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  • Dual DO/PhD Program

Dual DO/PhD Program

  • Overview
  • Technical Standards
  • Courses
  • Graduation Requirements

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

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1Credit Hours
DO Year I Curriculum  
ANAT 1101A Anatomy I 5
ANAT 1102B Anatomy II 4
DO 1110A Professional Certs I 0.5
DO 1110B Prof Certs & Hlth Team Env I 1
DO 1120A Med Informatics & Translationl Lrning A 1
DO 1120B Med Informatics & Translationl Lrning B 1
DO 1130A Physn Profess: Ident/Interact/Ethics A 3.5
DO 1130B Physn Profess: Ident/Interact/Ethics B 1
FDSC 1101 Foundational Sciences I 8
FDSC 1102 Foundational Sciences II 6.5
FDSC 1103 Foundational Sciences III 7.5
OCM 1101A Osteopathic Manual Medicine I A 2.5
OCM 1101B Osteopathic Manual Medicine I B 2
OCM 1107A Clinical Medicine I A 1.5
OCM 1107B Clinical Medicine I B 2
 Credit Hours47
Year 2
DO Year II Curriculum  
BHVMD 2120 Medical Ethics II and Legal Topics 2
DO 2104 ClinSci I:Pharm, Hem, CV, Res 9.5
DO 2105 Clin Sci II: Neuro/Psych, Uro-genital 10
DO 2106 Clin Sci III: Endo, GI, PMN 7.5
DO 2107 Clin Sci IV: ID, Spec Med, Ger 8
DO 2110A Prof Certs & Hlth Team Env II 1
DO 2110B Professional Certs II 1
OCM 2101A Osteopathic Manual Medicine II A 2
OCM 2101B Osteopathic Manual Medicine II B 2
OCM 2125A Clinical Medicine II A 2
OCM 2125B Clinical Medicine II B 1.5
SPMED 2115 Basic Surgical and Medical Skills 1
 Credit Hours47.5
Year 3
PhD Curriculum Year I  
PHDBS 2B01 Molecule to Medicine I 3
PHDBS 2B02 Molecule to Medicine II 3
PHDBS 2B30 Grant Writing Skills 3
PHDBS 2B10 Dissertation Proposal I 1
MBS 1B06 Intro to Biostatistics and Data Analysis 2
MBS 1B12 Frontiers in Biomedical Research 2.5
MBS 1B03 Responsible Conduct Biomedical Research 1
MBS 1B14 Research Compliance & Laboratory Safety 0.5
PHDBS 2B21 Sem in Biomed Sci I: Presentation Skills 1
MBS 2B05 Scientific Communications 1
PHDBS 1B01 Research 7
 Credit Hours25
Year 4
PhD Year II Curriculum  
PHDBS 2B11 Dissertation Proposal II 1
PHDBS 2B22 Sem in Biomed Sci II: Presentat Design 1
PHDBS 2B40 Data Analysis for Clinical Research 2
PHDBS 3B01 Critical Analysis of Biomedical Research 1
PHDBS 1B01 Research 18
 Credit Hours23
Year 5
PhD Year III Curriculum  
PHDBS 3B01 Critical Analysis of Biomedical Research 2
PHDBS 2B23 Sem in Biomed Sci III: Presentatn Deliv 1
PHDBS 4B01 Dissertation 4
PHDBS 1B01 Research 15
 Credit Hours22
Year 6
DO Year III Curriculum  
DO 3144A Clinical Rotations Year III A 20
DO 3144B Clinical Rotations Year III B 20
DO 3151 Introduction to Health Systems & Policy 1
OCM 3101A Osteopathic Manual Medicine III A 1
OCM 3101B Osteopathic Manual Medicine III B 1
 Credit Hours43
Year 7
DO Year IV Curriculum  
DO 4160 Clinical Comprehensive Assessm 1
DO 4161 NAMI Provider Educator Program 0.5
DO 4144A Clinical Rotations Year IV A 8
DO 4144B Clinical Rotations Year IV B 16
DO 4144C Clinical Rotations Year IV C 16
OCM 4101A Osteopathic Manual Medicine IV A 0.5
OCM 4101B Osteopathic Manual Medicine IV B 0.5
 Credit Hours42.5
 Total Credit Hours250

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.

2022-2023 Edition

  • Welcome from the President
  • About Des Moines University
  • Academic Calendar
  • College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program
    • Interdisciplinary PhD in Biomedical Sciences Program
      • Dual DO/​PhD Program
    • Master of Science in Anatomy Program: Non-​Thesis Track
    • Master of Science in Anatomy: Thesis Track
    • Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences: Non-​Thesis Track
    • Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences: Thesis Track
  • College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery
  • College of Health Sciences
  • Academic Policies
  • Admissions
  • Tuition, Financial Aid and Scholarships
  • Campus Resources
  • Courses A-​Z
  • Catalog A-​Z Index
  • Elective Courses
  • Past Academic Catalogs
  • Catalog Updates

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