG)
No Courses - Hiatus
Year 3
Fall II
(SEP-DEC)
DHA 700 Leadership Foundations & Strategies for Healthcare (3 credits)
Spring
(JAN-MAR)
DHA 704 Population Health (3 credits)
DHA 705 Seminar in Public Health (1 credit)
Summer
(APR-JUN)
DHA 708 Organizational Theory & Behavior for Health Professions (3credits)
DHA 709 Seminar in Health Dynamics: Current Issues, Trends and Change (1 credit)
Fall I
(JUL-AUG)
No Courses - Hiatus
Year 4
Fall II
(SEP-DEC)
DHA 714 Health Systems Thinking & Practice (3 credits)
DHA 717 Seminar in Healthcare Dynamics: Stakeholder Relations (1 credit)
Spring
(JAN-MAR)
DHA 718 Healthcare Law, Regulations & Ethics (3 credits)
DHA 721 Seminar in Healthcare Policy & Politics (1 credit)
Summer
(APR-JUN)
DHA 722 Health Informatics (3 credits)
DHA 725 Seminar in Strategic Planning for Health Organizations (1 credit)
Fall I
(JUL-AUG)
DHA 726 Applied Leadership (3 credits)
DHA 728 Comparative Health Systems (3 credits)
Comprehensive Examination
Year 5
  Admission to Candidacy
  DHA 898 Dissertation (12 credits)

Students, who wish to take any of the international travel courses will fit them into the schedule. DHA students may elect to substitute up to two international travel courses for two of the 1-credit seminars in the degree plan; or they may elect to enroll in all DHA courses as well as any of the international travel courses.

For students in the five year cycle, the 1-credit seminars may be taken during a different term then in the schedule above; however, some seminars are matched with specific courses, including DHA 712/713, DHA 704/705, DHA 714/717.