| |
Dec 05, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog
Health Administration and Education, Ph.D. (60-63 hrs)
Location(s):
Hybrid
|
|
 Return to: Programs of Study
|
Program Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Health Administration and Education is a terminal degree designed to prepare healthcare professionals as educators, administrators, and healthcare researchers. Graduates will demonstrate the ability to utilize sound educational concepts, principles, and knowledge to develop undergraduate and graduate health professional students who will be able to contribute to the health and well-being of diverse populations across the lifespan. The Ph.D. program 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. The program is in a hybrid (web-enhanced) format. Doctoral classes will meet face-to-face and synchronously online at designated times during each semester; 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 Spring term and continue for three semesters. 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. In addition, 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 vita.
- Submit three letters of reference: two from individuals who can attest to research and scholarship and one personal reference.(the reference form will be emailed to the references entered in the online application. Letters of recommendation will also be accepted)
- Submit the completed and notarized criminal background check affidavit.
- Have earned a master’s degree in a healthcare related field from an accredited school.
- Have earned a GPA of > 3.0 on master-level courses.
- If professionally licensed, registered, or certified in a healthcare related field, have an active, unencumbered license, registry, or certificate with no pending legal or state board action.
- 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 7070 , HAE 8060 , HAE 8070 , HAE 8080 , HAE 8090 , or HAE 8100 . There is a transfer credit fee for each hour of transfer credit awarded. Program Progression and Graduation Requirements
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 7070 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 8060 , HAE 8070 , HAE 8080 , and HAE 8090 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 requirements. This excludes dissertation hours.
- The student must successfully complete a dissertation.
Program of Study (60-63 hrs)
|
Return to: Programs of Study
|
|
