Special Master’s Post-Baccalaureate Programs
Students who are qualified medical school applicants but who have not yet been successful in matriculating may want to consider participating in a special master’s preparatory program (a type of post-bac) to further strengthen their academic credentials for the re-application process. Also, some qualified medical school applicants who want to enhance their academic credentials apply to these programs before they have applied to medical school. While most post-baccalaureate programs are designed for students who have not yet completed pre-med requirements or who want to strengthen their undergraduate academic record, these programs allow participants to take courses with medical students while earning a master’s degree.
To search for other types of post-bac programs, go to Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Web site and use its robust search engine.
Specific information about each of the individual programs and application timelines may be found on the schools’ respective web sites, and a Health Sciences Advisor can then help you determine which program fits you best.
A. Special Master's Programs (med school classes + master's degree)
Boston University
Master of Arts in Medical Sciences
GMS, Boston Univ. School of Medicine
72 East Concord Street, Room L-315
Boston, MA 02118-2526
Phone: (617) 638-5255
http://www.bumc.edu/gms/
The one-year Master of Arts in Medical Sciences Degree Program responds to the need to provide students with the background essential for the pursuit of a variety of careers in the health professions. Boston University School of Medicine conducts the required and elective courses of the program at the medical school and awards the MA degree in medical sciences.
Drexel University College of Medicine
Masters Degree in Medical Sciences (IMS & MMS programs)
Office of Professional Studies in the Health Sciences
Drexel Univerisity College of Medicine
New College Building, Room 4104
245 North 15th Street, Mail Stop 344
Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192
Email: medicalsciences@drexelmed.edu
Phone: (215) 762-4692
http://www.drexelmed.edu/Home/AcademicPrograms/ProfessionalStudiesintheHealthSciences.aspx
Applicants to the IMS program include students who are late in their decision to apply to medical school, students interested in improving their academic record before applying or re-applying to medical schools, or students who would like a year in a medical school setting before deciding whether medicine is the career for them. The one-year program has been designed for college graduates who wish to enhance their academic credentials required for entry into U.S. medical school programs.
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Master of Sciences in Biomedical Sciences (Medical Master's)
Biomedical Sciences Program
P.O. Box 1980
Norfolk, VA 23501
Phone: (757) 446-5944
http://www.evms.edu/biomedical-sciences/ms-in-biomedical-sciences-medical-masters.html
The Eastern Virginia Medical School master's degree is a one-year pre-professional master's degree program. The program gives students a foundation in histology, embryology, molecular & cellular biology, biochemistry, neuroanatomy and physiology. The program provides an opportunity for highly motivated students to improve their academic credentials by demonstrating their academic abilities in a rigorous medical school environment.
Georgetown University
Master of Science in Physiology and Biophysics
Office of Biomedical Graduate Education
Attn: M.S. Credentials-SMP
Box 571411-M
3900 Reservoir Rd NW
Washington DC 20057
Email: physio@georgetwon.edu
http://smp.georgetown.edu/
This 11-month Special Masters Program is tailored to college graduates who wish to strengthen their credentials for application to U.S. medical schools. The Georgetown SMP is the first and longest running program its kind. The unique features of the SMP make it ideal for students to obtain a strong Masters-level education while at the same time strengthening their medical school application.
Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences
Office of Admissions
ATSU/Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
800 West Jefferson Street
Kirksville, MO 63501
Email: admissions@atsu.edu
Phone: (866) 626-2878
http://www.atsu.edu/kcom/programs/biomedical_sciences/index.htm
The Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program is designed to develop fundamental concepts and skills in research along with a focus on a specialized area of biomedical study. This one-year program is appropriate for students who wish to obtain a Master's-level biomedical education in a medical school environment, or who wish to strengthen their credentials for osteopathic medical school application.
New York Medical College
Master of Science - Accelerated Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Norman Levine
Physiology Department
New York Medical College
Valhalla, NY 10595
Email: norman_levine@nymc.edu
Phone: (914) 594-3211
http://www.nymc.edu/Academics/SchoolOfBasicMedicalSciences/Programs/InterdisciplinaryBasicMedicalSciences/index.html
This one-year accelerated track in the NYMC interdisciplinary basic medical sciences program is designed for those to apply to medical school.. Students in this track take selected pre-clinical medical school courses and the relatively small number of students in the program allows faculty to work closely with students and provide them with guidance concerning their applications to medical school.
Nova Southeastern University (osteopathic medicine)
Master of Biomedical Sciences
Doreen Palmer
Office of Admissions
Health Professions Division
Nova Southeastern University
3200 South University Drive
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328
Email: medinfo@nova.edu
Phone: (800) 356-0026, ext. 21144
Local Phone: (954) 262-1144
http://medsciences.nova.edu/aboutbs.html
For those students wishing to improve their academic credentials in the medical sciences (and who have not been accepted to a health professions school after one year), the College of Medical Sciences offers a 2- year program of study leading to a master's degree in Biomedical Sciences. Those enrolled in this program take basic science courses similar to those offered within the Health Professions Division during their first year. During the second year, students may choose to continue their program of general studies or concentrate their studies within one department or area.
