What Is a DHA Degree

What is a DHA Degree? Understanding the Doctor of Healthcare Administration 

If you’re considering a doctoral program in healthcare, you may not have explored the Doctor of Health Administration, or DHA. As a terminal degree, the DHA is designed for healthcare professionals aiming for executive leadership roles, such as CEO or CFO of a hospital. Unlike research-based PhD programs, a DHA focuses on real-world application, helping you develop the strategic, financial, and leadership skills needed to drive meaningful change in healthcare.

The DHA represents the intersection of business, leadership, medicine, and technological innovation. This advanced degree expands career opportunities and strengthens key competencies. This guide explores:

• The purpose and benefits of a DHA degree
• Core components of a DHA program
• Essential leadership and strategic skills gained
• Career opportunities for DHA graduates, including salary insights

Table of Contents

• Understanding the Doctor of Health Administration (DHA)
• Core Components of a DHA Program
• Career Opportunities with a DHA Degree
• Job Outlook and Growth in Healthcare Administration
• Skills Developed in a DHA Program
• Earn Your DHA Degree Online

Understanding the Doctor of Health Administration (DHA)  

The Doctor of Health Administration, or DHA, is a professional doctoral degree typically completed in four to five years. DHA programs prepare healthcare leaders to manage, streamline, and improve the performance of medical organizations, including hospitals, private clinics, and long-term care facilities. If you’re still exploring the broader field, here’s a helpful overview of what healthcare administration is.

DHA vs. PhD in Business Administration (with a specialization in Healthcare Administration)

While both degrees are doctoral-level, they serve different career paths:

• DHA: Focuses on practical applications in healthcare leadership, policy, and organizational management.
• PhD: Centers on theoretical research and academia, preparing graduates for scholarly work.

If you aspire to lead healthcare institutions, improve policies, or drive organizational change, a DHA may be the ideal fit.

Core Components of a DHA Program 

There are three main components of a Doctor of Healthcare Administration program: 

1. The coursework and curriculum
2. The student’s dissertation
3. The unique emphasis on applied over theoretical learning

DHA Curriculum Overview 

While the specific curriculum varies from program to program, the Doctor of Healthcare Administration typically features courses in healthcare policy, ethical leadership, financial management, quality improvement, and strategic planning. 

At National University, our 100% online DHA program is designed for working professionals like you. Built on the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) standards, our program offers flexible coursework, so you can balance your education with your career and personal commitments.

You’ll complete 20 career-focused courses (60 credit hours) that cover essential areas such as:

• Healthcare Financial Management and Economics (DHA 7001) 
• Human Resource (HR) Management for Healthcare Administrators (DHA 7003) 
• Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations (PR) for Healthcare Administration Leaders (DHA 7004) 
• Health Law, Ethics, and Policy (DHA 7006) 
• Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis (DHA 7009) 

DHA Applied Dissertation 

National University’s DHA integrates real-world healthcare challenges into coursework. The program culminates in an applied dissertation, which requires students to address a significant issue in healthcare administration. 

Learners in National University’s DHA program complete their studies with a pre-candidacy prospectus, a 12-week applied doctoral introduction and proposal, and finally, by preparing an applied doctoral manuscript. 

Research and Applied Learning 

There are several types of doctorate programs in healthcare administration, including the Doctor of Health Administration (DHA), the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Healthcare Administration, and the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with a specialization in Healthcare Administration. The primary difference between these degrees lies in their focus. DHA programs emphasize applied research that addresses real-world challenges faced by healthcare organizations, while PhD programs prioritize theoretical research aimed at advancing academic knowledge in the field. Because of this applied focus, DHA students at National University often complete projects that directly influence their current or future roles in healthcare leadership.

It’s also worth noting the distinction between academic homes: the DHA is offered through the School of Health Professions, while the DBA with a specialization in Healthcare Administration is housed within the College of Business, Engineering, and Technology.

