The College of Idaho’s online Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) curriculum is an evidence-based, flexible path designed by and for practicing physician assistants/associates (PAs) to enhance healthcare leadership and educational skills. As the preferred doctoral degree for PAs, our online DMSc courses prepare you to make meaningful changes in healthcare through specialized online learning tailored to your experience level.
Transform Your Career In Just 9-18 Months
Discover the unique advantages of The College of Idaho’s DMSc program — a transformative online curriculum grounded in implementation science. Complete your degree in as little as 9–18 months, depending on your background, while advancing your clinical, education or leadership expertise.
Flexible, 100% Online Format
Our online DMSc courses were built with working professionals in mind. With an asynchronous model, you can practice or teach full time while pursuing your doctorate. The curriculum integrates seamlessly with your schedule, allowing you to balance your career, studies and personal life.
Earn CME Credit
Earn up to three hours of American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) Category 1 CME credit for each Doctor of Medical Science course you complete, totaling up to 36 hours based on your pathway (not including advanced placement hours). Check with your employer about using CME funds toward program costs.
Personalized Mentorship & Support
From day one, you’re paired with a doctoral-trained PA advisor who guides you through every step of your DMSc experience. This mentorship is central to our program, helping you succeed in your studies and progress toward your professional goals.
Six Unique Pathways: Specialized Courses and Credit Requirements
Your journey through the online DMSc curriculum is customized to match your experience and ambitions, whether in patient care, leadership roles or education. Each pathway is 36 credit hours and incorporates core courses, implementation science and specialized training that reflects your career stage and goals.
Health Professions Education Track: 18 Months
For aspiring and current educators, this traditional 18-month track enhances your skills in academic roles. Through six core DMSc courses, four targeted courses and a two-course practicum series, you gain expertise in educational leadership, curriculum development and student engagement.
Core Doctor of Medical Science Courses and Practicum Series
- Comprehensive Research Methodology for PAs I
- Comprehensive Research Methodology for PAs II
- Empowering PA Leaders
- Foundations of Implementation Science
- Integrative Population Health
- Scholarly Writing and Publication
- Practicum I Professional Application of Implementation Science
- Practicum II Professional Application of Implementation Science
Health Professions Education Courses
- Academic Leadership Strategies
- Clinical Pedagogy
- Curricular Design
- Transformative Student Engagement
Health System Leadership Track: 18 Months
This traditional path is ideal if you’re focused on leadership opportunities in areas like administration, policy and quality improvement. Develop the expertise to guide health systems toward better patient outcomes with core and specialized courses and a two-course practicum series.
Core Doctor of Medical Science Courses and Practicum Series
- Comprehensive Research Methodology for PAs I
- Comprehensive Research Methodology for PAs II
- Empowering PA Leaders
- Foundations of Implementation Science
- Integrative Population Health
- Scholarly Writing and Publication
- Practicum I Professional Application of Implementation Science
- Practicum II Professional Application of Implementation Science
Health System Leadership Courses
- Emerging Topics in Healthcare Administration
- Healthcare Policy
- Patient Safety and Quality Improvement in Healthcare
- Practical Healthcare Administration Skills
Lifestyle Medicine & Advanced Clinical Practice Track: 18 Months
For clinical PAs at any stage of their career, this traditional 18-month path enhances your clinical skills. Through six core DMSc courses, four targeted courses and a two-course practicum series, you gain expertise in explore evidence-based strategies for disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention and provider well-being.
To complete this track, students must identify a clinical certificate that they are qualified to earn and prepared to work towards during their enrollment in the DMSc program. Students will declare the certificate before they begin their concentration courses. To meet the requirements for this track, the PA-qualified external clinical certification must meet the following criteria:
- Certificate eligibility requirements include being a licensed or certified healthcare professional.
- Certificate requires a credentialing exam and/or completion of continuing education (CE)/continuing medical education (CME) hours.
- If a credential only requires completion of CE/CME hours, the requirement is for 30 or more CE/CME hours
Students do not need to complete the PA-qualified external certification requirements as part of their DMSc graduation requirements, but rather document progress working towards the certification. All expenses incurred as part of the external PA-qualified certificate, including the cost of required CME, and application and exam fees, are paid by the student separate from their DMSc tuition.
Core Doctor of Medical Science Courses and Practicum Series
- Comprehensive Research Methodology for PAs I
- Comprehensive Research Methodology for PAs II
- Empowering PA Leaders
- Foundations of Implementation Science
- Integrative Population Health
- Scholarly Writing and Publication
- Practicum I Professional Application of Implementation Science
- Practicum II Professional Application of Implementation Science
Lifestyle Medicine & Advanced Clinical Practice Courses
- Foundations in Lifestyle Medicine
- Exploration of PA Performance & Well-Being
- Advanced Clinical Preparation I
- Advanced Clinical Preparation II
Experienced Educator Accelerated Pathway: 12 Months
For PAs with five or more years of teaching experience at ARC-PA-accredited institutions, this accelerated 12-month track emphasizes leadership development, research and educational strategy. Earn 12 credits of advanced standing based on your experience and complete the final 24 credits through experienced educator courses.
Experienced Educator Courses
- Academic Leadership Strategies
- Empowering PA Leaders
- Foundations of Implementation Science
- Integrated Practicum - Professional Application of Implementation Science
- Comprehensive Research Methodology for PAs I
- Comprehensive Research Methodology for PAs II
- Scholarly Writing and Publication
- Transformative Student Engagement
Early Career PA Accelerated Pathway: 12 Months
Did you graduate within the last two years? The Early Career PA concentration strengthens your foundational skills in clinical practice and leadership. You receive 12 credits of advanced standing for recent clinical and academic experiences and take 24 credits to finish your DMSc.
Early Career PA Courses
- Empowering PA Leaders
- Foundations of Implementation Science
- Healthcare Policy
- Integrated Practicum - Professional Application of Implementation Science
- Integrated Research Methods
- Integrative Population Health
- Scholarly Writing and Publication
- Strategies for Early Career Success
PA Fellow Accelerated Pathway: 9 Months
Designed for PAs currently in or recently graduated from a fellowship, residency or clinical postgraduate program, this nine-month pathway focuses on implementing evidence-based changes in clinical settings. With 18 credits of advanced standing from fellowship work, you complete the final 18 credits in specialized courses.
PA Fellow Courses
- Empowering PA Leaders
- Foundations of Implementation Science
- Integrated Practicum - Professional Application of Implementation Science
- Integrated Research Methods
- Integrative Population Health
- Scholarly Writing and Publication
Complete the DMSc curriculum in 18 months over six 10-week terms or in 9–12 months through accelerated pathways.
Check out our Academic Calendar below and select your preferred start term and submit the online DMSc application by the associated deadline.
| 2025-2026 AY | Start Term | Term Dates | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-26 Fall Block 1 | July 2025 | 07/14/25-9/21/25 | June 14, 2025 |
| 25-26 Fall Block 2 | September 2025 | 09/29/25-12/14/25 | August 28, 2025 |
| 25-26 Spring Block 1 | January 2026 | 01/05/26-03/15/26 | December 5, 2025 |
| 25-26 Spring Block 2 | March 2026 | 03/23/26-05/31/26 | February 23, 2026 |
Shape Your Career With DMSc Courses
