2026-2027

Healthcare Systems, Doctor of Medical Science

Department of Physician Assistant Studies

College of Health and Human Services

The Doctor of Medical Science in Health Systems (DMSc-HS) for Physician Assistants (PAs) is a 60-unit online post-professional doctorate program designed to provide certified PAs holding a bachelor's degree with the knowledge and competencies to contribute to a patient-centered, safe, and cost-effective healthcare system. The program focuses on the PA's role as a critical member of the healthcare team by studying evidence-based practice, patient safety and quality improvement, population health, health policy, health informatics, and health equity. The program provides students with foundational knowledge in healthcare delivery and payment models and their relationship to healthcare outcomes.

The NAU Doctor of Medical Science in Health Systems degree is to provide students with knowledge and competencies to contribute to an equitable, patient-centered, and cost-effective healthcare system. This program is designed to provide a pathway for licensed physician assistants who have completed a bachelor-level PA program and do not currently hold a master's degree. The program focuses on the PA's role as a critical member of the healthcare team by studying evidence-based practice, patient safety and quality improvement, population health, health policy, health informatics, and health equity. The program provides students with foundational knowledge in healthcare delivery and payment models and their relationship to healthcare outcomes.

Students will be prepared to systematically address the complex needs of patients, communities, and populations within the healthcare system through the critical analysis of current evidence and case studies, debate and discussion, and practice-based application exercises. Concepts will be supported by online, asynchronous lectures, application activities, assigned readings, and virtual classroom discussions. Students will synthesize program concepts in the culminating project, which requires students to develop or engage in a project specific to health systems science (i.e., informatics, population health, healthcare systems, health equity, etc.).

Graduates will develop skills to make them competitive as leaders in healthcare, consulting, and academia. This program will expand the pipeline of skilled, doctoral-trained PAs to serve in diverse settings, improve healthcare systems, and advocate for patients and communities.

  • NAU's Doctor of Medical Science degrees (DMSc) are designed for Physician Assistants (PAs) who have completed their initial certification as a Physician Assistant through either a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (over 100 units of credit of study), or a Bachelor's of Physician Assistant Studies (offered prior to AY 2020-21).

    Students entering the Healthcare Systems DMSc must hold a Bachelor of Physician Assistant Studies (BPAS) or equivalent degree awarded prior to the national transition to master's-level entry (circa 2020) and are required to complete the full 60-unit Healthcare Systems Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) doctoral pathway.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 60
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Required
Some online/blended coursework Required

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the NAU Doctor of Medical Science in Health Systems (DMSc-HS) degree is to provide students with knowledge and competencies to contribute to an equitable, patient-centered, and cost-effective healthcare system. This program is designed to provide a pathway for licensed physician assistants who have completed a bachelor-level PA program and do not currently hold a master's degree. The program focuses on the role of the Physician Assistant (PA) as a critical member of the healthcare team through the study of evidence-based practice, patient safety and quality improvement, population health, health policy, health informatics, and health equity. The program provides students with foundational knowledge in healthcare delivery and payment models and their relationship to healthcare outcomes.

Students will be prepared to systematically address the complex needs of patients, communities, and populations within the healthcare system through the critical analysis of current evidence and case studies, debate and discussion, and practice-based application exercises. Concepts will be supported by online, asynchronous lectures, assigned readings, and virtual classroom discussions. Students will synthesize program concepts in the culminating project, which requires students to develop or engage in a project specific to health systems science (i.e., informatics, population health, healthcare systems, health equity, etc.).

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Healthcare Systems, Policy, and Professional Context
    • Evaluate the historical and contemporary evolution of PA practice and anticipate future roles across diverse settings.
    • Integrate global health principles to assess how social, economic, and policy factors shape healthcare delivery worldwide.
    • Critique the interrelationships among U.S. healthcare structure, financing, and patient outcomes, and apply insights to new delivery models.
    • Apply cultural and historical constructs, ethical principles, outcomes data, and state/national policy changes to a comprehensive understanding of U.S. healthcare design and delivery.
  • Ethics, Equity, and Patient-Centered Care
    • Apply medical ethics frameworks to analyze complex clinical and systems-level dilemmas, justifying decisions that uphold autonomy, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence.
    • Construct evidence-based interventions to reduce healthcare inequities across the delivery system.
    • Recommend technology-enabled, systems solutions that advance safe, patient-centered care.
  • Data, Evidence, and Improvement Science
    • Use frameworks for collecting, analyzing, and applying data to inform decisions, coordinate care, and improve population health inside and outside the health system.
    • Design and evaluate system-level change initiatives that enhance quality, safety, and efficiency through effective leadership, interprofessional collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making.
  • Communication and Professional Advocacy
    • Communicate effectively with peers, faculty, and health-system stakeholders in multiple formats (e.g., discussion boards, emails, presentations, projects, policy memos) on behalf of patients and communities.
    • Clearly explain system-, patient-, and provider-level challenges in the U.S. healthcare system and propose evidence-based recommendations using discipline-specific frameworks.
  • Integrative Scholarship and Capstone Practice
    • Develop a focused, individualized plan for independent study as the foundation for the culminating project. 
    • Synthesize disciplinary concepts to advance the Quintuple Aim: enhance the patient experience, improve population health, lower costs, advance health equity, and support workforce well-being.
    • Critically appraise and integrate literature with appropriate acknowledgment and citation consistent with a final capstone.

Graduate Admission Information

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

    • Completion of a bachelor's degree from an ARC-PA accredited PA program.
    • Resume or Curriculum Vitae*
Transfer Pathway
    • In alignment with Northern Arizona University's commitment to workforce readiness and equitable access to high-quality education, this program accepts work/life experience, industry recognized credentials, certifications and/or exams as valid evidence of prior learning.
Doctoral Requirements

  • This Doctoral degree requires 60 units.


    Take the following 60 units:

    • ENG 502 (3 units)
    • <Course Error>, <Course Error>, <Course Error>, <Course Error>, <Course Error>*, <Course Error>, <Course Error>, <Course Error> (33 units)
      • Students may apply for 9 units of Prior Learning Experience (PLA) credit for PHA 604 Practicum I. One unit of PLA will be awarded for each year of certification with evidence of accompanying CME completion (50 Category I credits) per year. (E.g., Nine years of certification with evidence of 450 Category I CME credits qualify for 9 units of PHA 604 credit). PLA credit requires submission of NCCPA licensure and CME documentation, and DMSc Program Director approval.  Contact the program for additional details.
    • PHA 700, PHA 701, PHA 702, PHA 703, PHA 704, PHA 705, PHA 706, PHA 707 (24 units)
       
Additional Information

  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.