Launch your journey at The College of Idaho through a curriculum focused on evidence-based practices designed by and exclusively for practicing PAs.
Transform Your Career in Just 9 to 18 Months
The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) is the preferred doctorate degree for PAs to advance their education. The College of Idaho’s unique DMSc program leverages implementation science to empower you to design and lead change immediately in your workplace.
100% Online & Built with Flexibility in Mind
The College of Idaho’s DMSc program is a post-professional doctorate, specifically crafted for PAs. It is delivered with flexibility in mind through an online, asynchronous learning model, allowing PAs to continue to practice or teach full time while obtaining their doctorate.
Personalized Support
The College provides access to a doctoral-trained PA from DAY 1 of the program, who is your personal advisor supporting you throughout your journey to completion of a doctorate.
5 Unique Concentrations/Pathways
Our DMSc program offers two pathways: a traditional pathway and an accelerated pathway. Through either pathway, our curriculum provides you with critical tools to become an implementation expert and allows you to select a concentration/pathway aligned with your professional goals. Click below to learn more.
More Information
The Health System Leadership concentration is designed for clinically active PAs aiming to enhance healthcare delivery in their clinics and for aspiring PA leaders. This concentration includes six core courses*, a two-course practicum series, and the following courses:
- Healthcare Policy
- Patient Safety and Quality Improvement in Healthcare
- Practical Healthcare Administration Skills
- Emerging Topics in Healthcare Administration
*The College’s core courses include: Foundations of Implementation Science, Comprehensive Research Methodology for PAs I and II, Scholarly Writing and Publication, Empowering PA Leaders, and Integrative Population Health.
The Health Professions Education concentration provides essential teaching skills for aspiring educators and current instructors looking to deepen their expertise. This concentration includes six core courses*, a two-course practicum series, and the following courses:
- Clinical Pedagogy
- Curricular Design
- Academic Leadership Strategies
- Transformative Student Engagement
*The College’s core courses include: Foundations of Implementation Science, Comprehensive Research Methodology for PAs I and II, Scholarly Writing and Publication, Empowering PA Leaders, and Integrative Population Health.
The Early Career PA accelerated pathway is tailored to support professional identity formation for certified PAs within 2 years of graduation, fostering growth and development in the early stages of their careers. This pathway includes the following courses:
- Foundations of Implementation Science
- Strategies for Early Career Success
- Scholarly Writing and Publication
- Integrated Research Methods
- Empowering PA Leaders
- Healthcare Policy
- Integrative Population Health
- Integrated Practicum - Professional Application of Implementation Science
The Experienced PA Educator accelerated pathway is designed exclusively for PA faculty who have been teaching full-time at an ARC-PA accredited program for at least 5 years, fostering growth and development in leadership within academia. This pathway includes the following courses:
- Foundations of Implementation Science
- Scholarly Writing and Publication
- Integrated Research Methods
- Academic Leadership Strategies
- Transformative Student Engagement
- Empowering PA Leaders
- Integrative Population Health
- Integrated Practicum - Professional Application of Implementation Science
The PA Fellow accelerated pathway is designed specifically for PAs currently enrolled in, or within 2 years of graduating from, an eligible fellowship, residency, or postgraduate clinical PA program. This pathway includes the following courses:
- Foundations of Implementation Science
- Scholarly Writing and Publication
- Integrated Research Methods
- Empowering PA Leaders
- Integrative Population Health
- Integrated Practicum - Professional Application of Implementation Science