Doctor of Health Science

DHlthSc

Professional doctorate by research and portfolio

Fees apply

The Doctor of Health Science aims to promote advanced, critical reflection on professional practice in the health sciences. This aim has the following components:

Provide opportunity for the candidate to continue lifelong learning in keeping with the University's mission statement
Satisfy the educational needs of professionals working in or aspiring to work in the most senior tiers of the health sciences and related sectors
Promote the acquisition of advanced analytical and problem solving skills and conceptual insights that will enhance the capacity of the candidate to undertake positions of significant responsibility in the health sciences
Encourage excellence in scholarship and/or focused research within the candidates discipline area

Enrolment through

Albury-Wodonga Campus
Bathurst Campus
Wagga Wagga Campus

Study mode

Distance education (onshore and offshore)

Normal course duration

Part-time 6 years (12 sessions)

Admission criteria

For admission to the Doctor of Health Science applicants would need to demonstrate that they:

are working in an appropriate field within, or relevant to, the Health Professions and can demonstrate they have the opportunity and facilities to complete the applied research/investigation components of the course; and either
hold a Masters degree or equivalent (by research or by coursework with a research project) in an approved area of Health Sciences, with credit grades or above in all subjects undertaken, or
hold an Honours degree in an approved area of Health Sciences, with class 2 or better.

Additionally, applicants who have had a minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional and/or vocational experience (with relevance being determined by the Doctor of Health Science Course Coordinator in conjunction with the proposed principal supervisor) will be granted 16 points credit (for HLT511 and HLT510 ). Applicants who have not acquired sufficient discipline development within their Masters or Honours course, or elsewhere (eg. employment), as determined by the Sub Dean Graduate Studies, Doctor of Health Science Course Coordinator and the proposed principal supervisor, will be required to complete additional subjects as specified (e.g. HLT510 and HLT511) .

Applicants with a first language other than English must satisfy Charles Sturt University’s normal requirements for language competency.

Credit

Applicants who have had a minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional and/or vocational experience (with relevance being determined by the Doctor of Health Science Course Coordinator in conjunction with the proposed principal supervisor) will be granted 16 points credit, for HLT511 and HLT510. Applicants who have not acquired sufficient discipline development within their Masters or Honours course, or elsewhere (eg. employment), as determined by the Sub Dean Graduate Studies, Doctor of Health Science Course Coordinator and the proposed principal supervisor, will be required to complete additional subjects as specified (e.g. HLT510 and HLT511) .

Graduation requirements*

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 192 points.

*The number of subjects and specific subject choices are described in the course structure and enrolment pattern for the course.

Course structure

The course consists of the following:

Compulsory coursework subjects (16 points)

HLT510 Clinical Issues in Health
HLT511 Clinical Judgement and Deecision Making

Compulsory research methods subject (8 points)

BMS500 Biomedical Research Methods
or
HLT505 Research Methods in Health Science A

Elective subject (8 points)

Research component (160 points)

HSC700 Research Critique and Publication (16)
HSC701 Reflective Practice in Health Sciences (16)
HSC703 Research Project and Report (64)
HSC704 Health Science Portfolio and Exegesis (32)
HSC712 Proposal for Applied Research/Investigation (32)

Enrolment pattern

Part-time

Session 1 (30)

HLT510 Clinical Issues in Health
PLUS one of:
BMS500 Biomedical Research Methods
HLT505 Research Methods in Health Sciences A

Session 2 (60)

HLT511 Clinical Judgement & Decision Making
[Elective]

Session 3 (30)

HSC700 Research Critique and Publication (16 points)

Session 4 (60)

HSC701 Reflective Practice in Health Science (16 points)

Session 5 (30)

HSC712 Proposal for Applied Research/Investigation (32 points)(commenced)

Session 6 (60)

HSC712 Proposal for Applied Research/Investigation (32 points)(completed)

Session 7 (30)

HSC703 Research Project and Report (64 points)(commenced)

Session 8 (60)

HSC703 Research Project and Report (64 points)(continued)

Session 9 (30)