Doctor of Health Science
Admissions Requirements
- Prior to matriculation, applicants must have completed a master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Applicants should demonstrate a cumulative master's degree GPA at or above a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to be eligible for regular admission.
- Prior health care experience is required and is strongly considered in the admissions process. The D.H.Sc is a post professional degree designed for health practitioners, public health professionals, and health care administrators from a wide variety of disciplines. The commonality exhibited by our students is the expert practice of a recognized health occupation at a professional level, or two years of administrative experience in a health care organization with progressively increasing responsibilities over that time frame.
The successful applicant's health profession may emphasize delivery of services to individual clients (e.g., PA, PT, RN, LCSW, etc.) or be population-based (MPH, MHA). An appropriate level of professional practice is generally recognized by either health professions licensure (e.g., RN, PT), a national certification or registration (e.g., PA-C, RVT, RRT, CRNA, FACHE), a recognized health professions academic credential (e.g., M.P.H., M.S.N., M.S.W., M.H.A., M.B.A.), or a combination of the above. The successful administrative (non-clinical) applicant will demonstrate at least five years of professional administrative experience with increasing levels of responsibility in a health care setting. Professional experience will be documented by an organizational chart demonstrating the applicant's position within the organization and a letter of recommendation from a supervisor attesting to the applicant's level of responsibility within the organization. Health care administrators will also need to submit a statement concerning their career and professional goals within the health care environment. Fellowship or certification by a nationally-recognized health certifying body (FACHE, etc.) is desirable. Possession of an appropriate master's degree is also necessary.
All questions regarding the appropriateness of an applicant's qualifications for admission can be discussed with the department chair or program director on an informal basis, but the official recommendations are made by the Committee on Admissions to the dean of the College of Health Care Sciences, who makes the final determination. Successful past applicants and graduates have included physicians, dentists, nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician assistants, master's degree-level social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dental hygienists, and athletic trainers. We have recently expanded the program to include health care administrators, and our graduates now include a hospital CEO and an assistant Surgeon General of the US Public Health Service.
Send your transcripts and evaluations to NSU's Enrollment Processing Services at:
Nova Southeastern University
Enrollment Processing Services
3301 College Avenue
P.O. Box 299000
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33329-9905
If you have any questions concerning admissions or the application process, please contact:Susan Rizzo (Admissions Counselor)(954) 262-1132