Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements: Degree & Eligibility Pathways

Master’s Degree Pathway (Primary Admission Route)

• A master’s degree from an accredited institution (at least one degree must be in a health-related field)
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate and graduate coursework
• Applicants with a master’s degree who hold an active license as a healthcare professional are eligible for up to 6 graduate transfer credits, reducing the program from 36 to 30 credits.

Bachelor’s Degree Pathway (Portfolio Review Required)

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (degree must be in a health-related field)
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate coursework
• At least 5 years of progressive healthcare experience
• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree are considered for admission through a portfolio review pathway. This process allows experienced healthcare professionals to demonstrate graduate-level competencies through evidence of advanced practice, certifications, scholarly engagement, leadership, teaching, and professional writing. Applicants whose highest degree is a bachelor’s and who are recommended for admission are required to complete all 36 credits in the DHSc program. Additional bridge coursework may also be required. 

Application Materials

To be considered for admission, applicants must submit:

• Free online application (include any former/maiden names appearing on transcripts)
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended
  • Sent directly to:
    Chatham University – Graduate Admissions
    107 Woodland Road
    Pittsburgh, PA 15232
• Two professional letters of recommendation addressing leadership and scholarly potential
• Personal statement (maximum 500 words) describing professional healthcare experience and career goals following DHSc degree completion
• Current resume highlighting career progression and accomplishments
• Copies of active healthcare license and certifications (if applicable)
• Portfolio (Bachelor’s pathway applicants only): Bachelor's Pathway applicants must submit a single PDF (≤20 pages, excluding resume) with a table of contents and clearly labeled sections. The portfolio should provide evidence of graduate-level competencies in the following areas:
  • Professional Experience – Detailed roles, responsibilities, and years of experience; advanced practice, administrative, or leadership responsibilities.
  • Advanced Certifications / Training – Specialty certifications, professional licenses, residencies, fellowships, board certifications, or graduate-level CEUs/certificate programs.
  • Scholarly Engagement – Publications, book chapters, conference presentations, curriculum or program development, grant writing, or other evidence of scholarly contribution.
  • Research Literacy – Examples of applying research or evaluation in practice, such as QI projects, outcomes studies, capstone work, abstracts, reports, or manuscripts.
  • Leadership & Professional Contributions – Service on professional boards, leadership in initiatives or policy development, mentorship roles, or community contributions.
  • Teaching / Mentorship – Evidence of graduate-level teaching, preceptorship, clinical mentorship, or training others in professional settings (e.g., syllabi, evaluations, documentation).
  • Written Communication – Professional writing sample (publication, white paper, reflective essay, or similar) demonstrating clarity, organization, and scholarly ability.

Additional Information

• A required 30-minute virtual interview with faculty will be scheduled once application materials are received.
• Chatham University reserves the right to request a background check prior to admission.
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
  • Recommended deadline: July 31 (Fall start)
  • Early submission is encouraged, as cohort space is limited.

International Applicants