Internal Qualified Admission Pathway for Master of Science to Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Qualified students in the Master of Science in Anatomy (M.S.A.) and Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (M.S.B.S.) programs at Des Moines University (DMU) may apply for two reserved seats per program annually in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree program. These students can also apply and interview for the DO program through the standard admissions process.

Program Summary and Requirements:

  1. Admission

Students must apply to and be admitted to each program separately. The M.S. and D.O. programs administer their admissions processes independently. For more details on program requirements, refer to the respective program websites:

2. Reserved seats for the D.O. Program

To secure one of the reserved seats for the D.O. program, M.S. students must meet all DMU general admission requirements and the criteria below:

  • Maintain a GPA of at least 3.3 in the master’s program and an undergraduate GPA of 3.35 or above.
  • Achieve an MCAT score of 503 or higher.
  • Have no more than two outstanding science prerequisites.
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  • Meet the following deadlines:
    • Application: Must be verified by the Centralized Application Service (CAS) by September 1 of the year prior to enrollment.
    • Interview: Must complete all components of the interview experience by October 1 prior to enrollment.
  • Comply with all other requirements outlined in this agreement.

Additional Notes:

  • Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree before enrolling in the DO program.
  • If the reserved seats are not filled by eligible MS students, they will be offered to other applicants.
  • Any unfilled reserved seats will be released after November 15 prior to the next academic year

3. Standard Interview Eligibility for the D.O. Program

MS students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply and interview for the D.O. program:

  • Maintain a GPA of at least 3.3 in the master’s program and an undergraduate GPA of 3.35 or above.
  • Achieve an MCAT score of 503 or higher.
  • Be in good standing with no integrity or academic issues pending before any disciplinary or monitoring committees.