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Doctor of Philosophy in Human Services

School of Public Service Leadership

Health Care Administration specialization

Strengthen your scholarly knowledge and practitioner skills to advance your career in the fast-growing field of health care administration. This online Health Care Administration specialization includes advanced research and course work in analysis, strategic planning, organizational change, ethics, law, and quality improvement, focused on the health care field. People who choose this specialization are often experienced health care professionals or managers who seek higher education faculty positions or high-level leadership or consulting positions in a variety of private and public health care settings.

Read what others have to say about this specialization, or leave your own comment, and be sure to check back often to converse with others about their Capella experiences.

Total Program: 120 quarter credits
Up to 48 quarter credits may be transferred into this specialization
Next Start Date: June 4, 2012
Quarter - Coursework: $4,596 §
Up to 3 courses per quarter
Quarter - Comps/Diss: $4,125 §

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Residency requirements: Three 4-day weekend experiences

Learn about the residential colloquia experience.
In addition to your online courses, you will complete 3 residential colloquia, each of which includes a 4-day weekend experience, at specific stages in your program. These energizing residencies provide you with insights and knowledge that will be valuable during your PhD studies and beyond.

Doctoral colloquia each have 3 steps:

Step 1: Colloquium Courseroom (opens approximately 2 weeks prior to Weekend Experience)
Step 2: Weekend Experience (4-day residency)
Step 3: Colloquium CourseroomAssessment and evaluation (completed the week after the Weekend Experience)

What is the cost to attend?

The price for each colloquium is $1,495 (pricing is subject to periodic adjustment), but doesn't include costs for evening meals or travel. You'll be responsible for making your hotel reservations and travel arrangements.
  • Learn more about residency requirements.
  • Get more detailed information and learn how the residency experiences will enrich your learning at Capella University. Speak with an enrollment counselor at 1.877.269.7780.

Gain more value from your degree

Expand your educational and career opportunities by choosing one of Capella's degree enrichment options.

  • Add a concentration to gain deeper expertise

    Delve more deeply into a specific knowledge area by earning a concentration that will be included on your transcript and can enhance your career opportunities. If you have elective courses in your degree program, you may be able to use them to fulfill both your degree and concentration requirements at the same time. However, completing a concentration may extend your total credits beyond the requirements of your degree.

    Concentrations available as part of this specialization include:
    • Fire Service Administration
    • Forensics
    • Health Policy and Management
    • Homeland Security
    • Public Administration
    • Public Health
    • Public Policy and Management
    • Nonprofit Management and Leadership

Core Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • HS8003 - Leading Change in Human Services (4 quarter credits)
  • HS8106 - Epistemology of Practice Knowledge
  • HS8100 - Fundamentals of Social Science Research*
  • HS8122 - Quantitative Research Methods in Public Service*
  • HS8123 - Advanced Qualitative Research Methods in Public Service*
  • HS8124 - Advanced Study in Research Methods in Public Service*

Specialization Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • HS7500 - Quality Improvement and Organizational Performance in Health Care
  • HS8114 - Operations in Health Care Systems
  • HS8115 - Managing Human Capital in Health Care Environments
  • HS8116 - Financial Analysis in Health Care Systems
  • HS8117 - Strategic Management of Health Care Reimbursement Systems
  • HS8118 - Health Policies Analysis and Strategy
  • HS8502 - Health Care Strategic Planning and Management
  • HS8503 - Health Systems Analysis and Evaluation
  • HS8504 - Law and Health Care Administration
  • HS8505 - Ethics and Decision Making in Health Care
  • HS8506 - Leading Organizational Change in Health Care Systems
  • HS9919 - Doctoral Comprehensive Examination*
  • HS9920 - Dissertation Courseroom* - non-credit
  • HS9921 - Dissertation Research 1* - 5 quarter credits
  • HS9922 - Dissertation Research 2* - 5 quarter credits
  • HS9923 - Dissertation Research 3* - 5 quarter credits
  • HS9924 - Dissertation Research 4* - 5 quarter credits

Seven Elective Courses

  • Choose any graduate courses.
* This course has a prerequisite. Contact an enrollment counselor for more information.

Course Descriptions

Receive via email a full description of all Capella University courses.

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Quality Education

August 6, 2010John I graduated on 30 June 2010 after exactly three and half years at Capella. The courses--both specialization and dissertation as well as the comprehensive examinations--are very demanding but carefully well structured. Education at capella is to the higest level and there is no spoon feeding as you have to come up with an independent project paper written in impeccable APA format each quarter. I thoroughly enjoyed studying at capella and I firmly believe the quality of education is among the best in the world. I doubt whether a brick and mortar institution could match Capella's interactive courseroom modules. Like aLL good things it comes with a price.

Human Services - Health Care Administration Major - nursing

July 30, 2010Rae I will always be glad that I chose Capella for my PhD program. As a RN I was blessed to have Paul Stechschule as my mentor (also a RN) and she helped me to take the classes she knew would help. Since then, I've had the opportunity to participate in writing a course for Capella's new RN to BSN/MSN program. Would love to hear/network with other RNs from Capella's nursing programs.

My best academic experience yet!!

October 18, 2010Stephanie Don't be fooled by people who say that online programs are not as challenging or rewarding. I have loved every minute of my time as a Capella graduate student, and plan to get my PhD from Capella when I have completed my graduate program. My courses have proceeded in a logical order--every new class builds upon knowledge I have attained from previous courses, and the professors are at the top of their game! Capella also provides good "bang for your buck", so to speak. I initially considered the University of Phoenix, but I know I made the right decision by choosing Capella. I would recommend it to everybody!!

Public Health administration (manager)

August 27, 2010Elaine As a student at the Capella University, i must say thus far it has been a wonderful journey. It has only been a year since i started the program in Public health administration and is loving the courses that have be taken so far. The instructors are great to work with and they make sure that the work is properly done for each discussion posting. At first i was timid of how it would turn out but being here at Capella is the best choice that i have made.
Image of enrollment counselor from the team that specializes in Capella's human services degree programs
Image of enrollment counselor from the team that specializes in Capella's human services degree programs

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