Professional Doctorate (Health and Social Care)
Prof Doc
School - School of Health and Society
Subject area - Nursing
Start Date(s): September
Duration:
Professional Doctorate (five years part-time)
Variable points of entry are available for applicants who come in via the Accreditation or Prior Learning route
Fees 2018-19:
2019-20 fees will be displayed shortly.
Part-time - £1,260 per 30 credit module
In Brief:
- The DProf provides an excellent framework in which to develop issues identified in a clinical or health related environment
- The translation of work-based observation and evidence to credible robust findings has long been the achievement of the DProf graduate
- Two years of modular intensive support in developing a credible research proposal, learning research methods, critical and creative thinking and self-awareness
- A part-time only course
Course Summary
This course has been developed in collaboration with in-service professionals along the key themes of education for:
- Personal strategies for practice development
- Creative decision-making and risk-taking
- Developing presence, influence and political know-how
- Evidence-based practice and research
The taught component is two years part-time and is concerned with critical self-assessment and the identification and development of strategies for use in the practice area. The research component is three years part-time, building on the taught component to develop evidence-based practice and introduce innovative strategies in all areas of professional practice.
"Returning to undertake a professional doctorate, part time, was initially very daunting, especially also working full time. Whilst I knew it would be a supportive environment; even so, I was pleasantly surprised at how much support and encouragement was available. The course has certainly taken me on an amazing journey and during my years of study I have gained so many skills. The rigorous assessment and review processes allowed me to flourish and be successful in my research and my confidence has also increased. Indeed all the experiences along the way helped me to develop both personally and professionally and none of which would have been possible without the support that I received during my professional doctorate studies from members of the academic staff, support staff and fellow students within the school" Anita Flynn (Dr) Graduated 2015.
“I tell all my colleagues and friends interested in postgraduate education about the DProf programme at Salford as it exceeded all my expectations in contributing to my development, both professionally and personally. The support I receive from the programme lead, supervisor and tutors is second to none and I hope the uptake of this programme continues to increase as it’s steeped in values of acceptance, respect, community, professionalism”.
Desiree Demingo Year 5 DProf Student 2016
Course Details
Professional Doctorates are as rigorous as traditional PhDs but are different in focus. A traditional PhD subject can be relatively fixed, in terms of what is researched. A Professional Doctorate is more variable and adaptable to change due to developments in your profession. This is because the Professional Doctorate is linked intrinsically to your workplace.
The doctorate has run very successfully for eight years. It comprises two years taught modules which you must pass to progress onto a further three years research component during which, you write up your thesis.
During the research component you independently undertake PhD level research study, supervised by two experienced academics. Although the Professional Doctorate programme is housed within the School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Care we have supervisors from across the University. We have experts in child psychology, social care, public health, occupational therapy, radiography, physiotherapy to supervise your own area of expert knowledge.
Student Support
The programme supports how you go about developing your presence, influence and political know-how; broadens and deepens understanding of your research topic to provide you with appropriate transferable skills in the real world. Peer support is one of the most important values informing the DProf programme. Students benefit from an interaction with peers through such activities as seminars, virtual learning and the sharing of common facilities.
The course is run on a part-time basis and arrangements for supervisory meetings are negotiable.
Course Structure
The first two years of the course are modular, with facilitated content, designed to help you refine and develop your initial research ideas and include:
- Contemporary issues and debates in research
- Theories/paradigms of research
- Ethics of research
- Reviewing literature and the critical analysis of existing research
- Developing a research question/hypothesis
- Designing appropriate research
- Role and function of the pilot study
- Developing a research proposal
- Access and sampling
- Methods of data collection
- Fundamentals of frequently used statistical tests
- Presentation, analysis and interpretation of data
- Uses and application of ICT
- Dissemination and publication of research
This course has been developed in collaboration with health and social care professionals and has the following themes:
- Personal strategies for practice development
- Creative decision making and risk taking
- Developing presence, influence and political know-how
- Evidence based practice and research skills
Year 1, Semester 1
Doctoral Foundation (30 credits)
Year 1, Semester 2
The Leader as Practitioner Researcher (30 credits)
Year 2, Semester 1
Critical Understanding of Professions in Practice (30 credits)
Year 2, Semester 2
Practitioner Research (60 credits)
Year 3 to 5
Research Component