Doctor of Science Admissions

Apply 4-Semester     Apply 1-Semester

AY 2024-2025 1-Semester DMSc Course Dates:

Fall 2024: August 26, 2024 - December 6, 2024 (Orientation is on Saturday, August 24, 2024)

Spring 2025: January 6, 2025 - April 18, 2025 (Orientation is on Saturday, January 4, 2025)

DHSc/DMSc 4-Semester Program - Spring 2025 Cohort Dates:

Classes start on January 6, 2025 (Orientation is on Saturday, January 4, 2025)

Application Deadlines

4-Semester DHSc/DMSc Application for Spring 2025 Cohort Opens: June 4, 2024
Final Deadline: December 4, 2024

1-Semester DMSc Application for Fall 2024 Cohort Opens: May 1, 2024
Final Deadline: August 2, 2024

1-Semester DMSc Application for Spring 2025 Cohort Opens: May 1, 2024
Final Deadline: December 4, 2024

The following PA graduates are currently eligible for the one-semester DMSc program:

• 2022 graduates - eligible until Fall 2024 (Fall 2024 semester - last application permitted)
• 2023 graduates - eligible until Fall 2025 (Fall 2025 semester - last application permitted)
• 2024 graduates - eligible until Fall 2026 (Fall 2026 semester - last application permitted)

Virtual Open House Dates

DMSc One-Semester Program
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Online via Zoom
Click here to register and get the Zoom link
 

DHSc/DMSc Four-Semester Program
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Online via Zoom
Link to register coming soon

Applicants for the DHSc or DMSc degrees must meet the following requirements. All admissions decisions are final. 
 

Master's or Doctoral Degree

Submit proof of an earned master's or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, OR

Applicants (healthcare leaders/clinicians/administrators) may submit a request to be considered for Graduate College Education Equivalency. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution and greater than five years of increasingly responsible senior healthcare leadership experience. The committee will review the information from the essay question required below.

If the Admissions Committee determines that the applicant meets the criteria for a master’s degree equivalency statement on admission, the statement will read “Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for this applicant in lieu of a master’s degree.” 

Healthcare Background/Work Status

Prior healthcare experience is required. All applicants must be a recognized health professional (licensed/certified), advanced practice clinician, health professions educator, patient focused healthcare administrator/manager or community service public health professional. Applicants must be currently working in a healthcare role that includes direct patient/client care, healthcare profession student teaching, or public health community service interaction, OR submit documentation that you have an agreement or partnership with an organization in one of these areas in order to complete the doctoral research project.

Recent physician assistant graduates applying to the one-semester program do not need to be currently working. 

Transcripts

Four-Semester DHSc and DMSc Applicants: Provide official transcripts from all universities or colleges previously attended. The required minimum graduate degree cumulative GPA is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent of a pass in a pass/no pass system.

One-Semester DMSc Applicants: Applicants must provide official transcripts from each institution attended, including a final official transcript from the PA program. Pacific University applicants do not need to provide transcripts.

CV or Resume

Four-Semester DHSc and DMSc Applicants: Submit a current curriculum vitae or resume with contact information for two references from professional contacts.  Pacific may contact the references during the application process.

One-Semester DMSc Applicants: Submit a resume with contact information for two references from professional contacts.  

Online Application Fee & Deposit

All application fees are currently being waived, however, we do require students to confirm their intention to enroll with a non-refundable tuition deposit of $250.  This tuition deposit will go toward your tuition.

Essay

As part of the online application, complete the appropriate essay. Please keep in mind, that the use of generative artificial intelligence or other automated methods for producing text is not permitted within the DHSc/DMSc program. An applicant essay determined to be created by artificial intelligence or other automated methods for producing text will disqualify the applicant for admission to the program.

One-Semester DMSc Applicants: Essay not required.

Four-Semester DHSc and DMSc Applicants: In 1,000-1,500 words, please address the following questions on the application:

• Describe professional goals which will be advanced by the program.
• Explain current healthcare role (must be a licensed/certified health professional, healthcare administrator/manager, public health professional, or health professions educator) and include a detailed description of position responsibilities.
• Applicants must be currently working in a healthcare role that includes direct patient/client care, healthcare profession student teaching, or public health community service interaction, OR submit documentation that you have an agreement or partnership with an organization in one of these areas in order to complete the doctoral research project.

Graduate Education Equivalency Applicants to Four-Semester DHSc Program Only: Applicants must address the following questions on the application:

• Describe your professional goals which will be advanced by the program and why you are pursuing a doctoral degree.
• Provide a synopsis of professional experiences. Please describe how your work experience meets the criteria listed for graduate education equivalency. 
• Graduate education equivalency requires a minimum of 5 years of senior healthcare leadership responsibility that must include a detailed description of the applicant's experience including dates for each of the following:
  • Supervision of employees and oversight of performance evaluations
  • Approval of hiring and termination requests
  • Accountability for operations, compliance, and outcomes
  • Engagement in strategic planning and implementation
  • Development and management of department budget
• Explain current healthcare role (must be a licensed/certified health professional, healthcare administrator/manager, public health professional, or health profession educator) and include a detailed description of position responsibilities.
• Applicants must be currently working in a healthcare role that includes direct patient/client care, healthcare profession student teaching, or public health community service interaction, OR submit documentation that you have an agreement or partnership with an organization in one of these areas in order to complete the doctoral research project.
• The required minimum undergraduate degree cumulative GPA is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent of a pass in a pass/no pass system.

English Language Proficiency

A satisfactory command of the English language is required for admission to Pacific University, prior to admission. Please note that this requirement applies to all applicants if English is not their native language, including permanent residents and citizens. The following criteria demonstrate different methods to demonstrate English proficiency for this program.

• Achieving the minimum required official score on the International Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. Test scores are valid for 2 years after the test date but will still be considered valid if the score exceeded the minimum requirement and you have maintained continuous residency in the United States since the exam date, OR
• Completion of a bachelor's, master’s, doctorate, or professional degree at a US regionally accredited college or university.

Required Technology

Students who enroll in both the four-semester DHSc/DMSc program and the one-semester DMSc program are required to purchase Microsoft Office 2021 or Microsoft 365 Personal software for their computers.  DHSc/DMSc students need full access to both Microsoft Word and Excel in order to complete the DHSc/DMSc coursework (the free web-based student version of Microsoft 365 does not include all of the features needed for these programs).  The cost to purchase this software has been added to each program's cost of attendance, and students who receive financial aid can take out student loans to cover the cost of this required software.

We recommend purchasing the software online from thinkEDU in order to receive student discounts on the software.

International Students

At this time, we are unable to accept international students into our Doctor of Science program.  
 

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