Javascript is currently not supported, or is disabled by this browser. Please enable Javascript for full functionality.

   
    Jul 02, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Health Education (Practice Doctorate to PhD), Ph.D. (40-43 hrs)

Location(s): Hybrid


Program Overview


The PhD in Health Education program (Practice Doctorate to PhD) is designed to be completed in two or three years, including summer terms. Students are allowed to attend on a part-time basis but must complete all required work within a period of six years. A total of 60 hours is required to complete the program. Students receive 20 hours of Ph.D. course validation credit with 40 hours to be completed within the program. The student will take courses with a Healthcare education focus and dissertation classes to complete the Ph.D. in Health Education program. The program is in a hybrid (web-enhanced) format. Doctoral classes will meet face-to -face two weekends a year and synchronous online two weekends a year; the remainder of the content and student activities will be conducted via the Canvas learning management system.

Each student must complete a dissertation. The dissertation process will begin in the fall term and continue for six trimesters. Students will enroll in didactic courses along with the dissertation courses. The research courses help the student design the essential components of a dissertation. Each student will have a committee of four Ph.D. program faculty members. There will be a written comprehensive examination to determine mastery of the Ph.D. content. The faculty reserves the right to make curricular changes to maintain standards consistent with the changing needs of society and the profession.

Program Admission Requirements


To be admitted as a regular student, the applicant must:

  • Submit a completed application to William Carey University Graduate school.
  • Pay the application fee.
  • Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
  • Submit a scholarly narrative of 1-2 pages of personal philosophy of education and goals.
  • Submit current curriculum vitae.
  • Submit three letters of references: two from individuals who can attest to research and scholarship and one personal reference. (a reference form will be emailed to the references entered in the online application)
  • Submit the completed and notarized criminal background check affidavit.
  • Have earned a doctoral degree in a healthcare related field from an accredited school.
  • Have earned a GPA of > 3.0 on doctoral-level courses.
  • Have an active, unencumbered license with no pending legal or state board action (unencumbered licesnse must be maintained throughtout program enrollment)
  • Be eligible to re-enter any previously attended college or university in good standing. If previously enrolled in a Ph.D. program, the applicant must provide a letter of good standing from that program.
  • Demonstrate computer literacy involving proficiency in word processing, email correspondence, and the Internet.

Transfer Credit

The individual student is responsible for requesting possible transfer credit and providing the appropriate documents, course catalog description, and syllabus for review by the Program Director. A maximum of eight hours may be transferred from a master’s program and no more than six semester hours may be transferred from a doctoral program. No master’s level courses will be accepted as transfer for WCU 700 and 800-level courses. Transfer credit cannot be received for HAE 7530 HAE 8010 HAE 8020 HAE 8030 HAE 8040 , or HAE 8050 . There is a transfer credit fee for each hour of transfer credit awarded.

Students with a practice doctorate will be awarded 20 credit hours by merit of the doctoral degree. There is a transfer credit fee for each hour of transfer or practice doctorate credit applied.

 

Program Progression


Program Progression Requirements

Successful progression through the program requires the following:

  • Demonstrate competency in scholarly writing prior to taking courses in within the program through one of the following options: (1) submission of a GRE Analytical Writing score of 3.5 or better within the last five years or (2) passing HAE 7990 Academic Writing for Doctoral Students  with a grade of ‘B’ or better prior to taking courses in the program.
  • Demonstrate basic competence in statistics as evidenced by (1) successful completion, with a grade of ‘B’ or better, in an undergraduate or graduate level statistics course within the past ten years, (2) documented substantial experience in healthcare research projects, or (3) passing HAE 7000 Statistics Review for Doctoral Students  with a grade of ‘B’ or better, prior to taking HAE 7520  and HAE 8000 .
  • Complete all assignments with a passing grade. All courses must be completed with no grade below a ‘B’. The student is allowed to repeat two courses with a ‘C’ to improve the grade to a ‘B’.
  • See Academic Regulations section in this catalog for additional information regarding grade requirements.
  • Any student who makes an ‘F’ in a Ph.D. course will be dismissed from the program and be ineligible for readmission.
  • Student grades will be reviewed at the end of each term by the program director and other WCU HAE administration to determine status in achieving the GPA necessary to graduate.
  • The student must successfully complete HAE 8010 HAE 8020 HAE 8030 , and HAE 8040  in sequence.
  • The student will be admitted to doctoral candidacy upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination and the dissertation final defense. 
  • The student must successfully complete the comprehensive examination to indicate mastery of program content. The student will have to have completed all courses of the curriculum (except HAE 7260 ) and other degree requirements. This excludes dissertation hours.
  • The student must successfully complete a dissertation.

Program of Study