Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Healthcare Policy, Bioethics

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ph.D. in Faith-Based Healthcare Policy, Bioethics

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 healthcare policy and bioethics 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 Healthcare Policy and Bioethics is an advanced research-oriented degree designed to equip scholars with the analytical tools necessary to address the intersection of modern healthcare policy, bioethical inquiry, and ethical stewardship. The program provides a rigorous academic environment where students engage with complex policy frameworks, legal landscapes, and philosophical paradigms that govern human health and wellbeing in a global context. Through interdisciplinary study, participants develop the capacity to navigate the multifaceted challenges facing modern healthcare systems while grounding their scholarship in ethical integrity and principled decision-making. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based research methodologies, systemic policy analysis, and the critical evaluation of ethical theories applied to clinical and administrative settings. By fostering an environment of intellectual curiosity and professional excellence, the program prepares graduates to contribute meaningfully to the academic discourse surrounding healthcare justice, patient autonomy, and the equitable allocation of medical resources. Students engage with advanced theories of bioethics, global health disparities, and policy development, ensuring they are well-positioned to serve as leaders who prioritize the common good.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Healthcare Policy, Bioethics is a research-intensive doctoral program emphasizing advanced faith-based healthcare policy and bioethics theory, original research, quantitative and qualitative methodology, scholarly publication, higher-education teaching, ethical leadership, and the development and evaluation of faith-based healthcare policy and bioethics-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 Research I

• 4
• RES830
• DIS860

Dissertation Research II

• 4
• DIS850
• DIS870

Dissertation Writing and Peer Review

• 4
• DIS860
• ELE880
• Advanced Elective: Healthcare Innovations
• 4
• None
• DIS850 — Dissertation Research I: Initial phase of the doctoral dissertation focusing on data collection and preliminary analysis. Supervision provided to ensure alignment with ethical and academic standards. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• DIS860 — Dissertation Research II: Ongoing research efforts with emphasis on deeper data analysis and refinement of arguments. Ongoing feedback from the advisory committee is synthesized into the research. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• DIS870 — Dissertation Writing and Peer Review: Structured drafting of the dissertation chapters with concurrent peer and faculty review. Emphasis on clarity, coherence, and contribution to the discipline. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• ELE880 — Advanced Elective: Healthcare Innovations: Analysis of the ethical implications of emerging healthcare technologies and their impact on future policy. Students explore the intersection of innovation and access. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Completion and Defense

• 4
• DIS870
• ELE900
• Advanced Elective: Community Health Engagement
• 4
• None
• ELE910
• Advanced Elective: Organizational Ethics
• 4
• None
• ELE920
• Advanced Elective: Public Policy Communication
• 4
• None
• DIS890 — Dissertation Completion and Defense: Final completion of the dissertation and the oral defense before the doctoral committee. Demonstration of mastery of the subject matter and independent scholarly capacity. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• ELE900 — Advanced Elective: Community Health Engagement: Application of policy principles to address community-level health disparities. Focus on collaborative partnerships between research institutions and community agencies. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• ELE910 — Advanced Elective: Organizational Ethics: Examination of institutional policies that impact healthcare quality and employee wellbeing. Analysis of the role of professional conduct in complex organizations. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• ELE920 — Advanced Elective: Public Policy Communication: Strategic development of communication skills for presenting research findings to policy makers and public forums. Focus on clarity, accuracy, and persuasiveness. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation represents the pinnacle of the PhD experience, requiring students to conduct original, substantial research that addresses a significant gap in the field of healthcare policy or bioethics. Students are expected to identify a research problem, design a systematic methodology, collect and analyze data, and produce a dissertation that reflects doctoral-level academic competence. This process serves as a vehicle for demonstrating the synthesis of policy analysis and ethical inquiry, ensuring the scholar can contribute meaningfully to their discipline.
• The project integrates faith-based perspectives by requiring candidates to explicitly evaluate how their research supports principles of human dignity, social responsibility, and the stewardly use of limited resources. Students are encouraged to frame their research within a worldview that emphasizes the ethical obligations of healthcare systems to vulnerable populations. Through the dissertation process, candidates cultivate not only technical research skills but also the character traits of perseverance, integrity, and servant leadership, ensuring their contributions reflect both academic rigor and spiritual maturity.

Dissertation research and defense | 18 credit hours

• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES700 | Doctoral Research Methodology | 4 | None
• BIO710 | Theoretical Foundations of Bioethics | 4 | None
• POL720 | Healthcare Policy and Legal Environments | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BIO730 | Clinical Ethics and Patient Advocacy | 4 | BIO710
• POL740 | Public Health Systems and Governance | 4 | POL720
• RES750 | Advanced Data Analysis in Healthcare | 4 | RES700
• PUB760 | Sustainability and Resource Management in Public Health | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BIO770 | Ethics of Life-Cycle Challenges | 4 | BIO730
• POL780 | Resource Allocation and Distributive Justice | 4 | POL740
• RES790 | Policy Analysis Research Laboratory | 4 | RES750
• MGT800 | Servant Leadership in Healthcare Systems | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BIO810 | Global Bioethics and Cross-Cultural Perspectives | 4 | BIO770
• POL820 | Political Science and Legislative Advocacy | 4 | POL780
• RES830 | Advanced Literature Review and Proposal Development | 4 | RES790
• ETH840 | Integrative Ethical Leadership | 4 | MGT800
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DIS850 | Dissertation Research I | 4 | RES830
• DIS860 | Dissertation Research II | 4 | DIS850
• DIS870 | Dissertation Writing and Peer Review | 4 | DIS860
• ELE880 | Advanced Elective: Healthcare Innovations | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DIS890 | Dissertation Completion and Defense | 4 | DIS870
• ELE900 | Advanced Elective: Community Health Engagement | 4 | None
• ELE910 | Advanced Elective: Organizational Ethics | 4 | None
• ELE920 | Advanced Elective: Public Policy Communication | 4 | None

Career Opportunities

• Healthcare Policy Consultant for Faith-Based Nonprofits
• Bioethics Committee Chair in Academic Medical Centers
• Director of Research for Health Advocacy Organizations
• University Professor of Healthcare Ethics and Policy
• Administrator for Community-Based Health Initiatives
• Ethical Consultant for Public Policy Research Institutes
• Advocacy Director for Humanitarian Health Agencies

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 Healthcare Policy, Bioethics
• 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 healthcare policy and bioethics 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