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FALL: SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2024
SPRING: JANUARY 6th. 2025
SUMMER: MAY 5th, 2025
Expand your career opportunities as a Physician Assistant with SCU’s Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree. The DMSc degree is specifically designed to advance your knowledge of U.S. healthcare through an innovative learning approach to healthcare systems management and leadership. Students will build upon their previous education and experiences, gain a greater depth of healthcare systems knowledge, and develop new administrative leadership and management skills to prepare them for career advancement opportunities. SCU is the only DMSc program that provides all students with a foundation of integrative whole-person health aligned with healthcare systems leadership and management within an integrative whole-person health model, while pursuing a concentration in either Health Professions Education or Society and Population Health.
The SCU DMSc program is 100% online with no residency requirement and may be completed in as little as 16 months (four terms) full time. The curriculum sequence of 44 credits is designed to offer maximum flexibility in enrollment options to meet the needs of full-time working PAs.
This program is not yet approved for CME credit. University organizers plan to apply for 44 AAPA Category 1 CME credits from the AAPA Review Panel. The total number of approved credits is yet to be determined.
The doctoral program qualifies for federal financial aid support and most students will qualify. Contact the Office of Financial Aid at FinancialAid@scuhs.edu to learn more.
Have a question for SCU or the Program Director?
Submit an inquiry for more information on the program or call/email to speak to the Program Director.
Two concentrations are available to students based on experience and educational background.
Advance your career in the academic setting. Whether you are beginning your career in academia or seeking to advance your career as a current PA faculty member, this track provides instruction in adult learning theory, curriculum design and delivery, assessment and evaluation methods, and educational technology and simulation. You will develop the knowledge and skills to develop the next generation of PAs who will deliver high quality and compassionate patient-centered care.
PAs can play a valuable role in the field of society and population health, particularly when they have specialized training and expertise in this area. You will develop the knowledge and skills to improve patient outcomes of individuals and the community through a variety of opportunities, including public health initiatives, disease surveillance, health policy, healthcare administration, and medical affairs (e.g., medical science liaison, clinical trial educator, etc.).
Interprofessional Collaboration and Integrative Whole Person Health. The graduate will serve as an effective member of the healthcare team, and collaborate with other professionals to improve whole person health and patient outcomes of individuals and the community.
Health Systems and Practice-based Learning and Quality Improvement. The graduate will successfully evaluate, develop, and implement a healthcare management plan using appropriate professional methodologies and quality care to achieve best patient/population outcomes.
Evidence-based Knowledge. The graduate will utilize foundational evidence-based knowledge to critically appraise and apply relevant scientific literature and other resources in professional healthcare or educational settings.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills. The graduate will effectively interact with patients/clients, colleagues, stakeholders, and the public using appropriate and professional verbal, non-verbal, and written communication.
Professionalism and Ethics. The graduate will demonstrate leadership, integrity, respect, cultural awareness, and self-reflection while employing ethical and legal standards in professional and community interactions.
Integrative Whole Person Patient-Centered Care. The graduate will employ the abilities of available health professionals and associated resources to complement the PA’s professional expertise and develop optimal strategies to enhance integrative whole-person patient-centered care.
Society and Population Health. The graduate will recognize and understand the influences of the ecosystem of person, family, population, environment, and policy on the health of patients, and integrate knowledge of these determinants of health into patient and population care decisions.
Welcome to the Doctor of Medical Science Program.
A little over 56 years ago, the first class of three former Navy medical corpsmen graduated from the Duke University Physician Assistant Program. In what began almost ten years before as a novel concept to address a national shortage of medically trained personnel, the role of physician assistant became a reality. During those formative years, our profession sustained significant growth and continues to evolve today.
We are entering another transformative era as healthcare systems adapt healthcare delivery to the Whole Person Health model to improve patient-centered outcomes. Opportunities for PAs to help expand patient access to healthcare continue to arise through policies such as “Optimal Team Practice” and model legislation for the PA Licensure Compact. Moreover, the number of PA programs has more than doubled over the last 15 years, requiring increasing numbers of PAs to fill faculty roles. This transformative era is a call for more PAs to serve in leadership roles, whether in healthcare professions education, healthcare systems leadership and management, the government sector and healthcare policy, or other roles in research and development, such as medical affairs.
For PAs who wish to pursue leadership roles or expand career opportunities by seeking a direct pathway to a doctoral degree, our Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree is the only program that promotes integrative whole person health throughout its core curriculum in the foundations of both healthcare systems leadership and management and society and population health, while students pursue a concentration in either Health Professions Education or Society and Population Health. Our vision is to prepare PAs to excel as effective leaders of the interprofessional healthcare team and improve patient outcomes through the integrative whole person health approach.
Our 100% online delivery format with structured asynchronous courses is designed to fit into your full-time working schedule and support you as you progress through your journey of earning the Doctor of Medical Science degree. We look forward to being a part of your future career endeavors.
Program Director, Doctor of Medical Science
Southern California University of Health Sciences
Applicants for the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree must meet the following admissions standards. Applicants who do not meet all standards may be admitted with the approval of the Program Director; exceptions are made on an individual basis.
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.
*Physician Assistants who graduated in good standing from an ARC-PA accredited (or equivalent accrediting body) PA program with an overall GPA<3.0 on a 4.0 scale will be considered on an individual basis.
Tuition to complete the program $28,688
SCU’s Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee for degree programs allows you to plan your educational investment.
Benefits of our Fixed Tuition Guarantee:
If you would like to learn more about fixed rate tuition, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at FinancialAid@scuhs.edu.
You can also visit the Office of Financial Aid website to learn more about available scholarships, loans, and more.
*Tuition rate reflected above represents the fixed rate for a student entering during the 2023-2024 academic year. Tuition rates are subject to change and may not be reflected on this website or other SCU materials. Please contact us for the most updated information.
**Some limitations apply. View the Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee page for more information.
| Term | Tuition* | Program Fees** | Petition to Graduate Fee |
Total Term Cost*** |
| 1 | $7,172 | $100 | – | $7,272 |
| 2 | $7,172 | $100 | – | $7,272 |
| 3 | $7,172 | $100 | – | $7,272 |
| 4 | $7,172 | $100 | $225 | $7,497 |
| Totals | $28,688 | $400 | $225 | $29,313 |
*DMSc students who fall off cohort and extend their program length beyond the standard program length will be charged $652 for each enrolled credit.
**Program fees listed are for the 2024/2025 academic year and are subject to change. Program fees include charges for technology and are charged every term that the student is enrolled.
***Books, supplies and other equipment not included in the tuition and fee schedule may be required for this program.
PAs who have completed the DMSc degree requirements will have the training and credentials to pursue opportunities for career progression in a variety of roles; including, but not limited to:
You wouldn’t be looking at this program if you weren’t interested in helping people find their healthiest life. Your dedication and enthusiasm for the growing movement toward whole-person wellness is what makes you the perfect fit for SCU. Now, begin to discover why we’re the perfect fit for you.
View our application requirements above or fill out a request for information to start speaking with an enrollment advisor today.
Students at SCU have many financial assistance opportunities available to them in order to cover their educational expenses. It is the policy of the Financial Aid Office to assist our students as much as possible to afford their education. Talk with a financial counselor by calling (562) 947-8755 ext 766 or click here to learn more
Fixed Tuition Guarantee Benefits:
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