Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Health Informatics, Specialization in Spirituality Healthcare Technology

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ed.D. in Faith-Based Health Informatics

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

Three to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, academic progress, and completion of the doctoral project

Advanced faith-based health informatics and spirituality healthcare technology courses

30 credit hours

Leadership, administration, and professional practice

21 credit hours

Research methods and program evaluation

18 credit hours

Professional application and doctoral residency

15 credit hours

Advanced electives or concentration courses

12 credit hours

Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy

6 credit hours

Applied doctoral project and defense

18 credit hours

Total

120 semester credit hours

The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Health Informatics, Specialization in Spirituality Healthcare Technology, is a rigorous terminal degree designed for professionals seeking to lead at the intersection of technological innovation and holistic wellness. The program provides a comprehensive framework for addressing the complexities of digital health environments while emphasizing the integration of ethical stewardship and compassionate, values-based care delivery models. Students are challenged to examine the sociotechnical impacts of health information systems through an advanced analytical lens, preparing them to guide organizations toward sustainable, human-centric technological adoption.

The Doctor of Education in Faith-Based Health Informatics is an applied professional doctorate emphasizing advanced faith-based health informatics knowledge, organizational leadership, ethical stewardship, program development, community-care systems, higher-education instruction, and evidence-informed professional practice.

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 number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. A student receiving the maximum transfer-credit award must complete at least 80 semester credit hours through the University.

The applied doctoral project must address a documented faith-based health informatics-support, educational, organizational, or community-care need. The project must include scholarly research, an implementation model, measurable outcomes, ethical safeguards, an evaluation plan, 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.

Program Details

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

Dissertation Proposal Development

• 3
• RES750
• HIN800 — Human-Centered Systems Design in Healthcare: This course explores user-centric methodologies for the development of health information systems that prioritize user experience and patient outcome efficacy. It emphasizes design thinking and usability testing to improve technological integration within clinical workflows. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• HIN810 — Predictive Analytics in Population Health: This course utilizes advanced analytics to address health disparities and improve community outcomes through data-informed decision-making. Students evaluate algorithmic bias and fairness. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT820 — Strategic Planning in Healthcare Informatics: This course provides training in strategic organizational management, focusing on alignment with mission-driven objectives in healthcare technology. It emphasizes long-term organizational health. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES830 — Dissertation Proposal Development: Students define their research problem, literature review, and methodological framework for the upcoming dissertation project. Faculty mentor students through the formal proposal process. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Research I

• 4
• RES830
• HIN840 — Technological Change Management: This course covers the complexities of implementing new informatics systems within traditional healthcare organizations, focusing on culture and change dynamics. It explores strategies for consensus and shared goals. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• HIN850 — Global Health Informatics Trends: Students explore international health technology trends and the challenges of deploying sustainable systems in resource-limited settings. The focus is on global health stewardship. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES860 — Applied Ethics in Technical Research: This course focuses on the ethical challenges inherent in conducting research with sensitive healthcare data, including informed consent and transparency. Students develop protocols for moral research practice. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• DIS900 — Dissertation Research I: The initial stage of original research involving intensive data collection and analysis under the supervision of a faculty committee. This phase establishes the empirical foundation for the study. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Research II

• 4
• DIS900
• RES890
• Seminar in Professional Scholarly Communication
• 3
• RES860
• HIN870 — Emerging Technologies and Policy: Students evaluate the future landscape of healthcare technology, including AI, IoT, and blockchain, assessing their implications for healthcare delivery. Discussion centers on responsible policy development. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• HIN880 — Community-Based Informatics Implementation: This course analyzes community health needs and the informatics solutions that promote long-term stability and holistic wellness. It focuses on local engagement and sustainability. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• DIS910 — Dissertation Research II: Students continue data synthesis and drafting of the dissertation findings, focusing on the interpretation of results within an ethical and scholarly context. Faculty provide ongoing feedback. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES890 — Seminar in Professional Scholarly Communication: This course refines the candidate's ability to communicate complex research results to diverse stakeholders and academic audiences. It emphasizes clarity and persuasive professional impact. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Completion and Defense

