MD Plus Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I apply for the MD Plus program?
Once you have received notice of admittance from the College of Medicine’s Office of
Admissions, inform the MD Plus Program Administrator of your interest in the program.
The Program Administrator will then assign the application to you in the Banner
Admissions Management Framework (BAMF).
2. Is there a character or word limit for the essay portion of the application?
Yes. The character limit for the essay portion of the application is 12,000 characters,
including spaces.
3. What should the statement of purpose include?
Your statement of purpose and objectives should describe your reasons for interest in
the course of study you have selected, career goals, etc.
4. What is the application deadline?
The 2017 application deadline is Wednesday, March 1, 2017.
5. I have previously submitted transcripts for my MD application, do I need to
resubmit them for the MD Plus application process?
No, the MD Plus office will access those transcripts you submitted for your MD
application. However, the Registrar will need the final conferred degree transcripts
before a student can fully matriculate into the program – this is separate from the
application process.
6. When will I hear whether I’ve been accepted into the MD Plus program?
Mid-April is when the majority of the programs will make their decisions and the MD Plus
Scholarship Committee will subsequently decide which of those accepted will receive
scholarships.
7. What are the specific scholarship criteria for the MD Plus program?
Scholarships are made available based on multiple factors which include available
resources, merit, and need.
8. What are the benefits of the dual degree programs?
a. MBA
The MBA curriculum is designed to develop the knowledge and expertise
students need to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex and rapidly
changing medical field. The skills acquired are easily applied in a hospital or
clinical setting. In addition to being able to complete the MBA in a shorter amount
of time than the traditional route, students who have pursued the MD/MBA option
tend to be looked upon more favorably by medical residency programs.
b. MPH
Students that complete a Master’s of Public Health gain knowledge on the
science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health
through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations,
public and private, communities and individuals. The MPH’s emphasis on health
at the population level adds an important dimension of insight and understanding
of the dynamics of health and wellness to the practice of medicine. These
students are more competitive for residency programs in the future and are more
prepared to enter careers in preventive medicine.
c. EDHP
The Master of Science in Education for Healthcare Professionals (EDHP) will
provide the opportunity for individuals to develop the background and skills
necessary to be excellent teachers in their areas of specialty and conduct
research to improve and develop innovative educational programs in health
professions education. Students who have an interest in academia are
encouraged toward this program. Multiple online courses and an
interprofessional approach make the EDHP degree unique. Graduates of the
program help satisfy the need for qualified teaching faculty in medicine across
the country.
d. MS in Medical Science
The MS in Medical Science degree is available through the Clinical &
Translational Science (CTS) track of the College of Medicine graduate program.
The overall educational goal of this track is to prepare future physician scientists
to bridge the interface between patient care and bench research, interact
effectively with the spectrum of healthcare providers and community members,
and function efficiently within large research teams. The CTS curriculum is
flexible and designed to provide a strong foundation in biological sciences along
with scholarly activities that will encourage team-oriented projects, enhance
interdisciplinary communication, develop leadership skills, and provide the
foundation for a broad understanding of scientific, medical, and regulatory issues.
9. What are admissions criteria for each program?
a. MBA – In addition to the MD Plus application, including a statement of purpose,
prospective students must complete an MBA application, have a strong
undergraduate GPA and MCAT score, and professional accomplishments such
as internships or work experience. The MBA application fee will be waived for
MD Plus applicants. Contact Patti Cudney ([email protected]) when
your application is complete and before it is submitted in order to take advantage
of the fee waiver.
b. MPH – Students applying to the MPH program must submit a complete MD Plus
application, including a statement of purpose. Viable students will have a 3.0
minimum GPA and a MCAT score.
c. EDHP - Students applying to the EDHP program must submit a complete MD
Plus application, including a statement of purpose. Viable students will have a
3.0 minimum GPA and a MCAT score.
d. MS in Medical Science – Students applying to the MS program must submit a
complete MD Plus application, including a statement of purpose. Criteria include
a strong undergraduate GPA and MCAT score.
10. What are the start and end dates for each program?
a. MBA
Start: August 2, 2016 (with two week orientation beginning on July 18, 2016)
End: July 2017
b. MPH
This track is not available for the 2016-17 academic year
c. EDHP
Start: August 29, 2016
End: May 12, 2017
d. MS in Medical Science
Start: June 2016
End: May 2017
(Exact start and end dates are flexible. Completion of the MS requirements may
extend throughout the subsequent 4 yrs of medical school during research
electives.)
11. What is the curriculum for each program and how is it structured to accommodate
the MD Plus students’ schedule?
a. MBA – MD/MBA students begin the fall term in August, return for the spring term
after winter break, and complete their remaining requirements, including a
consulting project during the summer term prior to moving into the MD
curriculum.
b. MPH – Students can pursue an MPH degree in either the Health Policy &
Management or the Environmental Health concentration. Click here (PDF) to
view the full curriculum.
c. EDHP – Click here to view the full curriculum.
d. MS in Medical Science – The CTS track curriculum can be viewed online. The
curriculum is competence based and flexible to enable tailoring to fit the
education and training needs of the student. Requirements (per the TAMU Office
of Graduate & Professional Studies) include completion of thesis and 32 credit
hrs of which 20 hrs are graded courses and 12 hrs are research, with a GPA of at
least 3.0 and no grade below a B.
Course descriptions are found in the TAMU Graduate Catalog (http://catalog.tamu.edu).
12. Can the dual degree curriculum be done simultaneously?
No, due to the rigorous MD and graduate school curriculum and schedule, this is not an
option for our students.