The Doctor of Health Science (D.H.Sc.) is a post-professional academic degree for those who intend to pursue or advance a professional practice career in Health Arts and Sciences, and Health Care Delivery Systems, to include clinical practice, education, administration, and research. Individuals who complete the D.H.Sc. face the particular challenge of understanding and adapting scientific knowledge in order to achieve health gain and results. This degree leads to a career in high-level administration, teaching, or practice, where advanced analytical and conceptual capabilities are required. The Doctor of Health Science is a degree that prepares scholarly professionals in healthcare.
In Europe and Australia, the degree is awarded after completion of two to three years of coursework and research beyond the Master's degree. The degree found its place in the United States in the early 2000’s when Nova Southeastern University, the largest independent institution of higher education in the southeastern United States and seventh-largest not-for-profit independent university nationwide, began to offer the D.H.Sc. degree to clinician and non-clinician health professionals. Like its European counter-parts, an individual typically has to complete three to four years of study beyond the Master's degree. In order to be accepted into the program a person must possess a Master's degree in a health related discipline from an accredited university in the US. To bolster academic rigor, many prospective students have been required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) prior to admission. In addition to completing two to four years of intensive course work, candidates must complete one to three on-campus institutes, internships, and an applied research project or practicum. In 2008, the Arizona School of Health Sciences of A.T. Still University, the first Osteopathic medical school in the nation began to offer the D.H.Sc. degree.
The D.H.Sc. has been compared in course content to the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Doctor of Philosophy in Health Science (PhD) degrees, but distinguishes itself from these degrees in focus and dissertation requirements. Furthermore, Master's credentialed paramedical professionals (i.e., Respiratory Therapist, Radiology technologist, Athletic trainer, Physical therapy, Occupational Therapy), advanced practice clinicians/diagnosticians with Master's degrees (Physician Assistant/Physician Associate (PA), Nurse Practitioner (NP), Nurse anesthetist, Anesthesiologist Assistant, Nurse Midwife, Dental hygienist), as well as mid- and executive-level healthcare administrators and educators are drawn to the D.H.Sc. credential in effort to advance their careers toward top executive echelons and academic appointments.