About the Program
The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program is designed to allow master’s degree prepared physician assistants to earn their doctorate. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in patient advocacy, policy making, healthcare administration and medical education to help shape the future of their profession. Our program develops healthcare leaders equipped with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to navigate the increasingly complex healthcare industry. The DMSc is considered the gold standard for practicing PAs.
The DMSc program delivers an innovative online curriculum with many flexible asynchronous options allowing PAs to continue working full-time while pursuing their degree. Designed specifically for physician assistants, the curriculum prepares graduates to become engaged in areas beyond patient care including health care administration, medical device and pharmaceutical industries, research, and advocacy as the profession continues to grow and evolve.
The goals of the program are as follows:
- Educate master’s degree trained health professionals to receive additional training at a doctoral level to be a leader and an advocate in Medical and Health science.
- Educate students who are skilled in critical thinking, reflective and culturally competent practice-based education.
- Educate health professionals, prepared at the doctoral level, to evaluate and apply the best scientific evidence as it relates to clinical practice in a healthcare setting.
- Educate health professionals who demonstrate a high level of understanding of health equity, social justice, and public health needs in the current healthcare setting.
- Promote a collaborative academic community of students, faculty, and clinical instructors committed to lifelong learning, clinical excellence, scholarly pursuits, and professionalism that will meet the future health needs of society.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 5 years
Campus Location: All courses will be available online.
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The curriculum is designed where it can be completed in as quickly as 12 months if a full-time option is selected or as long as 5 years if continuous part-time enrollment is preferred.
Interdisciplinary Study: Concentrations for the degree are available in different areas of study and allow for interdisciplinary study.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students may enroll in up to six credits with permission from the Program Director prior to acceptance into the program.
Financing Opportunities: Financial Aid is available for all students who are matriculated at LKSOM.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: February 1 – August 1
Spring: August 10 – January 1
APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2
From Whom: One from a professor who is able to comment on your ability to complete a doctoral degree and one from a clinical supervisor.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree in the Biological or Chemical Sciences is required.
Statement of Goals: In approximately 500 to 1,000 words, describe your interest in this graduate program, research interests and past experience, future career goals, and academic and research achievements.
Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: Optional. Students are not required to submit standardized scores, including GRE or MCAT scores, to supplement their application.
Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:
- TOEFL iBT: 4.5
- IELTS Academic: 6.5
- PTE Academic: 53
Transfer Credit: Graduate credits from an accredited institution may be transferred into the MS program in Biomedical Sciences. The completed courses must be equivalent in content to coursework offered at Temple, and the grades earned must be a "B" or better in order to transfer credits. The Associate Dean reviews the syllabus from the completed course(s) to determine equivalency and makes the recommendation to accept the credits for transfer.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Master's degree: 32
Students must take all core courses (23 credits), and must select a concentration and complete its courses (9 credits).
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| PA 8501 | Medical Writing in the Health Professions | 3 |
| PA 8502 | Community Health Assessment and Promotion | 3 |
| PA 8503 | Research Design in Health Sciences | 3 |
| PA 8504 | Quality Improvement in Medical Care | 3 |
| UBTH 5101 | Foundations of Health Justice and Bioethics I (Graduate Students) | 3 |
| or UBTH 5001 | Foundations of Health Justice and Bioethics I (Professional Students) | |
| PA 9387 | Doctoral Capstone I | 4 |
| PA 9388 | Doctoral Capstone II | 4 |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select one of the following concentrations: | 9 | |
| Health Justice Concentration | ||
| Foundations of Health Justice and Bioethics II (Graduate Students) | ||
or UBTH 5002 | Foundations of Health Justice and Bioethics II (Professional Students) | |
| Community Engagement and Health Justice (Graduate Students) | ||
or UBTH 5022 | Community Engagement and Health Justice (Professional Students) | |
| Health Care Policy and Economics (Graduate Students) | ||
or UBTH 5031 | Health Care Policy and Economics (Professional Students) | |
| Bioethics, Health Justice and the Social Sciences: Theory, Methods and Practice (Graduate Students) | ||
or UBTH 5041 | Bioethics, Health Justice & the Social Sciences: Theory, Methods & Practice (Professional Students) | |
| Teaching in Health Science Education Concentration | ||
| Teaching in Higher Education: Biomedical Sciences | ||
| Assessment and Remediation in Medical Education | ||
| Curriculum Design in Health Science Education | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 32 | |
Contacts
Department Information:
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
3500 N. Broad Street, MERB 1111
Philadelphia, PA 19140
215-707-2423
215-707-6687