Dual Degree Programs

UNTHSC also offers numerous dual degree opportunities bridging the MPAS and DO degrees with the MPH, MHA, MS and PhD degrees within the School of Public Health and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Future dual degree opportunities will also be offered to students pursuing the DPT and PharmD degrees. For details, please see the section on the Multidisciplinary Programs within this catalog. 

Application Procedures

To apply to the DO/PhD, DO/MS, DO/MHA or DO/MPH degree programs, students must first apply to the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service according to the application procedures in this catalog. Applicants should indicate on the supplemental application the dual-degree program in which they are interested. Dual-degree applicants are reviewed by the Dual-Program Admission Committee. It is highly recommended that applicants for the dual-degree programs apply early in the application season.

For more information on the DO/MS or DO/PhD programs, please contact the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Office of Admissions and Services (GSBS). Contact the School of Public Health admissions office for more information on the DO/MPH or DO/MHA programs.

Dual Degrees with the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

DO/PhD (Medical Scientist Training Program) DO/MS

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences participates in the DO/PhD and DO/MS programs with the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM). Typically, the DO/PhD program will be six to seven years in length. The DO/MS program is typically five years in length.

Students may pursue a DO/PhD through the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), which guarantees funding from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences during Block 2 of the program, as well as payment of graduate tuition and fees. Support may be available during other blocks of the program through TCOM.

Students may choose from a wide range of disciplines, including cell biology and genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology, microbiology and immunology, physiology, and pharmacology and neuroscience. Additional information on specific programs is available from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Application Procedures

An applicant to the MSTP must first apply to the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service. Applicants should indicate the dual degree program in which they are interested on the application. If invited for interview, applicants will participate in three interviews, rather than the standard two for applicants to the DO program. Applications are then processed through a dual program admissions committee.

Individuals who become interested in pursuing the DO/PhD after gaining acceptance into either TCOM or the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences must make formal application to the school in which they are not already enrolled. TCOM students must have permission from the TCOM associate dean for academic affairs prior to applying for admission. Procedures are in place to streamline this process by sharing information already in institutional records. Applicants who decide to pursue the DO/PhD after gaining acceptance to either TCOM or the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences may not be considered for the MSTP.

Applicants to the DO/MS program may apply either using the dual degree admissions process described above or by applying to each school separately. DO/MS applicants will not be considered for the MSTP.

Formats

The general formats of the dual degree programs are explained below. While the formats may be regarded as standard working formats, deviations from these formats that meet the curriculum requirements are also acceptable. A degree plan is established by the student's major professor and advisory committee and filed in the graduate office.

DO/PhD Format

Block 1. Block 1 consists of the preclinical years for the DO degree. During Block 1, the student will complete the first three years of the DO curriculum, must maintain a "B" average within the medical curriculum and must pass Parts 1 and 2 of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medicine Licensing Examination (COMLEX). During this block, the student will register only for courses within the TCOM curriculum. An exception to these rules may be made only with the approval of the Dual Degree Program Advisory Committee, the appropriate TCOM associate dean and the GSBS dean.

During Block 1, the student will select a graduate advisory committee and file an approved graduate degree plan of at least 90 SCH (which includes 30 SCH advanced standing awarded for the basic science didactic course work required in the DO curriculum) with the GSBS Office of Admissions and Services.

Block 2. Block 2 consists of at least two years dedicated to graduate study. During Block 2, the student is expected to complete all course work required for the PhD degree, complete the requirements for advancing to candidacy, file an approved dissertation research proposal, and make significant progress toward the completion of the dissertation research.

