The College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University (MSUCOM) offers a professional graduate program leading to the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). The program is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).
The D.O. program is organized to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors consistent with the competent practice of osteopathic medicine. The four-year program is divided into preclerkship and clerkship phases. In the preclerkship phase, the foundational biomedical sciences and clinical disciplines are presented through an integrated curriculum. Students are introduced to clinical skills, including professional development, data gathering, physical examination, diagnostic reasoning, and osteopathic principles and their application to patient care. Early clinical experiences and patient encounters are interwoven to promote connections. The clerkship phase provides immersive training across core clinical disciplines in the network of affiliated hospitals and other clinical sites, as well as options for elective rotations throughout Michigan and elsewhere. Throughout the program, there is longitudinal integration of the osteopathic core competencies, including development of professionalism and communication skills for interprofessional patient care; strategies for self-directed, lifelong learning; and application of principles of research and scholarly inquiry.
AdmissionThe science and practice of osteopathic medicine require an understanding of the relationships among the physical, biological, psychological, cultural, and environmental aspects of human behavior. Thus osteopathic education requires preparation in the natural, social, and behavioral sciences. Candidates are expected to demonstrate their ability to work and think independently and in a scholarly manner. The mean undergraduate grade-point average of students who are admitted to the program is 3.6 to 3.8.
Applicants for admission to the first–year class in the college must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Completion of at least 90 semester credits in a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting commission of higher education.
- Completion of 8 semester credits of biology with no grade below 2.0, including both course work and laboratory work in general biology or general zoology. AP biology course work does not count toward the eight semester credit requirement.
- Completion of 16 semester credits of chemistry, including three semester credits of biochemistry, with no grade below 2.0.
- Completion of 6 semester credits of English—including both oral and written English, with no grade below 2.0.
- The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) must be taken by the end of September of the year application is being made. Scores cannot be more than 3 years old.
- Suggested science course electives include anatomy, physiology, microbiology, histology, and statistics at the 300- and 400-level.
- Suggested medical humanities and ethics electives include course work in philosophy, history of medicine and medical ethics.
An application must be completed and all official transcripts submitted to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). It is highly recommended that the application be submitted no later than September 1 of the application year for students who wish to begin classes the following summer. The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine invites all applicants to complete a secondary application. Early application is wise because the college admits its students on a rolling basis. Most Admissions Committee reviews are conducted between September and March. Selection of students for the class and for the waiting list is generally completed by early April. Effective in summer 2023, courses in the D.O. curriculum will begin in July, preceded by an orientation program.
Requirements for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine DegreeThe standard duration of the D.O. degree program is four years; the maximum time for completion of all degree requirements is six years as defined in the MSUCOM Policy for Retention, Promotion, and Graduation. Specific program requirements leading to conferral of the D.O. degree include:
- Completion of each required course in the preclerkship and clerkship phase with a passing grade or successful remediation.
- Passing score on the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) COMLEX-USA Level 1, COMLEX-USA Level 2 Cognitive Evaluation (CE) licensure examinations within defined time limits and with no more than three (3) attempts permitted on each examination.
- Compliance with annual training requirements of the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) program.
- Achievement of the academic requirements and professional conduct expectations of the D.O. program as outlined in the policies and procedures of MSUCOM and MSU.
