Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Healthcare, Specialization in Health Ministry

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ed.D. in Faith-Based Healthcare

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 healthcare and specialization 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 Healthcare with a specialization in Health Ministry is a rigorous, research-oriented doctoral program designed for professionals seeking to integrate ethical stewardship and servant leadership principles within the health and human services landscape. The curriculum emphasizes the application of high-level administrative strategies, organizational behavior, and community wellness initiatives informed by a commitment to ethical integrity and social responsibility. Through advanced inquiry, candidates explore the intersection of institutional healthcare management and the holistic well-being of the communities they serve. This program fosters deep analytical skills, empowering students to navigate the complex social, ethical, and organizational challenges inherent in modern health environments while maintaining a steadfast commitment to service-oriented leadership. Students engage in comprehensive academic research to develop evidence-based approaches to health advocacy and program development.

The Doctor of Education in Faith-Based Healthcare is an applied professional doctorate emphasizing advanced faith-based healthcare 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 healthcare-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 Development Seminar I

• 4
• RES840
• RES881

Dissertation Development Seminar II

• 4
• RES880
• MGT890
• Global Health and Cross-Cultural Ministry
• 4
• None
• RES891
• Specialized Research Topics in Health Ministry
• 3
• None
• RES880 — Dissertation Development Seminar I: This course provides dedicated time for the execution of doctoral research under the guidance of a faculty supervisor. Students focus on initial data gathering and preliminary findings. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES881 — Dissertation Development Seminar II: This course continues the research process with a focus on synthesizing findings and developing chapters. Students engage in ongoing rigorous peer reflection and mentorship. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT890 — Global Health and Cross-Cultural Ministry: This course surveys global health trends and the dynamics of providing care in cross-cultural settings. It emphasizes cultural competency and community partnership in international outreach. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES891 — Specialized Research Topics in Health Ministry: Students investigate specialized niche topics that inform their professional practice and dissertation scope. This course encourages independent research into emerging healthcare challenges. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Defense and Completion

• 10
• RES881
• MGT895

Capstone Integration Seminar

• 3
• None
• BUS896
• Advanced Leadership Seminar
• 3
• None
• CHR897
• Professional Ethics and Reflective Practice
• 3
• None
• CAP899 — Dissertation Defense and Completion: This course concludes the dissertation process, encompassing the final writing, review, and formal oral defense. Successful students demonstrate profound research capacity and ethical leadership expertise. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT895 — Capstone Integration Seminar: This final seminar integrates the knowledge gained throughout the program to plan for future professional impact. Students articulate their vision for applying leadership and research skills in their careers. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS896 — Advanced Leadership Seminar: A review of modern leadership strategies as they apply to complex organizational environments. This course prepares students to lead with vision, resilience, and integrity. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CHR897 — Professional Ethics and Reflective Practice: This course provides a framework for ongoing ethical reflection as graduates move into leadership roles. It emphasizes the importance of continuous self-assessment and service. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation serves as the culminating scholarly endeavor for the Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Healthcare, representing the student's transition from learner to independent researcher. This project requires the student to identify a significant problem within the healthcare sector and conduct original, empirical, or theoretical research to propose viable, sustainable, and ethical solutions. The scope of the work must demonstrate an advanced grasp of research methodology and the ability to contribute original insights to the field of health ministry.
• The dissertation is valued at 10 credit hours and requires students to weave together technical research with an explicitly faith-informed framework, specifically addressing how their conclusions reflect principles of biblical stewardship, ethical decision-making, and servant leadership. By integrating a theological worldview with organizational analysis, the student demonstrates that academic rigor is inextricably linked to the cultivation of character. The final deliverable is a formal manuscript defended before a committee, proving the candidate's capacity for scholarly contribution and their readiness to serve as a leader in faith-informed health initiatives.

Career Opportunities

• Executive Director of Faith-Based Health Organizations
• Health Ministry Coordinator
• Nonprofit Healthcare Policy Analyst
• Community Health Program Administrator
• Organizational Ethics Consultant
• Higher Education Academic Administrator
• Public Health Consultant for Faith-Based Initiatives

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 Healthcare
• 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 healthcare and specialization 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
• RES701 | Advanced Qualitative Research Methods | 4 | None
• MGT705 | Organizational Ethics and Servant Leadership | 4 | None
• THE710 | Ethics in Healthcare and Stewardship | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES720 | Quantitative Data Analysis for Health Services | 4 | RES701
• HIS730 | History of Social Welfare and Faith-Based Care | 4 | None
• SOC740 | Social Determinants of Health and Community Wellness | 4 | None
• BUS750 | Strategic Planning in Nonprofit Health Organizations | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES801 | Advanced Research Design for Doctoral Inquiry | 4 | RES720
• MGT810 | Human Capital and Volunteer Management | 4 | None
• COU820 | Integrative Approaches to Pastoral Counseling | 4 | None
• COM830 | Crisis Communication for Health Leaders | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES840 | Advanced Data Interpretation and Scientific Writing | 4 | RES801
• EDU850 | Instructional Design for Community Health Literacy | 4 | None
• BUS860 | Financial Stewardship and Resource Acquisition | 4 | BUS750
• CHR870 | Spiritual Formation and Character in Leadership | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES880 | Dissertation Development Seminar I | 4 | RES840
• RES881 | Dissertation Development Seminar II | 4 | RES880
• MGT890 | Global Health and Cross-Cultural Ministry | 4 | None
• RES891 | Specialized Research Topics in Health Ministry | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CAP899 | Dissertation Defense and Completion | 10 | RES881
• MGT895 | Capstone Integration Seminar | 3 | None
• BUS896 | Advanced Leadership Seminar | 3 | None
• CHR897 | Professional Ethics and Reflective Practice | 3 | None