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PhD in Health Services
Request InformationReach your potential and learn to effect positive change in health policy with a PhD in Health Services degree.
Next start dates
- Course-Based Courses with a set schedule May 31, 2021
Transfer Credits
- Up to 52 Credits
Explore our Online PhD in Health Services
Discover how to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare policy, broaden your knowledge of healthcare ethics and law, and engage in scientific inquiry to advance research and practice in health services. With this online PhD in Health Services degree, you can also prepare to meet the challenges of today’s healthcare system and lead and inform dialogue about key health services issues—meaning you’ll be equipped with the tools you need to create positive social change as you change your world and the world of those around you.
Program Savings
Speak with an Enrollment Specialist to learn about our current tuition savings.
Get Started NowAccelerated Program for Students with an MHA
Walden offers students who hold a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) a shorter path to the PhD in Health Services.
Community Health
Examine the leadership principles, health education policies, and social and behavioral change theories that guide effective community health education and advocacy.
Healthcare Administration
Explore social justice principles that impact healthcare decisions and practice as well as the theoretical foundations of governance and public policy.
Leadership
Build competencies in organizational change management, team building, mediation, collaboration, and systems thinking and planning.
Public Health Policy
Examine microeconomic and macroeconomic models, the influence of public finance on policy decisions, and the tools and techniques used to evaluate the impact of social programs.
Self-Designed
Choose courses that best match your personal and professional interests as you develop your own specialization.
Admission Requirements
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.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the health services PhD program will be prepared to:
- Accurately evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare policy in a dynamic healthcare environment.
- Lead and inform the professional dialogue on key health services issues.
- Design, conduct, and analyze studies of economic evaluation in healthcare.
- Apply critical-thinking skills to the analysis of controversial issues and conflicting perspectives associated with healthcare ethics and law.
- Identify and mobilize human and institutional resources and services to meet the health services needs of diverse communities and populations.
- Engage in scientific inquiry that advances the knowledge base of research and practice in health services.
Career Impact
Walden’s PhD in Health Services program can prepare you for a leadership position at the forefront of the design and delivery of cutting-edge health services in both the private and public sectors. Choose from career options in the following areas:
- Drug manufacturers
- Elder services
- Governmental health agencies
- Health insurance companies
- Healthcare consulting
- Healthcare corporations
- Hospital administration
- Inpatient services
- Nonprofit health organizations
- Nursing services
- Public health agencies
Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
Testimonials
I chose Walden because of its faculty commitment to students and its commitment to social change. I want to master the tools I need to better myself and the community in which I serve.
Cynthia Hickman PhD in Health Services Graduate
I chose Walden because ... acquiring knowledge while thinking about how it can help address some of our pressing issues in healthcare was important to me.
Harold Taitt PhD in Health Services Graduate
I pursued my degree to serve the community on a larger scale, especially those who are vulnerable or treated unfairly due to mental illness and the stigma associated with it.
Pius Omolewa PhD in Health Services Graduate
Resource Articles
4 Reasons to Consider Earning Your PhD in Health Services
Resource Articles
Career Choices That Are Possible With a PhD in Health Services
FAQ About Walden’s Online PhD in Health Services Program
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Earning a PhD in Health Services online has many advantages. When you attend an online university like Walden, you can earn your degree on a schedule that is designed for those working full time. Some of the benefits include:
- Flexibility and structure: Programs that are offered online are still structured, with weekly assignments, participation, and due dates; however, within the program’s structure, you have the freedom to choose participation times that best sync with your schedule.
- A global perspective: When you are part of a global virtual classroom, you’re learning alongside students who bring diverse perspectives, insights into other cultures, and problem-solving approaches that can inform your own approaches to healthcare issues.
- Asynchronous discussions: Coordinating schedules with classmates and faculty members to have real-time discussions can be frustrating in a traditional classroom setting. With online learning, discussions aren’t cut off when the bell rings. Interactive online tools allow you to add to conversations when your ideas are formulated and to follow discussions when it’s most convenient.
- Support when you need it: Walden’s suite of student services puts success at your fingertips. You will find 24/7 tech support, writing services, online research tools, tutorials, webinars, help identifying research funding, and much more.
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At Walden, you can choose from an array of program specializations to tailor your studies to your experience, goals, and interests. In addition to a Self-Designed option, students can choose from specializations in Community Health, Healthcare Administration, Leadership, and Public Health Policy. Should you choose the Self-Designed option, you can select from a wide range of courses to match your interests and career goals. Walden also offers and accelerated program to students who hold a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA). This option recognizes your past coursework and provides a shorter path to completing your PhD in Health Services.
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Procrastination can get the best of many of us when it comes to competing a dissertation or capstone project. So, how can you position yourself for success during your PhD in Health Services program? Consider these best practices:
- Work with a mentor if you’re not already doing so.
- Set deadlines for yourself.
- Create an accountability chart.
- Split up larger tasks into smaller ones.
- Partner with another student and encourage each other’s work.
- Never hesitate to use the resources supplied by your university. Most good ones have student support services for doctoral students.
- Don’t multitask—just handle one task at a time.
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When it comes to finding the best online academic institution, reputation is key. Walden University has been leading adult learning and developing distance education programs for more than 50 years. When other universities struggled to transition to virtual learning during COVID-19, Walden University did not waver. Now more than ever, working professionals need online access and an accredited university that enables them to achieve success and receive the support they need—from the time they enroll, to graduation and beyond.
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Academic residencies, skills labs, and pre-practica are face-to-face or virtual learning experiences that align with your online coursework to enhance your skill development, scholarship, and professional practice. Required for most PhD programs—including Walden’s PhD in Health Services—residencies also provide students with the opportunity to collaborate and network with other students, staff, and faculty members.
Questions about our PhD in Health Services?
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