Doctor of Medical Science

Tuition: $775/credit*

* The Doctor of Medical Science program is expected to commence in the spring of 2026. Additional fees and costs for course materials may apply. Tuition rates, fees and costs for course materials are subject to change.

This program is uniquely designed for PAs, by PAs.

The DMSc program provides five core courses that directly support the program’s learning objectives. These courses cover important topics like global health, disease prevention, health systems on both local and global levels, improving healthcare quality, and promoting equity and social justice.

Our innovative curriculum also incorporates collaborative learning opportunities with other healthcare professionals, mirroring our real-world healthcare system. Inter-professional learning fosters diverse perspectives and better prepares you for the collaborative environments you’ll encounter in patient care and leadership.

In addition, students may choose from three tracks — Education, Leadership and Clinical Practice — based on your interests and career goals. Each track has four specialized courses. All tracks conclude with a capstone project that tackles a real-world healthcare challenge in leadership, education or medical science.

Tracks

• Leadership: Focuses on ethical, legal and change management issues in healthcare
• Education: Covers designing and delivering medical education, assessing and evaluating adult learners, and using simulation in teaching
• Clinical Practice: Involves a hands-on 4-semester clinical practicum, where students gain experience in patient care, work alongside other healthcare professionals and deepen their expertise in a clinical specialty

Program Requirements

Major Credits: 36
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Minimum Grade: C

Curriculum

Core Courses (15 credits)

HIM 6550 – Healthcare: Global, Preventative and Systemic Perspectives – 3 credits
NSG 8673 – Epidemiology and Population Health (or other population health course) – 3 credits
HIM 6532 – Research Methods in Healthcare (OR a joint master’s/doctoral 8000-level course and advanced Blooms taxonomy for dissertation-level work) – 3 credits
NSG 8323 – Quality Improvement in Healthcare (or other QI course) – 3 credits
EDU 8130 – Equity and Social Justice in Action – 3 credits

Tracks

Leadership (12 credits)

Organizational Leadership Management & Behavior – 3 credits
Policy & Economics in the Healthcare System – 3 credits
Ethical & Legal Considerations in Health Administration – 3 credits
Healthcare Delivery Systems – 3 credits

Education (12 credits)

Curriculum Design & Delivery – 3 credits
Educational Technology & Simulation (EDU 8350: Technology for Impact: Trends, Policies and Practice) – 3 credits
Assessment & Evaluation Methods – 3 credits
EDU 6390 – The Adult Learner – 3 credits

Clinical (12 credits)

Clinical Practicum I – 3 credits
Clinical Practicum II – 3 credits
Clinical Practicum III – 3 credits
Clinical Practicum IV – 3 credits

Capstone Project (9 credits)

Capstone I – 3 credits
Capstone II – 3 credits
Capstone III – 3 credits

Capstone

All students will complete a 9-credit doctoral capstone project that addresses a significant healthcare leadership, medical education, or medical science question or problem. Design, implement and evaluate real-world initiatives that address healthcare challenges and inspire sustainable solutions. Through focusing on actionable outcomes and stakeholder collaboration, the DMSc capstone ensures that graduates are prepared to lead with impact—improving care delivery, advancing education, and strengthening healthcare systems for the future.

Clinical Practice track

4-semester Clinical Practicum — allows you to:

• Deliver patient care within specialized clinical settings tailored to specific populations
• Engage in inter-professional learning experiences that provide opportunities to apply your knowledge and skills in real-world settings
• Deepen your expertise in a focused clinical specialty

A DMSc degree for a Physician Assistant opens up opportunities in leadership roles within the healthcare field. These career opportunities include clinical leadership, research, education, healthcare policy, and administration, allowing PAs to take on more advanced positions with greater responsibility and increased earning potential.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for PAs will grow by 28% percent between 2023 and 2033. As the profession advances, employers are increasingly seeking PAs with doctoral-level education to fill critical roles that require expertise beyond clinical practice. This demand underscores the value of a DMSc degree in equipping PAs to lead interdisciplinary teams, influence policy and address complex challenges in patient care.

The most popular job titles include:

• Advanced Practice Manager
• Chief Medical Officers
• Clinical Directors
• Clinical Supervisors
• Director of Advanced Practice
• Director Health Systems Liaison
• Medical Affairs Directors
• Medical Directors
• Nursing Home Administrator
• PA Faculty
• PAs
• Program Director
• Regional Medical Directors

Visit our admissions page for information about transcripts, online application, international admissions and financing.

Application Deadlines

Start term: Spring 2026
Application priority deadline: Dec. 15
Application final deadline: Jan. 2

Applications will continue to be accepted until the program is filled.

Eligibility

The following requirements must be met in order for an applicant to be considered for admittance into the program: Master’s degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher*

• 2 professional recommendations
• Personal essay
• Resume or CV
• Minimum of 1-3 years of professional work experience preferred

Note: Meeting minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission.

*Applicants may submit a request to be considered for Graduate College Education Equivalency. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution and greater than five years of increasingly responsible senior healthcare leadership experience. The committee will review the information from the required essay question. If the Admissions Committee determines that the applicant meets the criteria for a master’s degree equivalency statement on admission, the statement will read “Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for this applicant in lieu of a master’s degree.”

Transcripts

Please order the following official transcripts:

• Bachelor’s degree transcript showing degree conferred
• Master’s degree transcript showing degree conferred
• Any additional college transcripts
• International transcripts: Please see the International Admissions page for additional requirements

Transcripts must be received on or before the application deadline. Order early in the application process!

Email official transcripts to transcripts@css.edu. Electronic transcripts must be from a certified electronic official transcript provider such as Parchment, Docufide, Scrip Safe, National Clearinghouse or other certified, online transcript services.

Mailed transcripts must be in the original sealed envelope from the school. Mail to:

The College of St. Scholastica
Transcript Processing
1200 Kenwood Avenue
Duluth, MN 55811