EdD Degree in Healthcare Administration - Qualitative
Prepare to Lead the Next Generation in Health Care
Prepare for a future in health care administration with Grand Canyon University’s Doctor of Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Health Care Administration. Offered online and in evening cohorts by the College of Doctoral Studies, this EdD in health care administration program is designed to increase your awareness of the multi-faceted nature of the health care field.
Develop a framework for effective management and organizational leadership using evidence- based research and strategies to cultivate a positive, productive culture. Discover the benefits of shared values and tactics that promote organizational excellence. Combining GCU’s rigorous curriculum with reflective practice, you can increase your aptitude for scholarly research while exploring methods of design, analysis and dissemination. This online EdD program includes a formative dissertation process, which begins in your first course.
What Is a Qualitative EdD in Health Care Administration?
This qualitative EdD program focuses on examining events to better understand an observed phenomenon, whereas the quantitative EdD program focuses on examining and analyzing events by interpreting numeric data. Students enrolled in this qualitative program will create a sampling plan, design and field test research tools, collect data and conduct a deep and careful analysis of the data using a systematic approach.
What You’ll Learn
This doctor of health administration online covers modern topics and issues facing the health care industry including the various governance structures and their connections to leadership. Develop an increased understanding of public, private, nonprofit and for-profit governance structures. In addition, review the many levels of regulations health care administrators must address. Discuss the effects of mandatory and voluntary measures, from state, medical and professional boards to the federal government.
Throughout this the online EdD of Healthcare Administration program, students cover the following competencies:
- Ethical practices in research, leadership and decision making in behavioral health settings with incorporation of social responsibility and stewardship
- Methods of research design and analysis to aid with strategic planning and development of best practices
Careers With an EdD of Healthcare Administration
This EdD program is for those looking to advance their leadership skills in health care administration. Graduates may have opportunities to pursue careers in:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Managed care organizations
- Public health agencies
§ MOU-Alumni 2000 Doctoral-Oct2023: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application and begin a Doctoral program in October 2023. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship or awards and only applies to online and evening programs. Please speak to a university counselor for complete details.
GCU alumni enrolling in a doctoral program for the first time may be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship.§
Time to Completion and Dissertation Process
To learn more about time to completion and the dissertation process at GCU, visit our doctoral page.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course introduces doctoral learners to the principle elements of research, scholarly writing, and effective argumentation. Learners are made aware of the dispositions and expectations of doctoral researchers as well as the University’s overarching values and beliefs regarding research and the responsibility of scholars to contribute new knowledge to their respective fields of study. Learners begin the process of identifying a researchable dissertation topic and are acquainted with appropriate scholarly resources that support the development of the dissertation.
Course Description
In this course, learners are introduced to the critical reading of scholarly qualitative and quantitative literature at the doctoral level. Learners also explore the concept of synthesizing the scholarly literature to identify problems and problem spaces that emerge to form a researchable topic of study. The application of scholarly argumentation from the extant literature to defend the need for a research study is discussed.
Course Description
This course examines multiple ethical frameworks, principles, and theories as they apply to the study and practice of leadership. Corporate social responsibility will be addressed from the perspective of ethical decision making. Prerequisite: RES-815.
Course Description
This course provides an overview of the impact of leadership and the effects of behaviors on the formulation and execution of strategy within an organization. Topics include the increasing importance of resilience and change in today’s global and turbulent economy.
Course Description
In this course, learners are introduced to key components of qualitative and quantitative research designs and the means to critically appraise the application of research designs as observed in the scholarly literature. The University's core research designs are presented. Consideration is given to the initial selection and defense of a research design to address a problem that emerged from the extant literature.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods employed in qualitative and quantitative research designs. Learners explore the alignment of sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods to the research topic, research questions, and research design. The course positions learners to select qualitative or quantitative designs for their dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-831.
Course Description
This residency allows learners to continue developing their skills as academic researchers. Learners will have hands-on experience applying quantitative and qualitative design principals to develop the foundational elements for their potential dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-850, RES-825, RES-831, or RCS-831.
Course Description
This course provides an overview of many levels of regulation in the health care industry. These include state boards, medical boards, professional boards, and the federal government. Various organizational and self-regulatory measures are presented, and the impact of mandatory and voluntary measures are discussed.
Course Description
The course explores the connection between leadership and professional development with a focus on assisting employees in achieving personal potential. The course promotes creating a culture of shared values and ownership to promote a standard of organizational excellence.
Course Description
The course discusses the importance of assessing the current culture of an organization as well as how the concept of collaboration is employed as a means for building a culture of community in health care. Systems thinking and inter-professional teaming are presented as strategies for building a collaborative community.
Course Description
In this course, learners explore the basic components of GCU qualitative core research designs including descriptive, case study, and phenomenology. The nature of epistemological foundations and the structure of problem statements, purpose statements, research questions, data sources, collection and analysis approaches are discussed in the context of each design.
Course Description
In this course, learners differentiate the epistemological foundations and explore the data trustworthiness, research ethics, and potential for bias in descriptive, case study, and phenomenology research designs. The process of building a rationale for design choice and aligning the research questions, interview questions, problem statement, and purpose statement is addressed. Sources of qualitative data are introduced for each design, and ethical aspects of research are discussed. Prerequisite: RES-841.
Course Description
This course explores the opportunities and challenges facing leaders in the global environment. The course topics focus on aspects of leading global and diverse workforces, and on theories of leadership and leadership development in diverse and global cultures.
Course Description
In this residency, learners orally present and defend an expanded design of their preliminary dissertation research from RSD-851. Emphasis is placed on developing the qualitative dissertation. Prerequisite: RES-843.
Course Description
The course addresses how continuous improvement guides organizations to promote change and innovation as a means of being viable and sustainable. Prerequisite: RES-866.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: RES-871, RES-885, RSD-883, or RSD-884.
Course Description
In this course, learners explore qualitative data collection techniques and sources of qualitative data in the context of answering the research questions posed by a study. Consideration is given to the recognition of data saturation and the management of data. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs to prepare a written statement of data collection, and management activities. Prerequisite: RES-843.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design and/or conduct independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: DIS-955.
Course Description
In this course, learners focus on the interpretation of qualitative data to produce written research findings, results, and implications. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs and apply information from this course to move ahead in the dissertation process. Prerequisite: RES-873.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design and/or conduct independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: DIS-960.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.