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Doctor of Philosophy in Human Services

School of Public Service Leadership

General Human Services specialization

The General Human Services PhD specialization is designed for professionals in a wide range of human services and health care fields who wish to advance their knowledge and careers, and contribute to the field through doctoral research. The core courses provide an overview of the human services field's most relevant content, including adult development, diversity, ethics, strategic planning, and the impact of today’s changing health care industry on human services. A wide range of elective courses provides you the flexibility to focus on a specific area of human services, such as counseling, family therapy, public safety, or social services. People who choose this specialization are often pursuing higher education faculty or human service leadership positions in social service, education, government, public safety, health care, and military organizations.

Concentration option: As part of this specialization, you can use your electives to earn a concentration in Public Health or Homeland Security for no additional time or money. Contact an enrollment counselor for details.

Residential colloquia

As a PhD learner, you will attend three three-day residential colloquia at specific stages in your program. Learn about the residential colloquia experience.

Total Program: 120 quarter credits
Up to 48 quarter credits may be transferred into this program
Next Start Date: December 7, 2009
Quarter - Comps/Diss: $4,485
Quarter - Comps/Diss: $3,945

78% of our learners receive aid.

Photo of Capella University online learner Teng Xiong, PhD Photo of Capella University online learner Teng Xiong, PhD

Required Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • HS8002 - Advanced Research in Adult Human Development and Behavior
  • HS8120 - Families, Systems, and Health Care
  • HS8300 - Diversity in the Workplace
  • HS8502 - Health Care Strategic Planning and Management
  • HS8505 - Ethics and Decision Making in Health Care
  • HS8106 - Epistemology of Practice Knowledge
  • HS8100 - Fundamentals of Social Science Research*
  • HS8111 - Quantitative Research Methods in the Human Services*
  • HS8112 - Advanced Qualitative Research Methods*
  • HS8113 - Advanced Study in Research Methods*
  • 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

Fourteen 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.


Learn more about our related specializations:

PsyD

Master's degree

Certificate




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