Block 3. During Block 3, the student will complete the required clinical rotations during this block, the student will also continue work toward completion of the dissertation. At the end of Block 3, the student is expected to have completed the curriculum required for the DO degree and to have completed at least 60 additional SCH of graduate courses under the GSBS, as required for the PhD, including the successful completion and defense of his/her dissertation. Following completion of the requirements for both degrees, the student is awarded the DO degree through TCOM and the PhD through the GSBS.\

Block 1	Year 1	DO Semesters 1-2	MS Lab Rotations (optional)
	Year 2	Semesters 3-4	Lab Rotations (optional), Preparation of Individual Research
	Year 3	Core Clinical Rotations	Research rotation month
Block 2	Year 4-5	1 Clinical Rotation	GSBS courses, Qualifying exam, Grant Writing, dissertation research
Block  3	Year 6	Final Clinical Rotations	Completion of dissertation research and final seminar/defense

DO/MS Format

Block 1. Block 1 consists of the preclinical years for the DO degree. During Block 1, the student will complete the first three years of the DO curriculum, must maintain a "B" average within the medical curriculum and must pass Parts 1 and 2 of the College of Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX). During this block, the student will register only for courses within the TCOM curriculum. An exception to these rules may be made only with the approval of the Dual Degree Program Advisory Committee, the appropriate TCOM associate dean and the GSBS dean.

During Block 1, the student will select a graduate advisory committee and file an approved graduate degree plan of at least 30 SCH (which includes 6 SCH advanced standing awarded for the basic science didactic course work required in the DO curriculum) with the GSBS Office of Admissions and Services.

Block 2. Block 2 consists of at least one year dedicated to graduate study. During Block 2, the student is expected to complete all course work required for the MS degree, file an approved thesis research proposal, and make significant progress toward the completion of the thesis research.

UNTHSC may provide financial support during Block 2 to students chosen for the MSTP by the dual program admissions committee to seek the DO/PhD. Students who are not selected to participate in the MSTP often receive funding during Block 2 from other sources, including research grants, departmental assistantships and other departmental funds. All dual degree program students are eligible to apply for financial aid.

Block 3. During Block 3, the student will complete the required clinical rotations. During this block, the student may also continue work toward the MS thesis.

At the end of Block 3, the student is expected to have completed the curriculum required for the DO degree and to have completed at least 24 additional SCH of graduate courses under the GSBS, as required for the second degree, including the thesis. Following completion of the curricula required for both degrees, the student is awarded the DO degree through TCOM and the MS through GSBS.

Block 1	Year 1	DO Semesters 1-2	MS Lab Rotations (optional)
	Year 2	Semesters 3-4	Lab Rotations (optional), Preparation of Individual Research
	Year 3	Core Clinical Rotations	Research rotation month
Block 2	Year 4	1 Clinical Rotation	GSBS courses and thesis research
Block 3	Year 5	Final Clinical Rotations	Completion of thesis research and final seminar/defense

Costs, Financial Obligations, and Assistance

DO/PhD and DO/MS students pay standard medical school tuition and fees during each block that they are enrolled in TCOM. They also pay the hourly tuition rate and fees for all courses not required for the DO degree, i.e., the credit hours required for the graduate degree. Non-Texas residents pursuing both the DO/PhD degrees may be eligible for waiver programs that allow them to pay tuition at the in-state rate for both medical and graduate school.

The Health Science Center may provide financial support during Block 2 to students chosen for the MSTP by the dual program admissions committee to seek the DO/PhD. Students who are not selected to participate in the MSTP often receive funding during Block 2 from other sources, including research grants, departmental assistantships and other departmental funds. All dual degree program students are eligible to apply for financial aid.

Master of Science in Clinical Research and Education

The Master of Science in Clinical Research and Education is for students who have completed or are completing graduate level training in a clinical health care discipline who want to advance osteopathic medicine and medical principles through teaching and/or research. The degree is designed to build on students' clinical skills by fostering the development of additional skills in educational methodology and research techniques. While the degree can help any student planning a clinical career by helping them to be more sophisticated consumers of the latest research, it is designed to be of particular value to students planning a career in graduate medical education or in academic medicine.

Training focuses on producing clinicians who can enhance the resources of the osteopathic medical profession in the development of clinical research and teaching of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). Therefore, these principles and techniques provide the focus and foundation of this program.

Applications are accepted from current students and from residents and clinicians who have already completed their primary training.

This page last modified May 2, 2012

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