As the position of mission leadership has evolved over the past three decades, leaders working in Catholic healthcare cite an increasing need for well-prepared executives with deep understanding of Catholic theology, bioethics, practical business acumen, and organizational leadership who can function in an executive capacity to guide increasingly complex organizations.

Our interdisciplinary online Doctorate in Healthcare Mission Leadership builds on the MA in Healthcare Mission Leadership and provides a professional, doctoral-level preparation for individuals who hold or will hold positions of senior leadership within Catholic healthcare organizations.

Curriculum

The Doctorate in Healthcare Mission Leadership (DHCML) is a professional doctoral degree and requires 66 credit hours of coursework. Matriculants in the doctoral program are required to maintain a 3.5 GPA.

Students may transfer up to 33 credit hours of coursework from an external MA degree toward the DHCML based on curricular requirements. Prior graduate coursework will be evaluated on an individual basis. Each student's course of study will be tailored to build on and complement their previous coursework. DHCML students may also select additional electives in healthcare leadership and management from the Quinlan School of Business or in theology and spirituality from the Department of Theology. These electives will be selected in conversation with the student's academic advisor.

Course Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Theology and Bioethics Domain		30
BEHL 401	Clinical Topics in Bioethics
BEHL 403	Ethics Care Continuum
BEHL 414	Moral Theology for Bioethics
BEHL 415	Ethical & Religious Directives for Catholic Healthcare Leadership
BEHL 416	Catholic Bioethics and Social Justice
BEHL 426	Ignatian Spirituality and Medicine
BEHL 500	Introduction to Healthcare Mission Leadership
BEHL 502	Christian Doctrine
IPS 545	The Foundations of Christian Spirituality
IPS 402	Church and Mission
Organizational Leadership Domain		15
BEHL 412	Organizational Ethics I: Business, Professionalism, and Justice
BEHL 419	Organizational Ethics II: Ethical Leadership Changing Healthcare Envrnmnt
BEHL 422	Practicum in Organizational/Public Health Ethics
BEHL 505	Advanced Concepts in Health Systems Management
CMAN 533	Fiscal Management in Health Care Organizations
Doctoral Seminars		15
BEHL 510	Integrated Doctoral Seminar in Ethics, Theology, and Healthcare
BEHL 511	Mission, Leadership, and Spiritual Formation Seminar
BEHL 512	Canon Law, Sponsorship, and Church Relations
Doctoral Capstones		6
BEHL 423	Doctoral Capstone I
BEHL 424	Doctoral Capstone II
Total Hours		66

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

Participants who complete the program will be able to:

• Analyze common challenges to maintaining fidelity to the mission of Catholic healthcare institutions.
• Apply fundamental ethical principles and theological frameworks to clinical and organizational questions.
• Develop a credible argument regarding a current mission-related challenges.
• Develop strategies to foster fidelity to mission utilizing management, formational, theological, and ethical knowledge and skills.