Doctor of Medical Science Programs

Shape the future of healthcare

Butler’s Doctor of Medical Science (DMS) programs—now offered as a 27-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.

 

Portrait of Butler graduate Lori Vasquez in medical scrubs smiling in a clinical office setting.

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, asynchronous, 27-credit-hour Doctor of Medical Science (DMS) program is designed for practicing PAs looking to deepen their medical knowledge, enhance leadership capabilities, and gain business acumen to advance in their careers. Currently enrolling three specialized degree concentrations: Healthcare Practice and Administration, Lifestyle Medicine, and PA Educator. Additionally, we offer three 12-credit graduate certificates.

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.

Certificate Options

The Butler DMS program offers 12-hour certificates:

  • Healthcare Practice and Administration, which is aimed at developing a student’s business operation and management acumen
  • Lifestyle Medicine, which helps a student learn how lifestyle behaviors like eating, exercise, and sleeping can be used to improve health and manage chronic disease
  • PA Educator, which broadens a student’s understanding of teaching and medical education for PAs
  • Medical Science, which provides a focused opportunity to expand core medical knowledge in areas students choose and promotes lifelong learning
View Curriculum Admission Information

Jumpstart your PA career with the DMS Bridge Program

Admission Curriculum