Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Behavioral Health Science (Addiction Research) — Minor: Nonprofit Policy, Advocacy

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ph.D. in Faith-Based Behavioral Health Science (Addiction Research)

Total program length

120 semester credit hours

Maximum approved transfer credit

Up to 40 semester credit hours

Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer

80 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion

Advanced faith-based behavioral health science theory and specialization

30 credit hours

Research methods, statistics, and scholarly inquiry

24 credit hours

Professional leadership and higher-education teaching

15 credit hours

Advanced electives and concentration courses

18 credit hours

Scholarly writing and publication

9 credit hours

Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy

6 credit hours

Program Details

• Total Credits: 120
• Duration: 3 years
• Degree Level: PhD

Dissertation research and defense

• 18 credit hours
• Total
• 120 semester credit hours
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Behavioral Health Science with a focus on Addiction Research is a rigorous research-oriented doctoral program designed to equip scholars with the analytical skills necessary to address complex social and behavioral challenges. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students examine the intersection of addiction recovery, public policy, and organizational advocacy within non-profit frameworks. This program emphasizes evidence-based inquiry, ethical stewardship, and the application of servant leadership principles to foster resilience in vulnerable populations.
• Students integrate a sophisticated understanding of behavioral science with organizational management, preparing them to contribute original knowledge to the field of addiction research. By exploring the influence of faith-informed institutional structures, graduates develop the capability to lead advocacy initiatives that promote structural change, equitable resource distribution, and community well-being, all while adhering to the highest standards of academic integrity and professional ethics.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Behavioral Health Science (Addiction Research) is a research-intensive doctoral program emphasizing advanced faith-based behavioral health science theory, original research, quantitative and qualitative methodology, scholarly publication, higher-education teaching, ethical leadership, and the development and evaluation of faith-based behavioral health science-support programs.
• Students may receive up to 40 semester credit hours of approved graduate or doctoral transfer credit. Accepted transfer credits are applied toward the 120-credit graduation requirement and may reduce the student's remaining coursework and anticipated completion time. A student receiving the maximum transfer-credit award must complete at least 80 semester credit hours through the University.
• The Ph.D. requires successful completion of all required coursework, comprehensive examinations, admission to doctoral candidacy, approval of a dissertation proposal, original scholarly research, submission of an approved written dissertation, and a successful oral defense.
• DOCTORAL TRANSFER-CREDIT POLICY: The Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy programs each require 120 semester credit hours. Students may transfer up to 40 semester credit hours of eligible graduate or doctoral coursework toward either degree. Transfer credit is not automatically awarded. Each request is evaluated individually according to: The academic level of the previous coursework; The relevance of the coursework to the doctoral curriculum; Course content and learning outcomes; Credit-hour equivalency; Grades earned; The age of the coursework; Official institutional documentation; The University's residency and transfer-credit policies. Accepted transfer credit may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. Students awarded the maximum 40 transfer credits will have 80 semester credit hours remaining in the 120-credit doctoral program. Comprehensive examinations, doctoral candidacy, doctoral residency, the applied doctoral project, dissertation research, and the final oral defense must ordinarily be completed through the University. These requirements may not be satisfied through transfer credit unless expressly permitted under a published University policy.

Dissertation Prospectus

• 4
• RES830
• COU870
• Sociocultural Impacts of Addiction
• 3
• None
• MGT880
• Policy Advocacy Practicum
• 4
• MGT740
• RES895

Dissertation Data Collection

• 3
• RES890
• RES890 — Dissertation Prospectus: Development and defense of the dissertation proposal. Focuses on establishing the research scope and theoretical frameworkThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• COU870 — Sociocultural Impacts of Addiction: Advanced study of systemic factors influencing addiction across cultures. Explores community-based responsesThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• MGT880 — Policy Advocacy Practicum: Application of advocacy skills in a real-world setting. Students engage in supervised policy work for a local organizationThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• RES895 — Dissertation Data Collection: Execution of research methodology and data gathering as approved by the dissertation committeeThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..

