Physician assistants can now earn a Doctor of Medical Science degree in as little as six months at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia.
The university recently redesigned its DMSc program to allow for faster completion, greater flexibility and more specialization options, according to an April 16 news release. DMS programs typically take one to two years.
The school now offers three tracks:
- DMSc Core is the fastest pathway, allowing graduates of physician assistant programs to earn their doctorate in six months with 12 transfer credits.
- DMSc Plus includes 13 specialized certifications, ranging from extreme medicine to artificial intelligence in healthcare.
- DMSc Specialty is the university’s original program. It offers 37 credit hours of specialized courses, such as behavioral medicine and emergency management.
All three tracks are fully online and asynchronous.