Preclerkship CurriculumThe preclerkship curriculum consists of 95 required credit hours across six semesters, representing years one and two of the four-year program. The courses are offered in a predefined sequence. Successful completion of each course in a semester is required to advance to the following semester. The following courses are required:
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| OMM |
511 |
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine I |
1 |
| OMM |
512 |
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine II |
1 |
| OMM |
513 |
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine III |
1 |
| OMM |
514 |
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine IV |
1 |
| OMM |
515 |
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine V |
1 |
| OST |
510 |
Clinical Human Gross Anatomy |
6 |
| OST |
520 |
Foundations of Biomedical Science for Osteopathic Medicine |
8 |
| OST |
521 |
Musculoskeletal System |
4 |
| OST |
522 |
Hematology, Oncology and Infectious Diseases |
3 |
| OST |
523 |
Neurological System |
10 |
| OST |
524 |
Psychopathology |
2 |
| OST |
525 |
Genitourinary System |
4 |
| OST |
526 |
Endocrine System |
3 |
| OST |
531 |
Reproduction, Development, and Sexuality |
3 |
| OST |
532 |
Integumentary System |
2 |
| OST |
533 |
Gastrointestinal System |
6 |
| OST |
534 |
Cardiovascular System |
8 |
| OST |
535 |
Respiratory System |
7 |
| OST |
550 |
Introduction to Osteopathic Medicine and Clinical Skills |
2 |
| OST |
551 |
Osteopathic Patient Care I |
2 |
| OST |
552 |
Osteopathic Patient Care II |
2 |
| OST |
553 |
Osteopathic Patient Care III |
3 |
| OST |
554 |
Osteopathic Patient Care IV |
3 |
| OST |
555 |
Osteopathic Patient Care V |
3 |
| OST |
561 |
Ambulatory Care Capstone |
3 |
| OST |
562 |
Hospital Care Capstone |
3 |
| OST |
563 |
Health Systems Science Capstone |
2 |
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| In addition, each student must complete a clinical experience requirement, which may be met by earning 1 credit in one of the following courses: |
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| FCM |
650 |
Principles of Family Medicine |
1 |
| FCM |
660 |
Pre-Clerkship International Preceptor |
1 |
Clerkship CurriculumThe clerkship curriculum consists of 80 rotation weeks in years three and four of the four-year program following OST 601 (Transitions II-Classroom to Bedside). Students may advance to clinical rotations after successful completion of the COMLEX-USA Level 1 examination. During the clerkship curriculum, students must successfully complete 40 weeks of required clinical clerkship core rotation courses and an additional 40 weeks of elective rotations to be selected from available required clinical clerkship elective rotation courses. Core rotation courses are scheduled by the COM Clerkship Office and Base Hospital training site and may occur in different sequences. Most core rotation courses are completed during year three. Three required longitudinal courses span the clerkship: OST 603-Core Clinical Concepts in year three, OMM 602-Osteopathic Principles and Practice in year three, and OST 604-Essential Clinical Skills for Senior Medical Students in year four.
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| Required Clinical Clerkship Core Rotation Courses: |
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| FCM |
620 |
Core Family Medicine Clerkship |
6 |
| FCM |
622 |
Core Family Medicine Sub-Internship |
6 |
| Or |
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| IM |
658 |
Core Internal Medicine Outpatient Clerkship |
6 |
| IM |
650 |
Core Internal Medicine In-Patient Clerkship |
6 |
| IM |
657 |
Core Emergency Medicine Clerkship |
6 |
| IM |
658 |
Core Internal Medicine Out-Patient |
6 |
| Or |
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| FCM |
622 |
Core Family Medicine Sub-Internship |
6 |
| IM |
660 |
Core Internal Medicine Sub-Internship |
6 |
| NOP |
656 |
Core Neurology Clerkship |
6 |
| OMM |
602 |
Osteopathic Principles and Practice Clerkship |
2 |
| OSS |
651 |
Core Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship |
6 |
| OSS |
653 |
Core Surgery Clerkship |
6 |
| OST |
601 |
Transitions II - Classroom to Bedside |
5 |
| OST |
603 |
Core Clinical Concepts |
9 |
| OST |
604 |
Essential Clinical Skills for the Senior Medical Students |
2 |
| PED |
600 |
Core Pediatrics Clerkship |
6 |
| PSC |
608 |
Psychiatry and Behavioral Science Clerkship |
6 |
| Required clinical elective clerkship rotation courses: The student must successfully complete 40 weeks of clinical clerkship elective rotation courses. Twelve (12) clinical elective weeks must be chosen from the non-surgery category and eight (8) clinical elective weeks must be chosen from the surgery category. Most elective rotations will be available in two (2) or four (4) week blocks. Both clinical and non-clinical rotation requirements are listed below. |
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| A complete list of required clinical clerkship elective rotation courses includes the following rotation courses which are credited toward the non-surgery requirement: |