Tulane University
Master of Science in Pharmacology
Department of Pharmacology, SL 83
Tulane University Health Sciences Center
1430 Tulane Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70112-2699
Email: cclarks@tulane.edu
Phone: (504) 988-5444
http://tulane.edu/som/departments/pharmacology/masters/index.cfm
This one-year post-baccalaureate program leading to the degree of Master of Science in Pharmacology has been designed to attract those students who are interested in improving their credentials to compete for admission to a medical school, as well as those individuals who are interested in this degree to achieve their professional goals. This training will prepare the student for further education in either medical or graduate school.
University of Cincinnati
Master of Science in Physiology
Jeannie Cummins, Program Manager
Molecular and Cellular Physiology
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
231 Albert B. Sabin Way, MSB 4207A
Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0576
Email: jeannie.cummins@uc.edu
Phone: (513) 558-3102
http://www.med.uc.edu/physiology/ms-program.htm
The M.S. in Physiology is a one-year program designed to help college graduates strengthen their academic credentials in preparation for application to U.S. medical schools. Students enroll in two first-year medical school courses (Medical Physiology and Medical Biochemistry) that are among the top predictors of success in medical school, and in graduate courses during the spring quarter. In the summer quarter the student writes a thesis that reviews a current topic of significance in physiology . It is also worth noting that one of the peripheral benefits for students in this program is that it will qualify them for Ohio residency and subsequent application to the numerous medical schools in Ohio.
University of Toledo - Health Science Campus NEW
Masters in Medical Sciences (MSBS/MS)
Dr. Carol Bennett-Clarke, Academic Advisor
Associate Professor, Neurosciences
College of Graduate Studies
The University of Toledo
Mail Stop #1042
Toledo, Ohio 43614
Email: carol.bennett-clarke@utoledo.edu
Phone: (419) 383-4115
http://www.utoledo.edu/graduate/prospectivestudents/programs/hsc/medicine/medicalsciences.html
The goal of the one-year (12 m) Masters Degree in Medical Sciences at the University of Toledo Health Science Campus is to provide a program for students who wish to enhance their understanding of the biological sciences and improve their overall application to gain admission to medical school. Students in this program will have the opportunity to complete coursework with medical students (being graded on the same scale) and participate in other graduate school courses, which will provide foundational information for continued study in the medical school curriculum. Students completing this program with strong academic performance, as indicated by high GPAs, will have confirmed their ability to perform in the medical school curriculum, and therefore greatly strengthen their overall admission package. Students enrolled in the program ar guaranteed an interview for medical school at the University of Toledo College of Medicine. Students who successfully complete the program will also be awarded the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree (MSBS/MS).
B. Other Medical School Preparatory Programs (not SMP)
Med Prep with Med School Classes (no degree available)
Some universities offer medical school prep programs that do not award Master’s degrees, but do allow participants to take classes with medical students. In many cases there are restrictions on who can apply for these programs based on factors such as personal background, previous attempts at medical school matriculation, and state residency. Quite often, these programs are offered only to a select number of wait-listed applicants. Tulane, however, offers a one-semester program to those who have been wait-listed at any medical school.
Tulane University Medical Center
Anatomy Certification Program
Shannon Dawsey, Senior Program Coordinator
Anatomy Certification Program Director
Department of Structural and Cellular Biology
Tulane University Medical School
1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Email: sdawsey@tulane.edu
Phone: (504) 988-5255
http://tulane.edu/som/departments/scb/acp.cfm
Med Prep with Master's Degree (no med school classes)
There are also some programs for pre-med students who are already good candidates for admission to medical school except for a need to strengthen their academic transcript. Typically (as with Loyola below), applicants must have a bachelor's degree with an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and the basic pre-med prerequisites completd (biology, chemistry, math and physics) along with MCAT scores. Although these programs offer a master's degree, participants take graduate courses rather than classes with medical students. For this reason, they are not considered "Special Master's Programs" but they may be worth investigating if they are evaluating applicants as potential medical students.
Loyola University Chicago
Master of Arts in Medical Sciences
Department of Biology
Lake Shore Campus
1032 W. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60660
Email: biologydept@luc.edu
Phone: ( 773) 508-3620
http://www.luc.edu/biology/ma.shtml
The Department of Biology is offering a new program of graduate study leading to the Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS). This program focuses on the development and improvement of intellectual skills required for entry into medical school programs and takes 1 year to complete. All students will pursue graduate-level study (not medical school classes) in the areas of Medical Cell Biology and Biochemistry; Anatomy and Physiology; Neurobiology; and Genetics and Development.