Degree Offered
Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)
Length of Program
The DMSc Program curriculum is fully online and can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Students are allowed up to five years to complete the program; however, it is possible to complete in only four semesters as a full-time student or seven semesters as a part-time student.
The 40-credit hour plan of study includes 24 credit hours of online didactic coursework and 16 credit hours of clinical experiences completed in the student’s home community under the guidance of DMSc faculty and an onsite clinical preceptor. The clinical experience courses may be customized to permit the student to earn a portion of the required structured educational components for eligibility to apply for Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQs) in the field.
Doctor of Medical Science Website
Admissions
Applicants must be pre-approved for enrollment in the Doctor of Medical Science program. Applications will be accepted annually to begin the program in the fall semester. The following admission requirements must be met prior to matriculation in the Program:
- Accredited PA Program graduate with a master’s degree from an approved institution of higher learning
- Cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) at time of application submission
- Current certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
- Current state PA license, where applicable (military or federal employees are exempt)
- Must be employed in at least a part-time role as a PA
- Must identify a preceptor that holds a Doctoral Degree, is currently employed in good standing and has supervisor/ educator experience
Applicants will be considered without regard to age, sex, race, color, national origin, religion, political beliefs, or disability.
Students need to possess computer operating system skills and have easy access to a computer with a high-speed Internet connection and up-to-date software. To review the full list of specifications, see Computer Requirements.
Tuition
UNMC Tuition Guide
Financial Aid Website
Curriculum
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MSCI 701 | HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS THEORY AND PRACTICE FOR THE ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT | 3 |
| MSCI 704 | APPLICATION OF RESEARCH AND STATISTICAL METHODS TO THE ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE | 3 |
| MSCI 709 | FIELD PLACEMENT I | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSCI 703 | QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE | 3 |
| MSCI 705 | CAPSTONE PROJECT I | 2 |
| MSCI 710 | FIELD PLACEMENT II | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| MSCI 702 | PHYSICAN ASSISTANT LEADERS & THEIR ORGANIZATIONS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITIES | 3 |
| MSCI 706 | CAPSTONE PROJECT II | 2 |
| MSCI 711 | FIELD PLACEMENT III | 4 |
| MSCI 750 | GLOBAL HEALTH FOR THE ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSCI 707 | CAPSTONE PROJECT III | 2 |
| MSCI 708 | HEALTH SECURITY & MEDICAL OPERATIONS APPLIED TO ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE | 3 |
| MSCI 712 | FIELD PLACEMENT IV | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 40 | |
Full-Time Plan of Study
Year 1
Spring Session I
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 704 | APPLICATION OF RESEARCH AND STATISTICAL METHODS TO THE ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE | 3 |
| MSCI 709 | FIELD PLACEMENT I | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 7 | |
Spring Session 2
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 703 | QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE | 3 |
| MSCI 705 | CAPSTONE PROJECT I | 2 |
| MSCI 710 | FIELD PLACEMENT II | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Summer Session
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 702 | PHYSICAN ASSISTANT LEADERS & THEIR ORGANIZATIONS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITIES | 3 |
| MSCI 750 | GLOBAL HEALTH FOR THE ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Fall Session 1
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 701 | HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS THEORY AND PRACTICE FOR THE ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT | 3 |
| MSCI 706 | CAPSTONE PROJECT II | 2 |
| MSCI 711 | FIELD PLACEMENT III | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Fall Session 2
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 707 | CAPSTONE PROJECT III | 2 |
| MSCI 708 | HEALTH SECURITY & MEDICAL OPERATIONS APPLIED TO ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE | 3 |
| MSCI 712 | FIELD PLACEMENT IV | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Part-Time Plan of Study
Year 1
Spring Session I
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 704 | APPLICATION OF RESEARCH AND STATISTICAL METHODS TO THE ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE | 3 |
| MSCI 709 | FIELD PLACEMENT I | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 7 | |
Spring Session 2
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 703 | QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE | 3 |
| MSCI 710 | FIELD PLACEMENT II | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 7 | |
Summer Session
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 702 | PHYSICAN ASSISTANT LEADERS & THEIR ORGANIZATIONS: NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITIES | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Year 2
Fall Session 1
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 701 | HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS THEORY AND PRACTICE FOR THE ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
Fall Session 2
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 705 | CAPSTONE PROJECT I | 2 |
| MSCI 708 | HEALTH SECURITY & MEDICAL OPERATIONS APPLIED TO ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 5 | |
Spring Session I
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 706 | CAPSTONE PROJECT II | 2 |
| MSCI 711 | FIELD PLACEMENT III | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Spring Session 2
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 707 | CAPSTONE PROJECT III | 2 |
| MSCI 712 | FIELD PLACEMENT IV | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Summer Session
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSCI 750 | GLOBAL HEALTH FOR THE ADVANCED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRACTICE | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |