Doctor of Medical Science Programs
Shape the future of healthcare.
Butler’s Doctor of Medical Science (DMS) programs—offered as a full 50-hour degree program, 12-hour graduate certificates, or an accelerated pathway for new PA grads—gives students the skills, and the confidence, to be leaders in healthcare.
One degree. Two paths.
Whether you’re a practicing PA or you recently graduated from an ARC-PA accredited program, Butler University offers a path to the Doctor of Medical Science (DMS) degree that fits you.
DMS Degree Program
Our fully online, 50-credit hour DMS program serves PAs who are interested in building on their PA training and clinical experience with more in-depth medical knowledge, leadership skills, and business acumen to advance within their workplace. Students may choose from four degree concentration areas—Foundations in Critical Care, Foundations in Orthopedic Care, Healthcare Practice and Administration, and PA Educator. Three, 12-hour graduate certificates are also available in healthcare practice and administration, medical science, and PA education.
DMS Bridge Program
The online DMS Bridge program is an accelerated path to the DMS exclusively for new PAs who have graduated within six months from an accredited ARC-PA program. The Bridge Program incorporates 36-credit hours already completed during supervised clinical practice and combines them with the 14 credit-hours of didactic courses and a semester-long Capstone Project.
Two Certificate Options
The Butler DMS program offers two, 12-hour certificates: Healthcare Practice and Administration, which is aimed at developing a student’s business operation and management acumen, and PA Educator, which broadens a student’s understanding of teaching and medical education for PAs.
A Doctor of Medical Science (DMS) is a post-professional academic degree for students who have successfully graduated from an accredited Physician Assistant program. The DMS degree is specifically designed to expand students’ understanding of medical knowledge and introduce a more extensive approach to professional medical leadership, business, and communication skills.
Depending on the position and location, a Doctor of Medical Science can make an average of $159,006 annually in the US. This can vary up or down depending on the individual’s experience.
After completing PA school, the average DMS program takes around one to one and a half years to complete. At Butler, The Doctor of Medical Science program varies in length from student to student. Students must complete 17 modules to graduate, each averaging around six weeks. The standard pace of the program often allows students to complete two modules per semester, completing the DMS program in nine semesters. Students may take at most 5.5 years to complete the program.
There are diverse career opportunities for individuals that have completed a DMS degree. PAs can serve in both clinical and non-clinical roles in most specialty fields, with nearly one-third of all DMS graduates working in primary care services. Some of these jobs include but are not limited to a paramedic, pharmacologist, health educator, histology technician, and medical writer.