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| ANTR |
685 |
Directed Study in Clinical Prosection |
1 to 6 |
| FCM |
621 |
Family Medicine Specialty Rotation |
1 to 24 |
| HM |
610 |
Pathology Clerkship |
3 to 6 |
| IM |
621 |
Clinical Tropical Medicine Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| IM |
651 |
Cardiology Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| IM |
652 |
Gastroenterology Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| IM |
653 |
Oncology and Hematology Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| IM |
654 |
Pulmonary Disease Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| IM |
655 |
Nephrology Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| IM |
659 |
Medical Critical Care Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| IM |
661 |
Internal Medicine Specialty Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| IM |
662 |
Urgent Care Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| IM |
663 |
Emergency Medicine/Wilderness/Austere Medicine Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| IM |
664 |
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| IM |
665 |
Emergency Medicine Advanced Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| IM |
666 |
Emergency Medicine Toxicology |
3 to 18 |
| IM |
667 |
Emergency Medicine Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Management |
3 to 18 |
| IM |
668 |
Emergency Medicine EMS and Disaster Management |
3 to 18 |
| IM |
669 |
Emergency Medicine Ultrasound |
3 to 18 |
| NOP |
657 |
Neurology Specialty Clerkship |
1 to 24 |
| OMM |
601 |
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OST |
685 |
International Clerkship Rotations |
1 to 20 |
| OST |
686 |
Global Health: Mexico – Clinical Immersion |
1 to 20 |
| OST |
687 |
Global Health: Peru – Clinical Immersion |
1 to 20 |
| OST |
688 |
Global Health: Cuba – Clinical Immersion |
1 to 20 |
| OST |
689 |
Global Health: Haiti – Clinical Immersion |
1 to 20 |
| PED |
601 |
Pediatric Specialty Clerkship |
3 to 24 |
| PMR |
601 |
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clerkship |
1 to 18 |
| PSC |
609 |
Adult Psychiatry Clerkship |
3 to 6 |
| PSC |
610 |
Child Psychiatry Clerkship |
3 to 6 |
| PSC |
611 |
Addiction Psychiatry Clerkship |
3 to 6 |
| PSC |
612 |
Geriatric Psychiatry Clerkship |
3 to 6 |
| RAD |
609 |
Radiology Clerkship |
3 to 12 |
| RAD |
610 |
Core Radiology Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| The following rotation courses are credited toward the surgery requirement: |
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| NOP |
620 |
Ophthalmology Clerkship |
1 to 24 |
| OSS |
640 |
Cardio Thoracic/Vascular Surgery Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
641 |
Facial and Plastic Reconstruction Surgery Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
642 |
Neurosurgery Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
643 |
Podiatry Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
644 |
Sports Medicine Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
645 |
Urology Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
646 |
Maternal Fetal Medicine Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
647 |
Reproductive Endocrine Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
648 |
Anesthesiology Advanced Clerkship |
3 to 30 |
| OSS |
652 |
Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialty Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
654 |
Core Anesthesiology Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
655 |
Pain Management Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
656 |
Orthopedic Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
658 |
Otorhinolaryngology Clerkship |
1 to 20 |
| OSS |
663 |
General Surgery |
1 to 20 |
| RAD |
612 |
Interventional Radiology |
var. |
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| A maximum of eight (8) non-clinical rotation weeks may be selected to include rotations listed below or any elective clinical course completed in a virtual manner. The following rotation courses are credited toward the non-clinical requirement: |
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| OST |
615 |
Biomedical Research |
3 to 18 |
| OST |
620 |
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement |
2 or 3 |
| OST |
621 |
Leadership in Healthcare |
3 |
| OST |
622 |
Addiction Medicine |
3 |
| OST |
623 |
Board Preparation |
1 to 6 |
| OST |
624 |
Essentials in Diabetes |
3 |
| OST |
625 |
Introduction to Military Medicine |
6 to 9 |
| OST |
626 |
Special Topics in Healthcare Ethics: Case Studies |
3 |
| OST |
627 |
Fundamentals of Health Policy and Advocacy |
3 |
| NOTE: The number of rotation/course weeks determines the assigned credits. |
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Transfer CreditsFor a student who is pursuing a full-time M.B.A. degree from MSU jointly with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from Michigan State University - College of Osteopathic Medicine, a maximum of 12 credits from the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine may be transferred to the full-time M.B.A. degree program.