Doctor of Medical Science for PAs

Admissions Requirements

Applicants for the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree must meet the following admissions requirements. Exceptions may be made individually with the program director’s approval.

  • Master’s degree from an ARC-PA accredited physician assistant program within a regionally accredited institution or a foreign university, based on a transcript evaluation completed by an agency from the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
    • Physician assistants without a master’s degree may be eligible for the Bachelors to Doctorate Pathway.* See below for equivalency requirements and contact an admissions advisor for additional information.
  •  Proof of current NCCPA certification, active state licensure, or eligibility for licensure (e.g., completion of an ARC-PA accredited PA and eligible to register for the NCCPA certification exam or retired in good standing as a PA-C, etc.).
    • State licensure or NCCPA certification must be received prior to matriculation into the DMSc program. NCCPA PA-C Emeritus is accepted.
    • New PA graduates must submit state licensure or NCCPA certification by the last day of the first term of the DMSc program.
  • A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale upon completion of the physician assistant program.*
  • Meet the technical requirements to successfully complete the program, with or without reasonable accommodations.
  • The GRE is not required.

SCU PA Graduate to DMSc Advanced Standing Pathway

Pathway Overview

The SCU PA Graduate to DMSc Advanced Standing Pathway is designed to facilitate a seamless transition for graduates of the Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) Master of Science: Physician Assistant (MSPA) program into the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program. This pathway recognizes the high-level clinical and didactic training completed during the SCU MSPA program, allowing recent graduates to accelerate their progress toward a professional doctorate focused on leadership, evidence-based practice, and integrative whole person health.

Admission and Eligibility

Admission to the DMSc program through this pathway is automatic for students who have successfully completed the SCU MSPA program on or after December 2020. SCU MSPA graduates who completed the program prior to December 2020 may request review of transcripts to determine eligibility for advanced standing. To qualify, candidates must have graduated from the SCU MSPA program in good academic standing. This streamlined admission process is intended to support SCU alumni in their pursuit of advanced roles in clinical leadership, academia, and public health without the need for a redundant application process.

Transfer Credits

Students enrolled via the PA Graduate Advanced Standing Pathway are granted 9 automatic advance credit hours in recognition of their prior graduate-level PA coursework at SCU. While the standard DMSc program requires 36 credits, students in this pathway are required to complete only 27 credits to earn the degree.

Bachelor’s PAs to Doctoral Pathway

To enter the Bachelor’s to Doctorate Pathway, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in physician assistant/associate AND provide documentation of at least one (1) of the criteria below:

  • Completion of an approved military or civilian post-professional PA residency or fellowship.
  • Completion of an approved medical specialty graduate certificate program (e.g., public health certificate, healthcare administration certificate).
  • A Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) by the NCCPA.
  • At least 15 credit hours of post-secondary education toward a master’s degree.
  • Currently or previously certified by the NCCPA with a minimum of at least ten (10) years of continuous certification maintenance.

For additional information, please visit our Bachelor’s to Doctorate Pathway page.

*Please be prepared to submit unofficial transcripts and copies of licensure/certification when completing the online application form. Official copies are required during the enrollment process through the Office of the Registrar.

Transfer Credit Eligibility

In general, students can transfer up to 12 transfer credits toward the DMSc may be considered on an individual basis.