PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The dual DO/PhD degree program follows a 2-3-2 distribution; students will follow the DO curriculum in the first two years, then the PhD curriculum in the next three years, and return to the DO curriculum in the final two years. As such, students will fulfill financial obligation to the DO component during the first and last two years of the dual program, while receiving stipend and tuition waiving during the 3 years of their PhD studies.

PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested students apply for enrollment in the PhD program during the fall semester in second year of their clinical program.  If accepted, students will begin the PhD degree component in the third year.  Dual enrollees will have completed 16 credit hours of the PhD curriculum that are shared with the DO curriculum prior to starting the PhD component.

TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION, ACADEMIC PROMOTION AND GRADUATION

Students must meet both technical standards for both the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program and the Interdisciplinary PhD in Biomedical Sciences program.

REQUIRED COURSES

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The University awards the professional degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) upon recommendation of the faculty. The Academic Progress Committee reports annually to the college faculty the names of students who have met requirements for the doctoral degree. To graduate, a student must:

• Exhibit high standards of professional behavior and receive the faculty’s recommendation for graduation.
• Have attained 21 years of age.
• Pass all required courses, systems, rotations, and examinations.
• Be formally enrolled for at least two years at the COM.
• Be of good moral character and emotionally stable.
• Satisfactorily discharge all financial obligations to the University.
• Complete all graduation requirements, including the graduation clearance process.
• Complete the AACOM Graduating Seniors Survey
• Pass Level 1 and Level 2 (CE and PE) of the COMLEX examinations.
• Attend graduation ceremonies at which time the degree is conferred.  Excused absence from commencement for extraordinary extenuating circumstances will only be considered through written appeal to the Dean of the College.

The University awards the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences (PhD) upon recommendation of the faculty. The Academic Progress Committee reports annually to the college faculty the names of students that have met requirements for the Doctoral degree. To graduate, a student must:

• Exhibit high standards of professional behavior and receive the graduate faculty’s recommendation for graduation.
• Successfully complete all required courses and attain a final cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Successfully complete and defend their doctoral dissertation.
• Satisfactorily discharge all financial obligations to the University.
• Make continual research project progress commensurate with successful dissertation completion.
• Complete all graduation requirements, including the graduation clearance process and a Petition to Graduate form.  The Petition to Graduate form can be found on the website.