Doctor of Science (ScD)
Program Mission Statement
The mission of the Executive Doctor of Science (ScD) Program is to develop and train health professionals to become independent health service scholars, and to advance knowledge of health systems through collaborative research and publication.
Program Description
The Executive ScD program is designed for mid-career professionals who desire joining a group of fellow students and faculty to develop new skills and pursue new knowledge in health systems management and policy. 
Students are recruited from across the United States and beyond, bringing together many diverse backgrounds and experience. These include health services administrators, health care clinicians, health scientists, and public health leaders. Students can remain employed while undertaking and completing their doctoral degree.
The curriculum features three major learning themes: research methods and strategies, application of analytical and quantitative skills, and a seminar series in contemporary health management and policy issues. These content areas are designed to provide the student with the skills required to undertake successful independent research and to help identify health services research issues that merit further analysis and evaluation.
Program Competencies
After completion of the ScD program in Global Health Systems and Development, the graduate will be able to:
- Design research projects. (ESCD 7770, ESCD 7780, ESCD 7790)
- Apply higher level statistical theory and application. (ESCD 7790, ESCD 7730, ESCD 7750)
- Analyze health sector management and policy issues from a multi-disciplinary perspective. (ESCD 7710, ESCD 7150)
- Interpret the process of health policy analysis and health policy making (ESCD 7710, ESCD 7610, ESCD 7310)
- Analyze health services research and health management issues from economic and social perspectives. (ESCD 7610, ESCD 7310, ESCD 7510)
- Appraise and utilize analytical approaches. (ESCD 7790, ESCD 7780, ESCD 7770)
- Manage and analyze large data sets ( ESCD 7790, ESCD 7730, ESCD 7750, ESCD 7800)
- Apply ethical standards in research and data analysis (ESCD 7770, ESCD 7780)
- Utilize core skills in the areas of health systems management, health policy and health outcomes research (ESCD 7710, ESCD 7610, ESCD 7310, ESCD 7510)
- Demonstrate ability to write scholarly publications and grant applications (dissertation research and directed reading stage)
- Demonstrate ability to present research methodology and research findings orally in formal settings (dissertation research, defending dissertation, presentations in class our outside)
Admissions Requirements
Each prospective student applying for the ScD degree must submit the following:
- A minimum of three years health professions experience;
- Completed a minimum of 36 credit hours of graduate level course work in a related field, or the requirements for the Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Public Health, Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Master of Health Administration or terminal clinical degree;
- Official transcripts of all baccalaureate and graduate course work (Note: transcripts should be sent directly from each College or University through the online application, SOPHAS); a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 point scale for graduate course work is preferred for admission into the doctoral program within the Department of GHSD;
- GRE, GMAT, MCAT or other graduate entrance test scores. A GRE combined score of 1200 in verbal and quantitative sections is preferred;
- Statement of career goals and research ideas. This statement/essay should be between 500 to 1000 words;
- A resume (or curriculum vitae);
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals who are familiar with the academic and/or professional performance of the applicant; at least one of the recommendations must be from a person with an earned doctoral degree;
- For applicants from non-English speaking areas, TOEFL is required.
Program Requirements
The Executive ScD curriculum consists of a total of 72 didactic credit hours*, of which 36 credit hours must be obtained through coursework at Tulane during the first two years of study and 9 credit hours of dissertation research in the third year of study. Students must also complete an interdisciplinary seminar for 2 credit hours. The rigorous course schedule is pursued through on-campus sessions held one weekend per month (excluding June and July) on Friday, Saturday, and half day Sunday.
All coursework is required of all candidates; there are no elective courses. All coursework will be graded using the usual grading scale of the SPHTM, and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 will be required for graduation. If the student has not already completed the SPHTM core courses at admission, all core courses including the interdisciplinary doctoral seminar course must be completed at Tulane University.
Students must complete comprehensive exams in School of Public Health and Tropical medicine core courses and program courses. Comprehensive exams in program core courses are generally given the fifth semester of enrollment. Students have the choice of one elected comprehensive exam and take required exams in research methods, health outcomes research, and decision analysis.
