MD/PhD Dual Degree Program

Welcome from the Chairman

About the Program

Carl Franzblau, PhD, Associate Dean, Division of Graduate Medical Sciences

David Farb, PhD., Chairman, MD/PhD Executive Committee

Selwyn A. Broitman, PhD, FACG, Chairman, MD/PhD Admissions Committee

Douglas Sawyer, MD/PhD, MD/PhD Faculty Advisor

Overview    

Program of Study

The combined degree program is conducted under the auspices of the School of Medicine in conjunction with the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences. It is designed to attract highly qualified students who have enjoyed a research experience(s) and are strongly motivated to obtain expertise in the Biomedical Sciences to enhance their medical careers. The program provides students the opportunity to obtain a broad based advanced scientific education with specialty research experience in one of the Medical Sciences while providing early patient exposure and varied training opportunities in Clinical Medicine. The program requires a minimum of 7 years of classroom, research and clinical experiences leading to both the MD and PhD degrees.

Application

Minimum entrance requirements and prerequisite courses for the MD degree and PhD degree are the same. However, the applicant must meet the requirements for admission both to the Medical School as a candidate for the MD degree and the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences as a candidate for the PhD degree. In general, the academic requirements are somewhat more rigorous for the combined program than for either program alone. Applicants for this dual degree program are required to provide the results of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) only. However applicants who wish to provide the results of the Graduate Record Examination may do so although this is not a requirement and will not substitute for the MCAT. It is expected that applicants will have participated in undergraduate research or have research experience, basic or applied in an academic, clinical, governmental or a commercial setting following their undergraduate education. Applicants are required to select a department or program from the following: Anatomy & Neurobiology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Biomolecular Pharmacology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Genetics, Human Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Medicine, Oral Biology, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Physiology. The sole purpose of this is to be able to assign a department or program with similar interests of the applicant for the interview process. For interviews, small groups of students are selected and assigned to meet a number of clinical and non-clinical research faculty and MD/PhD candidates with similar interest to that of the applicant. These are conducted in a collegial atmosphere to enable prospective students to learn about the Institution and the research interests of the faculty. The faculty in turn evaluates each student and provides his or her individual impressions to the admissions committee. It should be emphasized that departmental or program declaration is only for the interview process and matriculating students are free to select any department or program at anytime prior to or during their first year of graduate studies. Most applicants apply for admission to enter the program as first year students, without any previous medical or graduate school experience. In certain instances applications or accepted from students who are in their first or second year of this medical school. Matriculants in the dual degree MD/PhD program may under certain circumstances exercise an option to initiate graduate studies following their first year of medical school. Generally, students enter the graduate school midway or at the end of the second year of medical school and return to the medical curriculum following completion of their thesis. A series of financial incentives are provided for all students and a small number of merit based scholarships are provided to outstanding students. Applicants for the MD/PhD program apply to the School of Medicine (via American Medical College Application Service, 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036). A notification card will be sent to all applicants to the medical school concerning the MD/PhD program. When returned an application to the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences will be sent. The applicant is also asked to notify the School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, in writing, that the student has completed both applications and is applying for the combined MD/PhD degree program.

Degree Requirements

The degree requirements for the combined MD/PhD program are the separate degree requirements for the Doctor of Medicine and the Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Medicine. For the MD degree, the student must be at least 21 years of age, have been enrolled in the School of Medicine for at least four full academic years; have passed all required courses and examinations; and have discharged all financial obligations to Boston University. For the PhD degree, the student must have fulfilled all the requirements for admission to the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences and have been enrolled in the Division for the equivalent of at least two full academic years. In addition, the candidate must have fulfilled all the requirements for the field of specialization, qualifying examination, and dissertation, as described as above. Interdisciplinary programs such as the MD/PhD program in Biomedical Engineering can also be arranged. Students enrolled in the combined MD/PhD program must complete the requirements for both degrees before any degree will be awarded.