If you are a healthcare professional looking to hone your administrative skills and gain credentials in advanced leadership roles, consider obtaining your Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) degree.
Candidates who earn a DHSc often work in advanced managerial, clinical, research, and educational roles. They often find work as medical and health service managers overseeing the operations and personnel of medical facilities.
Others find employment as postsecondary teachers instructing college-level health classes, publishing research, developing teaching plans, and assessing students’ work on assignments.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare positions requiring a DHSc are expected to grow 13 percent by 2031, making it a great time to pursue this degree and career.
This article will explore what a DHSc is and the jobs and salaries available to DHSc degree holders.
What is a Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) degree?
The DHSc is a post-master’s degree designed for healthcare professionals who want to advance to teaching or administrative leadership positions.
Colleges and universities with this degree program often require applicants to have at least two years of experience as a healthcare practitioner, researcher, administrator, or teacher, plus a master’s degree in a health-related field.
Courses within DHSc programs focus on improving healthcare delivery, educating healthcare workers, and managing clinical health practices.
Many Doctor of Health Science programs allow students to choose a concentration— clinician, nutrition, or education —and include core courses like:
- Introduction to the U.S. healthcare system
- Global health issues
- Clinical research and analysis
- Healthcare Informatics
- Data analysis and interpretation
Graduates of DHSc degree programs find employment in various positions, such as health specialties educators, clinical researchers, and medical and health service managers.
Doctor of Health Science Salaries and Careers
1. Medical and Health Service Manager
Health service managers plan and supervise all aspects of healthcare delivery and are responsible for the facility’s administration.
They generally find work in hospitals, clinics, and other public health settings where they manage physicians, departments, or facilities and even find themselves administering an entire hospital or medical office.
In May 2020, the BLS indicated that the mean annual salary of medical and health services managers was $118,800. Furthermore, they reported individuals at the 90th percentile earning upwards of $189,000 annually, making this a rewarding and lucrative position.
2. Clinical Researcher
Though traditionally reserved for individuals with PhDs or medical doctor degrees, a job as a clinical researcher is growing in popularity in public health science. Nowadays, DHSc programs prepare graduates to conduct clinical research in their chosen fields. Clinical researchers often head studies or trials to improve public health and find work at universities, hospitals, and government offices.
The BLS reports that medical scientists and clinical researchers will also experience faster-than-average employment rates, especially as the population grows and pharmaceutical developments increase. In May 2021, the BLS listed the mean annual salary for medical scientists as $95,310.
3. Health Specialities Educator
DHSc programs prepare healthcare professionals to teach courses in their area of specialty. Health specialty educators can be hired as part-time, adjunct, or full-time tenured faculty members at colleges and universities. Many faculty members also conduct research in addition to teaching.
As the need for more healthcare professionals increases and the healthcare field expands, so do job opportunities for individuals qualified to be health specialty educators.
According to the BLS, postsecondary teachers in health specialties earned a yearly mean wage of $133,310 in 2021. And, likely, this number will only increase, especially with the anticipated rise in employment growth.
The DHSc program at University of Bridgeport (UB)
By obtaining a DHSc degree at UB, you’ll be on your way to a career where you can solve health problems and influence healthcare policy through research-backed decision-making. Our graduates affect local, state, and federal public health.
In our 100% online DHSc program, designed for the busy working professional, you’ll learn from expert clinicians, healthcare providers, and public health professionals. Our students also understand best practices in all public healthcare and public health policy areas.
All coursework is entirely online, including your four-week online doctoral residency. In addition, we offer three start dates per year—spring, fall, and summer allowing students to earn their doctorate in just over three years.
Completed applications and all supporting documents must be received by:
- April 15 for the summer semester
- July 15 for the fall semester
- December 1 for the spring semester
Financial aid is available, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. So apply today, and let’s get you on your way to advancing your financially-rewarding career in healthcare!