ATSU CGHS’ DHA Doctoral Research Project (DRP) is comprised of five courses. All five courses are five credit hours each. Therefore, each DRP student should expect to spend, on average, approximately 22.5 hours each week while working on the DRP.
These courses present the students with the opportunity to develop or elevate many competencies such as accountability, information seeking, analytical skills, project management, and written and oral communication. These courses also provide our DHA students with the transitional experience from knowledge acquisition to knowledge discoveries.
Important things to know about the DHA DRP:
- A student will choose a feasible topic that is pertinent to health administration in consultation with their DRP Faculty Advisor.
- A student will review relevant theoretical and empirical literature critically.
- A student will design and complete an original research study using the methodology that is appropriate for the chosen topic and feasible for completion within the five DRP courses.
- While all three research methods are taught in the DHA program, it is strongly recommended that DRP students select one study method (e.g., quantitative or qualitative) in order to successfully collect and analyze data in a 10-week block.
- Students will complete their five sequential DRP courses in a cohort setting with the same group of DHA students and the same DRP Faculty Advisor.
- A student must earn a course grade of at least B to advance to the next DHA DRP course in the sequence. If a student does not achieve a minimum of a B grade in any DRP course, then they will need to retake that DRP course which will move them to a different cohort and a different DRP Faculty Advisor.
- Students can only use primary data in fulfillment of their DHA DRP.
Practical Advice for DHA DRP Students
- A student must choose a research project that is relevant to their academic field (health administration) and interest, professional practice and interest, and feasible for completion as according to all relevant requirements and within the allotted five academic terms (blocks), in consultation with their DRP Faculty Advisor.
- All five courses are five credit hours each. Therefore, each DRP student should expect to spend, on average, approximately 22.5 hours each week while working on the DRP.
- A student cannot use as their DHA DRP a research project in which they are already involved at their place of employment to fulfill their DRP requirement.
- If a student chooses to conduct a research study with a design that requires more time than they can complete within the five (5) academic terms (blocks), the student bears full responsibility for not completing their DRP by the end of the fifth term (block).
- If a student chooses to conduct a research study that requires Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval from an institution other than ATSU, they should be aware this may delay when they can begin their study which may affect their grade if they are unable to finish course requirements by the end of the academic term (block).
- All final manuscripts of the DHA DRP will be made accessible to ATSU faculty, students, staff, and alumni. Students should not propose a DRP that they cannot or do not feel comfortable with sharing with the ATSU community.
- Students are responsible for all costs incurred to complete their DHA DRP and should therefore plan and budget for the project or choose a project that accommodates their available financial resources.
- Note: The services of the Department of Research at ATSU cannot be used by DRP students in completing their DRP.
