Doctor of Human Services

Program Admission Considerations: A master’s degree or higher. 

General Admission Requirements: Completed online application and transcripts. Please note that the materials you are required to submit may vary depending on the academic program to which you apply. More information for international applicants.

Earning your online Doctor of Human Services requires commitment, perseverance, and hard work. You can do it, and Walden is here to help—with our Doctoral Degree Coach™.

• Map and Track Milestones: Break your research down into manageable, sequential steps. See where you are, what’s ahead, and what you’ve already accomplished—all in one place.
• Meet Weekly Targets: No more guesswork. Set prompts based on your to-do list and receive reminders and updates directly to your inbox.
• Connect With Faculty: Stay on the same page and keep your progress on track. With shared access to your dashboard, your chair can easily guide you through your checklists, goals, and timelines.
• Access Helpful Resources: Quickly find support from the right person at the right time. Our comprehensive resource guide points you in the right direction—no more frustrating searches.

Walden’s Doctor of Human Services program includes our exclusive Communities of Practice experience. In these five companion courses, you’ll be introduced to the doctoral journey through a supportive, cohort-style approach led by a faculty advisor. Choose a research topic that aligns with your passion and learn how to use course assignments to build your knowledge and literature base. Develop key doctoral competencies that give you greater confidence and comfort in your capstone preparation.

During these courses, you will also learn how to:

• Navigate Walden’s tracking and support systems, classrooms, and doctoral forms.
• Develop a plan of study and create timelines.
• Differentiate between scientific study and advocacy.
• Improve your critical thinking, research, and scholarly writing skills.
• Complete a prospectus form.

Walden’s online Doctor of Human Services program includes simulation technologies and other approaches to bring course content to life. Master critical skills in a safe and supportive environment. Build confidence as a human services practitioner-scholar while learning how to apply your new knowledge and competencies to your current job and future roles. You’ll have the opportunity to engage with tools such as:

• Virtual-Simulation Videos to help you practice intake interviews, educational sessions, and working with clients and community members.
• Hart City, a virtual city that allows you to visit different locations, find resources, and complete assignments using these resources. See perspectives of different agencies and populations as well as the bigger picture of how it’s all connected.

One of the central themes of Walden’s online Doctor of Human Services program is force field analysis, which involves exploring the forces working for and against achieving the ideal resolution to a problem. Through force field analysis, our courses empower you to identify the factors that stand in the way of positive social change—and those that support it. You’ll learn how to minimize opposing forces while increasing the favorable forces that make change more likely and more sustainable.

Walden’s Doctor of Human Services program is designed to help you become a next-level practitioner and hands-on problem-solver. Expand your understanding of human services leadership, professional practice, research, and ethics. Gain actionable skills and tools relevant to running organizations, leading programs, consulting in applied research, and advocating for social justice issues.

To ensure our students are prepared for today’s human services field, coursework in this program is aligned with professional standards set forth by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE).