- Applicants must be Physician Assistants who have successfully graduated from an entry-level PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on the Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
- Proof of active licensure and/or certification as a PA professional
- An updated comprehensive curriculum vita or resume outlining personal, educational and professional achievements
- A completed online application to High Point University. A phone interview may be required
- A maximum 250-word essay describing the goals for enrolling in the DMSc degree program
- International students must have a TOEFL score and evaluation of any international transcripts.
- The DMSc Program acknowledges the clinical experience of seasoned PAs and does not require a Master’s Degree
- The GRE is not required
- An application fee is not required
The High Point DMSc Program has a rolling admissions process and admission decision will be made on an ongoing basis. Since the DMSc curriculum is self-paced and delivered in 6-week terms each fall, spring and summer semesters, students may enter the program at any one of these six starting points.
The tuition and fee amounts for High Point University are set annually. For a detailed cost of attendance for the academic year, including additional estimates of expenses related to costs of living, you may visit the Graduate School Tuition, Fees, & Financial Assistance page.
Students who graduated from an ARC-PA accredited program within the past 7 years may request a transfer of 10 credit hours toward the DMSc degree. This credit variance can be applied to “two” 3-credit hour DMSc EBM in Medical Science courses and “two” 2-credit hour Patient Safety courses. Credit variance is subject to approval by the DMSc program director.
It is recognized that most PA program faculty are content experts in medical courses offered in an entry level ARC-PA accredited Program. PA faculty may request a transfer of 16 credit hours toward the DMSc degree (credit variance can be applied to “four” 3-credit hour DMSc EBM in Medical Science courses and “two” 2-credit hour Patient Safety courses). Principal PA faculty will be required to provide a letter of recommendation from their supervisor, a sampling of at least three-course evaluations, and a syllabus from a course taught in the PA program. Students are required to complete all courses to graduate. Credit variance is subject to approval by the DMSc program director.
Based on data and feedback obtained from focus groups and needs assessments, the DMSc program has determined courses accepted for transfer credit must be completed within 7 years. This is in part due to the ongoing exponential growth in medical information, associated technologic innovations, and societal changes associated with clinical practice. Furthermore, educational standards and delivery have evolved in PA education. As a result, we want to ensure similarities among the students’ educational experiences and success with acquisition of new knowledge required to support clinical practice.
Provides an avenue for ALL ARC-PA Accredited Programs current PA students and/or recent PA graduates interested in expanding their understanding of issues involving clinical practice and development of research and leadership skills culminating in the achievement of a Doctor of Medical Science degree. This option is designed for PAs who have graduated within the past 12 months from an ARC-PA accredited PA program.
Matriculants must earn certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants after graduating from their PA program and results must be received prior to matriculating.
Six courses (16 credit hours) will be transferred from the supervised clinical practice experiences in the accredited PA program and will be credited toward completion of the EBM in Medical Sciences courses and Patient Safety Courses.
This option provides an avenue for recent graduates to complete the DMSc degree in one year and maintain clinical practice as a PA.
Students enrolled in the Doctor of Medical Science program may select between one of two different Concentrations of study: 1) Health Professions Educator Concentration; or 2) Health Professions Administration Concentration.
Yes. Students must select a concentration and complete all course offerings within the concentration to graduate. A student may choose to take courses in the other concentration even though these credits will not contribute toward the 50 credit hours required to graduate. However, a student may also earn a separate certificate in addition to the DMSc degree. For more information, see the certificate FAQs below.
Under the guidance and mentorship of the DMSc Research Coordinator, each student will complete a Doctoral Capstone project that creates scholarship that systematically advances the teaching, research, and the practice of medicine through rigorous inquiry. Scholarship in the DMS program is defined as activities that are significant to the profession, can be documented, and can be peer-reviewed through various methods. Completion of the DMSc Capstone Project is a graduation requirement to ensure degree attainment and conferral.
Learners may enroll in this course following successful completion of 15 DMSc credit hours of which 3 credit hours must be derived from a Research Methods course offered in the program.
No. To provide flexibility for our students, the curriculum is self-paced for entry into the program at any one of six starting points in the academic calendar.
Each course is offered in 6-week terms. The program offers two terms within each Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.
The student’s personal schedule and course availability will determine individual student course selection. The length of time it takes to complete the program is dependent on the number of courses a student enrolls and successfully completes in each term, and the availability of the course due to enrollment minimums being met.
The standard pace is two courses/semester for a total of 9 semesters total (3 years). However, since the program is self-paced, motivated students may complete at a faster pace. Students are required to complete the program in 5 years.
The program estimates roughly 6 hours of time per week per 3-credit module for students in the DMSc program; however, some weeks there may be more time needed and some weeks, less time.
The time required by each student will depend on the foundational comfort level of the medical material and the understanding of evidence-based medicine. When students begin working on their capstone project (after completion of five DMSc courses of which one must be a research course), more time will be required each week.
High Point University has been approved to offer 12 Category I CME units for each EBM course taken for a total of 72 units.
Campus residency is not required. All course content is completed online. However, all students are invited and encouraged to attend the hood ceremony and commencement, after completion of the Program.
High Point University uses Blackboard Ultra and ECHO 360 technologies for online teaching and learning.
Given the online curricular delivery of the DMSc program, all students are required to have a computing device and internet access throughout the Program. Computers must have web cams and microphones that are either built-in or external. Students will be able to choose and purchase a device from any manufacturer that meets their learning needs.
Yes. Enrolled students within the DMSc program will have access throughout the program to a departmental resource page within Blackboard Ultra. Additional sessions or virtual meetings with DMSc faculty and staff will be available as needed or upon request.
The High Point University Doctor of Medical Science program has been approved and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.