Our Ph.D. in Health Sciences online program puts you on the forefront of an ever-changing field by learning, developing, and applying innovative research methods.
Earn a Ph.D. in Health Sciences (PHDHS) From a 100% Online University
Earn Your Health Sciences Doctorate Online
The Ph.D. represents the highest level of achievement in any academic discipline. We are proud to offer a rigorous research degree program resulting in a Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences with concentrations in public health, global health, health policy and administration, and health education. The purpose of our online Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences program is to prepare professionals from health and health sciences related fields as leaders, educators, executives, researchers, consultants, and scholars. Prepare to improve society as a competent and caring professional by earning your Ph.D. in Health Sciences online. Be on the forefront of a dynamic field by learning, developing, and applying innovative research methods in our challenging and highly rewarding doctoral program.
Our online degree program helps you:
- Develop the expertise and skill set to pursue research, education, and management careers in government and private sectors.
- Strengthen research-based critical thinking and analytic abilities to solve significant problems.
- Practice and apply cutting-edge research methods in an ever-growing and changing field.
- Respond to legal and ethical issues in the health field from Health Policy And Administration to Global Health.
- Prepare to make an important difference anywhere in the world.
I am pleased that you have taken the first step in starting your journey towards a Ph.D. in Health Sciences. Our interdisciplinary program offers topics at the forefront taught by leading faculty and experts in the field. In this program, you will develop as a researcher and be educated on topics related to health equity, social determinants of health, public health, policy, and global health, all of which impacts health outcomes in local and global communities. We also have resources available for you to professionally develop as a scholar and practitioner. I encourage you to take a look at all sections including our resource section below and take advantage of opportunities to present and develop your scholarly portfolio. I am looking forward to reviewing your application and upon satisfactorily meeting admissions requirements, welcoming you to the Trident Family.Dr. Mickey Shachar
Program Overview – What Students Can Expect
The College of Health Sciences offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Health Sciences degree with a variety of concentrations. Our students conduct studies in various fields, including: public health, global health, health disparities, epidemiology, health education, nursing research, health research, allied health research, health policy, health administration, environmental health, physical therapy, occupational health, molecular biology, and many other fields.
See the Trident Catalog for full descriptions of all program course offerings.
Admissions Requirements
Prepare to take the lead in our virtual classrooms and in your career. If you are ready to take this important next step, apply online now. The documents specified below are required for all Ph.D. applicants.
The full application will be reviewed holistically in terms of potential to succeed in the Ph.D. program. Prospective students are encouraged to submit an inquiry below for the PhD Health Sciences Program so that they can be contacted by an admissions advisor. Prospective applicants should have earned a 3.0 GPA minimum. Applications that do not meet our requirements will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Core Courses
You are required to take at least five research methods courses and two required theory courses in the field of health sciences. These courses will provide the foundation for your pursuit in specialized concentrations. All courses are four semester unit courses. The last course taken prior to the dissertation series is the required DHS699, Dissertation Seminar.
Trident accepts no more than four semester credits of doctoral level credits from regionally accredited doctoral granting institutions provided the transferred course meets the same content standards as the Trident course.
Note: Students are required to purchase IBM SPSS Statistical Software for the quantitative research courses and dissertation research.
Concentrations anchor
Concentrations
You may choose one of the concentrations offered in the Ph.D. Health Sciences program. Twelve elective credit units are needed to fulfill the concentration requirements:
- Global Health
This concentration focuses on global health and will explore how globalization impacts determinants of health and disease. Courses include Current Issues in Global Health Research, Global Epidemiology, Introduction to Health Equity, and Special Topics in Health Science and Public Health. - Health Policy and Administration
This concentration prepares leaders in health policy and administration through evaluation, development, analysis, and implementation of health and health policies. Courses include Advanced Leadership, Health Care Law, Regulation and Ethics, Current Issues in Health Administration, Seminar in Strategic Planning for Health Sciences, and Special Topics in Health Science and Public Health.
Comprehensive Exam
The comprehensive exam (or qualifying exam) includes a written and an oral portion. You will be examined on your understanding of theory, research methods, and statistical concepts related to the research process in your area. The comprehensive exam is scheduled during your first course in the dissertation phase of the program (DHS 700).