• 4
• DIS910
• RES895
• Doctoral Portfolio Development
• 3
• RES890
• CAP950

Capstone of Leadership and Service

• 4
• DIS920
• HIN895 — Integrative Seminar in Healthcare Technology: Students synthesize their learning across the program, integrating informatics knowledge with the leadership and ethical foundations established. This seminar prepares students for post-doctoral contributions. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• DIS920 — Dissertation Completion and Defense: The final stage of the dissertation, involving the submission of the written work and the formal oral defense before a faculty committee. Candidates demonstrate mastery of their research field. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES895 — Doctoral Portfolio Development: This course assists students in assembling their professional and scholarly achievements into a comprehensive portfolio reflecting their competencies and ethical growth. It facilitates the transition to professional practice. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CAP950 — Capstone of Leadership and Service: This final capstone requires students to demonstrate their ability to apply their research and leadership skills to real-world institutional problems. It evaluates their readiness for service and leadership. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation serves as the culminating academic experience of the doctoral program, requiring candidates to produce original research that contributes significantly to the field of health informatics. Students engage in systematic inquiry to address complex technical or systemic issues, applying rigorous methodologies to propose evidence-based solutions that reflect an integration of technical proficiency and ethical reflection. The research must demonstrate the candidate's ability to navigate the intersections of data science, organizational behavior, and the moral dimensions of healthcare innovation.
• Throughout the dissertation process, students integrate faith-based perspectives by evaluating how their research supports stewardship of data, equity in access, and the promotion of human flourishing. This scholarly pursuit requires candidates to model servant leadership and spiritual formation, demonstrating both academic rigor and an unwavering commitment to the ethical standards that guide their professional practice. The final defense of the dissertation serves as a testament to the candidate's readiness to contribute to the field while maintaining a character defined by integrity and purpose.

Career Opportunities

• Chief Medical Information Officer
• Director of Health Informatics Research
• Healthcare Technology Policy Analyst
• Strategic Consultant for Nonprofit Healthcare Systems
• Director of Information Security and Ethics
• Academic Faculty in Health Informatics
• Healthcare Systems Architect

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 | Ed.D. in Faith-Based Health Informatics
• 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 | Three to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, academic progress, and completion of the doctoral project
• Advanced faith-based health informatics and spirituality healthcare technology courses | 30 credit hours
• Leadership, administration, and professional practice | 21 credit hours
• Research methods and program evaluation | 18 credit hours
• Professional application and doctoral residency | 15 credit hours
• Advanced electives or concentration courses | 12 credit hours
• Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy | 6 credit hours
• Applied doctoral project and defense | 18 credit hours
• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES700 | Advanced Research Methodology | 3 | None
• HIN710 | Informatics Leadership and Stewardship | 3 | None
• HIS720 | History of Public Health and Clinical Practices | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• HIN730 | Data Governance and Ethical Integrity | 4 | RES700
• HIN740 | Health Systems Interoperability | 4 | HIN710
• RES750 | Advanced Statistical Analysis | 3 | RES700
• PHI760 | Philosophy of Technology and Digital Ethics | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• HIN800 | Human-Centered Systems Design in Healthcare | 4 | HIN740
• HIN810 | Predictive Analytics in Population Health | 4 | RES750
• MGT820 | Strategic Planning in Healthcare Informatics | 3 | HIN710
• RES830 | Dissertation Proposal Development | 3 | RES750
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• HIN840 | Technological Change Management | 4 | MGT820
• HIN850 | Global Health Informatics Trends | 3 | HIN740
• RES860 | Applied Ethics in Technical Research | 3 | RES830
• DIS900 | Dissertation Research I | 4 | RES830
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• HIN870 | Emerging Technologies and Policy | 4 | HIN840
• HIN880 | Community-Based Informatics Implementation | 3 | HIN800
• DIS910 | Dissertation Research II | 4 | DIS900
• RES890 | Seminar in Professional Scholarly Communication | 3 | RES860
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• HIN895 | Integrative Seminar in Healthcare Technology | 3 | HIN870
• DIS920 | Dissertation Completion and Defense | 4 | DIS910
• RES895 | Doctoral Portfolio Development | 3 | RES890
• CAP950 | Capstone of Leadership and Service | 4 | DIS920