DMS Degree

Shape the Future of Healthcare

As the nation’s healthcare environment continues to evolve, PAs must possess the latest information to deliver safe, efficient, and effective care. Through the Doctor of Medical Science degree program at Butler University, PAs will build upon their previous education and experiences, gain a greater depth of medical knowledge, and develop new business operation and management acumen. Within this distinctive curriculum students may choose between five areas of concentration.

• Behavioral and Mental Health includes topics focused on mental health assessment of individuals and families, child and adolescent disorders, adult disorders, and psychopharmacology of psychiatric disorders.
• Critical Care is for students interested in the delivery of critical care and are looking to pursue formal education in this growing area of medicine.
• Healthcare Practice and Administration includes business and leadership courses that provide the foundation for the development of business operation and management acumen to effectively make decisions, and lead within their places of work.
• Orthopedic Care will be attractive to PAs already working in orthopedic care or orthopedic care adjacent specialties and desire additional education, or for those students who desire to move into this high-demand specialty and need an advanced understanding of orthopedic care core concepts.
• PA Educator is tailored to those individuals who would like to enhance their understanding of teaching and medical education for PAs.

All courses are online allowing students to continue to work while taking classes to achieve an advanced degree in a way that best suits their schedule. Campus residency is not required.

Why a DMS degree from Butler University?

The Doctor of Medical Science degree was created by faculty within Butler’s PA program, the longest accredited PA program in the state of Indiana. Butler’s PA program has a successful record of accomplishment of graduating PAs that are respected in their field and valuable contributors within the communities they serve.

Credit for Prior Learnig

Students are eligible to apply for up to 12 credit hours of Credit for Prior Learning , waiving select courses thereby decreasing cost and accelerating graduation based on experience earned as a PA. Learn more about CPL.

Earn Category I CME Credit

Earn AAPA Category 1 CME credit for a portion of a number of courses in the program. The course work was reviewed by the AAPA Review Panel and is compliant with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for a total of 108.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs may only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation and successful completion of the post-test is required to earn  the credit. Category I CME credit is subject to approval by the AAPA Review Panel on a yearly basis.

What is a Doctor of Medical Science?

A Doctor of Medical Science (DMS) is a post-professional academic degree for students who have successfully graduated from an accredited PA 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.

What is the salary of a Doctor of Medical Science?

Depending on the position and location, an individual with a Doctor of Medical Science degree can make an average of $159,006 annually in the United States. This can vary up or down depending on the individual’s experience.

How long is the Doctor of Medical Science program?

The time to complete a Doctor of Medical Science (DMS) degree varies depending on the required credit hours and full or part-time nature of the program. At Butler, the DMS program allows students flexibility to complete the required 50 credit hours at their own pace. Butler’s standard DMS program takes, on average, 27 months to complete, but some graduates completed the program as quickly as 15 months. Students may take at most 5.5 years to complete the program.

What can you do with a Doctor of Medical Science?

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.