Combined MS/DO Degree Completion Pathway - Master of Biomedical Sciences

Students cannot apply to this program. Only students recommended by the appropriate DCOM Student Progress Committee (SPC) can participate in this combined degree completion pathway. The MS/DO combined degree completion pathway in Biomedical Sciences Major requires a minimum of 31.5 graduate credit hours. Students recommended to the program will complete a combination of credits from the (a) MS curriculum and (b) DO curriculum. Students in this path are expected to complete MS courses during the summer semester. 

The students would be recommended by the appropriate Student Progress Committee (SPC) after failure to progress academically during their first semester of the OMS-1 year. The purpose of this program is to allow students the ability to improve their knowledge of foundational basic sciences and return to the DO program if they are successful in the first semester of the MS program. Students who are successful in their first semester of the MS program must enroll in MS summer courses to obtain enough graduate credits for completion of the MS degree. Courses within the OMS-1 year will be counted towards the MS degree once the students enter back into the DO program.

(a) The MS Curriculum consists of 16 core graduate credit hours and 9 elective graduate credit hours (25 graduate credits).
Spring semester (19 credits) 
Students must be enrolled in 16 credit hours from the approved MS Core Curriculum + 3 credits from the approved MS Elective Curriculum.
Summer semester (6 credits)
Students must be enrolled in two, 3-credit non-repeating courses from the approved MS Elective Curriculum. 

(b) The DO Curriculum (6.5 graduate credits) - upon re-matriculation to DCOM
DOSYS 701 Medical Anatomy I (4)
DOSYS 714 Medical Histology I (2.5)

After the completion of the spring semester, the student will meet with the Dean and Chief Academic Officer of LMU-DCOM who will re-evaluate the student’s performance and readiness to re-matriculate into the OMS-I curriculum in the fall semester. The Dean’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.

• If the student has obtained at least a 3.6 in the prescribed spring coursework and there are no professionalism concerns, the Dean may recommend the student be recessed from the DO program with re-matriculation as an OMS-I student in the Fall.
• If the student obtains a GPA of 2.85-3.59 in the prescribed spring coursework and there are no professionalism concerns, the Dean may recommend the student be recessed from the DO program with re-matriculation as an OMS-I student in the Fall or dismissal from the DO program.
• If the student obtains a GPA of < 2.85 in the prescribed spring coursework, the Dean may uphold the student’s dismissal from the DO program.
• Students who are recessed from the DO program will be allowed to start in the fall semester as a member of the new cohort, repeating all coursework. Six and a half credits earned in the DO program will count towards the MS degree. An additional 6 graduate credits (taken in the summer semester) are required beyond the spring MS coursework and DO program coursework to complete the requirements for the MS degree. The MS degree will be only conferred after completion of the required credits outlined herein.

Students whose dismissal from the DO program are upheld may be offered the opportunity to complete the master’s program and if successful in the curriculum, are eligible to obtain an MS from LMU-DCOM. The MS Graduate Council will determine eligibility of the student to continue in the MS program. The student would be required to complete the remaining 35 credits associated with the traditional MS track. The coursework is listed below. Students earning a GPA ≤ 2.85 may be dismissed from the MS program. Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements to maintain continued eligibility for financial aid. Students completing their MS degree are not guaranteed an interview or re-admission to DCOM.