A Unique Advantage of NU’s DHA Program

Before we explore the career opportunities available to DHA graduates, it’s worth highlighting a key feature that sets National University’s program apart: all students enrolled in the DHA program receive complimentary membership to the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA).

AUPHA is the only professional association dedicated specifically to educators and aspiring educators in health administration. This membership is automatically included for NU DHA students—a valuable benefit that many other programs don’t provide. It opens the door to resources and professional networks that support those currently working in healthcare leadership, as well as those interested in transitioning into teaching roles in higher education.

As a member, you’ll gain:

• A Specialized Network: Opportunities to connect with faculty, educational leaders, and peers shaping the future of health administration education.
• Educator Resources: Access to exclusive research, teaching tools, and academic publications.
• Professional Development: Eligibility to participate in AUPHA’s Art of Teaching Institute, designed to build teaching skills and credentials for future faculty roles.
• No Added Cost: Membership is included in your program at no additional charge.

This added value not only enriches your academic experience but also positions you for future opportunities in healthcare leadership and education.

Career Opportunities with a DHA Degree 

With a DHA degree, you’ll be prepared for high-impact leadership roles in hospitals, public health, healthcare consulting, and more. Whether you’re looking to advance in your current role or transition into executive leadership, this degree can help you get there. Career paths include:

• Healthcare consultancy roles, such as technology consultant or strategy consultant 
• Healthcare executive roles, such as COO or CEO of a hospital system 
• Healthcare policy roles, such as policy analyst or project manager 
• Academic or research roles, like becoming a university professor 

DHA program graduates are typically employed by hospital systems, nursing home facilities, medical device manufacturers, insurance providers, or other organizations involved in providing patient care. They may also work for government organizations, such as departments of public health, or for institutions of higher learning, like colleges and universities.

Healthcare Executive Leadership 

“Healthcare executive” is a broad, general term that could refer to a variety of professional roles, including but not limited to: 

• Chief administrative officer (CAO)
• Chief executive officer (CEO)
• Chief financial officer (CFO) 
• Chief medical officer (CMO) 
• Chief operations officer (COO)

Healthcare executives oversee policy development, financial planning, and operational improvements. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that medical and health services managers earn a median salary of $110,680 per year, with projected job growth of 29% by 2033, significantly higher than the national average of 4%.

Healthcare Policy and Advocacy

A DHA degree can help you qualify for advanced roles in the field of healthcare policy and advocacy, where you’ll collaborate with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and think tanks to develop and influence healthcare policy. 

DHA graduates can influence healthcare policy through roles such as:

• Healthcare Policy Director
• Public Health Administrator
• Legislative Liaison

The BLS considers healthcare administrators, including public health administrators, to be medical and health services managers. Professionals in this category earn median annual salaries exceeding $110,000. According to Glassdoor, health policy directors earn an estimated $124,274 annually, while legislative liaisons earn around $76,789 per year.

Healthcare Consulting 

Healthcare consultants provide expert advice on efficiency, cost reduction, and technological implementation. According to the BLS, management analysts, who include healthcare consultants, earn a median salary of $99,410 per year, with top earners making over $172,000.

There are multiple types of healthcare consulting career niches to explore, including strategy consulting, HR consulting, legal consulting, and marketing consulting. But no matter what type of consulting role you decide to pursue, you’ll need some essential skills in order to be successful, including analytical thinking, creative problem-solving, written and verbal communication, and strategic planning abilities. 

Academic and Research Roles 

Many colleges and universities require applicants for professor positions to hold a doctorate degree. If your goal is to work in academia as an educator or dean, a doctorate like a DHA can help you meet the criteria for employment. Examples of academic and research-related positions you can enter with a DHA degree include: 

• Clinical research director  
• College professor, such as professor of healthcare administration  
• Dean of a college or university 

Depending on which of these roles you enter, your tasks might include teaching at the postsecondary level, conducting original research related to healthcare administration, or overseeing academic programs. This may require skills such as academic writing, curriculum development, and research design. 

