Earn a Doctor of Medical Science at the University of Maryland

After a hundred years of providing graduate education, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, is adding the Doctor of Medical Science to its offerings. According to the University, the Doctor of Medical Science program is for Physician Associates/Assistants and “is designed to build a depth of knowledge and skill in the advanced practice of medicine.” 

UMBs Doctor of Medical Science Curriculum

The 60-credit program is spread out over 19 courses and is primarily completed online but select components will be completed on campus. The part-time program is expected to last about 2.5 years but must be completed within 5 years.

The University of Maryland’s (UMB) Doctor of Medical Science curriculum is broken down into didactic and clinical training. 

Didactic Courses

The didactic portion of the program comprises 24 total credits spread out over 8 courses, each 8 weeks long. The didactic courses are 3 credits each and include the following:

• Healthcare System Science, Organizational Macroeconomics, and Finance
• Health Care and Education Legal Principals and Policy
• Applied Leadership and Advocacy
• Technology Literacy, Utilization, and Integration into Practice
• Clinical Learning and Practice Reflection
• Evaluation, Synthesis, and Critical Appraisal of Literature
• Scholarship: Writing, Publishing, and Presenting 
• Improving Healthcare Quality, Equity, and Outcomes

Clinical Courses

The clinical curriculum includes a Clinical Symposium with hands-on labs that will include training in ultrasound, telehealth, digital monitoring, or advanced procedures. 

During the Clinical Symposium, Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) students will identify a practice-based problem to analyze. This Capstone project will allow students to explore interventions and then design and implement a pilot program. Capstone projects will be presented in a poster presentation or peer-reviewed publication. Up to 6 credits within the Clinical Curriculum will be tailored to meet the needs of the individual student and will involve considerable self-directed learning. 

A Research Seminar conducted during the clinical portion of the DMSc program will involve faculty members giving a lecture followed by a student-led presentation. A research paper will also be assigned.

Other courses in the clinical curriculum include:

• Introduction to Library Resources and Scholarly Writing
• Legal and Ethical Issues for Health, Human Services, and Clinical Professionals
• Biostatistics for the Health Professional
• Essentials of Chronic and Infectious Disease Epidemiology 
• Communications and Leadership

Electives

Several elective courses will be available to Maryland DMSc students through the Health Professions Education MS/PhD Intercultural leadership certificate and degree program, among others. Program electives will add 2 courses for a total of 5 credits. Current options include:

• Writing for Scholarly Journals
• Intercultural and Cross-Cultural Communication 
• Practical Application of Intercultural Leadership 
• Employment Discrimination Law & Policy Framework

How Much Will the UMB DMSc cost?

Maryland residents will pay $761 per credit bringing the cost of tuition to $45,660 while out-of-state residents will owe just over $58,000 for their DMSc making this one of the most expensive options for PAs looking to earn a doctorate. To foster ongoing preceptorship, UMB will offer a 20% tuition waiver to DMSc students who commit to precepting PA students from the school’s PA programs. 

3 letters of recommendation and a minimum of 2 years of clinical experience are required to apply. Graduates from an accredited post-graduate residency program are also eligible.