Students must complete an advanced practicum requirement. This will occur in the third year of the program. Students select a preceptor in a public health, research-based organization and conduct health systems data collection and analysis activities. For students with extensive research experience, this requirement may be waived.
Upon completion of comprehensive exams, students prepare and defend a dissertation prospectus. The prospectus includes the first three sections of the dissertation - introduction, literature review and methods. The prospectus defense is an oral presentation of the written work and defense of methods, analysis and results before the committee and guests. Both the prospectus and dissertation defenses have open invitations for students, faculty, and guests.
The dissertation must be defended within seven years of the start of the program. The student is responsible for arranging a dissertation committee made up of four members - two members from the Department of Global Health Systems and Development, a member from another department in the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and an outside (non-Tulane) member. The dissertation chair must be a full member (non-adjunct) of the Department of Global Health Systems and Development, and no more than one member of the committee can be adjunct faculty. The dissertation will be successfully defended when the committee agrees to its completion and all required changes are made by the student. Coursework is offered on a two-year cycle. Please contact the program manager for more details.
*Note: Additional credit hours will be required if the student lacks at least 36 hours of approved graduate level didactic credits including course work in the 5 public health core areas.
- Download Sample Course Plan
- Download Curriculum Worksheet
School Core Courses (requirement depends on the approved transferred credit hours, up to 36 credits)
|
Course
|
Course Name
|
Credits
|
|
BIOS 6030
|
Introductory Biostatistics
|
3
|
|
EPID 6030
|
Epidemiology Methods
|
3
|
|
GEHS 6030
|
Survey of Environmental Health
|
3
|
|
GHSD 6030
|
Principles of Health Systems Administration
and Management
|
3
|
|
TRMD 6010
|
Biological Basis of Disease
|
3
|
|
GCHB 6030
|
Social and Behavioral Aspects of Global Health
|
3
|
| |
|
Program Required Courses (38 credits)
|
Course
|
Course Name
|
Credits
|
|
ESCD 8310
|
Organizational Theory and
Assessment
|
3
|
|
ESCD 8410
|
Cost Benefit and Cost Effectiveness
Analysis
|
3
|
|
ESCD 8430
|
Decision Analysis/Advanced Utility Theory
|
3
|
|
ESCD 8510
|
Applied Health Economics
|
3
|
|
ESCD 8610
|
Health Policy Analysis
|
3
|
|
ESCD 8710
|
Health Outcomes
|
3
|
|
ESCD 8730
|
Biostatistics: Regression Analysis
|
3
|
|
ESCD 8750
|
Advanced Regression
|
3
|
|
ESCD 8770
|
Health Services Research Methods
|
3
|
|
ESCD 8780
|
Qualitative Research Methods
|
3
|
|
ESCD 8790
|
Advanced Research Methods
|
3
|
|
ESCD 8900
|
Advanced Health Services Research Theory and Design
|
3
|
|
SPHL 9900
|
Interdisciplinary Doctoral Seminar
|
1+1
|
|
|
Comprehensive Exams (Third Year)
|
|
| |
Dissertation (Fourth Year as Required)
|
|
|
Additional Information
When are classes held?
On-campus classes are held the first four semesters of the Executive ScD program. Students will meet in New Orleans five times during each of the four semesters (June and July are exempt) for a total of 20 sessions. Each session will consist of a three-day weekend with two full days (Friday and Saturday) and a half-day (Sunday).
What are the dissertation requirements?
Students will take a qualifying examination (comprehensive exam) during the fifth semester to assess their readiness for advancement to the dissertation phase of the program. The preparation and defense of a dissertation is required for completion of the program. The research may focus on opportunities, which exist in the students' home organization. The dissertation presents an ideal opportunity to address an actual health system problem and apply research skills to its solutions. This dissertation allows the student to make a contribution to his/her own organization as well as to the broader academic and practice community. Each student will work closely with a Tulane faculty advisor and dissertation committee. The University policy allows a maximum of seven years to complete doctoral studies.
For more information, contact:
Vanessa J. Bailey
Program Coordinator
E-mail: vbailey1@tulane.edu
Phone: 504-988-1313
Fax: 504-988-3783
Location: Tidewater Building, 19th Floor