The BLS states that postsecondary educators earn a median salary of $84,380, with expected job growth of 8%, double the national average. By contrast, postsecondary education administrators, such as academic deans, earn a median annual salary of $102,610. 

Job Outlook and Growth in Healthcare Administration 

As the U.S. population ages, it creates an increasing demand for healthcare and telehealth services, and with it, a growing need for efficient healthcare management. Together, these factors are driving a strong economic outlook and job forecast for professionals in the health administration sector. 

Compared to other occupations, roles in healthcare offer a higher median wage and, in many professions, faster-than-average job growth. For example, professions in the medical and health services management field, such as clinical management and nursing home administration, are expected to grow an astounding 29% by 2033. In comparison, the national average job growth forecast for the same time period is only 4%. 

So, is a DHA degree worth it? If you’re passionate about being part of a fast-growing field where you’ll have opportunities to lead diverse teams, influence healthcare policy, and positively impact patient outcomes, the answer could be yes. 

There’s no fee or entrance exam to apply to National University’s online DHA, which is also open to transfer students who have completed their master’s programs. If you think a DHA program could be right for you, contact our admissions office for more information on how to apply. 

Skills Developed in a DHA Program 

DHA programs cultivate essential leadership skills, including:

• Financial and Operational Management: Budgeting, resource allocation, and financial planning.
• Strategic Leadership: Decision-making, team leadership, and organizational development.
• Legal and Ethical Decision-Making: Understanding healthcare laws, patient rights, and compliance.
• Policy Development and Analysis: Evaluating policies, measuring impact, and implementing change.

At National University, students develop these skills through a curriculum designed to enhance career readiness in executive healthcare leadership.

Leadership and Strategic Management 

DHA programs promote the development of leadership skills, which are essential for managing large healthcare organizations, driving organizational change, and leading complex projects. In National University’s DHA program, students complete coursework on health leadership and systems thinking, along with courses on financial management, HR management, and quality management. 

Policy Development and Analysis 

DHA programs prepare graduates to shape and execute innovative new healthcare policies, which requires skills like collaborating on teams, communicating complex ideas, assessing sets of data, and evaluating policy outcomes. National University’s DHA program includes coursework on the development and implementation of healthcare policies, with students required to critique healthcare organizations’ responses to various legal mandates.

Financial and Operational Management 

DHA programs place a strong emphasis on the financial management of healthcare organizations. As a result, students develop relevant skills like data-driven budgeting, financial analysis, and resource allocation. 

To complement and support these financial skills, students also build operational management skills that are critical to running healthcare organizations, such as strategic planning skills, staff management skills, and data processing skills. National University DHA students are required to complete courses on data-driven decision-making, healthcare economics, and healthcare quality management. 

Ethical and Legal Decision-Making 

DHA programs equip graduates with the skills to navigate the complex ethical and legal issues that arise in healthcare administration, such as patient confidentiality, malpractice allegations, informed consent, and end-of-life care. For example, National University’s DHA program includes an eight-week course dedicated to healthcare regulations, ethics, and policy, which builds skills like fraud prevention and ethical decision-making.

Earn Your Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) Degree Online at National University 

With higher-than-average salaries, leadership opportunities, and strong job growth, a DHA degree offers a valuable return on investment for professionals looking to advance in healthcare administration. If you’re still clarifying the differences between healthcare administration and related fields, our article on healthcare management vs. healthcare administration offers a helpful breakdown of roles, responsibilities, and career paths.

Take your career to the next stage with a doctorate degree in healthcare administration from a regionally accredited institution. Established in 1971, National University has been a leader in academic excellence for over 40 years, aligning our rigorous DHA curriculum with standards established by the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL). National University’s DHA program can be completed 100% online, and offers weekly start dates that seamlessly fit with your busy schedule. 

Get in touch with our doctoral admissions office to learn more about the Doctor of Health Administration at National University, or apply to enroll today using our secure online portal.