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Doctor of Philosophy in Human Services

School of Public Service Leadership

Multidisciplinary Human Services specialization

Lead the change you want to see in your community. Capella’s online PhD specialization in Multidisciplinary Human Services takes your understanding of human service leadership, professional practice, research, and ethics to a new level. Through your advanced studies and original doctoral research, you’ll position yourself to guide policies, practices, and legislation that can significantly impact your community and the field of human services. You’ll work with a rich network of experienced human services faculty and professional peers and also gain insights from professionals in other fields, such as public administration, public safety, and health care, who often collaborate with you to create community value. Designed around educational standards in the field, the specialization advances your knowledge of human services, while offering a wide choice of electives that allows you to personalize the program to fit your goals. You may also be able to leverage prior graduate course work through transfer credits. The program’s multidisciplinary approach prepares you for a broad range of human service leadership, management, faculty, and consulting positions focused on developing stronger communities or advancing the skills of the next generation of human service leaders.

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Total Program: 120 quarter credits
Up to 48 quarter credits may be transferred into this specialization
Next Start Date: March 5, 2012
Quarter - Coursework: $4,530
Up to 3 courses per quarter
Quarter - Comps/Diss: $4,062

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Residency requirements: Three 4-day weekend experiences

Learn about the residential colloquia experience.
In addition to your online courses, you will complete 3 residential colloquia, each of which includes a 4-day weekend experience, at specific stages in your program. These energizing residencies provide you with insights and knowledge that will be valuable during your PhD studies and beyond.

Doctoral colloquia each have 3 steps:

Step 1: Colloquium Courseroom (opens approximately 2 weeks prior to Weekend Experience)
Step 2: Weekend Experience (4-day residency)
Step 3: Colloquium Courseroom—Assessment and evaluation (completed the week after the Weekend Experience)

What is the cost to attend?

The price for each colloquium is $1,495 (pricing is subject to periodic adjustment), but doesn’t include costs for evening meals or travel. You’ll be responsible for making your hotel reservations and travel arrangements.
  • Learn more about residency requirements.
  • Get more detailed information and learn how the residency experiences will enrich your learning at Capella University. Speak with an enrollment counselor at 1.888.227.3552.

Gain more value from your degree

Expand your educational and career opportunities by choosing one of Capella's degree enrichment options.

  • Add a concentration to gain deeper expertise

    Delve more deeply into a specific knowledge area by earning a concentration that will be included on your transcript and can enhance your career opportunities. If you have elective courses in your degree program, you may be able to use them to fulfill both your degree and concentration requirements at the same time. However, completing a concentration may extend your total credits beyond the requirements of your degree.

    Concentrations available as part of this specialization include:
    • Fire Service Administration
    • Forensics
    • Health Policy and Management
    • Homeland Security
    • Public Administration
    • Public Health
    • Public Policy and Management
    • Nonprofit Management and Leadership

Required Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • HS8003 - Leading Change in Human Services
  • HS8106 - Epistemology of Practice Knowledge
  • HS8124 - Advanced Study in Research Methods in Public Service*
  • HS8119 - Quantative and Qualitative Research Methods*
  • HS8126 - Action Research Methodology*
  • HS8204 - Public Service Leadership
  • HS8213 - Program Development and Management
  • HS8216 - Strategic Planning and Organizational Effectiveness
  • HS8515 - Ethics and Decision Making in Human Services
  • HS8604 - Advanced Communication Skills for the Human Services Leader*
  • HS9919 - Doctoral Comprehensive Examination*
  • HS9920 - Dissertation Courseroom - non-credit *
  • HS9921 - Dissertation Research 1 - 5 quarter credits*
  • HS9922 - Dissertation Research 2 - 5 quarter credits*
  • HS9923 - Dissertation Research 3 - 5 quarter credits*
  • HS9924 - Dissertation Research 4 - 5 quarter credits*

Fourteen Elective Courses

  • Choose any graduate courses.
* This course has a prerequisite. Contact an enrollment counselor for more information.

Course Descriptions

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Image of enrollment counselor from the team that specializes in Capella's human services degree programs
Image of enrollment counselor from the team that specializes in Capella's human services degree programs

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