Dissertation Manuscript Development

• 4
• RES895
• BUS890
• Strategic Leadership Final Seminar
• 3
• MIN750
• RES897
• Doctoral Research Presentation
• 3
• CAP899
• CAP899 — Doctoral Dissertation: Final analysis, writing, and defense of the doctoral dissertation. Demonstrates scholarly achievement and original contribution to the fieldThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• RES896 — Dissertation Manuscript Development: Refinement of the dissertation document and preparation for academic dissemination. Focuses on scholarly writing standardsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• BUS890 — Strategic Leadership Final Seminar: Final synthesis of professional skills and faith-informed leadership. Focuses on the transition to career roles in behavioral healthThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• RES897 — Doctoral Research Presentation: Oral defense of the research findings and public presentation of the dissertation work to the academic communityThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation represents the culminating academic achievement of the PhD program, requiring students to conduct an original, substantive research project that contributes new insights to the field of addiction science. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to formulate a clear research question, execute a rigorous methodology, and analyze findings within the context of current behavioral health literature. This process requires sustained intellectual effort, critical evaluation of existing paradigms, and the development of scholarly arguments that address contemporary societal challenges.
• Beyond technical proficiency, the dissertation serves as an integration point for faith-informed character development and ethical reasoning. Students are expected to demonstrate how their research reflects principles of servant leadership and biblical stewardship, ensuring that their work not only satisfies academic requirements but also aligns with a commitment to human dignity and community restoration. The final deliverable is a comprehensive document defended before a faculty committee, evidencing both rigorous academic competence and the spiritual maturity required to act as a responsible steward of knowledge.

Dissertation research and defense | 18 credit hours

• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES700 | Advanced Quantitative Methods | 3 | Master's level statistics course
• COU710 | Neurobiology of Addiction | 3 | Master's level psychopathology
• BUS720 | Non-Profit Stewardship and Governance | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES705 | Qualitative Inquiry in Behavioral Science | 4 | RES700
• SOC730 | Public Policy and Behavioral Health | 3 | None
• THE715 | Ethics in Behavioral Health Research | 3 | None
• MGT740 | Strategic Advocacy and Social Change | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES800 | Advanced Research Design | 4 | RES705
• COU810 | Evidence-Based Intervention Models | 3 | COU710
• BUS820 | Grant Writing and Resource Development | 3 | BUS720
• MIN750 | Servant Leadership in Non-Profit Settings | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES830 | Data Analysis Laboratory | 4 | RES800
• SOC840 | Community Resilience and Outreach | 3 | SOC730
• EDU850 | Pedagogy and Knowledge Transfer | 3 | None
• SOC860 | Organizational Culture and Social Impact | 4 | THE715
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES890 | Dissertation Prospectus | 4 | RES830
• COU870 | Sociocultural Impacts of Addiction | 3 | None
• MGT880 | Policy Advocacy Practicum | 4 | MGT740
• RES895 | Dissertation Data Collection | 3 | RES890
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CAP899 | Doctoral Dissertation | 4 | RES895
• RES896 | Dissertation Manuscript Development | 4 | RES895
• BUS890 | Strategic Leadership Final Seminar | 3 | MIN750
• RES897 | Doctoral Research Presentation | 3 | CAP899

Career Opportunities

• Addiction Research Scientist
• Policy Analyst for Non-Profit Organizations
• Academic Faculty in Behavioral Health
• Director of Community Advocacy Initiatives
• Behavioral Health Program Consultant
• Organizational Strategist for Faith-Based Services
• Public Policy Advisor

Important Notices

• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Degree abbreviation | Ph.D. in Faith-Based Behavioral Health Science (Addiction Research)
• Total program length | 120 semester credit hours
• Maximum approved transfer credit | Up to 40 semester credit hours
• Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer | 80 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion
• Advanced faith-based behavioral health science theory and specialization | 30 credit hours
• Research methods, statistics, and scholarly inquiry | 24 credit hours
• Professional leadership and higher-education teaching | 15 credit hours
• Advanced electives and concentration courses | 18 credit hours
• Scholarly writing and publication | 9 credit hours
• Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy | 6 credit hours