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Human Services Administration

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Real Human Impact

Every age and stage of life, you can be a force for good. The Ed.D. in Human Services Administration from NSU equips you to make a real, measurable difference in human lives by leading and managing the services and organizations they depend upon.

This leadership-focused doctoral program is designed to equip you with the latest theories and practical problem-solving experience. You’ll leave ready to shape the future of society’s vital institutions to better serve evolving populations.

Learn to apply inquiry and research, problem-solving, collaboration and communication, professional development, ethical behavior, and higher order thinking skills to become an ethical agent of change. Be the difference in one life. And another. And another.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

  • Practicing human services professionals in schools, hospitals, universities, skilled nursing facilities, private practice, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, not-for-profit organizations, or government agencies; OR
  • Individuals with master’s degrees or higher who wish to obtain a doctoral degree and increase their knowledge and skills in human services administration and leadership

The following are specific admission requirements for entry into the Doctor of Education programs. Please refer to the admissions application or catalog for specific program admission requirements and information for international students.

  • Completed online application for admission, including ($50) nonrefundable application fee
  • An official transcript from a regionally accredited institution indicating a conferred master’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 3.0, and official final transcripts from all institutions of higher education (community colleges, bachelor’s programs, post-graduate programs)
  • Professional letters of recommendation from two (2) individuals who can attest to the applicant’s ability to succeed in a doctoral program
  • A test score report* from one of the following exams showing that the applicant received
    • Miller Analogies Test (MAT): Raw score of 37 (scaled score 391–396) on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

OR

    • Graduate Record Examination (GRE): For tests taken prior to August 1, 2011, a combined score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative sections; for tests taken on or after August 1, 2011 a combined score of 300 on the verbal and quantitative sections.

*The test must have been taken within the past five years.

  • Completed Personal Statement of Goals
  • Completed Transfer of Credits form if applicable

FOR NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate English proficiency by providing proof of a minimum score of 213 on the computer-based or 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam or 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.

HUMAN SERVICES ADMINISTRATION COURSE OF STUDY

(55 CREDITS MINIMUM)

 

CONCENTRATION AREA COURSES (24 CREDITS)

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
EDD 8200 Leadership, Communication, and Technology 3
HSA 8600 Human Services Delivery Systems 3
HSA 8601 Administration, Management and Policy Development of Human Services Agencies and Programs 3
HSA 8602 Administration, Management and Policy Development of Human Services Agencies and Programs 3
HSA 8603 Human Resource Development 3
HSA 8604 Human Services and the Law 3
HSA 8605 Human Services Organizational Theory and Behavior 3
HSA 8606 Special Topics in Human Services 3

RESEARCH COURSES (12 CREDITS)

Required Courses

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
RES 8100 The Nature of Knowing: Epistemology and Inquiry-Based Learning (Required Course) 3
RES 9300 Methods of Inquiry (Required Course) 3

Please select ONE of the following research tracks based on your dissertation (please consult your RES 9300 professor and your dissertation chair prior to registering):

Quantitative Research Track

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
RES 8911 Quantitative Research Design 3
RES 8921

Quantitative Data Analysis

 3

Qualitative Research Track

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
RES 8916 Qualitative Research Design 3
RES 8926

Qualitative Data Analysis

 3

APPLIED DISSERTATION (12 CREDITS)

The Applied Dissertation is a detailed, accurate, and cohesive account of a scholarly investigation designed to answer one or more research questions. It is required of all FCE doctoral students and its purpose is to improve practice in education and human services. The dissertation process consists of a total of 12 credits encompassing four major benchmarks.

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
DISR 8966 Applied Dissertation 1: Prospectus 3
DISR 8967 Applied Dissertation 2: Proposal Development 3
DISR 8968 Applied Dissertation 3: Proposal 3
DISR 8969 Applied Dissertation 4: Applied Dissertation 3

ELECTIVES (MINIMUM OF 6 CREDITS)

Students will fulfill this requirement by selecting from a variety of courses.

 

SUMMER INSTITUTE (1 CREDIT)

Summer Institute is an opportunity for students to meet with Fischler College classmates, professors, and staff on-campus in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Students will be able to schedule individual sessions with their applied dissertation committee chairs to discuss dissertation work and with representatives from various service areas, including distance library services, student financial assistance, and program advising. The conference will also offer applied dissertation workshops enabling students to learn valuable information about the dissertation process, as well as roundtable sessions affording students the opportunity to present their dissertation work to a group of peers and receive immediate feedback.

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
FSC 8000

Summer Institute (Residency Requirement)        

 1

EXTENDED DISSERTATION SERVICES (0 CREDITS)

Beginning the 37th month of the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program, students will enroll in ADS 8091, Applied Dissertation Services, in order to receive dissertation services and support from Dissertation Committee Chairs and/or other NSU faculty and staff. In cases where students are not enrolled in any classes prior to the 37th month and where Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) students require support from Dissertation Chairs and/or other NSU faculty and staff, ADS 8090 may be used to satisfy Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements for continuous matriculation.

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
ADS 8091 Applied Dissertation Services 1

*Note: Students must be registered for ADS 8091 to be eligible for continuing services.

 

ACADEMIC PROGRAM OF STUDY

DOWNLOAD PROGRAM OUTLINE

 

RECOMMENDED 3-YEAR PROGRAM SEQUENCE

DOWNLOAD PLAN

 

Click on the button below to download the Course Equivalencies/Substitutions for the Human Services Administration Concentration

Course Equivalencies/Substitutions

For advising assistance, please send an email to FCEadvise@nova.edu

Coursework for the Doctor of Education is available online, which allows international students and those who don't live near our South Florida campus to receive and submit coursework, and interact with classmates and professors, via the Internet. This distance education option allows busy professionals like you to earn your degree without work disruption or long commutes.

In addition to coursework, all doctoral students are required to participate in Summer Institute in Florida.

The Summer Institute is an intensive conference designed to give doctoral students the tools and support they need to complete their doctoral program. Students must attend one Summer Institute. 

LEARN MORE

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.® has verified the following course sequence as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the current  Board Certified Behavior Analyst Examination® (BCBA®).

NSU will be offering the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) 4th Edition Verified Course Sequence (VCS) until the end of the Summer 2021 semester. A new VCS (or concentration), consisting of the BACB’s 5th Edition Task list, will begin in the Fall 2020 semester. This new course sequence has been verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International as meeting BCBA certification exam eligibility requirements on or after January 1, 2022. 

For those students interested in learning and understanding the changes to certification requirements, please visit the BACB website: https://www.bacb.com/. It is strongly recommended that you register with the BACB (at https://gateway.bacb.com/Account/Login.aspx) to receive BACB newsletters. These newsletters contain the latest changes regarding certification standards as well as other pertinent information.

Click here for more information about BCBA examination pass rate. Please note, pass-rate data are not published for sequences with fewer than six first-time candidates in a single year or for sequences within their first four years of operation.

*Please be advised that students completing the Applied Behavioral Analysis concentration cannot be placed in practicum sites within the states of California, North Carolina and New York due to state licensure regulations.

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