Doctor of Medical Science for PAs
Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
If I am admitted through the Bachelors to Doctorate Pathway, will I still take the same courses as any other matriculant?
Yes, students admitted through the Bachelors to Doctorate Pathway will complete the same curriculum to earn the DMSc degree.
I completed a clinical certificate from The Point-of-Care Ultrasound Certification Academy which offers Clinical Certificates designed to help PAs demonstrate clinical proficiency in ultrasonography. Will this count?
Yes, this course is comprehensive, and you have 180 days to complete all of the Clinical Case Assessments and the Peer Evaluation.
I completed a two-day training in ACLS and received a certificate. Will this meet the requirements for the bachelor's to doctorate pathway?
No, a two-day ACLS training course does not meet the 3-month minimum to complete course requirements.
My master's level work is not in healthcare or medicine, will it still count towards the bachelor's to doctorate pathway?
Yes, as long as it is from an accredited U.S. institution of higher learning and you earned a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (or Pass on all courses for P/F).
Integrative, Whole Health Approach
Why should I care that SCU is focused on Integrative, Whole Health?
Because healthcare is increasingly moving in this direction. You’ll be entering a healthcare system that places greater emphasis on whole-person care, prevention, and collaboration across disciplines. An Integrative, Whole Health education will prepare you to understand the many factors that influence health, the range of approaches available to patients, and how your profession fits into the bigger picture.
Why should I care that SCU provides an Interprofessional Education?
Because in the real world, healthcare is rarely delivered by one profession alone. Learning with and about other healthcare disciplines will help you understand what other providers do, when their expertise may benefit your patients, and how to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate care effectively.
Will focusing on Integrative, Whole Health take away from learning my own profession?
No. You will still develop the advanced knowledge and skills you need to become an expert in your chosen profession. Integrative, Whole Health adds a broader understanding of the patient, other health professions, and the healthcare system in which you’ll practice—it doesn’t replace professional expertise.
Couldn’t I learn this at any healthcare university?
You may encounter elements of it elsewhere. At SCU, however, this broader perspective is part of the environment in which you’ll learn from the beginning—not simply a topic you’ll encounter in an individual course or elective.