Doctor of Medical Science

Courses & Labs

Program Mission

The mission of the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) is to advance the PA (physician assistant/associate) graduate’s knowledge and skills in leadership and integrative whole person health within an evidence-based learning environment that is focused on SCU’s values of health equity, and inclusivity.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. 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.
2. 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 the best patient/population outcomes.
3. 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.
4. Interpersonal and Communication Skills: The graduate will effectively interact with patients/clients, colleagues, stakeholders, and the public using appropriate professional verbal, non-verbal, and written communication.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

Degree Completion Requirements

The Doctor of Medical Science may be conferred upon those who have fulfilled the following requirements:

• Completed 36 credits within the required categories of coursework:
  • 13 credits in Healthcare Systems Leadership and Management Skills
  • 4 credits in Foundational Principles of Society and Population Health
  • 1 credit in Integrative Whole Person Health Practice
  • 12 credits within the declared concentration (Health Professions Education, or Population and Whole Person Health)
  • 6 credits in Research, Scholarship, and Doctoral Capstone Project
• Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
• Completed all degree requirements within 5 years of matriculation
• Submitted a Petition to Graduate

Concentrations

Health Professions Education Concentration

This concentration broadens the student’s understanding of adult learning theory, curriculum development and delivery, and assessment and evaluation in PA education to help prepare students for roles in higher education leadership and administration.

• Adult Learning Theory
• Curriculum Design and Delivery
• Assessment and Evaluation Methods
• Educational Technology and Simulation

Population and whole person Health Concentration

This concentration broadens the student’s understanding of population health, whole person health, leadership principles and communication strategies, and public health emergency preparedness and disaster response to help prepare students for leadership roles in public health, healthcare policy, and community health initiatives to make a significant impact on the overall health and well-being of communities while maintaining a focus on individualized, whole-person care.

• Evidence-based Approaches to Public and Population Health
• Planning and Management to Promote Population and Whole Health
• Leadership Principles and Communication Strategies
• Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response

Transfer Credit Eligibility

Up to 12 transfer credits toward the DMSc may be considered on an individual basis.

Research, Scholarship, and Doctoral Capstone

The Research, Scholarship, and Doctoral Capstone consists of three courses in sequential order, beginning with DMSC610 Researching, Publishing, and Presenting in Healthcare in term one. The Doctoral Capstone Project courses (DMSC701 and DMSC702) are completed in terms two and three. (Terms vary in the 6-Term and Flex sequences.)

The Doctoral Capstone provides students with an opportunity to engage in a mentored scholarly experience involving a medical, healthcare or community health-related issue that promotes critical thinking and clinician leadership. Students can elect to engage in clinical, basic, or translational research; case study with a comprehensive literature review; meta-analysis; educational, quality improvement, or community-based implementation project. The process allows students to practice and apply medical information literacy, lifelong learning, teamwork, effective communication, research methods, evidence-based medicine approaches, and ethics related to scholarly inquiry. Each student participates in the Doctoral Capstone by engaging in independent scholarly activity culminating in a final report (which may include a draft manuscript submitted for publication) and participation (with oral/poster presentation) in a student research symposium at the final term of the DMSc program.

Program Sequence

DMSc 3-Term Accelerated Track

Students in the 3-Term Accelerated Track may complete the DMSc degree in one year. Students are assigned their schedule of courses each term and are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their schedules. Student schedules may vary based on the term of entry and other factors, including student progression. Not all courses are offered every term. Each term includes a combination of 15-week course offerings (Block AB) and 7.5-week course offerings (Blocks A and B). The Program Director’s Office maintains sample schedules.

Students must complete DMSC610 Researching, Publishing, and Presenting in Healthcare prior to enrolling in the Doctoral Capstone Project course series, which must be completed in sequential order.

DMSc 6-Term Track

The 6-Term Track allows students to take courses at a less rigorous pace and complete the DMSc degree in two years. Students are assigned their schedule of courses each term and are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their schedules.  Not all courses are offered every term. Each term includes a combination of 15-week course offerings (Block AB) and 7.5-week course offerings (Blocks A and B). The Program Director’s Office maintains sample schedules.

Students must complete DMSC610 Researching, Publishing, and Presenting in Healthcare prior to enrolling in the Doctoral Capstone Project course series, which must be completed in sequential order. DMSc 6-Term Track students will complete the Doctoral Capstone Project series during the second year of the program.

DMSC FLEX SEQUENCE

Students in the Flex Sequence may complete the program at their own pace. Students must meet with a program advisor to discuss an enrollment plan. Students are assigned to their schedule of courses each term and are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their schedules.

Students must complete DMSC610 Researching, Publishing, and Presenting in Healthcare prior to enrolling in the Doctoral Capstone Project course series, which must be completed in sequential order.

DMSc 3-Term ACCELERATED Track Sequence

Representative track sequence, the actual courses per term may vary based on when the student starts.

 

 

DMSc 6-Term Sequence: