Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Alternative Medicine, Specialization in Holistic Health

Maximum approved transfer credit Up to 40 semester credit hours Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer 80 semester credit hours Advanced Faith-Based Alternative Medicine and specialization courses 30 credit hours Holistic health 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 Alternative Medicine with a specialization in Holistic Health is a rigorous, research-intensive program designed for scholars and practitioners dedicated to exploring the intersection of traditional wellness modalities and ethical, value-centered health perspectives. The curriculum emphasizes the scientific inquiry of integrative health practices alongside the philosophical frameworks of stewardship, servant leadership, and holistic wellness. Students engage in advanced study to bridge the gap between evidence-based health theories and the practical application of holistic care within community-focused environments. Throughout the program, participants analyze the complex dynamics of human health, focusing on the integration of physical, emotional, and relational well-being in service to others. The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Alternative Medicine is an applied professional doctorate emphasizing advanced faith-based alternative medicine 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 alternative medicine-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.