DHA Program Description

Program structure

Students who adhere to the prescribed course delivery schedule will progress through the degree requirements as a member of a cohort. All members who remain with a single cohort will proceed through the carefully planned sequence of classes and seminars together. Students who elect an alternative schedule will be engaged in their studies across multiple cohort groups. Regardless of the program pace a student elects, they will have ample interaction with other students in the program. Students will complete their dissertations as an individual effort, with guidance from a committee of three professors.

The structure of the program is as follows:

1. A non-credit orientation to health administration doctoral studies at Central Michigan University’s main campus in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
    
2. Internet modules consisting of 2 courses per module (with the exception of the module four, which includes only 1 course)
    
3. Regionally-based intensive 2 ½ day seminar
   • The seminars follow each module, beginning with module two and concluding with module 7.
   • Each seminar is worth 1 semester credit hour.
   • Each seminar includes one or more subject matter experts drawn from outside the course faculty. 
   • Seminars will be delivered both on the CMU campus and in regional cities offering suitable student access and availability of seminar guest speakers.

    

   Possible sites include Atlanta, Detroit and Washington D.C. in the U.S. Geneva, Switzerland is a potential location for international study.
    

4. Comprehensive examination. Examination is in essay format and evaluates all didactic content covered in the program.
    
5. Individual applied dissertation, on an applied research topic in a specific healthcare administrative area, chosen by you.