A committee of two faculty members will review the written exam and send their recommendations to the Program Director on whether they think you are ready to proceed to the oral exam. If approved to proceed, you will sit for the oral exam within a week. During the oral examination you will defend the written portion and answer any pertinent questions from faculty members. One of the key objectives of the written and oral qualifying examination is to assess the ability and preparedness of the student to successfully complete their research-based dissertation.
If you fail the first attempt you will be given another chance to pass the qualifying exam. Failure in the second attempt will lead to disqualification from the program.
Dissertation Study and Committee
A dissertation committee and dissertation chairperson will be established for you. Each committee will consist of three faculty members with one serving as chair of the committee. One member of the committee or the chairperson must be external to Trident and at least one of the members are considered as a subject matter expert in the area of your dissertation research. The chairperson and the committee will be responsible for guiding you during the dissertation process.
You will show a synthesis of your doctoral study, knowledge and scholarship with a significant quantitative research project that contributes to general principles of knowledge in the field(s) potentially affected by the research. Furthermore, doctoral students may use qualitative research methods for their dissertation research provided they have a strong background in qualitative research. Following the completion of the course work including the Dissertation Proposal Seminar (DHS 699), you will work on the dissertation and register insubsequent sessions in the dissertation series (DHS 700, DHS 701, and DHS 702), and dissertation continuation courses (DHS 703 and above).
IRB Application
Pursuant to Federal law and regulations, Institutional Review Board (IRB) review and approval is required for research involving human subjects. Accordingly, prior to the student conducting research involving human subjects, including the collecting and analyzing of data, the proposed study must be reviewed and approved by the Trident IRB.
Graduation Requirements
You will be required to complete 11 core courses (44 credits) and 3 elective courses within the chosen concentration (12 credits) for a total of 56 credits. Also, you must successfully complete both the oral and written comprehensive exam and complete the dissertation seminar/prospectus. Lastly, you will need to successfully defend the dissertation proposal and Ph.D. dissertation.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition cost for the Ph.D. program:
*Assumes no transfer credits and that student enrolls in an average of 16 credits per year. Does not include cost of dissertation continution courses, the number of which vary based on dissertation completion date. All per semester credit hour costs are for program level (600/700) courses. Students in the dissertation stage register for one course of four semester credit hours per session. In addition, there are dissertation continuation courses which are $800 per course at 0 credit hours.
| tuition type | per credit | per course | per year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $990 | $3,960 | $15,840 |
| Retired Military / Veteran / And Their Immediate Family Members | $885 | $3,540 | $14,160 |
| Military & Immediate Family Members / Department of Defense Federal Civilian Employees | $800 | $3,200 | $12,800 |
University Fees:
- Books and Supplies: $0
- Bounced Check Fee: $30
- Course Materials: $0
- Diploma Copy: $30 (optional)
- Food, Housing, and Transportation: N/A
- Graduation Fee: $150
- Official Transcript: $10 (rush fee $35)
- Other Expedited Shipping Fees: varies based on region
- Payment Plan Set-up: $35-$55 (non-refundable)
- Student ID Card: $10 (optional)
- Technology Fee: $0
- Other fees may apply and are subject to change without advance notice.
Seeking more information on the cost of attending Trident? Visit Trident’s Financial Aid Resources page where you will find financial aid tools including Trident’s Net Price Calculator and Shopping Sheet, a guide to assist in early financial planning for college.
Get Started Today – Apply Today!
Trident Webinars
First Day of Class – June 13, 2022 Fastrac Session
Hosted By: Dr. George del Hierro
Full Time Professor and Course Coordinator
Monday June 13, 2022
11:00 AM PDT
First Day of Class - June 13, 2022 Fastrac Session
13/6/202211:00am PDT1 hour
We are very glad you chose Trident University for your educational journey! New students often have a lot of questions, and we’re here to help. As a way to ease you into our unique, student-centered model, we’ve designed a webinar that will cover all of the areas vital to success in your chosen program.This webinar, hosted by Dr. George del Hierro and Christina Saenz, will bring you together with other new students on the first day of class. You’ll have the opportunity to talk directly to our academic leadership and get your questions answered.
See you on your first day of class on June 13!
