1-year Doctor of Health Science

No, this isn't the Pacific University program I posted about two years ago, but it is eerily similar. This program, or should I say two programs, are offered by University of the Pacific.



Similarities



DMSc and DHSc have the same curriculum. The DMSc is reserved for physician assistants.



Program is four semesters long.



The culminating experience is the creation of a product that is suitable for publishing in a peer-reviewed journal or presenting at a conference.



Differences



Pacific University's DMSc is only one semester if you earned your master's degree in physician assistant studies at Pacific or OHSU within the past two years.



University of the Pacific's programs are only three semesters if you have a health science-related master's degree, which will give you nine credits of advanced standing if you have previously taken the appropriate foundational courses.



For admission, Pacific University requires the applicant to have a healthcare license/certification or have prior experience as a health educator or public health professional. For the applied research project, you must be currently employed in a healthcare occupation or have an agreement with an organization with which to complete your project. Those who recently graduated from Pacific or OHSU's physician assistant programs do not need to be currently working.



University of the Pacific requires a clinical degree (I'm assuming at any level), but only prefers a current license or certification and prior work experience. The clinical degree must be in an area that is represented among the offerings at University of the Pacific. A master's or doctorate, I'm assuming in any field, is required for admission.



University of the Pacific offers two concentrations; Pacific University does not offer any concentrations.



Pacific University's curriculum is focused on healthcare administration and leadership whereas University of the Pacific's curriculum is more focused on improving clinical practice.



Pacific University might waive the graduate degree prerequisite if you have five years of increasingly responsible experience in a senior healthcare leadership position.



Pacific University requires a 3.0 graduate GPA; University of the Pacific requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA on all post-secondary coursework.





What does University of the Pacific consider to be a clinical degree? Based on their Request Information form: audiology, athletic training, clinical nutrition, nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, social work, and speech-language pathology. I would advise a person to contact them for more information if none of your degrees are on this list.



https://healthsciences.pacific.edu/healthsciences/programs/dmsc-dhsc

https://catalog.pacific.edu/sacramento/schoolofhealthsciences/doctorofhealthscience/#text