12-18 months PhD in Health Sciences - Faulkner University

[Stonybeach]

It's interesting, this particular program just requires 'an accredited institution' grad degree, whereas the other two doctoral programs require transcripts from RA institutions.  Here's the snippet: Graduate degree from an accredited institution in health sciences or a related field with a minimum 3.0 GPA

You bring up a good point about admission requirements. How does one spin a DHA which is a business degree, into a "graduate degree in a health science or a related field?" To me, "related fields" are more like I have a master's degree in chemistry and an interest in health science academics. It's good to know they accept transfer credits!

There's very little science in most health science programs. Health science programs look a lot like healthcare administration programs. 

That is precisely why the admission requirements include a "graduate degree in a health science or related field!" The admission requirement asks applicants to have a graduate degree in the health sciences fields such as nursing, medicine, psychology, physician assistant, respiratory therapy, exercise physiology, athletic training, etc. One needs to talk the talk or walk the walk in the health sciences. As a licensed nurse practitioner, I could leverage a PhD in health sciences to teach or engage in clinical research as a sub-investigator or even a principal investigator. Generally, the PhD holders in any discipline can teach research methodologies and statistics.

Of course, if the school accepts people with a DHA or any graduate degree with no health science background, that is their privilege. I agree that a PhD from a respectable RA school like Faulkner University is certainly a plus! It sounds like Faulkner University is flexible in its admission standards. Admission committees typically look at the big picture. For example, if an applicant was a retired military instructor in a health-related military occupational specialty and holds a DHA, that may check the box.

Let's get real. A DHA from the College of Business from VUL has nothing to do with the "health sciences" as a stand-alone graduate degree. The DHA is plain and simply, a business degree with a focus in healthcare administration. It does have healthcare leadership coursework that may apply for transfer to a PhD program at Faulkner, but the foundational requisite of having a "health science" background is technically not met with a DHA alone! A doctoral degree in health science may give health scientists more tools in their toolbox by adding business-like coursework, but it should never ignore the core foundation health science practitioners have obtained.