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1. Degree Requirements

Applicants must earn a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation.

• Courses must have been taken at an accredited institution that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Applicants who have taken coursework and/or earned a degree from a foreign institution must submit an evaluation of their transcripts to AACOMAS.  AACOMAS must approve the transcript evaluation company chosen.

2. Required Undergraduate Courses

Applicants must have completed a minimum of 90 hours or three-fourths of the required credits for a baccalaureate degree and have completed the required courses listed below from a college or university accredited by an accrediting body.  The courses for consideration must have been completed within the last five years prior to application to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­.  The following are required:

• Biological Sciences: 4 semester credit hours
• Physics: 6 semester credit hours
• General and Inorganic Chemistry: 6 semester credit hours
• Organic Chemistry (biochemistry may also be counted): 6 semester credit hours
• English and Composition: 6 semester credit hours
• A minimum of 9 additional biomedical science credit hours at the 200 level or above, which prepare the applicant for medical school.  These include:
  • Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, virology, genetics, or other equivalent biomedical science courses as deemed appropriate by Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­.

Students should be aware that they must be able to use a keyboard and will have timed testing situations.

Courses with equivalent content to those listed above will be considered.  When reviewing courses for course equivalency in the application, special consideration may be given for courses taken by Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists, and Doctors of Physical Therapy.  For special considerations, course review is conducted by the Director of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ and the Campus Dean. 

Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ follows the AACOMAS definition of science courses to determine science GPA and science hours.  See the AACOMAS website for more information.

When required courses were completed prior to the last five years, if the applicant has earned a recent biomedical or pre-medical graduate degree, the Dean and Director of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ will review the transcript for course equivalency and special consideration. For students needing recent biomedical courses, see our affiliated Master of Biomedical Sciences Program.

3. GPA

Traditional Applicants: For those applicants applying with 90 to 120 credit hours and who will complete a baccalaureate degree by the time of admission, the student must achieve a minimum of a 3.4 science GPA and a 3.4 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale of their baccalaureate degree in order to be considered.

Non-Traditional Applicants or Applicants with >140 hours applying to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­:
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ realizes that students often have difficulty in their first year of college and/or may be returning to college after a prior career (non-traditional students). Applicants who have completed additional hours to improve their GPA or in a master's degree may request Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ to consider the most recent 90 credit hours taken in looking at the GPA and science GPA averages.

Other ways to be recognized:
Applicants who have completed the Bluefield University / Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ collaborative Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences (MABS) degree program will receive an interview with the MABS-to-DO Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Committee if they receive a >3.5 GPA in the MABS program, regardless of their prior GPA.

4. MCAT

Applicants must submit current scores from the MCAT that are less than four years old prior to the date of application.  The applicant’s MCAT score is balanced with the applicant’s GPA and other factors as outlined by the minimum requirements for interview and admission.

The average MCAT score of those accepted falls between 500 and 506 and a score greater than 496 is generally required.  The MCAT score is always balanced with the GPA, along with non-cognitive factors of the applicant that are tied to the profession and the mission of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­.

5. Citizenship

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents. Once matriculated, students must maintain the requirements for their permanent U.S. resident visa status as set forth by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

6. Technical Standards for Admission and Continued Enrollment

Applicants must meet the Technical Standards for Admission and Continued Enrollment. All students must read carefully and affirm that he/she meets the technical standards for admission. Any falsification or misinformation regarding the ability to meet technical standards is a reason for dismissal.

• See,  in the College Catalog and Student Handbook

Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ is committed to providing an academic and employment environment in which all people are treated with courtesy, respect, and dignity.  It is the policy of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ that no person shall be discriminated against or be denied the benefits of any education program or activity that it operates, and any discrimination is expressly prohibited.  The requirement not to discriminate is required by Title IX and Part 106 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations and extends to admission and employment with Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­.  Inquiries about the application of Title IX may be directed to the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Title IX Coordinators, to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.

Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s commitment to the principles of nondiscrimination includes all federally protected classes and includes not discriminating on the basis of sex, and extends beyond to include, age, gender, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, ancestry, marital status, pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, status as a protected veteran, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.  Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ is committed to nondiscrimination against any individual or group of individuals.  Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ has zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior exhibited as an act of discrimination.

The College is accredited through the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the AOA, which is the only accrediting agency for predoctoral osteopathic medical education and is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE). 

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A background check is mandatory prior to matriculation and will be required again during enrollment (typically between second and third year) and may be required at other intervals during enrollment.