The difference between a PhD in health administration and a Doctor of Health Administration

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, several recent developments have influenced the field of health administration and pushed it to evolve.

Some of these include:

• Advances in information and patient care technology
• The emergence of care models, like value-based care
• Improved healthcare access and equity to meet demographic shifts
• New public policy to adapt to the changing healthcare landscape

These changes become unified in the field of health administration. If you’re interested in learning more about the coordination and management of healthcare delivery systems – the functions that keep organizations running smoothly while serving patient needs – a doctoral degree can help equip you with skills and knowledge in the field of healthcare administration.

One question to consider is what kind of degree is right for you, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Health Administration (DHA)? Although Capella University doesn’t offer a PhD in health administration, we do have an online DHA program.

The difference between a PhD and a DHA

Both are doctoral degrees that focus on research in the field of health administration. However, the type and purpose of the research differs significantly.

A PhD in health administration focuses on developing original theoretical research. In other words, it’s about publishing research and advancing knowledge in the field of healthcare administration. A PhD could be a good fit for someone interested in developing research and teaching skills.

A DHA focuses on developing applied research, collecting evidence and using it to address real-world issues. That might mean analyzing current healthcare systems and policies and pursuing solutions to problems faced in the field. This degree could be a good fit for someone interested in developing leadership and administrative skills in healthcare organizations.

While the PhD and DHA are related, a focus on theoretical or applied research means that these degrees will help graduate students learn different sets of skills based on their professional goals.  

The Capella DHA program

The Capella Doctor of Health Administration degree is designed, with professional standards in mind, to help develop applied research and leadership competencies in health administration.

Coursework in the program includes topics relevant to the field, such as innovative business practices, healthcare policy, regulatory compliance and strategic vision and planning.

The online doctoral program includes two virtual residencies and a doctoral capstone project. The residencies help students explore potential topics for their capstone, and students are paired with a mentor as they work toward the culminating project of their degree.

Bradly E. Roh, PhD, DBA, academic program director of the Doctor of Health Administration program at Capella University, shares some of the skills students will learn as they navigate the DHA program:

• Leadership
• Health policy analysis
• Ethical decision-making
• Healthcare quality improvement
• Communication
• Strategic planning
• Financial management
• Research and evaluation
• Health informatics
• Change management

“The skills you develop can help prepare you to address intricate challenges in the healthcare industry,” Dr. Roh says.  

Learn more about the Doctor of Health Administration from Capella University.