Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t find the answers to your questions here, simply contact your Rockhurst University enrollment adviser and schedule a time to talk that’s convenient for you.
What can I do with an Ed.D. in Health Care?
The Health Care Ed.D. degree shapes students to become faculty members or administrators in academic, community or health care settings. You will have the credentials and specialized knowledge to be qualified for roles such as:
- Health Care Management or Administrator
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Occupational Therapist
- Physical Therapist
- Health Care Consultant
- College Professor
- Department Chair
What topics are covered in the Health Care concentration?
Courses for the Health Care Ed.D. prepare students to address the health educator shortage and teach the next generation of practitioners in your field. Course topics include:
- College Teaching Practicum
- Health Care Systems
- Medical Practice Management
- Health Policy
- Quality Improvement in Health Care
- Health Information Technology
- Introduction to Medical Spanish
- Medical Spanish Human Anatomy & Terminology
- Advanced Medical Spanish
- Medical Spanish Conversational Fluency & Interpretation
- Spanish for the Healthcare Professional
- Medical Spanish and Sociolinguistics
- Managerial Communications
- Organizational Behavior
- HR and Managing People
- Innovation
- Organizational Change
For more information on topics covered in the Health Care concentration, view our program guide.
Graduate certificate options in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion or Medical Spanish are available at no additional cost. Contact your enrollment adviser for more information.
How can the Ed.D. in Health Care advance my career?
With an Ed.D. degree, enhanced skills and competencies, your earning potential will increase. The BLS reports an annual median salary of $101,340 for medical and health services managers in May 2021 and projects a 28 percent increase in medical and health services manager roles between 2021 and 2031.
A Hospital Operations Manager makes $86,364 on average, but the salary range typically falls between $75,890 and $103,168. Occupational Therapists make an average annual salary of $96,332 with a range between $88,243 and $104,942. Those with additional education and certifications typically earn the higher end of that range. The same can be said for Physical Therapists as average compensation is $97,501 annually, with a range of $90,201 and $105,301 depending on education and experience.
An Ed.D. in Health Care employs teaching methods that are specialized for the health care field. Graduates learn how to design program assessment plans aligned with accreditation processes and can provide more access to health care by helping to address the educator shortage. With an Ed.D. in Health Care, you will have the knowledge to pursue a career as a professor at a college or university, director of a health department, a health care consultant or a variety of roles in health care management. As a qualified health care leader you will be able to help meet a growing demand in health care and shape the next generation of practitioners.
Is Rockhurst’s online Ed.D. in Education and Leadership program accredited?
Rockhurst University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The School of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Business courses in this program are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Are Rockhurst’s online Ed.D. in Education and Leadership faculty experienced?
Rockhurst’s faculty are experienced professionals dedicated to each student’s success and are readily accessible for one-on-one advising and mentoring.
How long will it take for me to complete Rockhurst’s online Ed.D. in Education and Leadership program?
The online Ed.D. in Education and Leadership program can be completed in 2 years (6 semesters).
How many credit hours are required for Rockhurst’s online Ed.D. in Education and Leadership program?
The online Ed.D. in Education and Leadership program requires 45 credits to graduate. Students must be able to transfer 33 graduate credits from a master's degree in any field.
How much does Rockhurst’s online Ed.D. in Education and Leadership program cost?
The online Ed.D. in Education and Leadership program costs $816 per credit hour for a total program investment of $36,720. Financial aid may be available to our online students.
What is the DEI graduate certificate, and how can I get one?
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion graduate certificate program offers students the opportunity to explore DEI concepts and social justice in a multicultural world. The DEI certificate requires 4 elective courses for a total of 12 credits at no additional cost. Contact your enrollment adviser for more information.
What is the Medical Spanish graduate certificate, and how can I get one?
The Medical Spanish graduate certificate program provides students with a better understanding of the social and cultural complexities of patient care in Spanish-speaking communities and prepares them to provide “language-concordant care” to overcome communication barriers. The Medical Spanish certificate requires 4 elective courses for a total of 12 credits at no additional cost. Contact your enrollment adviser for more information.