- ***eDHA 799: Research Methods for Health Administration (2 credits) foundational methods (qualitative, quantitative, mixed).
- ***eDHA 800 Pre-Action Research Capstone (1 credit) finalize problem statement, literature review, project proposal, initial site/IRB planning.
- ***eDHA 801 DHA Action Capstone I (3 credits) refine intervention design, finalize implementation protocol, project implementation, data collection, interim reporting
- *** Action Capstone Due Capstone Project Submission evidence and sign off
- ***eDHA 802 DHA Action Capstone II (3 credits) evaluation, final report, public presentation
Course Descriptions
eDHA 799: Research Methods for Health Administration (2 credits)
Course summary: Introduction to research methods for health administrators. Covers study design, sampling, measurement, basic descriptive and inferential statistics (no advanced regression modeling), qualitative methods (interviews, focus groups, thematic analysis), mixed-methods integration, ethics, and practical application to action research. Emphasis on designing feasible, organizationally viable projects that advance health equity.
Key deliverables that should be included in the course:
Customer Discovery Foundations: Students learn how to identify “customers” (patients, staff, administrators, community partners) and “beneficiaries” of their intervention.
Problem Validation Mini‑Module: Students conduct 5–10 early discovery interviews to validate the organizational challenge they believe exists.
Value Proposition Canvas Introduction: Students map pains, gains, and jobs‑to‑be‑done for their target population.
eDHA 800: Pre-Action Research Capstone (1 credit)
Course summary: The preparatory stage of the Action Capstone. Students identify a significant health administration issue aligned with the SGH mission to promote health equity, complete a focused literature review, and produce a formal project proposal with clear research questions and an implementation strategy. Students secure advisor approval, begin IRB/site permission planning, and produce deliverables required for progression to EDHA 801.
Key deliverables: project proposal (5–7 pages), literature review summary (2–3 pages), research questions, preliminary logic model, interview log (7-10 interviews), themes and validated needs, updated probable statement, advisor sign-off.
Customer Discovery Sprint: Students complete 7-10 structured interviews with stakeholders (patients, clinicians, administrators, community partners).
Problem Statement Validation: Students refine their problem statement using interview evidence.
Hypothesis Testing: Students articulate assumptions about the intervention and test them through interviews.
Stakeholder Ecosystem Map: Students map who is affected, who benefits, and who must support the intervention.
eDHA 801: DHA Action Capstone I (3 credits)
Course summary: Builds on EDHA 800. Students finalize intervention design, complete data collection instruments and protocols, pilot test instruments where feasible, and prepare the white paper draft and dissemination plan. Emphasis on operational feasibility, measurement of equity impact, and readiness for implementation.
Key deliverables: finalized protocol, IRB submission (or exemption documentation), site permission, pilot data summary (if applicable), prototype or workflow mockup, feasibility test summary, iteration log, project draft, advisor sign-off.
Refinement of Intervention Using Interview Data: Students adjust intervention components based on validated needs.
Feasibility Testing: Students test feasibility assumptions with stakeholders (e.g., workflow fit, resource availability).
Prototype or Process Mock‑Up: Students create a low‑fidelity prototype (workflow diagram, mock EHR screen, draft training module).
Iteration Loop: Students conduct 5–10
follow‑up interviews to refine the prototype.
Capstone Submission
Implementation Using Validated Insights: Students implement the intervention that has been validated through interviews and feasibility testing.
Impact Validation: Students measure whether the intervention solved the validated problem.
Stakeholder Feedback Loop: Students collect feedback during implementation to refine the final report.
Commercialization/Scaling Consideration: Students outline how the intervention could scale within the organization or across similar settings.
eDHA 802: DHA Action Capstone II (3 credits)
Course summary: Execution, evaluation, and dissemination. Students implement the intervention, collect and analyze data, evaluate outcomes against pre-specified metrics, and prepare the final Capstone Report, public presentation, and white paper submission evidence.
Key deliverables: final capstone report and presentation, advisor and chair sign-off.
